“I have an idea.” He pushed himself up from the couch. “I’ll be back in about an hour.” He bent down and gave her a tender kiss before starting down the stairs.
“Wait.” Roxanne ran after him. “What’s wrong?”
He stopped midway down the stairs and looked back at her. “Baby, there’s nothing wrong,” he said surely. “I’ve got a really great idea, that’s all.” He gave her a smile instead of further explanation. “You just go on up there and run us a bath in that swimming pool you call a bathtub,” he said, “and I’ll be back before you know it.” Without any hint of where he was going or why, he disappeared down the stairs.
Roxanne sat down on the stairs, feeling the screams of frustration clawing at the back of her throat. The warmth from his kiss still lingered on her lips. Thoughts crowded her mind, visions of Frank’s mouth leaving tantalizingly slow trails over her body. Chills born from desire rolled over her and the reality of sitting on the stairs—alone—came back to her. She looked around trying to compose herself.
The bath water. That’s what she was supposed to be doing. She went back upstairs and into the bathroom where she filled the tub with bubbled water. In search of the perfect romantic atmosphere she lit the candles sitting on the back of the bathtub, just in case that’d further her cause. Almost instantly the sweet scent of roses filled the air.
She sat down on the edge of the tub and watched the bubbles grow while visions of Frank kissing her flashed in her mind. In her mind’s eye his lips explored areas other than her mouth, but she lost the images as quickly as she’d first seen them. She struggled to get them back but was unsuccessful.
With the tub nearly full, she turned the water off and went into the bedroom and sat down on the end of the bed. Knowing Frank would be with her soon, hunger trembled throughout her body. Roxanne had better control herself when he did return.
Footsteps echoed up the stairs. The thought of his arrival stoked a gently growing fire. She greeted him at the doorway.
He stopped long enough to kiss her, and then he carried the things he’d brought back with him on into the bathroom. She followed him and stood by while he took a bottle of chilled champagne, a bag of ice, a bucket, and two glasses out of the bags.
He put the bucket on the edge of the bathtub, filled it with ice and submerged the champagne into the glacial chips. After he’d set the glasses beside the bucket, he turned to Roxanne. “I’ll go out for a second,” he said and turned away. Once he reached the door, he glanced over his shoulder. “So you can get undressed and get in.”
“Okay.” She watched him go, thankful that she didn’t have to drop her robe in front of him.
Nervous with excitement and uncertainty, she stepped into the bath. She sank down into the water and a calming sensation washed over her. She wondered briefly if she should call out to Frank and let him know she was ready.
The door opened a crack. “Roxie…” Frank’s voice trailed off.
“Come on in,” she said. “The water’s great.”
Frank appeared to have nothing on other than a towel wrapped around his waist. He stepped into the tub, opened the towel and held it out in front of him. As he slid down into the water he tossed the towel to the floor. Laughing pleasurably, he leaned in and brushed his lips against her cheek and trailed over her skin until he found her mouth.
His kiss sent the pit of her stomach into a wild swirl. And then, unexpectedly, he pulled away and reached for the champagne.
“It’s not Dom Perignon,” he said, filling the glasses, “but I promise you…someday, we’ll do this again with the real thing.”
“The brand of champagne doesn’t matter.” Roxanne accepted a flute and sipped on the cheap bubbly. “All I care about is that we’re together.”
By the time she finished her second glass she was feeling the champagne’s effects. “This stuff is going straight to my head.” She giggled and tried to shake it off.
“That’s the thing about champagne.” He took her glass and set the drinks on the edge of the tub and then pulled her closer. “It tends to make you lose all your inhibitions.”
As if his words had released her, she flung herself against him. Her soft curves molded into the contours of his lean body. They explored each other’s souls intensely as they made love, and Roxanne experienced fulfillment like she’d never known.
“It’s okay,” Frank said breathlessly. “I’m more in love with you than ever,” he added, holding on to her snugly.
“I am so in love with you.”
Suddenly, the door sprang open. “Rocky,” Candy called out, “are you in here?” she asked, never giving it a second thought as she walked on in. The last thing she expected to see was Roxanne sitting on top of Frank in the bathtub. She’d always thought nothing could embarrass her. She was wrong. Her mouth dropped open.
Roxanne looked up at Candy, showing no shame. She didn’t say anything.
Candy’s hands flew to her mouth. Who would’ve thought she’d find Roxanne and Frank in the bathtub? Together!
She giggled softly and waved at them. “Hi.” She smiled, unable to control the urge to laugh. “I…ah…I’m just going to let myself out.” She turned back toward the door. “Sorry,” she added contritely and slipped out into the hallway. “Stupid! Stupid! Stupid!” she scolded herself, closing the door quietly.
