by SJ McCoy
Frankie chuckled when Dr. Johnny came out and leaned in the doorway, watching his wife. He winked at Frankie before sliding his arms around Jean’s waist and pulling her back against him. “Did I hear you right? You want to start asking guys out and dating?”
She laughed and slapped his arm. “I didn’t say that, and you know it. I was saying that if I were of dating age today, I’d want to be like Frankie and not some little wallflower.”
Johnny laughed and dropped a kiss on the tip of her nose. “Things might have been different when we met, but you were never ever a wallflower, my love.”
Warmth spread through Frankie’s chest as she watched them together. She didn’t know how old they were, fifties … sixties maybe. But they were obviously and blatantly still very much in love.
Johnny smiled up at her. “May I ask what my wife’s so excited about?”
Frankie hesitated, but she needn’t have worried. Jean spoke before she could anyway.
“Frankie’s going out with Spider tonight. She asked him out and she’s here to pick him up. Isn’t that wonderful?”
Frankie didn’t know why she was disappointed when Dr. Johnny didn’t immediately join in with his wife’s enthusiasm. She shouldn’t expect it. He was the older generation – and a man – they were used to being the ones to take the lead. She hoped that he wouldn’t think less of her for not living by his rules. She knew a lot of men did, but she wanted Johnny to be better than that. She believed he was. She wanted to ask if he had a problem, but she made herself wait to give him a chance.
He smiled at her and nodded. “I hope the two of you have a great time.”
“But?” Damn, why couldn’t she keep her mouth shut?
He frowned at her sharp tone. “Oh! You think I disapprove of you being the one to ask him?” He shook his head. “No! I’m proud of you. We don’t have a daughter, but Frankie, if we did, I hope she’d be just like you.”
She had to close her eyes and swallow back the emotion that tightened her throat. When she opened them again, Johnny was standing beside the truck, his hands resting on the open window.
“I didn’t match Jean’s enthusiasm – as if anyone ever could – not because I disapprove of you asking him or any such thing. It’s just …” He shook his head. “It’s none of my business. I hope you guys have a great evening.”
“But if it were your business. And I like to think that we’re friends, so that kind of makes it your business. What would you say?”
He met her gaze and nodded slowly. “I think I have to explain myself now. You know how highly I think of you – or you should. And I think just as highly of Spider.”
“But?”
“But neither of you had an easy start in life.” He shook his head again. “Forget it. You guys are going on one date. He’s just here visiting. I shouldn’t have wandered off into deeper territory. You kids go out and have fun.”
Frankie didn’t want to let it go at that, her heart was hammering in her chest, she wanted to know what Johnny was thinking. But she couldn’t push him. She was relieved, though, when Jean did.
“Tell her, Johnny. I think I know what you’re thinking, and you should say it.” She shot a smile at Frankie. “I have the feeling this will turn out to be more than one date.”
“I think that even though the two of you may seem completely different on the surface, you’re really very similar. You’ve lived through similar experiences and dealt with them in the same way. If this does turn out to be something … something more than one date, I think the two of you could help each other out.” He paused and met her gaze. “And I think you could hurt each other badly, too.”
Frankie wanted to ask a million questions, but Johnny pushed away from the truck and smiled. “But we’re probably making you late. You don’t need to be sitting around here listening to the ramblings of two oldies. Go on. Go get your man and take him out.”
She nodded and put the truck back in drive. He was right. This was just one date. She didn’t know Spider’s history and background. She didn’t need to worry about what Dr. Johnny had meant – especially not how she might be able to hurt him, or him her. They were just going out, hopefully for a few laughs and a beer. At best, she might get to find out how his arms felt around her, and how his lips felt against hers at the end of the night. At worst, they’d find out that they didn’t have anything in common, and as soon as she’d shown Ace that she really did have a date tonight, she could drop Spider back off here and head home.
Chapter Five
“You’re sure you guys don’t mind me going out? I … it feels weird.” Spider had been second guessing himself while he’d taken a shower and gotten ready. Sure, Frankie was attractive, but …
Tara put her hand on his arm. “We’re sure. I think it’s awesome. Frankie’s great. I’m sure the two of you will have a good time. It’ll do you good to get out and about.” She smiled. “I’m so glad you’re here, but I want it to be fun for you, I don’t want you to feel like you’re stuck with us.”
“I don’t!”
Reid came and slid his arm around Tara’s waist, pulling her into his side. “Let it go, Spider. It’s like Owen said this afternoon. Everyone wins.”
Spider ran a hand over his head and nodded. He totally got what Owen had said about Mommy and Daddy staying in kissing. He wasn’t so sure about him kissing Frankie. He wanted to. But he wasn’t sure it was a great idea. He’d have to play it by ear. He didn’t date much and when he did, his relationships tended to be short and physical. That didn’t seem right to him. Frankie wasn’t some random chick. She was friends with Reid and Tara, she worked with Owen. He should probably make sure that he stuck to treating her as a friend, maybe she’d become one; he liked that idea better.
Reid let go of Tara and hurried to get the door when a buzzer sounded.
“Someone’s on the driveway!” Owen called.
