“I’m not interested in complications,” I remind her. “Most women my age aren’t dating for the fun of it. They want to get married eventually or at least have a serious commitment. I’m a dead end in that department.”
“Are my ears deceiving me?” Frankie sways closer, walking two sharp fingernails up the zipper of my coat. “Or do you want a fuck buddy?”
The suggestion in her tone curdles my stomach. “That’s not what I said.”
“It’s what you didn’t say that I heard.”
I scowl. “We’re not sleeping together.”
She blinks up at me, drawing attention to our height difference. “But you want to sleep with someone?”
“No,” I snap.
“Are you sure? It doesn’t have to mean anything. Just two consenting adults in need of an orgasmic release.”
The thought of another woman’s hands on me is worse than dozens of spiders crawling over my body. “I don’t want anyone else.”
Frankie cocks her head, a slow grin quirking her lips. “Does that mean you want me?”
My jaw clenches to the point of cracking a molar as I refuse to answer.
Her scoff smacks my denial to the peaked ceiling. “You may never have sex again at this rate.”
In an impulsive move I’ll probably regret, I cinch an arm around her waist and yank her body flush against mine. Warmthinstantly engulfs me as if we’re standing by a blazing fire. A soft groan slips from my pressed lips. I didn’t know how starving I’ve been for touch until she’s snug against me.
It’s just a hug, but the significance goes far beyond a simple embrace. The close contact exchanges a comfort we both desperately crave. But Frankie is resistant to accept the relief while clutched tight in my arms.
She’s stiffer than an oak board in my hold, but I don’t let go. My palm smooths along her back in lazy strokes. After a few passes, she begins to relax. A shudder trembles through her limbs. In the next breath, she exhales raggedly and slumps into me. Based on her reaction, she hasn’t been on the receiving end of a gentle caress in a long time. Maybe ever. My gut clenches just picturing what she’s suffered.
Seconds stretch into minutes. Silence settles around us. For once, it’s not hollow or tense. In the stillness of this moment, we’ve found each and met in the middle. It almost feels like the warmth of companionship.
But then Frankie shoves me away as if I’ve offended her.
“Don’t touch me,” she hisses.
“Menace,” I murmur and reach for her again.
“No!” She swats at her cheeks in frantic motions. Whether she’s crying in anger or sadness remains to be seen.
But either way, I pushed her too far. It feels like the air has been snatched from my lungs. “Fuck, I didn’t mean—”
Her laugh is brittle. “Liar. You’ve been forcing me to comply for weeks.”
“Don’t make it sound like that.”
“It’s exactly like that!” Frankie tosses her hands up. “I didn’t want this job, but you made it impossible to leave.”
“Shit,” I wheeze. “I was just trying to make Ronnie happy.”
“Which is admirable, but at the expense of my free will. Your daughter is incredible and deserves only the best. Why sheinsists on me being her nanny I’ll never know. And to answer your earlier accusation, I won’t abandon her. No matter what you do to piss me off. But that doesn’t excuse your behavior or change the fact I didn’t choose this. I’m stuck here one way or another.”
“You’re making me sound like the bad guy. A hug isn’t some depraved act.”
“It is to me,” Frankie snarls. “Your pity is repulsive.”
My grunt is loud. “I don’t pity you.”
“It doesn’t matter.” Frankie pushes past me, stomping down the barn aisle like a furious mare on a rampage. “I’m going to bed. Don’t follow me.”