Authors: Sophia Knightly
“What, Romeo?” I ask him when he won’t stop nudging my leg. He looks agitated as he barks at the kitchen counter where the cookies are on cooling racks.
“These are for Harrison. I already explained why you can’t have a whole cookie,” I say picking him up. I break off a few edges of a cookie where there are no chips. “Now be happy with that. You can’t eat chocolate. It’ll kill you,” I remind him.
Romeo crunches away at the cookie bits and then gives me a pity stare for more.
“No, you’ve had enough. If I give you any more, you’ll end up at Harrison’s office. Mommy doesn’t want you to get sick.”
Romeo makes a mewling sound and gives me a look of disgust.
“You’re not the only one who feels grumpy,” I tell Romeo, petting his sweet little head.
Other than the one time Harrison returned my call and I missed it because I was in the shower, I haven’t been able to reach him. My calls have gone straight to his voice mail. I don’t want to think that he’s avoiding me because that would be mean and Harrison is not a mean person.
I figure it has to be something else, so I call Chloe’s cell. But she’s about to show a property, so she hurriedly mumbles, “I’ll call you back, Frankie.”
“Wait!” I plead. “Do you know what’s wrong with Harrison?”
“What do you mean?” she asks right away.
“I haven’t heard from him in three days.”
“I’ve had a hard time reaching him too. Amanda, his receptionist, said he’s been swamped. He’s working overtime to make up for the days he lost last week.”
That makes me feel guilty. “It’s my fault. Harrison was busy taking care of me.”
“I’m sure it wasn’t only because of that. He’s going away next week.”
“He is? That’s the first I’ve heard of it. He never mentioned he was taking a vacation.”
“Sounds like a mini one. He’s going rock climbing in the Grand Canyon. Actually, he called it scaling…”
My grip tightens on the phone. “He is scaling the Grand Canyon? That’s so dangerous! Why does he enjoy stuff like that?”
Chloe laughs. “Oh please, that’s nothing. Last year Harrison went swimming with the sharks in the Patagonia.”
“I know. I don’t understand how he considers it fun,” I grumble.
“Because he heard the sharks are the fiercest there,” Chloe shares matter-of-factly.
“Is he insane?” I ask, horrified.
“Nope, he’s Harrison. He’s been like that since he was a little kid. Fearless.”
“More like reckless.” My stomach starts to churn, worrying about his safety. “What have I gotten myself into? I’ve lost my heart to a madman.”
“Shoot, I gotta go, Frankie. My client’s here. Let’s talk about this later.”
When I hang up with Chloe, a vise of nervousness grips me. Scaling the Grand Canyon…swimming with fierce sharks. Who would do this for fun? I knew Harrison was into extreme sports, but this is too extreme. Does he have a death wish or something?
I must start reading the book I bought last week,
How to Stop Worrying and Start Living Life
. I need to learn how to stop worrying while I sort things out, especially if I want to live as if fear is not an option. I would have started reading it sooner, but I hid the book in my nightstand while Harrison was here tending to me. Now that I’m better, I’ll tackle it. It’s that or give up on Harrison and I’m not willing to do that.
I clutch the cookie container to my chest and hope he hasn’t given up on me already.
Romeo: It sucks being a shorty. If I had Scout’s long legs I could get up on my hind legs and eat more cookies. Francesca is feeding me crumbs while she munches on a dozen of the million she baked. Who was the idiot who proclaimed chocolate is bad for dogs?
She just got off the phone with Chloe and is pacing the living room, babbling to herself about Harrison climbing canyons and swimming with sharks. Now she’s looking for her book to conquer her anxiety. How am I supposed to conquer mine?
If I can’t have a cookie, how about a date with Coquette? For all I know she is in heat and I’m missing out. That makes me want to howl at the moon. Aaaaoooooh!
Chapter Twenty-Eight
I’m having another chocolate chip cookie attack. I need to get ’em packed up and out of sight or I’m going to keep devouring them. If I didn’t have to be in front of a camera, which adds five pounds, I wouldn’t worry about it so much.