As soon as Reid opened the front door, Spider could see Frankie climbing out of a truck, and all thoughts of treating her as just a friend evaporated. She was gorgeous.
He hurried to join Reid at the door, hoping that they’d be able to leave without her coming inside and standing around exchanging pleasantries.
It seemed she felt the same way. She stopped in her tracks when she spotted him. She didn’t say anything, just stared, and he took that to mean that she was expecting him to come out. He looked back over his shoulder at Tara and Owen.
“I’ll see you guys later.”
“See you tomorrow,” said Owen.
Tara smiled. “I’ll say see you tomorrow, too. You have a key; don’t think you need to get back before we go to bed.”
He nodded, grateful that she was trying so hard to make this easy on him. “Thanks. If I’m late, I’ll be quiet.”
“Don’t worry about it. Now go. Frankie’s not the kind of girl you want to keep waiting.”
Spider smiled, and Reid grasped his shoulder on his way out. “Do me a favor and text if you’re not going to be back?” he asked in a low voice.
Spider started to speak, about to tell him that he would be back, that … but Reid just smiled and steered him out the door as he called to Frankie.
“You guys have fun!”
Frankie waved and smiled at Reid. Spider looked back over his shoulder as the front door closed behind him even as he was making his way down the steps.
Frankie still hadn’t moved from the spot where she’d stopped. When he reached her, he was surprised to see a slight flush on her cheeks. She didn’t strike him as the type to get embarrassed, but what did he know?
“Hello.”
He smiled. “Hello back.”
She really was beautiful. She was tall for a girl. Spider was six-two and his earlier guess had been right; she was only four or five inches shorter than him. Her long, dark hair hung loose around her shoulders, and she was wearing another tank top that showed off her bare, tan shoulders. This one was pretty and flowery. It made her seem more girly than t
he black and red one yesterday. Wearing that she’d looked like a badass. Wearing this one she looked more feminine, softer. He cleared his throat. He should be saying something instead of standing there staring at her.
“Thanks for this. I think they’re glad to get me out of their hair for the evening. It’s good of you to offer to show me around.”
Her smile disappeared.
“What?”
She pursed her lips and looked up into his eyes. “You do know that’s not what’s going on here, don’t you?”
He shrugged. Shit. He’d just said the first thing that came to mind.
“If that’s all you want it be then that’s fine.” She turned and started walking back to her truck. “Jump in,” she called over her shoulder.
Spider hurried after her, deciding as he went that he’d better do some damage control quick.
She was fastening her seatbelt by the time he climbed into the passenger side. She reached to turn the key in the ignition, but he caught hold of her hand and slid across the bench seat until he was next to her. She didn’t pull her hand back. She just turned and looked up into his eyes. “What’s up?”
He smiled, glad to see that she wasn’t afraid of him. Although, she was a little irritated. He needed to fix that. “What’s up is that I’ve been an asshole so far and I need to change that. My only excuse is that you keep throwing me off. The first time I laid eyes on you, you had me at the wrong end of a shotgun. The second time, you asked me out, and I screwed up because I’m not used to that. And tonight, you’ve thrown me off because you’re just so …” he let his gaze travel over her … “Beautiful. You threw me. But I’m all caught up with myself now. So, before we go anywhere, I wanted to ask if we could start over.”
She raised one eyebrow and smiled through pursed lips. “And if I was okay with that – if I gave you the chance to take back your dumb comment about me being kind enough to show you around – how would you want to start our date? Because as far as I’m concerned, this is a date, mister.”
Her eyes twinkled with mischief, but there was that same defiant tilt to her chin. Spider didn’t know if it was a challenge or what, but he did know how he wanted to answer her question; how he wanted to start their date. He stroked his fingers down her cheek and lifted her chin as he lowered his head to hers. Her eyes widened in surprise, but she didn’t back off. He was the one to stop when his lips were less than an inch from hers. He wanted to claim her mouth, but he needed to know that she wanted it too.
She blinked once, then brought her hand up to cup the back of his head and closed the final distance between them. Spider had intended to keep it tame; he brushed his lips over hers. But her tongue darted out and teased the seam of his lips. He opened up and let her in, letting her take the lead. Her kiss was fun and flirty, but he needed more. When she angled his head so that she could deepen the kiss, he took over. His arm curled around her and pulled her against his chest. She released a little moan from the back of her throat as both her hands came up around his neck. He plundered her mouth, sweeping deep, his tongue mating with hers, his heart pounding in his chest as she pressed herself against him. His hand closed around the side of her neck, holding her in place. When it started to wander down over her throat and was almost at her breast before he realized its intention, he pulled back. Kissing her in her truck in Reid’s driveway was crazy enough. Touching her like that? Hell. No way!
She sat back, and the way her tongue ran over her now kiss-swollen lips made it hard not to lean back in.
“Wow!” she breathed. “Best first kiss ever!”
Spider felt as if he grew two feet taller at her words. Though whether that was because she’d called him the best or because the fact that she called it the first told him that there’d be more to come, he didn’t know.
She reached up and touched his cheek. Her expression was soft as she ran her fingers up over his shaved head until she touched the strip of hair there. “That’s a mohawk, right?”
