Hearts on Fire 5: Loving Frankie(4)

“Like he said, Captain, he’s too old,” Marcus teased.

Mike gave Marcus a shove as he chuckled and walked ahead faster, afraid they both might tackle him for his comment.

“I’d watch that if I were you, Marcus. Thirty is breathing down your neck. Enjoy the next year or two,” Eddie told him.

“I will, old man, and you can just sit there at home and be envious of us youngsters.”

“Have you seen my woman? I think I know who’s envious,” Eddie said and then walked away.

“Envious? Me?” Marcus said as he and Mike headed out.

“Well, Tasha is pretty hot,” Mike said.

“Damn straight she is. That’s what I need to find. A sassy redhead. That’s now my goal tonight.”

Mike chuckled.

“Whatever. I’ll see you there.”

“Later, bud,” Marcus told Mike as Mike headed to his truck.



* * * *



“This is fun,” Frankie told Cassidy as they sat at a table and listened to the band, Exodus, playing. There were six men in the band, and each of them seemed very talented.

“What did you say?” Cassidy asked her.

“I said this is fun.” She raised her voice and drew the attention of a few guys who had been checking them out.

“Want to check out the bar outside on the dock?” she asked.

“Sure,” Frankie said, and they stood up, walking through the crowds of people.

It was very crowded, and as she passed by a few men who were talking, one of then stepped back between her and Cassidy. He was laughing about something, and he was very attractive. She saw his tattoos on his arms, and he had dark, serious eyes.

He looked her over as he said, “Excuse me.”

“No problem,” she whispered as she walked by him. When she looked back over her shoulder, he was watching her. His eyes roamed over her body then back to her face. Quickly, she turned around.

“Damn, that guy was gorgeous. His friends were pretty fine, too. Sure you don’t feel like mingling?”

“Not tonight.”

“Party pooper,” Cassidy teased, and Frankie chuckled.

“You’ll thank me when you’re able to get up in the morning and go to the gym with no problem.”

“Honey, if I take home a hottie like that one you just passed up, I wouldn’t need to go to the gym. There’d be plenty of working out in the bedroom.”

“You’re crazy,” Frankie said as they stood at the bar and ordered margaritas.

Then they took their drinks and walked toward the railing to look out at the water. There were tall tables with high barstools out here, and the docks were filled with boats and even some yachts.

“Look at that one.” Cassidy took a sip from her drink.

“Too big.”

“Ladies.”

Frankie and Cassidy looked over their shoulders at two guys who approached. Cassidy recognized them immediately while Frankie adjusted her body, turning fully toward them.

“What are you doing here?” Cassidy asked one guy, and Frankie immediately felt on the defensive.

“Hanging out getting a few drinks and listening to the band just like the two of you,” he said then eyed Frankie over.

“Who’s your friend, Cassidy?” he asked, and the other guy crossed his arms and looked like a troublemaker.

“None of your business.”

“I’m Tanner, a friend of Cassidy’s boyfriend, Keith.” He reached out his hand, and Frankie stared at him, never moving to shake his hand.

“You mean ex-boyfriend, don’t ya?” Frankie asked.

He gave a smug look and then let his eyes roam over her body before he looked back at Cassidy.

“About that… Cassidy, don’t you think you’re giving Keith a hard time? I mean the man cares about you a lot, and he’s miserable without you.”

“He should have thought about that before he cheated on me,” Cassidy replied.

“That’s not true, and he’s been trying to get in touch with you. Can’t you give him a minute of your time?”

“We’re leaving, actually,” Frankie said and stepped away from the table, taking Cassidy by her hand.

Tanner tried to stop her. “He’ll be here momentarily.”

“Good, then you can tell him she said bug off,” Frankie stated, and as she turned with Cassidy to walk away, she bumped into the guy she’d seen earlier.

She gasped as he held her by her arms and stared down into her eyes then at Tanner and his buddy. She was shocked at the warm feeling she got from his hold and the instant attraction. He was very tall and muscular and smelled really good. She cleared her throat and turned to look at the guys following her and Cassidy.

“Are these men bothering the two of you?”

She exhaled.

“Not anymore. We’re leaving,” Frankie replied then Cassidy pulled her through the crowd.

