by Kathryn Shay
“Can I come in?” He looked up from a form he’d been trying to read to see her standing in his doorway.
“I guess.” He stood and pulled a chair over to his desk, waited until she sat then dropped back down into his own seat.
“I’m sorry I barked at you like that in the hall.” Francesca’s voice was contrite, but not timid.
“Okay. Apology accepted.” He sighed heavily. “Francesca, other than how we spar with our names, have I done something to offend you?”
Her face flushed and was accented by the red shirt she wore under her suit. “No.”
“What then?”
“Out there, I was upset about the whole event.”
“What those kids did is a shame.”
“The girl contends she got dragged into participating when the two boys riding the bus with her forced her over and told her if she didn’t beat on the man, they’d beat on her.”
“So she did?”
“Not at first. One of them punched her in the face. They threatened to do more, and she finally kicked the guy. Then the boys attacked him. Viciously.” Francesca shook her head. “I suspected something like that had happened. I feel bad for her.”
“Their bullying shouldn’t get lost in the charges, either.”
“The captain called the school. Explained the situation. They’re all being released to their parents. Then the arraignments and pleas will be Monday.”
“You’ll probably have to testify later on.”
“Yeah, I want to.” She got a faraway expression in her eyes. “Actually, I’d like to do more. Anyway, I shouldn’t have jumped on you.”
He wondered briefly what she’d do if he told her she could jump him any time she wanted. Thankfully, he managed to refrain from the ill-advised flirting.
“So, what did you want to talk to me about earlier?” she asked him.
“We should make plans for going to Beltsville next week.”
“I saw there was a packet on my desk about that, but I didn’t have a chance to read it.”
“Yeah, we gotta be there at eight sharp Monday morning. I thought we might ride over there together.”
“Every day?”
“No, only once. We’re required to stay overnight.”
“Why?”
“Some of the training involves night maneuvers.”
“Hell. I’ll have to cancel—” She stopped herself.
“See, there you go again. Keeping everything to yourself. Nobody here knows you.”
“I want it to be that way.”
“Did something happen at your last district?”
Her eyes shadowed and he wondered why. “Maybe, but my personal life is none of your business—anyone’s business.”
With that, she walked out.
Ty watched her go through the doorway. Three steps forward, two back. But for some stupid reason, her reticence only made him want to know more about her.
Chapter 3
The next day, Mack left on a call with Deke—sometimes the cap mixed up the pairings depending on the situation—and Frankie tackled some paperwork at her desk, when a man came up to the doorway. “Hello, there.”
Where had she seen this black-haired, blue-eyed guy who was tall and gorgeous? “I know you, don’t I?” she asked, rising from her chair.
“The case with the three kids in the subway yesterday?”
“You’re the paramedic.” He wore jeans and a shirt, so he must be off duty.
“And you’re one of the detectives who arrested them.”
“I am.”
He held out his hand. “Brady Sullivan.”
They shook. “Frankie Marcello.”
“Yeah, I checked out your name tag yesterday.” A cute smile accompanied the statement.
Hmm. “You did, did you?”
Now he turned on a full-fledged, powerful grin. “I did. Good to see you again.”
“Same here. I didn’t recognize you at first because you were out of context. Can I help you with something?”
He glanced at the watch on a wrist sprinkled with dark hair. “I have an appointment with your captain in a few.”
Taking a quick glance over at the cap’s office, she said, “He must be in there with someone.”
“I can wait.” He indicated the chair next to her desk. “There okay?”
Why not? “Sure.”
Five minutes later, they were laughing over some small-talk when she saw the cap’s door open and he exited...with Tyrell.
Her new friend tracked her gaze, stood and waved at them. Both men approached her office.
Tyrell reached them first. He looked good today in a gray shirt and black pants. She wore a suit, but had taken off the jacket. “Brady, you son-of-a-bitch. How are you?”
To her surprise, the two men hugged.
“Doing well, Ty. You?”
“Great.”
The captain smiled at Brady. “Sorry about the delay. I had some business to take care of.”
“Don’t apologize. I got to spend some time with Detective Marcello.”
Ty said, “She nice to you?”
“Sure. Why’d you ask?”
Instead of answering the question, he said, “You’re one of the lucky ones. Let’s get lunch soon.”
“I’ll email you some dates.”
Tyrell walked away scowling. She wondered what got his jocks in a twist this time.
“Come on in to my office.” The cap led Brady away.
He glanced over his shoulder. “Nice talking to you, Frankie. I hope I see you before I leave.”
Turning her attention to work, she perused the packet about the Secret Service training next week. When she finished, she decided to drive herself, so if she needed to leave for any reason, maybe to testify in the subway case, she’d have her car. She typed a quick email to Tyrell, and was perusing the contents of the training when he showed up at her desk. “So, it is just me.”
“What’s just you?”
“The guy who gets the cold shoulder.”
“I told you, I like to keep my personal life out of the office.”
“You’re friendly to everybody else.”
“No more than to you.”
“You were flirting with Brady.”
“We were laughing at something.”
