Page 118 of Craving Francesca

“That guy who said you were roughing him up,” Jake said, stopping me in my tracks.

“Yeah?”

“Was that you?”

“No clue what that idiot was talking about,” I lied.

“All right. Just wondered. I’ll see you around.”

“Until next time,” I said, walking away.

I had two more meetups before I could head home to meet my woman. If I got done quickly, I might have time to shower with her before we had to leave. I moved faster toward my bike.

When we stepped inside my parents’ house, the living room was packed. Harper was home for a few days, my grandparents on both sides had shown up half an hour before, and my mom was flitting around like a butterfly, so happy she barely touched the ground. She loved having everyone there, and my dad didn’t care what was happening as long as she didn’t lose that look on her face.

I took it all in for a second as I quietly closed the door behind me.

Frankie laced her fingers through mine, oddly nervous for someone who’d known these people since she was a kid. She’d changed her clothes three times before we left the house and ended up wearing the first thing she’d put on. I’d just watched her, everything inside me calm.

Life had fallen into a familiar pattern, and it worked for both of us in a big way. Frankie and I didn’t spend a night apart, but we alternated between the camper and the little house she shared with Lou. It was way too soon to live together, but as long as she slept beside me, I didn’t care where we were.

I left for work most mornings before she was awake, and when she woke up, she either started working or drove over to her house so she could work there. The hours she put in were a lot less than the eight-to-five she’d been working before, but she said she felt like she got twice as much done in a day because she didn’t have to deal with anyone coming into her office to bug her. She lit up when she talked about what she’d done all day. I was so fucking proud of her. She was killing it at Tommy’s company.

The boys had stopped fucking with Scott on the night we’d come back from California. I sent over the receipts Jake had asked for so he wouldn’t get jammed up at work, but we’d both known nothing would come from it. Scott had looked like a moron, complaining that he kept getting jumped even though no one but his cronies had ever witnessed anything, and he appeared fine. It had taken Frankie a couple weeks of looking over her shoulder before she was confident that she wouldn’t have to deal with him again. I knew after that moment in her old office when he’d finally looked at me that we wouldn’t hear from him. He no longer existed for my woman, and I would’ve done anything to make sure it stayed that way.

We’d spent a lot of time with the group that Frankie had made her family, but this was the first time that she’d gone home with me to see mine.

“Oh, good, you’re here,” my mom called out.

The moment was insignificant. Frankie had been around my family hundreds of times in the past—but this felt wholly different. I felt like I’d been punched in the chest.

Frankie’s hand tightened on mine.

“Ma,” I said, my voice low. “You know Frankie.”

Mom’s eyes met mine and softened, a smile spreading across her cheeks.

“Hello, Frankie,” she said solemnly, her eyes twinkling. “It’s good to see you again.”

Frankie looked up at me and then back at my mom. “Thanks for having me.”

I’d brought someone home to meet my mother. I didn’t think Frankie understood the gravity of that, but I was sure my ma did.

“Frank!” Harper yelled, hurrying around the couch.

“Hey, Harp,” Frankie replied, laughing as my sister practically tackled her with a hug. Our fingers lost their grip.

“I have so much to tell you,” Harper said quietly, her eyes widening. “Gray, you get her all the time. I’m stealing her. Bye.” She tugged Frank out of the room.

“You found her,” my mom said, grinning. “Took you long enough.”

“Yeah.”

“I like her. I’ve always liked her. She reminds me of your Auntie Rose.”

“Jesus, don’t say that,” I griped.

Mom raised her eyebrows and shrugged. “Would Grandma Farrah be a better comparison?”

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