Crazy For You (6 page)

“Okay.” She watched him go, thankful that she didn’t
have to drop her robe in front of him.

Nervous with excitement and uncertainty, she stepped
into the bath. She sank down into the water and a calming sensation
washed over her. She wondered briefly if she should call out to
Frank and let him know she was ready.

The door opened a crack. “Roxie…” Frank’s voice
trailed off.

“Come on in,” she said. “The water’s great.”

Frank appeared to have nothing on other than a towel
wrapped around his waist. He stepped into the tub, opened the towel
and held it out in front of him. As he slid down into the water he
tossed the towel to the floor. Laughing pleasurably, he leaned in
and brushed his lips against her cheek and trailed over her skin
until he found her mouth.

His kiss sent the pit of her stomach into a wild
swirl. And then, unexpectedly, he pulled away and reached for the
champagne.

“It’s not Dom Perignon,” he said, filling the
glasses, “but I promise you…someday, we’ll do this again with the
real thing.”

“The brand of champagne doesn’t matter.” Roxanne
accepted a flute and sipped on the cheap bubbly. “All I care about
is that we’re together.”

By the time she finished her second glass she was
feeling the champagne’s effects. “This stuff is going straight to
my head.” She giggled and tried to shake it off.

“That’s the thing about champagne.” He took her
glass and set the drinks on the edge of the tub and then pulled her
closer. “It tends to make you lose all your inhibitions.”

As if his words had released her, she flung herself
against him. Her soft curves molded into the contours of his lean
body. They explored each other’s souls intensely as they made love,
and Roxanne experienced fulfillment like she’d never known.

“It’s okay,” Frank said breathlessly. “I’m more in
love with you than ever,” he added, holding on to her snugly.

“I am so in love with you.”

Suddenly, the door sprang open. “Rocky,” Candy
called out, “are you in here?” she asked, never giving it a second
thought as she walked on in. The last thing she expected to see was
Roxanne sitting on top of Frank in the bathtub. She’d always
thought nothing could embarrass her. She was wrong. Her mouth
dropped open.

Roxanne looked up at Candy, showing no shame. She
didn’t say anything.

Candy’s hands flew to her mouth. Who would’ve
thought she’d find Roxanne and Frank in the bathtub? Together!

She giggled softly and waved at them. “Hi.” She
smiled, unable to control the urge to laugh. “I…ah…I’m just going
to let myself out.” She turned back toward the door. “Sorry,” she
added contritely and slipped out into the hallway. “Stupid! Stupid!
Stupid!” she scolded herself, closing the door quietly.

“You know,” Frank whispered and locked Roxanne
within his embrace, “your sister has terrible timing.” He laughed
softly. From here on out, he vowed to always refer to them as
sisters because he had no intention of ever acknowledging Chuck
Simon the least bit.

Frank sat down on the edge of the bed, taking in
every inch of the thin nightshirt sliding down over her body. She
went to the nightstand, picked up the remote, switched on the TV
and then handed the device to him.

“I’m going to get something to drink,” she said.
“Can I get you anything? Are you hungry?”

“I don’t want you to go to any trouble on my
account.”

“You want a sandwich or something?”

“Whatever you have, if it’s not too much
trouble.”

Roxanne hurried downstairs and into the kitchen.
First, she fixed herself a glass of soda and then she took some
ham, cheese, mayonnaise and mustard out of the fridge. As she took
the bread out of the pantry, Candy walked in wearing Rich’s
shirt.

That didn’t surprise Roxanne. She knew Candy and
Rich had been sleeping together, almost from the beginning.

“I am so sorry,” Candy said. “I didn’t, uh…”

“No.” Roxanne continued making Frank’s sandwich.
“But if you’d opened that door thirty seconds earlier...” her voice
trailed off into giggles.

“So...was he everything you expected?”

“Oh, my God,” she said with intense pleasure. “I
have never, ever experienced anything quite like Frank
Garrett.”

“He’s good, huh?”

“Oh, you have no idea.”

“Everybody was wondering why you two didn’t show up
for the fireworks,” Candy said with a little snicker.

