“Almost eighteen isn’t the same as eighteen, son. Where are your parents?”
Frankie’s respect for Officer Mantez doubled when he used an unhurried, easygoing tone with Carter. She could hear his empathy and she hoped that the boys recognized it for what it was. The radio in both cops’ pockets crackled and a female voice came through, unclear and muffled but both officers nodded. Barns said they were finishing up at the previous call. Frankie looked at Ryan and saw that his mouth was set in a firm line. None of the boys spoke so Frankie did.
“Their parents died. They were staying with my aunt before she passed away and now they’re staying with me.”
“Protocol says we have to take them into the station and have family services come in,” Officer Mantez said, his eyes kind and his voice soft. Frankie’s own eyes filled with tears. She looked at Cameron.
“Cameron. Please.”
“What can I do, Frankie? Why didn’t you tell me about this? I’d expect something like this from him,” he said, pointing at Ryan, “lying and hiding things. That’s a way of life where he’s from. But not you.”
She pushed down her own fury at Cameron’s words but she couldn’t keep the resentful tone out of her voice. “This isn’t about Ryan, who you obviously don’t know well. This is about three boys who will get lost in the system.”
“I can’t usurp the law, Frankie. Had you come to me, I could have helped funnel things in a more agreeable direction.”
“Call Leslie. Please.”
Cam pulled Frankie by the sleeve of her shirt closer to the door, and complained in a loud whisper, “If I call that woman, she’s going to trap me into a date.”
“Oh for God’s sake. Suck it up,” she said loudly. She didn’t even care that she’d said something cliché. “Call her and ask for help.”
He looked at the boys, who had sidled closer to Ryan, his eyes settling on Miles.
“You owe me.”
Ryan practically growled the words, “Like hell she owes you anything.”
“You said hell,” Miles said. Frankie bit the inside of her cheek and focused on the pain her teeth caused as they bit into flesh. Cameron pulled out his phone, stepped outside, and closed the door behind him.
Chapter 24
The officers agreed to leave things in the hands of the mayor, who assured them he would personally see to it that the boys were placed in care that evening. By the time they left, their radio had sounded several more times. Cameron paced the foyer, his irritation dripping off of him, pooling around all of them.
“Why don’t you boys go back in the living room?” Ryan suggested, pulling Frankie to his side. They said nothing, but shuffled away. Travis looked back before they turned the corner and stared for a moment at Frankie. Her stomach and heart twisted in opposing directions, wringing her out from the inside.
“I don’t want to be here when Leslie shows up. She’s a nice woman but I’m not interested,” Cam said. Ryan made a rude noise and started to step forward. Frankie pressed her palm against his stomach, stopping him.
“Thank you for calling her.”
“You’re welcome.”
“Thanks for calling the cops too. That was fucking genius,” Ryan said, running his free hand through his hair. They faced each other and Frankie couldn’t breathe through the tension.
“That’s the thanks I get for trying to be a good neighbor?”
“Bullshit. What were you doing here anyway?”
Cameron looked down at the floor. “We’ll talk about it another time.”
“Talk about what?” Ryan’s words were clipped and hard and his body was coiled tight.
Cameron looked at Frankie, a trace of regret in his eyes. “I’m sure that Leslie will do whatever she can and, if it means anything, I think that the boys will be okay. Sadly, the system is so overcrowded, they’ll probably keep them for the night and then beg you to take them back.”
He ran his hand through his hair and Frankie noticed for the first time that he looked weary. He started to say something then stopped. He pulled open the door and then turned again. “I’ll check in with you. See how things worked out. And I’ll put in a good word for you in the courts if things go that way and they want you to be their temporary guardian.” With that, he left.
Frankie sagged against Ryan, a small sound of desolation, helplessness, escaping her throat. His arms came around her and he held her tight, rubbed a hand up and down her back.
“Let me make some phone calls,” he said into her hair, still stroking her back. She leaned away from him.