Frankie couldn’t help but to glance back at the good-looking guy with the tattoos. He looked sincere and as if he really was concerned. But then again, considering her inability to judge characters well, she wasn’t giving that expression or action another thought.

“Let’s get out of here,” Cassidy said, and they called it a night.





Chapter 2




Frankie crawled out of bed feeling the dull, annoying pain in her hip. She had to trudge through it. She needed to work, even though she hated waitressing at a bar and nightclub. But tips were great, and there wasn’t much for a woman trying to lay low. She longed for her business attire, her high heels, and professional work setting. She couldn’t believe she missed sales reports, advertising brainstorming meetings, and everything from red-eye flights to boring board meetings.

She’d needed something that made quick money and kept her out of any potential trouble. Also something where she didn’t need to get paid on the books, where her name would be in a computer system and constantly pop up everywhere.

Miles Campbell had hired her in the middle of the summer when no one was hiring. His partners, Charlie and Lure, two very attractive men, were now her bosses. Although Miles was a bit creepy and seemed intense, he didn’t ask her a lot of questions or push for personal information. He was out of town a lot. The employees at work had bets going that he was in the witness protection program or a spy. He was something. But he wasn’t Louie Carlotto or Kevin Lang. In fact, she was pretty sure she wasn’t the only employee working at Prestige who was trying to keep a low profile. Except maybe for Cassidy.

She smiled to herself. Making a new friend so quickly had been surprising. But they both had so much in common it was inevitable. Cassidy was a great woman. Frankie hoped that Cassidy’s ex would leave her alone and that Cassidy would find someone perfect.

If Cassidy could, she would hit on their bosses, Charlie and Lure, but they were pretty private men who ran a very busy and well-known club. So busy that Cassidy had been right. Frankie really didn’t need to look for a day job.

None of the employees dated one another, at least as far as she knew. Most were male anyway. She would never date her boss or even a fellow employee, although Lure was pretty damn good-looking. He was one of the many heartthrobs of the place and always drew a crowd at the bar as one of Prestige’s top bartenders, never mind that he was part owner of the place, along with Charlie Spar.

Frankie made her way to the bathroom to wash up and prepare for the long night ahead of her. Friday was ladies’ night, and Prestige was always jam-packed. But the tips were too good to pass up. At least for now and while she saved enough up to get back on her feet again. Kevin had done a number on her. She’d nearly married the jerk. Him getting jammed up had saved her. A dirty cop, a man who led multiple lives and was unfaithful. How could she have been so stupid?

She shook the thoughts from her head but couldn’t shake that tight sensation in her chest. She knew the reality of this situation. Despite being behind bars, Kevin still had friends who could be watching her. Just like Keith’s friends tonight at the Beach House. They’d approached them and called Keith to tell him Cassidy was there.

Guys had some kind of special loyalty and bond to one another. They didn’t even care that Keith struck Cassidy and pushed her around. In fact, they might be just like him.

Kevin was the same, and no matter how badly he treated Frankie or how he spoke down to her, Kevin didn’t see anything wrong. He actually thought she would take him back and that he still had that hold, that control over her life. That had been six months ago. He was a killer. Hell, he’d gotten away with murder, or at least the one she knew of. Poor Oscar. She had cried for days. She’d even looked up information on his obituary, looking for any pictures she could find about his service, a full law enforcement service with officers from around the United States. She had stood there, feeling like shit for keeping her mouth closed about his murder.

God, she hated police funerals, funerals for firefighters, and military ones. She’d gone through multiple on her own, and she never wanted to go to another one again.

She ran the brush through her hair and fixed it into a fancy style to the side of her head. Maybe she would wear it like this tonight. She had to wash it first.

She felt guilty. Guilty for knowing that Kevin had gotten away with Oscar’s murder and she couldn’t do a damn thing about it. It was her life on the line. She not only feared Kevin’s wrath and possessiveness but also feared Carlotto’s. Kevin was the one who’d killed Oscar. Carlotto was part of that, and she needed to keep her mouth shut about Kevin’s confession because it would destroy their multi-million-dollar drug operation back in Chicago. Back in a life she’d put behind her.