Page 26 of Craving Francesca

“You know what I mean.”

“Fuckyou,” Frankie spat. “Don’t touch me.”

That was my cue. I pushed the door wide open.

Scott the douche was crowding Frankie between the bed and the wall on the other side of the room while she pushed at him.

“We got a problem here?” I asked, making her jolt in surprise.

“We’re good, man,” Scott snapped. “We’ll be out in a minute.”

“Francesca?” I asked, not even bothering to look at him.

“It’s fine,” she said, shoving past Scott. She stomped toward me. “Let’s go back to the party.”

“You sure?” I asked as she passed me. I took the time to look at Scott. His body was tense with anger, and he was scowling at me. Part of me hoped he’d start shit. I wouldn’t mind knocking his pretty boy ass out.

“Come on,” Frankie ordered, stopping a couple steps down the hallway. “It’s fine. Nothing to worry about.”

I stared Scott down for a few more seconds before turning my back to follow her.

“What was that about?” I asked quietly as she took a deep breath.

“None of your business,” she muttered, striding back toward the living room.

“Francesca,” I growled, putting my hand on her arm to stop her.

The speed at which she jerked her arm away made me freeze.

“He’s got his panties in a twist because he doesn’t know anyone,” she said, turning her head to roll her eyes at me. “I told him he wouldn’t, but he didn’t listen, and now he wants me to entertain him, and I’m not interested in babysitting. Okay? No big deal.”

I let her walk away, and I made my way more slowly back to Otto.

“Good?” he asked.

“She’s fine,” I replied, watching Frankie as she crossed the room and stepped onto the sun porch. Myla was there, sitting on Cian’s lap, and both of them were watching Frankie closely. She waved her arms around dramatically, laughed, and reached for a beer in the cooler.

“Thought he was just boring,” Bas said flatly. “But I don’t know. Somethin’ about that guy is off. I just can’t put my finger on it.”

“He’s too nice,” Esther said simply. We both looked at her in surprise. “No one is that nice. Not all the time.”

“Lou is,” Bas muttered.

“I’ve heard Lou tell Myla that a lady who cut her off at the grocery store was a heinous bitch who she hoped got both gonorrhea and dysentery so she’d uncontrollably shit her pants,” Esther replied, her lips twitching. “So.”

Bas laughed loudly. I grinned.

“No one that tries so hard toseemnice actuallyisnice,” Esther said quietly, watching as Scott came out of the hallway. “It’s a scam.”

Otto leaned down and kissed the top of her head.

I refused to look over my shoulder as Scott walked behind me to the sun porch.

“Gettin’ sick of this shit,” Bas mumbled, walking away.

“I think Frankie could take him,” Otto mused, watching the two of them. “Guy’s kind of scrawny.”

Esther huffed out a laugh and leaned against her much larger husband. “You want to make the rounds and head out soon? Bryony’s going to wake up in about an hour.”

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