Page 21 of Frankie and the Fed (Untamed Rascals #3)
I fucked up.
Jamie had been ignoring me for days, and it was all my fault. I did too much, came on too strong, spilled my guts, and then couldn’t even open my mouth to make sure she knew I wanted her to stay.
I paced my small office, trying to get the courage to talk to her, apologize, and beg her to let me have another chance.
“Oh good,” Tom said from the doorway. “I need you to work late and take a delivery for me tonight. I can’t trust anyone else with it.”
Something in his tone made my hackles rise. He was up to no good.
“God, Tom. I don’t have time for your bullshit,” I snapped and then shut my mouth. One fucking night with Jamie and I forgot why she was even on my radar. Her and her goddamn magic tongue.
“Fine, I’ll get your little buddy, Lily, to do it.”
“No.” This might work to my advantage. “I’ll do it, but this is the last time.
I’m a paleontologist, educated at some of the best schools in the country, and I’m sure the museum board will love to hear how you are using one of your most expensive employees,” I said with just enough self-importance that he didn’t get suspicious.
He bristled, but I could tell it was all for show. This little song and dance of ours was getting predictable.
This might be just what I needed to get close to Jamie again.
If she was in league with Tom, and tonight’s odd midnight delivery was connected to the previous one we stumbled upon, then taking delivery might be perfect.
It would give me a chance to make my fuck up right and figure out who Jamie actually was.
“Train one of the less ‘expensive’ employees, then,” he said with a sneer before strutting away.
Bingo. He just handed me exactly what I needed. Now, I just had to grow some ovaries and talk to her.
“Hi,” I said to Jamie when I found her in the employee lounge, determined but still so fucking nervous. “I—” Fuck.
What was I supposed to say? You were amazing in bed, and I freaked out when we weren’t in our little bubble anymore after I just shoved my most vulnerable self at you after literally one fucking date that wasn’t even supposed to be a real date because I was just getting close to you so I can figure out if you were the same woman I saw skulking through the halls of the museum in the middle of the night and if you are connected to that suspicious delivery and Tom’s lies.
No, that didn’t work.
She stiffened at my voice, only for a moment, before turning to me. Her smile was strained, but she wasn’t running away. I could work with this.
“I’m sorry,” I said in a rush. “Lily walked in, and I froze. I wanted you to stay, but I’m not used to opening up to people and…” I shrugged.
She was there. That was a shit apology. It would be completely within her rights to walk away from me right now. Though I hoped she wouldn’t.
Her smile softened. “I’m not used to… any of that.” Her cheeks turned pink with embarrassment. Adorable.
“Couldn’t tell.” I leaned against the table as I teased her.
“Seriously, though. I’m sorry if I pushed you too much.
That was all unexpected. I’d never been like that before.
It was a little scary in the aftermath, and I probably pushed you too much.
” She couldn’t quite meet my eyes as she said all this, looking left and right like she was making sure we were alone, so at odds with the confident woman from our time together.
“You didn’t push me too much. Aside from needing a talk about safe words, everything we did was perfect. I’d like to spend time with you again.” This wasn’t exactly the direction I planned to go with this, but I could adapt.
“What do you have in mind?” She stepped toward me, confident again now that the awkwardness of talking about our night together had passed .
“Tom wants me to train some more people on how to accept midnight deliveries. Don’t worry.
I’m not actually interested in foisting this off on you.
I’m putting on a show until—well, let’s just say I have my reasons for playing along with his bullshit.
And to play along, I thought I could make it up to you and plan a date night in the museum for us.
” I spread my hands dramatically, like I was planning a show and not just some delivered food and a private tour of my favorite exhibits.
I don’t know when it happened, but she stood very close, nearly brushing me in her proximity.
“What do I need to do?”
“Um,” I swallowed, overwhelmed by her nearness. “Show up at 9. Back door.”
“And until then, I’m supposed to walk through this museum, giving a tour to the old people from the retirement home while thinking about all the places that you’re going to show me and what I want to do to you at each one?” She spoke in that low voice that drove me so crazy.
“Yes.”
She tucked a piece of my bubble gum pink hair behind my ear, her fingers trailing my cheek as she let go. “I’m looking forward to it.”
My mouth was dry as she walked away.
“Was that Jamie?” Lily asked, disturbing the stupor Jamie had put me in.
“Yeah.” Now it was my turn to blush.
“So, you’re seeing her again? Do I need to tell Duke we’re staying at his place tonight?” She teased, linking her arm with mine and pulling me out of the employee lounge .
“Oh, no. She’s meeting me here. Tom has another midnight delivery coming.” I probably should have kept that to myself. Lily didn’t need to get all wrapped up in this.
“Do you think it’s like last time?” She asked a little excited, and I felt guilty for not coming to her with this right away.
“Yeah. I’m sorry, Lily. I didn’t mean to cut you out of it.” Shit. I didn’t know how to fix it. I couldn’t invite her, not with Jamie coming, but she was right. This started as our thing.
“It’s ok. You know how much I worry about you. You spend so much time alone. Don’t think I don’t notice when you’re pulling away. I know I have Duke now, but that doesn’t mean we aren’t friends. I hope.” She sounded so unsure, like she didn’t understand how to navigate all this.
“I’m a terrible friend, aren’t I? I am happy for you two, but sometimes I feel like a third wheel. You’re always going to be my friend. Do you really think I’d leave your happiness to a man?”I bumped my shoulder against hers and felt a bit lighter.