“You know,” Frank whispered and locked Roxanne within his embrace, “your sister has terrible timing.” He laughed softly. From here on out, he vowed to always refer to them as sisters because he had no intention of ever acknowledging Chuck Simon the least bit.
Frank sat down on the edge of the bed, taking in every inch of the thin nightshirt sliding down over her body. She went to the nightstand, picked up the remote, switched on the TV and then handed the device to him.
“I’m going to get something to drink,” she said. “Can I get you anything? Are you hungry?”
“I don’t want you to go to any trouble on my account.”
“You want a sandwich or something?”
“Whatever you have, if it’s not too much trouble.”
Roxanne hurried downstairs and into the kitchen. First, she fixed herself a glass of soda and then she took some ham, cheese, mayonnaise and mustard out of the fridge. As she took the bread out of the pantry, Candy walked in wearing Rich’s shirt.
That didn’t surprise Roxanne. She knew Candy and Rich had been sleeping together, almost from the beginning.
“I am so sorry,” Candy said. “I didn’t, uh…”
“No.” Roxanne continued making Frank’s sandwich. “But if you’d opened that door thirty seconds earlier...” her voice trailed off into giggles.
“So...was he everything you expected?”
“Oh, my God,” she said with intense pleasure. “I have never, ever experienced anything quite like Frank Garrett.”
“He’s good, huh?”
“Oh, you have no idea.”
“Everybody was wondering why you two didn’t show up for the fireworks,” Candy said with a little snicker.
“Fireworks?” Roxanne asked as if she wasn’t aware of any fireworks. She pulled a tray out of the cabinet next to the stove and loaded it with Frank’s sandwich, some chips and a beer.
“Have fun...” Candy’s voice faded as Roxanne disappeared up the stairs with the tray.
She entered the bedroom and Frank sat up and leaned against the headboard. Roxanne passed him the tray. “Are you sorry you missed the fireworks?” she teased as she climbed into the bed.
“I didn’t miss any fireworks,” he said, and took a drink of his beer.
The next morning Roxanne slipped quietly out of bed, trying not to wake Frank. She headed downstairs, intent upon fixing breakfast but wasn’t sure what to make. Something told her she couldn’t go wrong if she stuck with the basics.
Unlike the night before, this time when she headed upstairs the tray looked like a mini buffet that she’d topped off with a yellow rose.
; Quietly, she set the tray on the nightstand and eased down onto the edge of the bed.
Frank didn’t budge.
She took the rose and brushed it lightly across the tip of his nose.
His face twitched and nothing more.
Again, she tickled his nose.
He raked his hand over his face and went back to his peaceful slumber.
Roxanne giggled softly and tickled his nose again.
He grabbed her wrist. “What’s so funny?” he asked with closed eyes and a slight smile.
“You are.”
His eyes opened and his gaze fell upon her. “Good morning.” he said, flashing that irresistible smile of his. She got the feeling he had no idea his emotions were showing.
“Morning.” She grinned, a remnant from the night before.
“What’s on the tray?” he asked, eyeing the food.
“Oh.” She turned to the tray. “This is for you.” She offered it to him.
“Thanks.” Frank eagerly turned his attention to the food. “You bring me chow last night … and again this morning.” He paused, munching on a piece of bacon. “Wish I could get this kind of service at home.”
She remembered he didn’t live there. That wiped the smile off her face.
“What’s wrong?”
“Nothing really,” she said, shaking her head.
“Then why the long face?” he asked with a sorrowful look in his eyes.
“I…ah...” She looked away. “I forgot that you don’t live here.” She worked up the courage to look back at him. “I guess that was out of line, huh?” Roxanne got up off the bed. Fear washed over her and left her ready to run.
Frank grabbed her arm. “Come back here.” He pulled her down to the bed. “Correct me if I’m wrong…but didn’t I tell you last night that I love you?”
“Yes.”
“Then why would you think you’re out of line?”
Beating around the bush was not something Roxanne could do with Frank. She’d just better say it and get it over with. If he shot her down, then she’d know where she stood. “Where do we go from here, Frank?” she asked. “At what point do you make that commitment and move in here?” By asking that question, she braved the answer she feared the most. “Or are you just going to get up and go home every morning?”
Frank looked at Roxanne, a hint of disappointment glistening in his eyes. He smiled sadly.
She fidgeted and tried to pull away from him. He wouldn’t let her.
“Roxie, I love you.” Why was that so hard for her to understand? “I’ve been taking things slow, obviously, because I didn’t want to rush you into anything.” He gave her a wink and a smile. “And I’m as afraid of rejection as you are.”
She rolled her eyes and laughed.
“However—” He cut in before she could say anything. “—there’s nothing I’d rather do than live here with you.” He brushed her cheek with a tender caress. “Is that what you want?”
She nodded. “Would you really move in here with me?”
