Beauty and the Wolf (12 page)

“True.” Frankie wished she could tell them Harry had set his sights on her. She'd love to confide the details of her and Eli's plan to thwart Harry's matchmaking scheme and get their perspective. “I wish he'd turn his attention elsewhere.”

“So do I.” Cornelia's mouth firmed, her eyes snapping militantly. “I'm getting tired of dealing with him—and being his last-minute date for functions. In fact, the golf pro at the club asked me out, and I said yes. Maybe Harry will stop taking us all for granted if we're not so available whenever he calls.”

“Mom!” Frankie was speechless and suspected her shock was written on her face. She glanced at Tommi to see the same stunned surprise on her sister's face. “I've never heard you complain about Uncle Harry before.”

“Well, you're hearing it now,” Cornelia's cheeks pinkened, her eyes bright with annoyance beneath the smooth sleek chignon that swept her blond hair up and away from her face, exposing the clean lines of beautiful bone structure. “I've dealt with Harry for years, and frankly, I'm fed up.”

Frankie couldn't imagine her mother staying angry at Harry. Cornelia had argued with Harry over the years, most often when he'd wanted to lavish her daughters with extravagant gifts. But the two had been friends since they were children.

Much as she wanted Harry to stop trying to fix her up with eligible men, she didn't want to see friction between him and her mother.

And Cornelia sounded as if she were upset with Harry on a personal level.

Surely Cornelia would soon calm, forgive Harry, and things would go on as usual. Wouldn't they?

Sharing tea, chatting and laughing with her mother and Tommi was just what she'd needed, Frankie reflected later as she drove home.

The phone rang just as she unlocked her condo door and she hurried inside, relocking the door behind her before walking quickly across the living room. She dropped her car keys and purse on the sofa and picked up the phone. “Hello?”

“Hi, Frankie, this is Harry.”

Her anticipation deflated and she realized she'd hoped the caller was Eli.

“Hi, Uncle Harry.” Phone tucked between shoulder and ear, she shrugged out of her coat and went to hang it up. “What are you up to?” she asked, curious.

“I've been working on a new software program that has the potential to revolutionize the future of robotics.

But that's not why I called,” he said abruptly. “I want
to ask you about something, but I don't want you to tell your mother.”

Frankie's eyebrows lifted. “All right. Unless it's something I think she needs to know about,” she added hastily. This was, after all, Harry Hunt. Who knew what he was up to?

“Your mother told me the other night that she couldn't go to a function with me because she already had a date. I want to know who she's seeing.”

His blunt request for information left Frankie speechless.

“Harry, I think you should ask Mom this question. If she wants you to know, she'll tell you.”

“I can't ask Cornelia,” Harry said impatiently. “She'd probably tell me to go take a flying leap.”

Yes, she very well might,
Frankie thought with a grin. “Nevertheless, I'm a little uncomfortable answering you, Uncle Harry, especially if you think Mom wouldn't want you to know.”

“I didn't say I thought she doesn't want me to know,” Harry growled. “I just said she'd make me suffer before she told me.”

She couldn't hold back the laugh that bubbled up. “And you'd rather skip the suffering and just get the information?”

“Of course. Who wouldn't?” Harry sounded put out. “I can't believe Cornelia is dating someone else. Why would she do that?”

Frankie rolled her eyes. “Why wouldn't she, Uncle
Harry? She's an attractive, single woman. Why shouldn't she enjoy an active social life?”

“Because up until now, her social life has included me and apparently she's decided to change the rules, that's why.” Harry's deep voice roared over the line.

Frankie winced and held the phone away from her ear.

“I'm sorry I yelled,” he said immediately, frustration apparent in his voice. “But I don't understand why you're reluctant to tell me what I need to know.”

“All right.” Frankie made a swift decision. “Mom's been dating the golf pro at her club.”

“Greg?” Harry's voice was incredulous. “He's too young for her.”

“I suspect the same could be said about the women you've dated in the past,” Frankie told him evenly. “And I don't see why Mom shouldn't go out with Greg if she wants. I think she's having fun.”

“Fun.” Harry's voice was totally without expression.

“Yes, fun,” Frankie said firmly. “I wouldn't be surprised if their relationship develops into something deeper,” she added thoughtfully. “He's very nice to her.”