Spider shrugged. “I guess.”
“Whatever it’s called, I wouldn’t have thought that I’d like it, but on you …” She smiled and shook her head. “Wow!”
He chuckled. “I’m glad you like it.” He couldn’t help sinking his fingers into her hair, twisting a few strands around his hand.
Her eyes widened. “Hey, just because I kissed you doesn’t mean I’m going to spread my legs for you. I’m passionate, not an easy lay.”
Spider dropped her hair and sat back. “I didn’t think … I’m not saying I wouldn’t want … but not tonight …” He pulled himself together. “What did I do wrong?”
She sucked in a deep breath and blew it out. “Nothing. Sorry. I overreacted.” She reached down and turned the key in the ignition and turned the truck around without another word. They were halfway up the driveway before she spoke again. “Have you seen Jean and Dr. Johnny yet?”
“They’re here?” That surprised him enough to make him stop wondering what had spooked her like that.
“Yeah. I saw them on my way in. There …” She pointed. “I should warn you that I told them I was here for you and that I’d asked you out.”
Spider wasn’t sure if he liked that. Something about the whole situation made him feel like a kid again. He was out of his element and people were talking to each other about arrangements they were making for him. It wasn’t like that, and he knew it on a conscious level, but it made him uncomfortable, nonetheless.
~ ~ ~
Frankie was glad to let Spider chat with Jean and Dr. Johnny for a few minutes while she recovered her composure. That kiss had nearly blown her socks off – or it would have if she were wearing any. Damn, the man could kiss.
She looked him over while he chatted with Jean. He’d jumped out and gone to hug her and to shake hands with Dr. Johnny. It made Frankie relax a little. He had to be a good guy if they were so obviously fond of him.
When he’d taken her hair in his hand like that it had freaked her the fuck out. It shouldn’t have. She regretted pulling away like she had. But … whatever. He hadn’t freaked on her.
Jean came around to her window when Spider climbed back into the passenger seat. “Thanks for bringing him to say hello. As I was telling you earlier, he’s a wonderful young man, and one we’re proud to call our friend.” She winked at Spider. “And the same goes for Frankie here. Now, you two go and have fun. I hope we’ll see you soon.”
Dr. Johnny came and stood beside her, pulling her into his side and away from the truck. “I’ll try to make sure she’s not out here every time you drive by,” he said with a grin.
Frankie and Spider laughed as Jean turned and swatted at his backside. “I’m not that bad!”
Johnny grinned at them as he dodged her. “Make a break for it while you can. I’ll distract her.”
Frankie pulled the truck forward and they both waved as they left. Johnny and Jean didn’t even notice, they were too busy chasing each other around, laughing.
She glanced at them in the rearview mirror. They were still horsing around as she turned at the end of the long driveway. “They’re awesome,” she said, more to herself than to Spider.
“They are. They’re two of the best people I’ve ever known.”
“How do you know them?” She found it strange that he seemed to be such good friends with Reid and Tara, and now Johnny and Jean, too. It dawned on her that she didn’t know what the connection was. “You’re obviously close.”
“Yeah. I guess we are. It’s a long story, though. Where are we going?”
She wasn’t sure she liked the way he changed the subject, but she supposed it was fair that he wanted to know what the evening ahead held. She could always ask him again later.
“I thought we could get something to eat at the Riverside. It’s nothing special it’s just a local hang out place down …”
“By the river?” he asked with a smirk.
She laughed. “Yeah. You’re kinda bright for a city kid, aren’t you?�
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He laughed with her. “I guess I am. My powers of deduction know no limits.”
“Are you good with that? I thought we could get a burger there. Then if you like, I’ll take you to Chico. It’s a resort …”
“Yeah. I’ve been there before. Are you thinking of the saloon for a drink?”
“Yeah.” She should probably warn him that Ace, and who knew who else, would be there. But she could do it later. She wanted to get to know him a bit better first – well, to get to know him, period. She didn’t know much of anything about him yet, other than the fact that he’d given her the best kiss she’d ever had, and that despite looking like some bad ass biker dude, he was the kind of person who was not only friends with Reid and Tara, but whom Owen adored, and apparently Johnny and Jean did, too.
“Okay. That sounds good to me.”
When they got to the Riverside, she was glad that there were so many tourists there. There were still plenty of locals who greeted her with puzzled looks when they saw Spider at her side, but none of them came over.
They took a table outside, and a server came over within a couple of minutes and set two beers in front of them. Spider gave Frankie a puzzled look, but she just laughed. “It gets crazy busy in tourist season, and they know that all the locals come in for a beer and a burger. So, they just bring ’em out. If you want something other than a burger and fries, speak up now.”
Spider smiled, and she felt her breath hitch in her chest. The guy had a killer smile. The lines around his eyes creased a little deeper, making her guess that he smiled a lot.
“I’m good with that. It makes a lot of sense, too. Makes me wonder if I shouldn’t set up something like it for band nights at the shop.”
She raised an eyebrow. “Band nights at the shop?”
“Yeah. Shit.” He ran his hand over his head and her eyes followed.