I finish filling two zip-lock storage bags with cookies to share with Fizzy and Vinny, when I hear a familiar knock on my door. Sounds like it might be Harrison. He always knocks three times in a row hard enough to get my attention.
Romeo follows me to the door with excited, high-pitched barks. I open the door and the first thing I notice is the way Harrison’s eyes give me a quick once-over. His mouth starts twitching at the corners before he gives in to a chuckle.
“What’s so funny?” I ask.
“Nice apron. I’d love to,” he drawls, pointing to my chest.
I follow his appreciative gaze and realize I’m still wearing my retro-style frilly white apron that says, “Taste my cookies” on the fabric over my breasts.
“Oh, thanks. It was a gift from Chloe. You know how she loves retro stuff.”
Harrison grins. “She has good taste.”
“She does. Come in. I’m glad you’re here. I have a surprise for you.” Glad is an understatement—I’m thrilled.
He hovers at the door, his sexy grin widening. “Oh? I brought you a surprise too.”
“You did? What is it?” I wonder why he’s empty-handed if he brought a surprise.
“Hi, Frankie!” Chloe jumps out from behind Harrison with her arms outstretched.
“Chloe!” I squeal, flinging my arms around her in a tight hug. “I thought you were in New York!”
Her jade green eyes twinkle with mischief. “Ha, fooled ya.”
Chloe picks up Romeo, who’s practically hyperventilating from the joy and excitement of seeing her. “Romeo, how’s my little love?” she croons, kissing Romeo’s head repeatedly as he pants and licks Chloe’s hand adoringly. “Who’s my precious angel? You are, Romeo, you are!”
When Harrison reaches over to pat him, Romeo rewards him with lots of licks too.
“Were you with Harrison when we talked earlier?” I sure hope not!
Chloe gives me a look that says he wasn’t there, so don’t worry. “No, I was getting off the flight.”
“Oh.” Boy, am I relieved. “You look wonderful, Chloe. Very Mad Men chic. Love the handbag.” Chloe’s toting a tan Tory Burch bag that looks amazing with a fitted sleeveless black linen dress that hugs her slim curves and shows off her toned arms.
Chloe isn’t as tall as Harrison, but she’s taller than me by a few inches. You can tell the family resemblance in their beautiful green eyes, tawny skin and chestnut hair.
“Thanks. You look great too,” Chloe says politely.
“No, I don’t,” I say and we both crack up.
My hair is in a loose, messy ponytail and I don’t have a stitch of makeup on. Chloe has seen me like this before and Harrison has seen me looking even worse at the peak of my chicken pox. Compared to that, this is an improvement. Oh well, there’s nothing I can do about it now.
Chloe inhales deeply, her nose following the scent as if she were scoping through a submarine telescope, first right then left. She looks hilarious.
“Where are they?” she demands.
“I was packing them up. Want some?”
“Hello? Aren’t we both sick chocoholics? Of course I want some.” Chloe turns to Harrison. “Frankie makes the best chocolate chip cookies ever. You should try them.”
“I already said I’d love to,” he says, nodding at the teaser on my apron.
“I made a batch for you, Harrison,” I say, smiling up at him.
He looks pleased and surprised. “Thanks.”
“My pleasure.” I scamper to the kitchen and return with a plate of cookies. “Anybody want a glass of milk to go with it?”
“No thanks, I’ve got to get back to the office,” Harrison says, grabbing a few cookies from the plate.
Chloe bites into a cookie and practically swoons with delight.
“Aw, do you have to leave so soon?” I ask Harrison, following him to the door with the cookie container in my hands.
“Yeah. I’ve got a full afternoon of patients. And then I’m getting my stuff together for my trip next week.”
“Where are you going?” I ask, pretending I don’t know already.
“The Grand Canyon. Ever been there?”
“No, but I’d love to,” I blurt out before realizing it sounds like I’m inviting myself. “Um, I mean I’d love to see it, not climb it. I could never do that.”
