Out of Left Field

by Morgan Kearns

He laughed, pulled her into a hug. His huge hands cupped her bottom and pressed her into him. “I kind of enjoyed it.”

  “Don’t ever do that to me again.” She didn’t wait for his promise. She kissed him. He tasted like sugar and man and every delicious thing she’d ever tasted all at the same time. She couldn’t get enough. Kisses were suddenly no longer enough. She needed him all over her with nothing between them. Now. She reached for the buttons of his shirt.

  His hands slid up her back under her shirt and she felt scalded. He unlatched her bra and his hands moved around her ribcage.

  “How about you come home with me?”

  Reality rose up and doused her. She stiffened. She slid down his body, feeling evidence of the effect their make-out session had on him. She didn’t experience the need to do a victory dance, though. She felt a little sick.

  She tried to find her big girl panties, to admit the truth to him, but offered a simple, “I can’t,” instead.

  He nodded and she knew he knew exactly what the problem was. His past would always be his past and it would always bother her.

  “Okay, sweet thang—”

  “Please don’t call me that.”

  “Wha—”

  “I’m Frankie.” She wrapped her arms around herself, hoping to hold all the shattering pieces together. “That’s what you call all the others. I don’t want to be one of the others. I want to be the one and only.”

  She went back to the door and opened it. If he didn’t hurry up and get the hell out of her house, she wouldn’t be able to keep it together. Especially when he stood before her looking so vulnerable, so broken.

  He slowly joined her at the door. “When I get back, will you please have dinner with me?”

  She nodded, not sure having dinner would change anything. “Good night.”

  When he walked out the door, he may as well have taken her heart with him, instead she got out the proverbial broom and swept up the pieces herself.

  24

  Frankie signed the bottom of another medical record and shut the folder. It always amazed her how much she got done when the team went on the road. It’d never bothered her in the past. In fact, she’d kind of enjoyed the reprieve. To a point. Because once she got caught up, she got bored.

  She put the final file on the top of the stack and sat back in her chair, stretching her arms over her head. Damn, it was quieter than a bar at sunrise.

  Needing some kind of auditory stimulation, she crossed her office and opened the door. Of course the hallway would be empty, but knowing it didn’t stop her from sticking her head out and looking down one way then the other.

  Thanks to helping Xavier with his recovery, it’d been a long time since she’d faced the isolated insanity. Truth was, she didn’t like this at all.

  She grabbed the door, stepped back and, tugging it open, she slammed it. The glass in the window rattled, the echo of wood door against metal jam ricocheted through her office. She wondered if the groundskeepers had heard it. She sighed and returned to her desk.

  Tapping a pen against the desk top, she glanced around at her office. The only indications of Frankie’s personal life included a picture of her mother, a close-up of her and Christian mid laugh, and diplomas declaring her capable of the job. She supposed it fit. A person shouldn’t clutter their professional workspace with personal items.

  And they shouldn’t complicate their personal life by bringing their professional side home.

  Oh, but she wanted to be complicated.

  She thought of Xavier for the umpteenth time since he’d left. The last two days felt more like a lifetime. Maybe it had been. That would explain why she had nothing to do.

  The shrill ring of her office phone came out of nowhere. She jumped and nearly sent herself over backward. It was weird it would be her office phone ringing. Since everybody was gone. She breathed deep, sent a prayer to the heavens nobody’d been injured, and picked up the phone.

  “Holden.”

  “Hey, Doc.” The greeting washed over her as warm and soothing as a gentle, loving caress.

  “Hey, yourself,” she breathed, feeling a little like a phone sex operator.

  “I’ve missed you.”

  Hearing him say those words made her want to hop on the next flight to join him. Screw her concerns. Instead she did her best to play it cool.

  “How’s your shoulder?”

  “I didn’t call to talk about my shoulder.” Deep sigh. He probably ran a hand through his hair too.

  “Oh. Okay.” She was so lame. “Why’d you call?”