“I need to go talk to them before Leslie gets here. Who will you phone?”
“My lawyer for one. Go talk to them,” he said, kissing her gently. No heat, just comfort, and she had the fleeting thought that it was almost as nice. Before letting her go, he gripped her chin between his thumb and forefinger. “And for the record, that fucker stays away from you.”
She smiled, soothed by the tone in his voice. He hadn’t said the words to her earlier, but she suspected Ryan was falling every bit as much as she was. He walked toward his office when she went into the living room to find the boys curled up on the couch. Miles was sleeping, his head on Travis’s lap. Carter sat at the other end of the couch, his legs and arms crossed over each other. The chip he’d carried was back and bigger than ever. He looked her up and down, like he was painting her with blame.
“Why can’t we just go? Before that lady shows up?” Carter asked her, sitting up but keeping his arms crossed and his mouth in a scowl. Frankie hadn’t actually thought of that option but she knew it wasn’t the right one. Miles stirred and Travis sat him up.
“Because I promised that I would put you into care. It’s what I should have done from the first day I met you boys,” she admitted, sitting on the large ottoman. She pressed her hands together, linked her fingers, and leaned toward them.
“But you didn’t and now we’re stuck. I didn’t promise nobody anything,” Carter replied. He looked at Travis. “I say we go.”
“I don’t wanna go,” Miles whispered, still mostly asleep. He rubbed his eyes and dropped his head against Travis’s shoulder.
She said the words that she wished she’d said sooner. Goddamn her after-sighted clarity. “I don’t want you to go. I want all of you to stay. I was already looking into the process of becoming a foster parent. I will do everything I can to get you three back.”
Her voice didn’t falter but her heart did when Carter made a scoffing sound. Ryan walked back into the room, sliding his phone in his jeans. He looked at the three boys.
“After everything she’s done for you, you have the balls to doubt her?” Ryan said to Carter, frowning deeply. His gorgeous hair was sticking up at odd ends. It seemed impossible to believe that only hours ago she’d had her hands locked in it. Carter shrugged but wouldn’t meet Ryan’s gaze.
“They gonna split us up?” Travis asked, his voice small, his eyes landing on no one.
“I hope not. When my friend gets here, she’ll probably talk to all of you and us as well. I’ll ask her to speed up my paperwork so that you three can come back and stay together. I promise all of you, I’ll do everything I can. I didn’t mean for this to happen, but in hindsight, I should have been more prepared. I’m sorry.”
Travis looked at her but before anyone else could speak, Ryan stepped over to her.
“Don’t you dare apologize,” he told her roughly. He sat beside her on the ottoman, pulling her against his side again where she felt like she fit perfectly. Looking at the three boys, she knew how important it was to fit. Somewhere. With someone. It was the reason she’d left the Hamptons. And the reason she’d stayed in Minnesota.
“Why can’t you, like, pay someone off or something?” Carter asked, turning his glare on Ryan.
“Carter, shut up, man,” Travis said, giving his brother a cold look.
“Regardless of what you think, Carter, I can’t buy you guys out of this. Rules and laws are made for a re
ason and the best thing that Frankie can do is follow them so that this doesn’t happen again. I will help her do whatever it takes to get you back, but you need to know that if something doesn’t work out like she wants it to, or you want it to, it is not because of her lack of trying. I can’t, and wouldn’t, bribe our way out of this.”
The word “our” stopped everything; for a few seconds, her heart didn’t beat, her lungs didn’t pull in air, and time didn’t pass. Everything was suspended and in those seconds, she was no longer falling for him. She’d catapulted the final steps and crashed straight into Ryan, fully and completely in love.
“Ryan.” She didn’t know what else to say and he kissed the top of her head. The doorbell rang and Miles startled awake. His eyes landed on Frankie. Ryan went to the door, and the four of them remained still, staring in silence, each of them making their own private wishes for things to be different.