“Yeah, you’re not a risk-taker. You like to play it safe,” he agrees, eyeing me with an unreadable look.
I don’t appreciate the way he agrees so readily. “Be sure to take lots of pictures.”
“Sure.” Harrison finishes the cookie in two bites. “Mmm, these are good.”
“I’m glad you like them. These are for you.”
I hand him the container and he gives me a kiss on the cheek. “Thanks, Frankie. I’ll let you two get caught up.”
I rise on my tip-toes and give him a tight hug. His muscular chest feels solid against my breasts and I love the weight of his strong arms as they circle around me.
“Thanks for bringing me such a nice surprise,” I say, noting how quickly he lets his hands drop to his sides. “Will I see you later?”
“Yeah, maybe,” he says in a casual tone.
Maybe?
That doesn’t sound promising. There’s something about the way he’s looking at me that gives me pause.
He takes Romeo from Chloe’s arms, gives him a nice little rubdown and then hands him back to her. I can’t help feeling jealous of my own dog. “Catch you later.”
When I shut the door after Harrison, I notice Chloe is watching me.
“What?” I ask.
“That was some hug, Frankie.”
“I know. I’ve missed Harrison and it’s only been three days since I saw him. And now he’s leaving on a trip.”
“Did you ever clear things up about Devon?”
“Not yet.”
“What are you waiting for? Harrison made a comment about you and Devon and then he rolled his eyes.”
I plop down on the couch and she joins me with Romeo on her lap. He rolls on his back and pedals his legs as his little pink tongue dangles from the side of his snout.
“No wonder he’s acting different, kind of aloof,” I add with a frustrated sigh. “Devon stopped by this week when Harrison was over. He only came by because he’s the new host for Bowled Over. Harrison looked annoyed and then he told me, ‘make up your mind, Frankie’.”
“Have you?” Chloe searches my eyes as she continues scratching Romeo’s tummy.
“Yes. It’s Harrison I want.”
“Good,” Chloe says, looking pleased.
“I’m so glad you came, Chloe!”
“Me too. I needed to get away ASAP,” she says, staring down at Romeo.
“Why? What happened?” I note her grave tone. Something is not right.
When she looks up, her eyes are brimming with tears. “Brad and I are over. He dumped me after I caught him cheating.”
“Oh, no,” I moan. “Why didn’t you tell me?”
“It was too raw, too painful. I wanted to call you, but I couldn’t talk without crying.” She hangs her head, her expression glum and hopeless. “It hurts so much when I think of all the years I wasted waiting for him to propose.”
My heart aches for Chloe, she looks so crushed. I give her a heartfelt hug. “Oh, Chloe. I’m so sorry. You deserve better.”
“When I confronted him about the other girl, he said he couldn’t handle the pressure of me expecting him to propose. Then he said he wasn’t sure he was in love with me anymore. Can you believe it? I wasted ten years of my youth on him!” She covers her mouth with a trembling hand and swallows a sob.
“I hate him,” I say vehemently.
She flinches and rubs her face. “Me too. I want to move away from New York. It has too many memories of Brad. And I’m not making enough money off of real estate anymore to live there comfortably.”
“That sucks. How can I help you?”
“Harrison offered me a job as his office manager, with a good salary and benefits.”
“He did? Wow, sounds like his practice is booming.” My heart leaps. “Does this mean you might move here soon?
“Maybe.” Her tone is cautious, but I hear a hint of hope. “I would get a steady paycheck and I could still do real estate on the side.”
I hug her again. “Come on, Chloe, say yes. It would be so wonderful to have you here!”
Chloe slides her fingers under her eyes and wipes away her tears. “Thanks. I’m seriously considering it.”
“I can just imagine how happy your parents would be if you moved down. Fort Lauderdale is only a half-hour drive from here. Does your brother still live there?”
“Actually, Reed joined a law firm in Miami. I was just about to tell you.”
Reed is Chloe’s serious, good-looking older brother. I had a crush on him when we first met, but he was five years older and in law school.