  He laughed, a short snort of … annoyance? “I already told you; I’ve missed you.”

  “It’s only been two days,” she said, but man, she’d missed him like crazy.

  “And I’ve missed you.” He paused and she pictured him shaking his head or rolling his eyes. “I’m not usually the kind of guy to fish for compliments but—”

  “That’s because women offer them easily.”

  Another snort. “Ouch.”

  “I’m just sayin’.” She shrugged and sat back in her chair, popping her feet on top. “You don’t have to fish for compliments because you’re constantly being told how wonderful you are.”

  “Except from the one woman I want to hear it from.” His clipped tone stopped her short, the smile dissolving from her face.

  “Xavier, I’ve missed you, too.”

  “Now, was that so hard?” She heard his smile.

  “No. It wasn’t hard at all.” She curled her finger in the phone cord. “Since we’ve got that out of the way, how’s your shoulder?”

  “Fine. No pain. I’ve been working out a bit.” He laughed softly. “You’ll be happy to know Grayson’s taking his assignment very seriously.”

  Frankie blushed. She hadn’t meant for Xavier to figure out Grayson played the part of her eyes and ears. She could have asked Jeff, probably should have, considering he was the guy responsible for the team on the road. But Grayson and Xavier were as close as brothers and she wanted someone who loved X as much as she—

  No, she wasn’t going there.

  “I’m glad to hear that.”

  “I don’t need a babysitter, Doc.”

  She smiled. “I just didn’t want you to do anything stupid.”

  “I’m done being stupid, Frankie.” Long, drawn out pause. “In every aspect of my life.”

  She knew exactly what he referenced to, but this phone call wasn’t the time and, with all the miles between them, it wasn’t the place, either.

  “What’s your favorite color?”

  He laughed. “Subtle subject change, sweet th- ah, heart.”

  “Lemme guess. You seem like you’d prefer a manly color.” She tapped her finger on her bottom lip. “Blue?”

  “How stereotypical.”

  “Green?”

  He burst out laughing. She imagined his amused face and smiled. “My favorite color would be pink.”

  “Huh uh.” She shook her head, feeling at home in her own skin. “I’m being serious here.”

  “So am I.” His voice softened, grew wistful. “My favorite color is the pinky orange of a Nevada sunset.”

  Wow! Not what she’d expected at all.

  “Same question, sweetheart. What’s your favorite color?”

  How was she supposed to follow up his answer? Anything she said would sound shallow and cheesy. So she went with the truth. “Yellow.”

  “Uh-huh.”

  “But not light yellow. It’s gotta be the bright happy sunshine yellow.”

  “Happy yellow. Got it.” He chuckled softly and she wondered what he thought. “Are you a sweet, sappy, chick flick kinda girl?”

  Her shoulder lifted. “Not really. I’m more of an action flick girl. The more gun fights, the better.”

  “Blood and guts or horror?”

  “Neither. You?”

  He paused, thinking. “I like the old Stallone and Willis kind of flicks.”

  “Not a fan of First
Blood, but I love Rocky, and DieHard. Classic!”

  “I knew I loved you.”

  And like a nuclear bomb, the blast from the L-word mushroomed in the air between them. Except only she seemed to suffer from the fallout. His chuckles continued. So either he didn’t notice he’d said it or he used the word all the time and it meant nothing. She guessed probably the latter.

  “I own them all,” he continued, unfazed. “We should do a movie marathon.”

  She tried to remain light throughout the rest of their conversation. He was playful and friendly and funny. Absolutely charming. They talked for an hour, discussing music, food, cars, even exercise habits.

  “I already know you’re not a fan of Pilates.”

  “I didn’t say that.”

  “Yes, you did.” She opened her desk drawer and pulled out the peach exercise band that had been so offensive to him. “You insisted you were a man and—”

  “I was just being an ass.”

  “Ha!” She tugged the band between her hands, feeling her forearms tighten. “That’s putting it lightly.”