“What?”
“None of your damned business.”
He opened his mouth to say more, when Mack returned. “Hi, all.”
“How’d the call go?” Frankie asked.
“A prank. Man, I hate those.”
“Where’s Deke?” Tyrell wanted to know.
“He went right to your office.”
Without a word, Tyrell left in a huff.
Mack got to work and, alone in her thoughts, Frankie admitted what Tyrell said about her was true. She kept her distance from everybody but Mack. She was polite but didn’t shoot the shit with her colleagues in the breakroom, preferring to have her coffee at her desk. When the image of snapping dark eyes and a body to die for came to mind—which were the reason she was so aloof—she banished the thoughts of him and picked up a folder.
* * *
At lunchtime, Ty entered The Center Avenue Diner down the street from the station house. Several cops in and out of uniform frequented the rectangular space with lots of booths. Ty slid into one across from Ash. “Thanks for meeting me.”
“I’m free till four.” His younger brother seemed rested today and...happy.
“Ah. The life of a college poetry teacher.”
“It is.” He stared at Ty. “Which you could have chosen.”
“Can’t see me in the classroom.”
After more small talk, they picked up menus. Then the waiter came and they ordered the same things: bacon cheeseburgers and French fries.
“So,” he asked Ash. “Did you get any feedback on your reading Saturday night?”
“Yeah. Mostly from students who attended. Which is why I do them. Good role-modeling.”
&n
bsp; “Don’t be modest. I’m sure there were lots of other people there.”
He shrugged. “My books sold well afterward, I’m told.”
“Not surprised. I liked the last one especially. Those love poems were sexy as all get-out.”
“You getting all romantic on me?”
He didn’t mind the bait. In fact, maybe Ty was thinking about sex more. “Nah. I’m appreciating my brother’s talent.”
“That means more to me than I can say.”
“Thanks, buddy.”
“About Mom’s party. I called, and The Prescott Inn has an opening Monday night to discuss the menu.”
“I can’t go then. I got a week-long, mandatory training, including nights. You could meet with the people alone.”
“No way. We agreed to share all the duties.”
“Does Brolin have any time to help out on food?” Both his brothers lived in the D.C./Maryland area, which was how they got their South Carolina mother to come here. She thought she was making a visit, and the festivities had been kept from her.
Their food arrived, and, as he popped a French fry into his mouth, Ty noticed two women enter the diner. One was Francesca. The other could have been her twin. Maybe was her twin. Good Lord, the two of them together were stunning.
“See a ghost?” Ash asked.
“Seeing double.”
When they passed his table, he said, “Hey, Francesca.”
“Hey.” After shooting him a dismissive glance, she took a few more steps, but the other woman stopped. Francesca was forced to backtrack. Resignation was written all over her face. “Tyrell, this is Lexy.”
Ash said, “I’m Ty’s brother, Ash.”
“Hello.” Lexy gave them a soft smile. “You two don’t look anything alike.” Ash had dark hair and eyes in contrast to Ty’s blond hair and lighter eyes.
“You two do. You got a twin, Marcello?” Ty asked.
Lexy giggled. “No, I’m the baby of the family. I’m Frankie’s sister, Lexy.”
“Ah. You live in the area, too?”
“I’m primarily in New York, for now. But I come to stay with my sisters frequently, as I don’t have my own place yet.”
“Sisters?” Ty took the opportunity to pry. “How many of you are there?”
Before Lexy could respond, Francesca actually pulled on her sister’s arm. “We gotta eat, Lexy.”
“Nice to meet you,” Lexy told them.
As they walked away, he turned to look at them and got a glimpse of Lexy’s hair. The thick, wavy strands kissed the waist of her pretty yellow dress. How the hell long was Francesca’s?
* * *
“That was rude, sweetie,” Lexy said as she slid into a booth.
Taking off her jacket, Frankie hung it on the post and sat facing her sister. The silk lime-green T-shirt she wore was cooler. “I know I was rude. That guy rubs me the wrong way.”
“The cute blond with those amazing gray eyes?”
“You think he’s cute?”
“Frankie, really, are you sick or something? He’s a doll.”
“I don’t like him getting into my business. He keeps asking about my family. What I do on my free time. That kind of thing.”
Delicately, Lexy put a napkin on her lap. Cops didn’t do that here, and Frankie left hers within reach. “That’s common among colleagues, isn’t it?”
“Maybe. Let’s not talk about him. I only have an hour—” which was why they met here “—and I want to catch up with you.”
“In a sec. He likes you, you know.”
Frankie frowned, and couldn’t understand why her heart bumped a little in her chest. “No, he doesn’t like me.” But he was intent on getting to know her.
“Mamá would say he’s got eyes for you.”
“Speaking of which, how’s the guy who’s got eyes for you?”
Lexy’s feelings lit up her whole face. “He’s great. Super. Wonderful. Once we dealt with our issues, we’ve been so happy, Frankie.”
Reaching across the table, she clasped her sister’s hand, the one that sported the lovely channel engagement ring. “Even after what he did to you?”