“Are you kidding?” he asked, laughing at the absurdity of her question.
Moving in with Roxanne was exactly what Frank wanted. For as much as he loved her, he also wanted to be in control of their love affair. The only way he could see how to do that was to live under the same roof with her.
Frank moved his things in that day.
But Frank also shared an apartment with Rich, which meant they shared the rent. He didn’t want to leave his friend in a bind, but how long could he contribute to two households? Frank had enough trouble taking care of himself, much less anyone else.
***
Chapter 6
During the next few months the band’s gigs remained in the general vicinity of the Tampa Bay area. On the nights Garrett-Hollander played, if Roxanne didn’t go with Frank, he always came straight home right after the last set.
Their budding relationship grew into a strong bond almost immediately. The couple shared a happiness that neither of them had ever thought possible. Those around them got caught up in the exhilaration, too, quickly identifying Frank and Roxanne as the perfect example of happily-ever-after.
But slowly Roxanne’s mood began to change. Intuition filled her head with notions of Garrett-Hollander going out on the road. That brought about the primary reason she felt so disheartened—she feared being left behind by Frank.
Instead of confronting her fears she chose to lock them deep inside herself, all the while trying to pretend indifference to the whole situation. She didn’t want to deal with the reality that he would possibly leave her behind. She figured that once Frank hit the road, without her, he might decide she wasn’t as important to him as he’d originally thought. And, rather than facing her fears, it seemed easier to convince herself that he would never do that.
He would not leave her alone like Chuck had done. This time it was going to be different. This time it had to be, because this time she couldn’t afford to lose.
Early in their relationship, Frank had taken Roxanne to watch the sun set at a place out on the bay called Sunset Beach. It became one of her favorite spots and she and Candy spent many a day there, soaking up the sun.
On one of those occasions, after consistently witnessing Roxanne’s increasing melancholy, Candy decided to voice her concerns. “Rocky,” she said. “Is something wrong?”
“He’ll be leaving soon,” she said from out of nowhere.
“What makes you say that?” Candy asked. “Has something happened that you haven’t told me about?”
“No,” Roxanne said. “But he’s going out on the road soon.”
“What?” Candy blurted out. “When are they going? And for how long?” she threw questions out at Roxanne at the speed of light, resenting Rich for not telling her.
“I don’t know,” Roxanne said, vague.
Candy hesitated for a second and realized their conversation wasn’t making sense. “How can you not know when he’s leaving?” She sat up. “Or how long he’ll be gone?”
“I’m not sure he knows he’s leaving.”
“Well...” Candy dropped back onto her beach towel. “Why are you worrying over something that might not even be happening?”
“Oh, it’s going to happen all right,” Roxanne said calmly, yet matter-of-factly.
Frank and Roxanne sat quietly, side-by-side, as the sun crept behind the horizon at Sunset Beach. Colorful streaks of pinks and purples filled the evening sky, and the scent of salt lingered on the gentle breeze of the sea air. Roxanne was staring at the ocean while Frank sifted sand through his fingers.
The time had come for the band to go back out on the road and Frank wanted her to go with him, but he wasn’t sure if she’d be willing to go without Candy. And, he didn’t see Candy agreeing to go anyplace.
Finally, he convinced himself to say something. “The band has to go back out on the road.”
“I know,” she said softly.
“How do you know that?” He didn’t know which surprised him more—the fact that she knew, or the quiet in her tone.
Roxanne shook her head. “I don’t know. Intuition or something.”
“It’s my job.” He felt the need to say. “It’s what I do.”
“You don’t have to explain yourself to me.”
“We’ll be gone till about April.” Anxiety made a brief appearance and he cleared it out of his throat. “I was hoping you’d come with me.”
“Really?” She flung him a skeptical look.
Frank tilted his head and shrugged. “I guess I assumed that you’d want to go.” He hadn’t considered the fact that she might not, and he found that notion extremely unsettling. Wanting to go and not going because of Candy were two entirely different things. Roxanne had to want to go with him, because if she didn’t it would ruin everything.
“Oh, I do,” she said quickly. “Of course, I’ll go with you.”
Frank pressed his lips to hers, caressing her mouth more than kissing it. His fears,
apparently unfounded, blew away with the wind.
Rich perched himself on the corner of Candy’s bed, unable to relax. The longer she stayed in the corner near the bathroom door, the more his confidence deserted him. “Well, Roxie is going with Frank.” He put forth the only argument he could think of. “So, why can’t you go with me?”
“Number one—” She crossed her arms in front of her and leaned against the wall. “I don’t think it’s a good idea. And secondly, I don’t have the money to go traipsing all over the country.” Slowly, she let her eyes travel to and settle on him. “And I’m not going to ask Roxanne to pay my way either.”
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