I let her go, and the longing on her face shifts to a teasing grin. “Tempting, but who’d take Junie to school?”
“I didn’t say it was a fool-proof plan,” I tease back.
While Frankie studies me, I shift my weight, testing whether the ground is still solid after letting my emotions get the better of me. Turns out, telling Frankie how I feel didn’t cause the earth to open up and swallow me, even if the look on her face doesn’t give me much hope.
“I wish I could tell you that I’m not temporary Cal, but I’ve got no clue what’s ahead.” She takes both my hands in hers, lacing her fingers through mine. “And I don’t want to hurt you or Junie.”
I nod, waiting for her to say everything that’s making her brows pinch together.
“I mean, there’s too many ifs right now, right? Part of me wants to stay tucked away in Serenity Cove. Or here at this ranch.” She raises her eyebrows and her lips pull up, too, communicating she didn’t hate my idea about staying canopied in avocado trees.
But the smile is gone too fast, and her voice turns serious. “Another part wants to disappear again.”
We both let that sit. If I could breathe, I’d try to convince her that’s her worst option.
“But” she continues. “There’s a big chunk of my brain—and my heart, if I’m honest—that’s telling me it’s time to stop hiding. I’m torn whether I go back to L.A.—if I go back to acting—or if I stay here and wait for people to quit caring about Frankie Forsythe.”
I don’t miss the look in Frankie’s eyes when she mentions LA and acting. It was quick—like a struck match that givesoff blue sparks but doesn’t light. It was there though. Until I saw it, I’d never considered she might want to go back to Hollywood.
She lets go of my hands and steps back. “Either way, it’s not a good option for you or Junie.”
I let out a long breath. “So…friends?”
Frankie shrugs. “That’s the one thing I can promise won’t be temporary, Cal. I’m good at being mates. Whatever else happens, I’ll always be your friend. Junie’s, too.”
I nod, force my lips to turn upward, and stick out my hand. “Friends it is, then. Shake on it.”
Frankie glances at my hand and back at me. “Honestly…what I really need is a hug from a friend.”
I smile and nod. “Same.”
Within seconds, I’ve helped her take off the bag and pulled her into my arms. I hold her against my chest, close enough there’s no way she can’t hear my heart pounding.
I hate the wordfriends.I didn’t realize that until this moment. It’s hit me just now how much I don’t want us to stay friends. That’s not enough. I can’t imagine it ever being enough.
Mate is a much better word. Especially if you putsoulin front of it.
“Here’s the thing, Frankie. You don’t have to decide everything today,” I say, then kiss the top of her head, which is really the hat she’s wearing. The same one I gave her the other day to help her hide. “Let’s be the kind of friends—mates—who are totally honest with each other. And if we can make something work, if we both want something that’s more than casual, then we say it.”
I swallow hard. Frankie could have any guy she wants. She’s got actors and other famous people lined up, waiting for her to go back to Hollywood. It’s more likely she’ll lose interest in me before I ever lose interest in her. I don’t have anyprospects in Serenity Cove. Even if I did, they’d pale in comparison to Frankie. I can’t think of any woman I’ve met who doesn’t.
Frankie pulls away, tilts her head to see me from under the brim of the Barry’s Bait and Tackle hat. Her lips curve into the flirty grin I’m used to—but softer—and she sticks up her pinky. “Total honesty. Pinky swear.”
I wrap my pinky around hers and squeeze, both of us smiling. There’s no sign of being heartbroken on her face. I hope mine doesn’t have any signs either, but I’m not the actor she is.
When we break apart, I sling her avocado bag over my shoulder, and wrap my other arm around her shoulders, but in a friendly way. Like we’re old friends, comfortable being close like this.
“You’re done picking. Time to eat, then I’ll take you into town.”
“Okay, mate.” She slides her arm around my waist.
Her slender fingers rest on my side like live wires, sending electricity surging through my body. We reach the end of the row too soon and, without a word, unwind from each other. Like we both know we don’t want my family to see us and get the wrong idea.
“I like it here, Cal. Are you still okay with me staying a few days? Will it be too weird?” she asks softly.
“Not weird at all,” I answer automatically.
Frankie’s chest rises and falls in a happy sigh that sends a final surge of electricity through me strong enough to make my brain glitch.