Her fiancé, Ryder Reynolds, had disclosed Lexy’s second surname—Gentileschi—and the fact that she was a princess with six sisters. Other than being a huge betrayal, his revelation could lead to Frankie’s and Raven’s outing because they used Marcello, too.
“People in love forgive each other.”
I love you, Frankie. Please, forgive me.
She pushed the thought of Lou away. “I know, honey.”
With a fallen expression on her face, Lexy said, “I hope our name getting out doesn’t harm you.”
“I don’t think cops are going to pay attention to kid’s books about princesses. No offense, Lex.”
“None taken. Preorders have skyrocketed since the princess stuff leaked.”
“Besides,” Frankie inserted, “you said he made sure your sisters’ names wouldn’t be part of the promo.”
“He’s promised they won’t be.” She bit her lip. “I’m still concerned.”
“Raven and I asked you not to worry about this, sweetie. Now, what’s going on with you and Ryder?”
“He wants me to move in with him.”
“Hmm.”
“I think it’s too soon.”
“What do you need from me on this?”
“What you always do, question me so I can clarify my thinking.”
“You love him, but can you trust him?”
“No. I probably won’t completely trust him for a long time.”
“Would living with him speed that up?”
“I keep wondering about that. But something’s holding me back.”
“What?”
“Just a feeling. He says I have to take a leap of faith.”
“He should be more understanding. He betrayed you.”
“But I’ve forgiven that. Truly.”
“You’re such a good person, Lex.”
“Too good, I think sometimes.”
“Nah.”
Their chicken Caesar salads arrived at the table with Tyrell right behind them. “I wanted to say goodbye.”
“How sweet.” Lexy gave him another winning smile.
“Nice meeting you, Lexy.” He gestured to Frankie. “Teach your sister how to socialize, would you?”
Man, he could press her buttons. “Why should she do that?”
“To make us all happy.”
Frankie rolled her eyes. “You’re the only one who cares.”
“Well, for me then. ’Bye ladies.”
“Goodbye, Tyrell.”
Frankie watched him walk out. His black pants fit him well, and the gray shirt tapered into a trim waist. His legs—
“You’re a liar, Francesca Marcello.”
Her gaze snapped back to Lexy. “How so?”
“You have eyes for him, too.”
* * *
When Francesca and her sister walked out of the diner, Ty was sitting at an outdoor table. He grinned up at them. “Hello, again. Would you like an escort back to the station house?”
Geez, the guy had nerve. “What are you doing here?”
He held up the cell. “I had some calls to make. Then I waited for you.”
Lexy elbowed her sister. “Yes, we’d love an escort. It’ll give me time to get to know you.”
Standing, he held out his crooked arm. Laughing, Lexy slid hers through it. Francesca made sure she was on the other side of her sister.
Lexy asked, “Where did your brother go?”
“Down to D.C. He teaches college writing there.” They took a few steps. “So, why do you live in New York?”
“I sold a book, a series of books to a publisher, and the time frame until publication is short. I need to be there for the innumerable things an author has to do for a release.”
“My brother publishes poetry. I thought authors did everything online these days.”
“No, not everythi
ng. But the reason I stayed is an old story: I met a guy, fell in love, so I’m there. Gladly.” She socked his arm gently. “Your turn. Tell me about your life.”
“Where to start?” He was quiet. “I hail from South Carolina. Two brothers: the oldest is Brolin, Ashley is the youngest. We grew up with lots of love and pampering. Your turn.”
“We have more than two in our family.”
“Alexandra!”
Her sister sighed. “Frankie doesn’t want people to get too personal. Did your parents want you to be a cop?”
“Hardly. At their urging, I went to Princeton for pre-law. Halfway through, I decided to do what I’d always wanted: law enforcement. Nobody took it well, especially Anna Mae.”
“You have a sister, too?”
“No, my mom. One of my greatest regrets is that I hurt her with my career.” He smiled down at Lexy. “What’s your greatest regret?”
“That Ryder and I had such a hard time getting together. Before that, nothing.”
“How come?”
Suddenly, Francesca broke stride and began running.
When Ty saw why he said, “Stay back, Lexy,” and took off, too. Francesca reached the big, burly man who was kicking a child, a child who lay screaming on the ground.
When she reached the guy, Francesca jumped on his back, forcing him up from the kid.
“What the fuck are you doing?” he spat out.
“What the fuck are you doing?” She yanked his arms around and cuffed him with plastic ties. But he bucked, throwing her back on her ass.
Ty bent down and scooped up the little girl. He cuddled her to him, while Frankie righted herself. “Now, that’s assaulting a police officer. In addition to assaulting a child.”
“You can’t assault your own kid.”
Ty held the child’s head as she wept. “Get the asshole to the station, and I’ll take care of this little one and Lexy.” The girl gripped Ty’s neck even more tightly.
Francesca looked down the street. Lexy was standing about twenty feet away, her hand over her mouth. “All right. Bring her back to me.”
“I’ll meet you in my office.”
* * *