“Fireworks?” Roxanne asked as if she wasn’t aware of
any fireworks. She pulled a tray out of the cabinet next to the
stove and loaded it with Frank’s sandwich, some chips and a
beer.

“Have fun...” Candy’s voice faded as Roxanne
disappeared up the stairs with the tray.

She entered the bedroom and Frank sat up and leaned
against the headboard. Roxanne passed him the tray. “Are you sorry
you missed the fireworks?” she teased as she climbed into the
bed.

“I didn’t miss any fireworks,” he said, and took a
drink of his beer.

T
he next morning Roxanne
slipped quietly out of bed, trying not to wake Frank. She headed
downstairs, intent upon fixing breakfast but wasn’t sure what to
make. Something told her she couldn’t go wrong if she stuck with
the basics.

Unlike the night before, this time when she headed
upstairs the tray looked like a mini buffet that she’d topped off
with a yellow rose.

Quietly, she set the tray on the nightstand and
eased down onto the edge of the bed.

Frank didn’t budge.

She took the rose and brushed it lightly across the
tip of his nose.

His face twitched and nothing more.

Again, she tickled his nose.

He raked his hand over his face and went back to his
peaceful slumber.

Roxanne giggled softly and tickled his nose
again.

He grabbed her wrist. “What’s so funny?” he asked
with closed eyes and a slight smile.

“You are.”

His eyes opened and his gaze fell upon her. “Good
morning.” he said, flashing that irresistible smile of his. She got
the feeling he had no idea his emotions were showing.

“Morning.” She grinned, a remnant from the night
before.

“What’s on the tray?” he asked, eyeing the food.

“Oh.” She turned to the tray. “This is for you.” She
offered it to him.

“Thanks.” Frank eagerly turned his attention to the
food. “You bring me chow last night … and again this morning.” He
paused, munching on a piece of bacon. “Wish I could get this kind
of service at home.”

She remembered he didn’t live there. That wiped the
smile off her face.

“What’s wrong?”

“Nothing really,” she said, shaking her head.

“Then why the long face?” he asked with a sorrowful
look in his eyes.

“I…ah...” She looked away. “I forgot that you don’t
live here.” She worked up the courage to look back at him. “I guess
that was out of line, huh?” Roxanne got up off the bed. Fear washed
over her and left her ready to run.

Frank grabbed her arm. “Come back here.” He pulled
her down to the bed. “Correct me if I’m wrong…but didn’t I tell you
last night that I love you?”

“Yes.”

“Then why would you think you’re out of line?”

Beating around the bush was not something Roxanne
could do with Frank. She’d just better say it and get it over with.
If he shot her down, then she’d know where she stood. “Where do we
go from here, Frank?” she asked. “At what point do you make that
commitment and move in here?” By asking that question, she braved
the answer she feared the most. “Or are you just going to get up
and go home every morning?”

Frank looked at Roxanne, a hint of disappointment
glistening in his eyes. He smiled sadly.

She fidgeted and tried to pull away from him. He
wouldn’t let her.

“Roxie, I love you.” Why was that so hard for her to
understand? “I’ve been taking things slow, obviously, because I
didn’t want to rush you into anything.” He gave her a wink and a
smile. “And I’m as afraid of rejection as you are.”

She rolled her eyes and laughed.

“However—” He cut in before she could say anything.
“—there’s nothing I’d rather do than live here with you.” He
brushed her cheek with a tender caress. “Is that what you
want?”

She nodded. “Would you really move in here with
me?”

“Are you kidding?” he asked, laughing at the
absurdity of her question.

Moving in with Roxanne was exactly what Frank
wanted. For as much as he loved her, he also wanted to be in
control of their love affair. The only way he could see how to do
that was to live under the same roof with her.

Frank moved his things in that day.

But Frank also shared an apartment with Rich, which
meant they shared the rent. He didn’t want to leave his friend in a
bind, but how long could he contribute to two households? Frank had
enough trouble taking care of himself, much less anyone else.

***

Chapter 6

D
uring the next few months
the band’s gigs remained in the general vicinity of the Tampa Bay
area. On the nights Garrett-Hollander played, if Roxanne didn’t go
with Frank, he always came straight home right after the last
set.

