by Jean Oram
Frankie tilted his head back and scratched his neck like a cat getting a chin rub. His expression grew distant, as though he was working up a plan. “You need collateral.”
“My truck isn’t enough,” she warned. “And I said--”
“I have an idea.” Frankie’s eyes lit up and he took off down the street at a trot. “Don’t worry about the Charger. I’ll get it delivered later,” he called.
Mandy followed him a few steps, then hesitated before returning to the restaurant, trying to figure out what he was up to.
Before she went inside she peeked back out at the sidewalk, the little spark within her that she’d been too afraid to extinguish flared again. Maybe--just maybe--her best friend would come up with something she hadn’t and she’d get to live out her dream yet.
Mandy looked over the papers stapled together. She met Frankie’s eye, her heart colliding with her gut. He was grinning as though he’d just unveiled the Taj Mahal and said it was for her.
He obviously didn’t see these papers the way she did.
If she signed this document, there would be something even bigger than money between friends. If she didn’t sign them, Frankie was going to take the rejection hard. Harder than any past rejections.
“You didn’t see it coming, did you?” he said, bouncing on the balls of his feet. “But it makes perfect sense. You’re going to use the building anyway, so why not use it as collateral? Then you can get a bigger loan.” He dusted his hands and smiled. Problem solved. “And you’d still be doing it on your own, too.”
She choked back the urge to yell. He was acting just like her father. Sweep in and fix the mess with no regard to what she wanted.
She stomped across the dusty floor of his building. “Have you inhaled too many paint fumes? If I fail, you’ll lose your inheritance. I can’t pay that back like a stack of cash!” Hysteria built within her. “I said I didn’t want to put you at financial risk! I’m overextended and I don’t want a business partner. Why is it all or nothing with you these days? Didn’t getting hurt in derby teach you anything? Some risks just aren’t worth taking.”
How could he talk to Wini and John behind her back and set things up so she had no other recourse than to say yes to the stupid carrot dangling in front of her nose or lose everything she’d worked toward? Why hadn’t anyone come and talked to her? Where was the rumor mill when she needed it?
“It doesn’t make us partners,” Frankie said evenly, not looking the least bit chagrined. “And I learned plenty wrecking my shoulder.”
“Frankie…”
“One of us should move forward and pursue a dream.”
She closed her eyes and breathed through her nose, trying to calm herself. Did he really have to add a dollop of guilt to top off this sundae of friendship doom?
“Not going on the show was your choice,” she said, her voice hard. She waved the paper at him. “You realize this could ruin our friendship?”
He shrugged as if to say, Easy come, easy go. His hands were tucked casually in the pockets of his perfectly worn jeans that hugged his tush in all the right ways.
Why was she thinking about his butt? She was supposed to be figuring out how to get him to butt out.
No. This was perfect. Perfect! If they were hard and fast business partners, she’d stop thinking about him as a piece of meat. She wouldn’t be able to think about his butt if his inheritance was on the line. And she most certainly wouldn’t have the time.
“You never know,” he said, running a hand down her arm, wincing as he moved his sore shoulder. “This could make us even better friends.” He held her gaze, his eyes flecked with a kindness that was inviting in all the ways she wanted. And in all the ways she needed to refuse in order to preserve what they currently had between them.
She turned away, but he slung a warm arm over her shoulder, drawing her close to protect her against the unheated building’s chill. He held her tight to his side, his gentle strength drawing her in, protecting her.
Tears pricked her eyelids. She’d do anything to keep them like this. Safe. Friends. It was bad enough that her heart was starting to ask her very thought-provoking questions about why she wasn’t allowing Frankie into her life as a boyfriend.
The problem with this document was that he’d backed them into the corner. Saying no meant him losing face, losing him as a friend.
With tears pricking at her eyes, she flipped to the last page of the bundle and, holding it against her leg, scrawled her name along the bottom line.
She stared at it for a second, a sadness overlying any small thrills that tried to ripple through her. Business partners.
She wanted everything, but not this.
She drew herself up to her full height and jutted out her chin. She hoped to send the message with her peeved shrug that her agreeing to become partners was anything but fine and he’d better darn well tread carefully until her name was off that document. She slapped his chest with the papers and he slowly accepted them.
“If you don’t care about our friendship and don’t feel it’s worth protecting, then fine. I don’t care, either.” She balled her hands at her sides. “It was nice being friends with you and, for my own sake, I hope I enjoy being a restaurant owner even more.” She worked to keep her emotions under control and particularly, the tears that were battling for release.
“It won’t wreck our friendship, anymore than it’ll kill you to accept help from me.”
“Money between friends never turns out well.”
“It worked out fine between Alex and Annie.”
“Your boss was practically engaged when she stepped in to help him start the place!” Mandy exploded. “So, of course it worked out.”
He stepped closer, challenging her. “And?”
“And what?” she snapped.
Frankie focused on her eyes, taking her in. He moved closer, his anger fizzing, his scent comforting despite their battle. He threw the stapled papers across the room and they fluttered and crashed down like a wounded bird. He came a step closer. “You need to learn to let friends help. You need to let people in and not be so awful independent all the time.”