Chapter 25
Frankie stepped under the hot spray that came from dual showerheads. At any other time, she would have been in awe of the gorgeous tiling and spacious area, but right now, she just wanted the heat and pressure beating against her skin. Tipping her head back, she let the hot water wash over her, trying to breathe in the steam. Her chest was too tight.
Leslie had been kind and gracious. She’d been gentle in manner and words with Travis and Miles. She’d handled Carter’s surly attitude with complete professionalism and empathy. It made Frankie wish she’d done the right thing sooner. Leslie had taken the paperwork Frankie had filled out back to the office with her and said the boys would be placed in an emergency care home in Minnesota for the night. They’d stay together for the next several days for sure but after that, they’d have to see. There was nothing Frankie could do now. She’d started the paperwork, she had people in her corner helping, and Leslie had already arranged a home visit with her to see the living conditions the boys would have at her house.
Frankie jolted slightly when the shower door opened, her thoughts lost in the steam. Ryan stepped into the spray, standing in front of her. Water dripped down his solid chest, over the six-pack that she’d enjoyed running her hands and mouth along earlier. His shoulders were muscled, but not over the top. Just strong and sexy. Like him. He pushed her wet hair back with both hands and kissed her, the water sliding over both of their bodies as they moved closer together.
“You did everything you could,” he whispered. She wrapped her arms around his waist and stepped closer. Despite his obvious interest, he continued to kiss her sweetly, without demand, with such gentleness that it almost undid the emotions she’d tried so hard to tie up, contain. He continued to kiss her in between lathering her with his body soap. She couldn’t say whether it was the water or his hands sliding over her body that drained the tension from her shoulders. When the water had cooled, he stepped out and grabbed two towels and tucked one around his own waist before wrapping one around her shoulders. He continued to kiss her as he rubbed her shoulders, her belly, her thighs. His eyes had a dark ring of green when she stood close and an intensity that she hadn’t expected. Just as she hadn’t expected him to take care of her as he was. The sadness she’d felt still lingered but he was bringing out other feelings as well. Desire was pushing to the top of the list. Affection and respect were close behind.
“Thank you,” she whispered, putting her palm to his jaw. She loved the feel of his skin, his face in her hands. He turned his head and kissed her palm.
“Don’t thank me. So far, I haven’t been able to do anything,” he said, frustration lacing his tone.
“You’re here. You’re supporting me. Taking care of me.”
He held her gaze a moment, letting their towels drop. He looked surprised by her words. Taking her hand, he led her from the bathroom to his bedroom, where most of the space was taken up by his massive bed. On one wall, a fireplace was glowing, keeping the room warm and soft. He stopped beside the bed then turned to her.
“You make me want to take care of you,” he said as he kissed her, gently at first, easing her in, soothing her, as the water had.
His hands came to her hips, gripping them tightly. She broke the kiss so she could explore his chest with her lips, her hands. His body was still shower warm and she smiled against him when she felt his shiver. He lifted her so she sat on the bed and she moved over so he could crawl in. As the fire danced, she marveled at the way her life had changed. She looked up into his face and wondered how it was that some people managed to work their way into the heart and fit perfectly. Ryan made her understand why no one else before him had seemed right. She pushed aside the worry that, after him, no one else ever would again. When his eyes found hers, he whispered her name and pulled her back into the moment. Kissing her softly, he told her that somehow, everything would be okay, and because she wanted to, she believed him.
Chapter 26
Tapping the steering wheel in time to an Eagles song, Ryan watched the street signs. It had been a week since the boys were taken from Frankie. She’d teetered on the edge after coming back from seeing the boys a few days after they’d been removed. Then she’d steeled herself and focused on moving forward. Because she was amazing. Ryan was in awe of her ability to pick up and charge ahead without letting the situation break her. She was holding herself together, keeping herself busy with writing and working on her house. He didn’t mind helping her with the house— he had helped her paint the two back bedrooms for the boys—but he figured it was a sign of how far he’d fallen for her. He just wanted to be where she was. In the same room. Same bed. Breathing the same damn air.