Their budding relationship grew into a strong bond
almost immediately. The couple shared a happiness that neither of
them had ever thought possible. Those around them got caught up in
the exhilaration, too, quickly identifying Frank and Roxanne as the
perfect example of
happily-ever-after
.

But slowly Roxanne’s mood began to change. Intuition
filled her head with notions of Garrett-Hollander going out on the
road. That brought about the primary reason she felt so
disheartened—she feared being left behind by Frank.

Instead of confronting her fears she chose to lock
them deep inside herself, all the while trying to pretend
indifference to the whole situation. She didn’t want to deal with
the reality that he would possibly leave her behind. She figured
that once Frank hit the road, without her, he might decide she
wasn’t as important to him as he’d originally thought. And, rather
than facing her fears, it seemed easier to convince herself that he
would never do that.

He would not leave her alone like Chuck had done.
This time it was going to be different. This time it had to be,
because this time she couldn’t afford to lose.

Early in their relationship, Frank had taken Roxanne
to watch the sun set at a place out on the bay called Sunset Beach.
It became one of her favorite spots and she and Candy spent many a
day there, soaking up the sun.

On one of those occasions, after consistently
witnessing Roxanne’s increasing melancholy, Candy decided to voice
her concerns. “Rocky,” she said. “Is something wrong?”

“He’ll be leaving soon,” she said from out of
nowhere.

“What makes you say that?” Candy asked. “Has
something happened that you haven’t told me about?”

“No,” Roxanne said. “But he’s going out on the road
soon.”

“What?” Candy blurted out. “When are they going? And
for how long?” she threw questions out at Roxanne at the speed of
light, resenting Rich for not telling her.

“I don’t know,” Roxanne said, vague.

Candy hesitated for a second and realized their
conversation wasn’t making sense. “How can you not know when he’s
leaving?” She sat up. “Or how long he’ll be gone?”

“I’m not sure he knows he’s leaving.”

“Well...” Candy dropped back onto her beach towel.
“Why are you worrying over something that might not even be
happening?”

“Oh, it’s going to happen all right,” Roxanne said
calmly, yet matter-of-factly.

Frank and Roxanne sat quietly, side-by-side, as the
sun crept behind the horizon at Sunset Beach. Colorful streaks of
pinks and purples filled the evening sky, and the scent of salt
lingered on the gentle breeze of the sea air. Roxanne was staring
at the ocean while Frank sifted sand through his fingers.

The time had come for the band to go back out on the
road and Frank wanted her to go with him, but he wasn’t sure if
she’d be willing to go without Candy. And, he didn’t see Candy
agreeing to go anyplace.

Finally, he convinced himself to say something. “The
band has to go back out on the road.”

“I know,” she said softly.

“How do you know that?” He didn’t know which
surprised him more—the fact that she knew, or the quiet in her
tone.

Roxanne shook her head. “I don’t know. Intuition or
something.”

“It’s my job.” He felt the need to say. “It’s what I
do.”

“You don’t have to explain yourself to me.”

“We’ll be gone till about April.” Anxiety made a
brief appearance and he cleared it out of his throat. “I was hoping
you’d come with me.”

“Really?” She flung him a skeptical look.

Frank tilted his head and shrugged. “I guess I
assumed that you’d want to go.” He hadn’t considered the fact that
she might not, and he found that notion extremely unsettling.
Wanting to go and not going because of Candy were two entirely
different things. Roxanne had to
want
to go with him,
because if she didn’t it would ruin everything.

“Oh, I do,” she said quickly. “Of course, I’ll go
with you.”

Frank pressed his lips to hers, caressing her mouth
more than kissing it. His fears, apparently unfounded, blew away
with the wind.

Rich perched himself on the corner of Candy’s bed,
unable to relax. The longer she stayed in the corner near the
bathroom door, the more his confidence deserted him. “Well, Roxie
is going with Frank.” He put forth the only argument he could think
of. “So, why can’t you go with me?”

“Number one—” She crossed her arms in front of her
and leaned against the wall. “I don’t think it’s a good idea. And
secondly, I don’t have the money to go traipsing all over the
country.” Slowly, she let her eyes travel to and settle on him.
“And I’m not going to ask Roxanne to pay my way either.”