  “You know I really should apologize for the hell I put you through.” He sighed. “It wasn’t fair to you. You were only trying to help me and I made it harder.”

  And she rolled right into the gutter. “I thought it was my job to make you hard.”

  He growled. “Dangerous territory, Doc.”

  “Did I just say that?”

  “Yeah. You did.”

  “I’m sorry.” She giggled nervously. “I shouldn’t have gone there.”

  “No, you shouldn’t.”

  Well, wasn’t that a railroad spike to her happy attempt at flirting?

  “We shouldn’t discuss how hard you make me.” His voice dropped to a low whisper. “Especially when you’re not close enough to examine it.”

  She had no idea how to respond to a provocative statement like that. So she went with the very original, “Oh.”

  Noise and conversation erupted on his side of the line. “Xavier! Yo man! We’re starving. Let’s go.”

  “I’ll be right there.”

  One of the other guys laughed. “You can call your woman back after you’ve taken your little blue pills, Old Man. Your limp dick isn’t going to do you any good until you do.”

  She heard the muffle of his palm slipped over the mouthpiece on his phone. “Get out of here, Santiago, before I kick your ass.” She didn’t hear the response but heard Xavier’s response of, “Go to hell.”

  More muffled laughter drifted through the line then Xavier’s voice came back. “I’m sorry about that. They’ve been sticking their heads in here, trying to get me to join them for dinner for the last twenty minutes.”

  “You go. We’ll talk later.” She didn’t want to hang up.

  “I’d rather talk to you.”

  She smiled. “Call anytime. I’m bored out of my mind.”

  “I miss you.”

  “I miss you, too.” And his phone call only made her miss him more.

  “Don’t forget our date. I’ve already made plans.”

  “I won’t. It’s on my calendar. In pen.”

  He was silent for a couple heartbeats. “I’ve got something very important I need to show you.” Her heart jumped. She didn’t know what to say, and thankfully he didn’t wait for a response before he said words that changed everything. “I love you, Frankie.”

  With her jaw still resting on the floor, the line went dead.

  She immediately picked up her cell phone, found his number and hit him back. Only to get voicemail.

  “Asshole,” she muttered under her breath, sliding her phone back into her pocket when what she really wanted to do was chuck it against the wall.

  How dare he drop the L-bomb—twice—just to hang up on her? Had he meant to say it? Was he afraid she wouldn’t say it back? Or was he just guaranteeing she’d show up at dinner?

  Oh, good hell. His motivation didn’t matter. She’d be there because there wasn’t a place on earth she’d rather be.

  25

  “He’s here!” Christian yelled from the living room. “And he’s in a freakin’ limo!” The heavy thud of his footfalls racing down the hall warned her he’d be standing in her bedroom soon.

  He rounded the corner and swept his hand over his hair. He looked like a giddy little kid, waiting for Santa.

  “It’s the longest one I’ve ever seen.” He wiggled his brows. “And that’s saying something.”

  Mom opened her mouth and Frankie jumped in. “Stop. Both of you.”

  Two innocent expressions turned her way and she couldn’t help but laugh.

  Christian recovered first. “You look great, Frank, but you’d better hurry. Don’t wanna keep Prince Charming waiting.” The doorbell rang and he raced out to answer it.

  Frankie cocked her head and scowled. Leave it to Christian to put her concern into words. She’d worried over the last three days, after her conversation and the way it ended, how things would be when she came face to face with Xavier again.

  Part of her wondered if he’d even show up. Or if he’d regret dropping those three little words and head for the hills. Maybe he’d become a mountain man. He’d make one hell of a sexy mountain man.

  Another look in the full length mirror and she forced a smile.

  “You look beautiful. Why the frown, dear?”

  “It’s a smile. See?” She pulled her lips higher. “Teeth.”

  Her mother laughed. “Take a deep breath.”

  Frankie closed her eyes and allowed her lungs to stretch to their limits. When she opened her eyes again, her mother stood at her other side.

  “Now … smile.”