“He's nice to her.” Again, Harry repeated her words with no inflection whatsoever.

“Very nice,” Frankie said.

“Well…” Silence spun out. “Thanks,” he said abruptly.

And he hung up.

Frankie shook her head, exasperated. Sometimes,
Harry took abruptness to a whole new level, she thought as she headed for the shower.

The brief conversation had distracted her and lifted her spirits, but thoughts of Eli intruded as Frankie showered and dressed in comfortable flannel pajama bottoms and a cotton knit top.

She refused to keep thinking about him, however, and managed to stay busy, writing copy for the volunteers' section of the horse barn's website, until bedtime.

Once she fell asleep, however, she couldn't force thoughts of Eli to the back of her mind and he returned full force, featuring prominently in dreams filled with arguments that ended with the two of them in bed.

L
ate Sunday afternoon brought a respite from the downpour of rain with weak sunshine that continued through Monday. But by Tuesday, another winter storm had blown in off the Pacific, bringing with it more rain and dark skies.

Eli sent the work crew home early, and by five-thirty he'd showered, donned dry clothes and driven to Justin's house for dinner. Ava was in the kitchen with Lily, happily tearing up lettuce for salad and “helping” her mother with other cooking chores. Eli joined Justin in the game room, where they relaxed with a friendly game of pool.

“What's going on with you and Frankie?”

“What do you mean?” Bent over the pool table, cue in hand, Eli didn't need to look at Justin to know his
friend's expression was as casual as his voice. He also knew Justin's question wasn't the slightest bit casual.

“Dad tells me you two are dating.”

“We've been out a few times,” Eli conceded. He tapped the four ball into a side pocket and stood to walk around the table, considering his next shot.

“Lily says Cornelia saw you two kissing at a fundraiser.”

“Did she?”

“Apparently, Cornelia said it wasn't just a friendly kiss on the cheek.”

“Hmm.” Eli grunted a noncommittal reply and bent over to line up his cue stick.

“And since you're refusing to talk about her,” Justin went on, his voice mild, “I can only assume you're trying to seduce my cousin.”

Eli jerked upright. “I am
not
trying to seduce Frankie,” he ground out. Justin smiled and lifted an eyebrow. “Oh, hell.” Eli tossed the cue stick onto the table, scattering the remaining balls, and stalked to the sideboard. He poured himself a shot of whiskey and downed it, scowling at Justin. “And I'm not sleeping with her, if that's what you're asking.”

“Are you saying you don't want to?”

“Hell, no!” Eli thrust his fingers through his hair and slammed the shot glass down on the glossy mahogany bar. “She's a beautiful woman. Any sane man would want to sleep with her. But I'm not.” He glared at Justin.

Justin leaned his cue against the wall and joined Eli
at the bar. He took a bottle of imported beer from the refrigerator concealed behind a mahogany panel and pried off the cap with an opener.

“But you'd like to,” Justin nudged, tipping the bottle to drink.

“That's a helluva question for you to be asking about your favorite cousin,” Eli growled.

“Not really.” Justin shrugged. “Frankie's a grown woman. She's smart, able to make her own choices.”

“If you think that, then why are you asking me about her?” Eli said.

“Because ever since her last birthday, I've noticed you watching her when you thought she wasn't looking.”

“So?” Eli spun the empty shot glass on the bar, turning it in slow circles.

“So I recognize the look in your eyes. Damned if you don't remind me of myself, before Lily agreed to marry me.”

Eli's head lifted, his eyes narrowing over Justin's half smile. “What the hell does that mean?”

“It means, friend, that I think my pretty cousin has you tagged and bagged.”

Eli snorted. “In your dreams. This isn't hunting season, and I'm not somebody's trophy.”

“No, you're not.” Justin smiled and shook his head. “I remember fighting the inevitable myself, for as long as I could. But looking back, I wish I hadn't wasted so much time—I could have been with Lily and Ava from the beginning.”

Eli stared at his friend. He remembered too well how
grim Justin had been during those months when he'd been separated from Lily. He also remembered telling Justin he was a bloody idiot after he'd confessed he'd left the woman he loved because he'd been convinced he couldn't be a good husband—or father.

“Me and Frankie—our situation isn't anything like yours with Lily,” he growled finally.