“I’m only trying to protect our friendship,” she said, hugging herself as she backed against a dusty wall.
“Oh, yeah?” He took up the space between them, his nose just about brushing hers as he asked, “And when was the last time you let a friend help you, Miss M?”
She tipped her jaw upward. “I just signed those papers. I just proved I can accept help. And anyway, I don’t have to answer to you!”
Frankie suddenly gripped her waist, jamming his lips down over hers, kissing her long and deep, as though he was drawing her soul from her body. His lips softened as they explored the fullness of her mouth and her body weakened at his intensity. She sagged against his firm body, her own body reacting and tingling in all the right places. In her shock, her brain shut out her determination to not kiss him back and her tongue dipped into his mouth. Her head bumped the wall as he consumed her, weakened her, stealing any lingering resolve.
He suddenly released her, breathing hard, his eyes burning as he said, “Yes. You do have to answer me.”
He stepped away, leaving her propped against the wall on weak legs.
Good lord, Batman. When did Frankie get so unbelievably hot and steamy as well as alpha male? And why now? Now that she was in a business agreement with him and the last thing she should be doing is imagining lying him out on the dusty floor and prying his faded blue jeans from his taut body?
“You and me?” Frankie pointed at the space between them. “We’re only just beginning.”
10
Glittery giraffes on rollerskates. It was all coming together. She shot Frankie a grin and clicked on her new website. It was her. Her! On the Internet! As a proud owner of an upcoming Wrap it Up.
Thanks to Frankie, it was actually happening. In a matter of weeks, she’d be well on her way to being in business and true to his word,
he was butting out. He hadn’t even blinked when she’d outlined the modifications that had to be made to his building. And according to Seth, she would be opening her doors well before the end of September--possibly even by the end of August if the back-ordered kitchen equipment came in soon. She had her heart set on everything opening by that time--and not just so she’d start making money a month earlier, but so she could begin wooing that precious foot traffic into her restaurant, creating habits before the weather got too cold and people only went out when they had to.
She nudged her best friend and grinned at the photo Liz had taken of her shaking hands with Seth in front of Frankie’s building. “That makes it feel official, huh?”
He nodded, his eyes filled with pride. She grinned back, resisting the urge to plant a happy kiss on his lips. There was something about him sharing this dream that made him undeniably sexy. Or maybe that was still the aftereffect of that toe-curling kiss he’d given her a few weeks ago. There hadn’t been one since, but she’d definitely been thinking about it as well as trying not to think about it.
Frankie leaned over her shoulder, his bare arm brushing hers, sending a surge of anticipation through her bloodstream. “Your brother did a good job. Nice of him to get it done before his surgery.” Frankie gave her shoulder a squeeze, his hand warm and strong, sending rumblings throughout her nervous system. “I know everyone has high hopes for him.”
“If this one isn’t it,” she said with a sigh, her mood cannonballing, “I’m not sure how he’ll manage--psychologically. He’d been through so many unsuccessful surgeries… He needs to move on with his life.” She chewed her lower lip. Maybe there was a way she could help him out--more than just giving him a web design job. Some way to help him become independent again. Maybe if she approached Jen again, she could find a way for the three of them to work together. Something. Anything. Even if they didn’t make a profit.
“How’s the show and shine site coming along?” asked Frankie. “Any word?”
Was it just her imagination or was he brushing against her intentionally as he moused around her website?
Stop it! Just stop it, brain! He’s off limits! Just because you’re excited about the restaurant, don’t go projecting it onto him and his heavenly body. He helped out with setting things up but it doesn’t mean it would be wise to try and take things one step further.
Having him as a business backer was enough. She didn’t have to add lover to the list.
Even if that was a tempting idea.
She turned to face Frankie, pushing her chair away when his proximity threw her off again. His lips were much too close to hers if she wanted to avoid grabbing him and shoving herself into his lap. Her mouth was hungry for more of him than was right to want from a friend.
“He, um…they...” Look away from his lips. Be strong. He’s waiting for you to make the next move and you will not make it! Do you understand? And while you’re at it, breathe.
She closed her eyes to help refocus her thoughts.
She opened her eyes again to find him close, his gaze centered on her lips. He was waiting for an answer, that was all. Not because of anything else. He was just waiting for her to speak.
So speak already!
“Yes!” Mandy turned back to her computer in relief, and brought up the cruise night website. “It’s done. Didn’t I mention that? Man, it’s warm in here?” She fanned herself with a hand.
Frankie leaned closer and took over the mouse, his arm resting against hers. “Mmm. You smell like fries.” He gave her a smile she forced herself to ignore the way it made her feel. She shuffled her chair further away so he could have better access to the computer and so she could shake off the electricity zinging up her arm from his touch.
“I like it,” he said finally. “Except we decided to move the date back by about a month.”
“What?” Mandy frowned at Frankie, sitting up straight. “When did that happen?”
“Sorry. We should have called you over, but I knew you were busy. We decided we couldn’t pull it together in time so we’ve pushed back the date back to the September long weekend.”
“Oh.”
“Is that okay?” he asked, his eyes studying her.