  This time, as her lips tilted up and her teeth appeared she didn’t look like she was snarling. She looked … happy. Beautiful. She smoothed her hands down the front of the salmon-colored dress that had shown up on her doorstep yesterday and slipped her feet into the matching mile-high heels. Both fit perfectly. Her heart swelled knowing Xavier had picked them out for her … and that he knew her sizes.

  He knew her. But she still had a secret capable of shocking the hell out of him and potentially changing the way he saw her. She bit her lip and dropped her gaze to the floor.

  “Whatever you’re thinking about, honey, I’m sure there’s nothing to worry about.” Her mother’s frigid hand enclosed around Frankie’s arm and she leaned into her daughter. “Don’t worry yourself out of letting a man who adores you love you.”

  Frankie laughed lightly. “He doesn’t—”

  “Don’t keep him waiting, sweetie.”

  ***

  The man standing in her living room, talking to Christian wasn’t Xavier. This guy wore a dark suit and held a chauffeur’s hat in his hands. When he noticed her, he stiffened then smiled.

  “Ms. Holden.” He extended his hand. “I’m here to take you to meet Mr. Xavier. Are you ready?”

  She nodded, biting her tongue to keep from demanding where Xavier was and why he’d sent a driver for her.

  The driver opened the door and went outside, pausing on the porch. “I’ll be waiting by the car.”

  Frankie turned to hug Christian, who wrapped her in an embrace second only to the comfort she found in Xavier’s arms.

  Chris kissed her temple. “Don’t psych yourself out, Frank.”

  “I’m not—”

  “Going to freak yourself out on the ride to wherever you’re going. Just relax. It’ll be fine.” He slid something small, square, cold, metallic into her hand. “Just in case.”

  She blushed from head to toe. “Thanks.”

  “Don’t show your mom. She’ll have a cow.”

  “Show me what?” Her mother stepped up to give a hug. “And I don’t have cows.”

  “Charlotte, you have a whole frickin’ herd grazing in the back yard. But I love you anyway.” Christian gave Charlotte a quick hug before heading for the door. He paused and pointed at Frankie. “Love you, Frank. Call me in the morning. And you�
��” He aimed his finger in her mother’s direction. “Promise you’ll call me if you need anything tonight.”

  She smiled. “I promise. Now get out of here. Both of you.”

  Frankie shielded her eyes from the bright sky. The sun had begun its descent, not quite evening yet no longer afternoon. She climbed into the backseat of the limo and waved to her mother before the driver shut the door.

  The ride didn’t take too long, and the closer they got to their destination, the surer she became of where they were going and what she’d find once she got there. She took her cell out of her purse when a text message came in.

  Go with ur <3. Luv u, C

  She smiled and turned the phone off. Her heart knew exactly what it wanted, had known it for a while now, actually.

  As they pulled up in front of Xavier’s large two-story home, and he came out onto the porch, dressed in a tuxedo with a tie the exact color of her dress, her heart tried to jump out of her chest.

  She loved him.

  It was about damn time she admitted it to both of them.

  ***

  Xavier felt like one big bundle of exposed nerve endings. He’d planned this night down to every last detail. When he’d first asked her to dinner, he’d thought he’d take her to some fancy restaurant, but the more he considered what this dinner, this conversation, this night meant, he knew he couldn’t do it in a public setting.

  So he hired the maid to clean the house from top to bottom, the driver to keep him from making love to Frankie in the back seat of a car, the caterer to cook something delicious, and the florist to make just the right arrangements.

  He checked his watch. Again. Pulled the curtain back. Twice. And when the black limo eased to a stop at the curb, it took every ounce of control he had not to run out and scoop her into his arms. He strolled out onto the porch with his hands stuffed deep into his pockets.

  The driver came around the car and Xavier shifted from his right foot to his left. When the door opened and the driver offered a hand to Frankie, Xavier’s entire body tensed. He couldn’t wait to see her. It’d only been a few days, but those days felt like forever.