“Not the little details,” Justin conceded. “But for a guy, the core reason women like Lily and Frankie scare us to death is because we know they could clip our wings for good.” Justin retrieved his pool cue and strolled to the table. “Men are hunters—we don't settle down easily.”

Eli knew having Frankie in his life permanently had been figuring prominently in his dreams lately. So he only grunted noncommittally and picked up his own cue off the green felt tabletop. He took a seat on one of the tall stools at the old-fashioned bar and observed as Justin walked around the table, gauging potential shots with a critical eye.

“You seem happy enough,” he said.

Justin glanced up. “I am.” He leaned forward, lined up the shot and tapped the six ball into a side pocket. He rose, gave a faint grunt of satisfaction and chalked the end of his cue. “Lily's the best thing that ever happened to me. And Ava.” He smiled fondly. “She's the icing on the cake.”

“Think you'll have more kids?” Eli asked idly.

“We both would like at least one more.” Justin set down the chalk on the edge of the table and eyed the
position of the seven ball. “But the timing's up to Lily—she's got a lot on her plate right now at work.”

“Do you ever worry about her?”

Justin looked up, frowning. “Worry? In what way?”

Eli shrugged. “Her safety—does she do things that scare the hell out of you?”

Justin squinted, considering the question. “Not so far—but she's pretty independent, so I wouldn't be surprised if she might, someday. Why?”

“Just wondering.”

“What did Frankie do?” Justin asked with shrewd insight.

“Tried to push a horse several dozen times her weight into a barn stall.” Just thinking about it made Eli scowl.

“You were up at the horse barn with Frankie?” Justin sounded surprised.

“Not with her, exactly. I drove up to Arlington to surprise her when I came home early from Vegas. Scared the hell out of me when I saw her with that mountain of a horse.”

Justin let his pool cue slide through his fingers until it hit the floor, butt-end first. “And what did you do?” he asked.

“Same thing any guy would do—I moved her out of the way and put the horse in the stall.”

Justin stared at him for a long, silent moment. “And what did she do?”

“She yelled at me.” Eli thrust his fingers through his
hair. “Told me I was being an ass. That was right before she told me she didn't want to talk to me again.”

“Damn, Eli, that's harsh.”

“Tell me about it,” he growled. “All I was doing was making sure she was safe. You should have seen the size of that horse—it was huge.”

“I'm guessing Frankie didn't see it your way.” Justin's smile was wry. “She's been volunteering at that stable since she was a kid, probably worked with that particular horse more than once.”

“That's what I got from what she said,” Eli admitted. “Which I didn't realize when I caught sight of her with that huge mare.”

“Would it have made a difference?” Justin asked.

“Probably not,” Eli admitted. “I acted on instinct.”

“Something Frankie's not likely to accept as an excuse,” Justin told him. “She's pretty independent.”

“No kidding,” Eli muttered.

“Frankie's usually willing to listen to a reasonable argument, though,” Justin said. “Have you explained to her why you did what you did?”

“No. I sent her flowers, but I haven't talked to her.”

“Did you at least put a note in the flowers saying you're sorry?”

“No,” Eli growled. “Because I'm damned sure I'd do it all over again, given the circumstances.”

Justin grinned, white teeth flashing in his tanned face. “You've got it bad, Eli. You're in love.”

“I'm not in love,” Eli said stubbornly. “Just because I
worry that she might get hurt doesn't mean I'm in love with her.”

Justin shrugged and laughed out loud. “Have it your way, but it sure sounds like love to me.”

His cell phone rang before Eli could reply. Justin took the silver phone from his pocket and flipped it open, glancing at the number before answering.

“Hey, Frankie, what's up?”

Eli stiffened, going more tense as Justin's grin was quickly replaced with a frown.

“No problem. I'll have Lily put dinner on hold and be right there. Wait in the car, I won't be long.” He listened a moment. “Don't worry about it. Sit tight and I'll be there in about fifteen minutes.”

“What's wrong?” Eli demanded when Justin shoved the phone back in his pocket.

“Frankie worked late, and when she went out to the parking lot to go home, her car wouldn't start.”

“I'll go.” Eli slid his pool cue back into the wall cabinet and turned to the door.

“Are you sure? I thought you weren't talking to her.”

