Page 40 of Better Watch Out
“I’m not sure I know what gingerbread smells like.”
Shedding her coat, Frannie breathed in the sweet and spicy scent. “It’s how I imagine Santa’s kitchen would smell.”
A smile broke free on Andrew’s face. “You believe in Santa?”
“You don’t?”
“I got socks and batteries in my stocking every year.”
Frannie pressed her lips together to keep from laughing. “How naughty were you as a child?”
His smile widened. “More than I care to admit.”
“That sounds like me. My brother was the saint up until he hacked himself into the sights of the CIA.”
Andrew’s eyes widened. “He what?”
“You didn’t know Ryan’s a computer genius?”
Andrew rubbed the back of his neck. “I don’t know much about your brother outside of his job in the FBI.”
“Which reminds me that you haven’t explained how you know my brother.”
When Andrew shifted on his heels, a thread of tension spread between them that she couldn’t quite understand … unless … Was the reason why Andrew wasn’t forthcoming with an explanation because at the end of the day, he was just here as a favor to Ryan?
Of course that was the only reason. A favor. Nothing else. This man no doubt made millions on the ice. He could have his pick of women. Probably HAD his pick of women. Which made her wonder how he even saw her. A small-town girl who was pathetically needy after a breakup? But then … the way she’d caught him looking at her. Or how he found ways to touch her. She could have sworn his gaze dipped to her lips at the ice rink. Maybe she was imagining it. She braved a glance his way. Or maybe not. Because his gray-blue eyes locked her in his intense sights and her breath cinched in her chest. The roar of the television fire had nothing on what was crackling between them.
Then as if in a trance, Andrew blinked. “Hey, are you okay?” He was at her side in three quick steps. His gaze softened on her. “I’m really sorry about today. I didn’t mean to frighten you.”
“Oh, it’s not that at all.” She walked over to her bed, picked up the box of chocolates from her pillow, and made quick work of opening the box. Maybe if she stuffed her mouth full of truffles, she wouldn’t have to face the fact that today had been what she’d wanted with Calvin—minus the near scare, but even that would’ve had them laughing.Kissing.
Stop. She needed to stop making more out of a relationship that had ceased existing right under her nose. Setting the box of chocolates down, she went to the desk and picked up her bucket list and a pen. She crossed office skatingand wrote downbumper tubingand then put a check mark next to it. Her throat tightened with unexpected emotion. This should’ve felt good but instead it left her feeling disappointed.
“Frannie?” His tender tone pulled her gaze up to meet his. “What is it?”
She exhaled, frustrated with herself. “It’s nothing. I’m just feeling sorry for myself.” She picked up the chocolate again, ready to drown her pathetic sorrows in the indulgent treat. “And frustrated that after what was an amazing day, I’m still thinking about what a fool I was for being blinded by some romantic notion I had with a guy for an entire year that, just like Santa, was pretty much a figment of my imagination.” Her fingers fumbled with the wrapper until she gave up and tossed it aside.
Andrew was kind enough to keep his expression neutral as she unleashed her crazy. He removed his gloves, picked up the discarded piece of chocolate, and carefully unwrapped it, handing it back to her.
“Sorry.” She bit into the chocolate. “It’s been a strange and emotional couple of days.”
“Part of that is my fault.” He walked over. “I ruined your day today and you deserve an explanation for why.”
Frannie suddenly wanted to take back her request for an explanation. She didn’t know the extent of Ryan’s work with the FBI but when he was a deputy in Walton, she witnessed what he was required to do in the line of duty. It didn’t feel right to ask Andrew to explain anything.
“You really don’t have to explain. I’m sure your job puts you on edge.”
“It does.” He inhaled and then led her to sit on the couch. He removed his jacket and set it on his knee. “I told you I played for the NHL. I was a defenseman for the Buffalo Bandits and three years ago our team was in the Stanley Cup final. My job as a defenseman is to keep the other team from reaching the goalie to score. We were down to the last seconds in the game and I should’ve been watching, should’ve been prepared for the hit, but I turned and didn’t see it coming until it was too late. Roman Jágr was like a bull but his hit felt like what I’d imagined getting plowed by a semi-truck might feel like.” Frannie shuddered at the thought. “As soon as I hit the ice, I knew my career was done but the pain of that was nothing compared to watching my teammate Dan Spencer get blindsided. He had to be taken off the ice on a stretcher. We found out later he had spinal damage that ended his career that night too.”
“Oh, Andrew, I’m so sorry.” She touched his hand but then second-guessed her decision, but before she could pull back, his fingers wrapped around hers. “Is that why you don’t like talking about your career?”
“Partly, yeah.” It looked like it pained him to admit it. “It was the worst feeling in the world to know I should’ve been paying attention, defended my position, but I made a mistake.” His focus turned on her. “I met your brother because my mistake didn’t just cost the Bandits two players; it cost us the championship. I was accused of throwing the game, which had been heavily gambled on, and started receiving threats. A man named Angelo Evola was a bookie who hedged bets for some pretty dangerous people. He came after me and threatened to kill me if I didn’t give him the money to pay off his debt.”
Frannie’s eyes rounded. She couldn’t help it. This was like an episode ofLaw & Order. “What happened next?”
“The FBI, including your brother, were already investigating Angelo Evola and when he hired an undercover agent to kill me, they stepped in, but not before Angelo hedged his own bet by hiring a second hitman. Your brother intercepted the final message, sending the hitman to a location where the FBI and NYPD were waiting for him. Ryan saved my life.”
“Wow.” Frannie leaned back into the couch, careful not to disturb the hand still wrapped in Andrew’s tender grip. “I don’t always think about the danger Ryan puts himself in doing his job but I’m glad he was there.”