She laughed at my jest. “He’s been my friend for longer than you have.”
“And if he breaks your heart, I will break him.” There was no heat in my words, though. Duke wasn’t going anywhere, and that was part of the problem.
“But you still feel lonely,” she said with too much sympathy in her voice. It made me feel itchy and uncomfortable.
“You are surprisingly observant right now.”
She snorted. “No, I had to talk with Duke about it before I understood what was going on. Frankie, now that Duke has moved to life partner status, you’re my only best friend.”
In an uncharacteristic burst, she hugged me. I melted against her, not realizing just how much I needed a hug from a friend.
“Is that a good thing or…”
“Yes. It is also more pressure. I can’t lose your friendship. Sure, I’m trying with the coven, but I still have a little panic attack every time we make plans. Speaking of, they were asking about you. You know they are your friends too, right?”
Well, fuck. An uncomfortable feeling lodged in my chest. I wanted to run before I got attached and they abandoned me, too, but then Lily looked so hopeful, and I couldn’t keep existing in that gray space where there was nothing but me and my worries.
“When is the next meeting? I’ll be there. As long as it’s not tonight.”
“Right, you have a hot date,” she teased. “I didn’t know you were seeing anyone until I walked in on you guys. Sorry about that. Guess I should just be glad everyone was clothed.”
She laughed awkwardly, and I cringed. Ten minutes later, and we may not have been.
“It’s ok. I’m getting a second chance to not fuck it up this time.
” I took a deep breath. My best friend. I should tell her.
“Also, I’m kind of…” I looked around us, making sure we were alone, and pulled us into my office, closing the door just to be sure.
“I think she’s hiding something. Remember that night at the museum when we were supposed to find the robot?
I saw someone, and I think it was her. I’m trying to get close to her to see if she has an ything to do with what’s going on with Tom and the midnight deliveries. ”
“Do you think she’s in league with him?” I loved that Lily didn’t even question my insanity. Why didn’t I tell her sooner?
A weight lifted off my chest, and I felt more energized than I had in a while—outside of sex with Jamie, but if I started thinking of that now, I wouldn’t get anything done.
“I don’t know, because why would she…” it dawned on me that if she wasn’t in league with Tom, then she was investigating whatever he was up to, and she could very well be getting close to me for information.
She could also be a regular tour guide, and I could be crazy. I chose not to consider that option.
“Why would she, what?”
“Never mind.” I waved away the question. I couldn’t think of it. Besides, wasn’t I doing the exact same thing?
And yeah, sure the sex was amazing and mind-blowing and fucking life-changing and she seemed to know exactly what I needed in a partner and deliver it perfectly and I would probably never be with anyone quite so… No, none of that mattered.
“My point is, I’m hoping that I can both find out more about the deliveries, like where they are coming from, and find out what Jamie knows and doesn’t know. What better way to do that than to throw her into the action with me?”
“Have you asked her?” Lily said, like that would be the easiest thing in the world.
“If you were involved in something like this, would you just tell the first person that asked you?” What a ridiculous question. I leaned against the door and folded my arms .
“Maybe you aren’t the first person to ask her.” She shrugged like it was obvious and easy.
“I don’t think anyone else has noticed she’s not a regular tour guide.” Lily made herself comfortable on the small couch I had while I paced my office, thinking through everything I knew about Jamie and how I’d noticed others interacting with her.
“Are you sure you aren’t just making up a reason for why you can’t stop thinking about her? It’s ok to just like someone.” She sounded so reasonable, but I knew better.
Very few people in my life lacked ulterior motives and lives. Lily being the one exception—maybe this coven of hers, too. Even Duke was a billionaire ex-military special forces and likely had any number of demons in his closet.
“Sure, now that you have a boyfriend, who, by the way, has been salivating after you for years and would have dropped everything for you, you’re suddenly an expert.” I didn’t mean to sound snippy, and thankfully, she didn’t seem to pick up on it.
I grabbed the squishy toy on my table and strangled it to ease the tension building in me.
Jamie had to be hiding something. She was too perfect, and the universe didn’t love me enough to drop my dream woman in my lap without some catch.
“I didn’t make up some back story for him, though.”
I rolled my eyes. She didn’t get it.
“Anyway, you can have the house tonight. Just don’t fall asleep naked on the couch again, please.” I dropped the squishy toy and turned back to her, leaning against my desk and checking the time. My scheduled lab time was soon.
“That happened once, and you came home from your trip early.” She blushed, remembering The Incident. We implemented strict rules since then. Rules I almost broke with Jamie, but never mind that, I didn’t break them.
“I’m scarred for life. I didn’t enjoy seeing Duke’s dick. I don’t know how you walk around after you guys—” I waved my hands “—and I didn’t need to know that. I’m still trying to scrub it from my brain.” I led us out of my office and down the hall.
She sighed, as if thinking about his dick was enough to get her going. Gross. “I should call him.”
“Ew. Don’t tell me about it, please.”
“Fine, have fun on your date.” She said the last word with a weird emphasis that had me looking around to make sure Jamie didn’t hear it and start asking questions.
“Oh, I will.”
“You have to fill me in later, too. Don’t cut me out.” She poked me and then nodded her head and walked back to her office.
When did she get such a backbone? Maybe Duke’s dick was magic.
I shuddered and pushed off the wall. Absolutely not.