Eli flicked his friend a glance over his shoulder. “You take care of Lily. I'll make sure Frankie's okay.”

Justin's chuckle of amusement followed Eli down the hall as he collected his coat and left the house.

 

Frankie tucked her chin into the collar of her coat and crossed her arms over her chest. The temperature outside her car was hovering around forty degrees, but
the damp air and cold rain pounding her windshield made it feel colder. The university parking lot was nearly empty, with only a few vehicles spaced around the big tarmac area.

She wished she hadn't picked tonight to work late. Or that her car hadn't chosen tonight to stop running. If she'd left her office at the usual time, she could have caught a ride home with a friend and called the repair garage from the warmth of her condo.

Sighing, she pulled her purse nearer and searched through it for a granola bar. Then she remembered she'd eaten it at lunch. Her stomach growled, and she pressed her palm against her abdomen.

Working late after eating only a granola bar and a container of yogurt for lunch hadn't been a wise choice, she thought wryly.

The only sound was the rain, hammering on the metal roof of her car. Frankie had a swift, mental image of being curled up with Eli on her sofa while the rain pounded down outside the windows.

Stop thinking about Eli,
she ordered herself.

She still didn't know what to do about him. Tommi's observation that Eli had reacted the same way her Max would have had made Frankie wonder if there was any possibility Eli felt more than lust for her.

While she was vacillating, unable to make up her mind, she'd arrived home Monday to find a bouquet of bright spring flowers in front of her door. The card had only the initial
E,
the black script decisive and dark. She knew instantly it was from Eli.

She loved the flowers, and something about the gesture eased the faint ache in her heart. But he hadn't called, and three days had passed. She'd started to wonder if the flowers were his way of saying goodbye.

A vehicle turned into the parking lot and drew nearer, the headlights arcing over her car as the truck pulled up and parked next to her. Frankie had expected Justin's Porsche, but it took only a second of confusion before she recognized the driver.

What on earth is Eli doing here?
she thought as her heart beat faster.

He stepped out of the truck, hunching his shoulders against the rain as he jogged to her car and tapped on the window. Frankie rolled the glass down, just far enough to talk to him. Even that small opening let wind-blown rain inside.

“Hi.” She was so glad to see him she could have hugged him. “Where's Justin?”

“He's home having dinner. Let's get you in my truck.

You might as well stay warm while I check out your car.”

She nodded and pushed open the door. Eli pulled open the passenger door of his truck, and before she could climb in, he caught her around the waist and lifted her onto the high seat. Frankie caught her breath. Even through the layers of raincoat and the cashmere sweater she wore beneath, his touch made her breathing falter.

“Thanks,” she murmured as he tucked her coat hem inside.

“No problem. Turn up the heater if you're cold. I'll only be a minute.”

The interior of the truck cab was wonderfully warm. Frankie stretched out her legs to let the air from the heater vent warm her cold toes. Through the rain-streaked truck window, she could see Eli as he raised the hood of her car and fiddled with something on the engine.

Then he slid behind the wheel. She thought he turned the key but couldn't see clearly before he exited, slammed the hood down, and jogged around the truck. When he opened the door and slid behind the wheel, he brought the scent of rain and fresh air with him.

“Did you fix it?” she asked.

“No. I think the battery's dead.” He shifted the truck into gear, and they left the parking lot. “I'll take you home and come back in the morning with jumper cables. I usually carry a set in the truck, but Matt borrowed them last week and didn't return them.” His deep voice was reserved, carefully polite.

She hesitated a moment. “I can't thank you enough for doing this, Eli. I hope you know how much I appreciate it.”

“No problem.” He flicked a hooded glance over to her before looking out the windshield again. “Have you had dinner?”

“No. But I'm sure there's something at home in the fridge I can warm up.” She eyed him with curiosity. “How did you happen to get stuck rescuing me in the rain?”

“Justin and I were playing pool at his house when he talked to you. I volunteered to come get you.”

“I see.” Frankie wanted to ask him why he'd offered to come out in the downpour to help her, especially since the last time she'd seen him, she'd told him she didn't want to talk to him.

They stopped at a red light. Eli picked up his cell phone from the seat divider, dialing from memory. While they waited for the light to turn green, he placed an order for take-out Thai food.