He hadn’t told her about the photographer at the mall but he’d found the picture of Travis and him in the Minnesota Herald. The headline over the article read: WHERE’S RYAN WALKER? In a few short sentences, it summed up Ryan’s past, questioned why he was in Minnesota, and alluded to who Travis might be. He didn’t want any of them dragged through bullshit media stories because of his name. But there was little he could do to stop it. It was part of who he was. Or who he’d been. Part of who he could be again.
His email and phone were full of messages from the commissioner, his coach, media outlets, and even some sponsors that wanted him back. But, for the first time in his life, Ryan wasn’t sure what he wanted in terms of baseball. It had been his whole life but when it had been snatched away, at a time when he was already irritated by the politics, weary from the travel, and restless, he’d had to evaluate what he wanted from the sport. What he could give back to it, if anything. He thought maybe there was nothing left to give. So he hadn’t returned any messages. Instead, he’d spent every minute wrapped up in Frankie. And he didn’t have one damn regret.
Ryan pulled up to the two-story brick house that the boys were staying at temporarily. A metal fence, rusted in areas, enclosed the property. The street was nice enough. The yards were well tended and the homes seemed cared for. He opened the latch on the gate, walked to the door, and knocked. It surprised him how attached he’d become to the boys in such a short period of time. He understood his draw to Frankie, how his attraction had crossed the line to affection and affection was quickly becoming more. But the boys? Until right now, he hadn’t considered the fact that he missed Miles’s one-minute stories that took him ten minutes to tell, or Travis’s quiet laughter when he caught subtle sarcasm that the other two missed. Or Carter’s moody shoulder shrugs right before he did exactly what you asked of him.
The door opened just as he was about to knock again. A woman who couldn’t be that much older than him smiled. She had dark-rimmed glasses and a soft, happy face. She was almost as tall as Ryan.
“Hi,” she greeted, her eyebrows scrunching together.
“Hi. I’m Ryan Walker. I asked Leslie to phone and tell you I wanted to come by and see the boys,” he said, holding out his hand. She shook it, nodding her head in the same motion.
“Right. She did call. Come on in. My husband is doing some homework with Miles and our son. Travis and Carter are watching
TV with the others.”
“Others?” She shut the door behind him and nodded.
“Yes. We have five fosters and then our son. All boys,” she said with a smile.
“Wow,” Ryan said, laughing. “Are you guys superheroes? Six boys is a lot.”
“It is. It keeps us busy. But we like it. I’m Sue by the way,” she said, leading him down the narrow hallway that led to an open area that combined the living room and kitchen. “And this is Nelson, my husband.”
The husband looked up and Ryan watched the recognition emerge in the widening of his eyes and the drop of his jaw. Before Nelson could say anything, Miles was off his chair and running to him.
“Ryan!”
Ryan scooped him up and gave him a hug, his throat tightening when Miles’s skinny arms squeezed him tight.
“Hey. How’s it going?”
“It’s okay. Are we going home?” As Ryan set him down, his chest tightened along with his throat and he shook his head. He looked over at Travis and Carter. Travis nodded, his eyes, like him, quiet. Carter stood and left the room.
“How you doing, Travis?” Ryan asked.
“Fine.” The boy turned back to the TV where some competition food show was playing. Miles’s smile dimmed as he sat back down at the table. Ryan offered his hand to Nelson.
“Son of a bitch. You were in the World Series in your rookie year,” Nelson said, still pumping Ryan’s hand.
“Yeah. Hell of a way to start,” Ryan said, smiling.
“It was a close one.”
“It was.” Ryan agreed, remembering the time fondly. It really had been quite a trip. Just making it to the show was enough to blow any kid’s mind, but to play in the World Series was incredible. An experience he’d never have again. Travis left the room. Ryan watched him go, turning back to realize he’d missed Nelson speaking.
Caught Looking Page 16