She nodded again. “Of course.”
“Do you have a date for your opening yet? Maybe they could coincide?” He grabbed a brownie off the plate beside him and jammed it in his mouth. She tried to look away as he licked the chocolate from his lips but found she couldn’t. He laughed and wiped his mouth with the palm of his hand. “Sorry. I’m disgusting you.”
“It’s fine,” she said, her voice higher than usual. “And no. No date yet. A pile of stuff has been delayed.”
And there it was again. That whirlpool of worry in the pit of her gut. She stood and walked to the window, grabbing Portia to cuddle against her chest on her way. She’d read an article about how a deal to merge Wrap it Up and another big fast food company had been rejected. The idea of Seth accepting a buyout while she was still trying to get her place off the ground worried her. What if she just got going and then had to change everything because some big, impersonal corporation wanted things done differently? She’d be buying out the headache remedy section of the drug store. But when she’d brought it up with Seth, he’d told her to relax and that businesses always looked for opportunities to expand and that everything was fine. He wouldn’t partner with anyone that wouldn’t be good for his franchisees.
But still. Worry and dread crashed over her whenever she gave them half a chance.
“Do you want me to call about the delays?” Frankie held up his phone and Mandy deposited Portia onto the windowsill.
“You’re a silent partner, remember?” She gave his shoulder a light shove.
Wincing, Frankie clutched his shoulder.
“Oh, no. I’m sorry.” She grabbed his shoulder, as though having her hands on it would make it feel better. “I totally forgot. Are you okay?”
“It’s fine.” He brushed her off, gently rolling his shoulder while stretching his neck to the opposite side. “Just tender if pushed in certain directions, evidently.”
“It’s been a month. Have you tried physio?”
“It’s fine.”
She topped up his whiskey and Coke. “I’m sorry. It’s just with you helping me fix up the building, I thought it was fine.”
“You weren’t jamming your hand into it,” he grumbled, taking a grateful slug of the drink.
Mandy stared at his wet lips, curious what the whiskey would taste like from his mouth. When they’d kissed his five o’clock shadow had contrasted sharply with the softness of his damp lips.
She sighed and blinked away the thoughts, making herself sit down and focus on her laptop. Man, she had a problem with him being a partner and it wasn’t in any of the ways she’d predicted.
She popped “Wrap it Up distribution” into a search engine to see if she could discover what the equipment holdups were about and was wowed by the flood of recent news about Wrap it Up. Nothing about distribution problems, thankfully. But there were a lot of recent articles with headlines that made her heart skid to a stop like it’d been shot by Mr. Freeze.
She slammed the lid of her laptop, Frankie catching it just before it closed.
“What was that?”
She barely dared breath or move. “I don’t know,” she whispered.
He kept an eye on her as he slowly lifted the lid. “Let’s take a look, shall we?”
She clenched her hands, not wanting to read the news. Not wanting to know what she might be up against. What she might have to fight through. What might cause her to lose Frankie.
She jolted out of her chair as his arm brushed hers as he leaned forward to get a better look at the screen, pivoting it toward him.
He gave her a strange look as she windmilled her arms as she puffed out a large breath, pacing alongside the table. “I can’t look. Just--give it to me in five words or less.”
Let it not be as bad
as it looked. Please let it not be as bad as it looked.
“Mandy, relax,” he said. “I’m sure it’s fine. You know how the business world is with rumors.”
She watched his face as he clicked, read, scrolled, clicked, and clicked some more, his expression growing darker, his jaw clenching. Finally, he pried his fingers off the mouse and sat back, shaking his head, his eyes still on the screen. She stepped closer, her gut so tight with dread she could barely croak out, “What? What is it?”
Frankie scratched his forehead and stood. The way he kept glancing at the monitor, she knew it was bad. Really bad.
“What? What? Did Seth die?” He hadn’t been returning her calls and she’d assumed he was just busy. But what if he died and left the whole chain to some teenage love child who would skim off the top or run the business into the ground?
Frankie pointed to the computer. “You’d better read it.”
She sunk into a chair, watching Frankie’s expression as he downed the last of his drink. He poured himself a fresh one and topped up hers. She took a cautious sip and winced at its strength.
She made herself read the article.
It was much worse than a love child’s underage owner. Much, much worse.
The door slammed behind her as Frankie stormed out, sending Portia scrambling under the couch like her tail had caught on fire. Mandy sat without moving, finishing her drink in solitude.
It couldn’t be as bad as she’d assumed. It just couldn’t be. She drummed her fingers on the table, thinking of all the reasons it couldn’t be that bad. She tipped her glass to check its contents. Empty.
Reporters loved to slaughter people. Stories like that sold papers. There was blood in the water. Sharks were circling. Blah, blah, blah. It was just reporters doing their job. Nothing more. This, like everything in life, could be handled. And not by hiding on a couch watching soap operas. Although hiding out and watching fictional drama unfold instead of dealing with real life drama felt pretty tempting right now.
No. She shook her head at her empty apartment. She wasn’t going to hide. She’d walked into this and had brought Frankie with her. The things mentioned in these articles had all been warning bells she’d ignored in order to get what she wanted.