Page 27 of Frankie and the Fed (Untamed Rascals #3)

J : I’m sorry. I have to cancel Friday. I don’t know if I can do this.

I stared at the message, trying to make sense of it. Do what? She was… we were… I thought… but then she seemed reluctant to touch me at lunch earlier, like she was nervous. Such a contrast to her past behavior with me.

No, this couldn’t be right.

The only truth I was sure of anymore was how it felt when we were together. No one could fake a connection like that.

Fuck this.

She wasn’t getting off easily. A fucking text. If she wanted to break up, she needed to do it in person.

I pulled up my computer and everything I knew about her… which wasn’t much after I deleted everything the other night, but I still had one thing. Her address.

With any luck, she would be home. Today was her day off and no one would be surprised if I didn’t show up for work. Being unpredictable was a bonus.

Decision made, I just needed to put on my best fuck me clothes and seduce her into honesty.

I found my lucky skintight black dress that barely covered my ass, skipped the panties, and left my hair uncovered just for her.

My heart raced at the exposure, and my hands itched to grab one of my wigs, but no, it needed to be just right, and she loved my hair.

I pulled up to her apartment, parking in the first available spot a few buildings down, and took a moment to apply a fresh coat of deep red lipstick.

Before I could get out of the car, Jamie stepped out of her building, walking fast, a look of sheer determination set on her beautiful face.

What the fuck?

I ducked, despite the futility of it, as she walked the opposite direction to her car. I didn’t even know she had one. I’d never seen her drive. Shit. Another thing I failed to find out.

She looked up and down the street, seeming almost paranoid, as she got in her car and drove away. I pulled out and followed from a distance. My car was recognizable, but I needed to know where she was going.

Hopefully, whatever had her racing off distracted her enough not to notice me following her out of the city, across the river to South Carolina, and to the edge of Beaufort, to a cafe nestled in a copse of old oak and magnolia trees.

Eclipse Coffee and Books—Live Music Every Friday, the hand painted sign read. I pulled over to the shoulder once she parked in the small dirt lot, far enough away that I wouldn’t be on her radar, but close enough for me to see her.

I needed a disguise. I wouldn’t have a clue what was happening if I stayed in the car. Thankfully, I had a wig I bought just to piss off my mom for our next family dinner. It was a replica of my favorite nanny’s hair, the one that would brush mine and tell me how beautiful it was.

I dug around my trunk and found the short brown wig and put it on. The dress wouldn’t do—she knew my tattoos.

Thankfully, I had slacks and a cardigan for when I needed to dress up for work, which was extremely rare, but there were times I took my job seriously.

I put them on quickly and tucked my dress in, so it sat more like a camisole, and then buttoned up the cardigan to my neck.

I felt positively matronly in my disguise.

The cafe was bustling with people when I pulled up. Patrons filled the wrap-around porch, cats winding through their legs, lazily looking for attention.

I ducked through the entry door into a long hallway that led straight back to a counter where Jamie stood, ordering a drink.

Open doors lined the halls, leading to rooms filled to bursting with books, a large table dominating each room.

In any other situation, I would have wanted to get lost in rooms like these, drag Lily here so she could enjoy it, too, but today, all my focus lay at the feet of the woman I was here to stalk .

Sweat beaded my forehead, and I silently praised setting spray for keeping my makeup in place.

I hung back in the hallway, pretending to be engrossed in studying a book until Jamie disappeared from view into what I presumed was a larger room.

I walked as casually as I could, given my racing heart, to the large bar that dominated the open room.

Several small tables filled the space, and a small stage took up one corner.

Patrons dotted the room, filling tables and lounging on comfortable looking couches.

Jamie sat, drink in hand, at a table occupied by a man.

Something ugly twisted in my gut to see evidence of a life away from me. Which was insane. Of course, she had an actual life that wasn’t me and the museum. She didn’t exist just for me, and I needed to remember she wasn’t who she pretended to be.

“Would you like to order?” Someone said from behind me, and I realized I’d stood at the counter staring at Jamie for too long to be anything but suspicious.

“Yes, of course. Any specialties?” I quickly scanned the handwritten blackboard menu, keeping an eye on Jamie.

“Our smoothies are the best.”

“Strawberry Basil, I guess.” It was the top of the smoothie menu and didn’t require me to divert my attention from Jamie and her intense conversation with the man.

“You’re in for a treat,” she said. “We grow all our own herbs here on site. The smoothies are top-notch.”

What the fuck was she talking about?

She leaned against the countertop, eyeing me with interest, but I could hardly spare her more than a glance. Jamie looked around, and I spun back to the counter, my heart racing from almost being caught.

“Can’t wait to try it,” I said, looking pointedly at the blender that sat still and empty behind her.

“Right.” She jumped up and got to work.

I turned just enough to keep my eye on Jamie as she argued with her companion, their voices low enough to be lost in the din, but their body language clear as day.

“Here you go,” the cashier said as she handed me the drink. I jumped, forgetting that I’d ordered something, lost in the possibilities of what was happening with Jamie.

“Thank you.” I grabbed the drink and sipped it, using it to hide behind.

“She comes here regularly. Usually orders something small,” the cashier said.

I turned to her. Now she had my attention.

“Tell me whatever you know,” I demanded. She sighed like she had hoped I wouldn’t take the bait, disappointment lining her face.

“That’s all I know.”

Whatever she was angling for, I wasn’t going to give it to her.

I pushed away from the counter and sat at a table with my back to the wall. At some point while the cashier was distracting me, Jamie’s companion left.

She didn’t move for a long time.

What was left of my smoothie melted, leaving a separated mess encased in a thick layer of condensation, but I couldn’t bring myself to care.

Jamie’s shoulders bunched like the weight of the world sat on them. I had an inexplicable urge to lift that burden and brush away the crease I was sure sat between her eyes.

Shit.

It seems I went and fell in love with a lie.