Free Treading Water by Marie Force Page A

earlier?”
    “ Me? Badger? I don’t know
what you mean.”
    “ Let’s hear it.”
    “ You’re awfully bossy,” he
said with a teasing smile. “It seems my best friend and my sister
may have a thing for each other—only twenty-five years after they
first met. She’s been married twice, both times to guys who
disappointed her. I’d love to see her with someone solid like
Jamie.”
    “ You approve. That’s good.
It would matter to her.”
    He was once again surprised—and delighted—by
her insight. “I approve, but I’d still have to make sure his
intentions are honorable.”
    She arched an eyebrow in disapproval.
“You’re kidding, right?”
    “ Hell no! That’s my little
sister we’re talking about.”
    Andi leaned around him to study Frannie.
“She looks all grown up from where I’m sitting.”
    “ You mean I can’t
interrogate him and threaten to have his fingernails removed if he
hurts her?”
    “ You need to stay out of
it.”
    “ I’m beginning to wonder if
I like you as much as I thought I did,” he joked.
    She chuckled. “Maybe that’s better for both
of us.”
    “ No, it isn’t.”
     
    Across the patio on another lounge chair,
Jamie was doing some badgering of his own under the guise of
“convincing.”
    “ So did your brother give
you permission to go out with me?” he asked Frannie.
    “ Aren’t you arrogant? Your
name never came up.”
    “ Yeah, right !” he said with a hoot. “I know
how you two operate. Give me a break. So is he going to let me take
you out?”
    “ You need to be wondering
if I’m going to
let you take me out.”
    “ You drive a tough bargain,
Frances Harrington.”
    “ You think calling me that
is going to help your chances? Think again.”
    He took her hand and kissed
each finger as the firelight danced on her astonished face. “So,”
he asked between kisses, never taking his eyes off hers,
“what would help
my chances?”
    “ That’s helping,” she said
breathlessly. “That’s definitely helping.”
    He grinned and kissed her hand again.
    “ Can I ask you
something?”
    “ Of course,” he said,
starting over with her thumb.
    In danger of losing control of the
conversation, she tugged her hand out of his grip. “How come you
suddenly want to go out with me?”
    He sat up. “It’s not sudden,
Frannie.”
    “ It’s not? You could have
anyone—”
    Taking her hand again, he
said, “But I want you. I’ve always wanted you.”
    “ You have not . Don’t lie to me.”
She frowned as she got up, stormed into the house, and slammed
around the kitchen, cleaning up.
    Jamie came up behind her and put his arms
around her. “Stop.” He buried his face in her hair. “Stop thinking
I’m toying with you.”
    Frannie had to force air to her lungs.
“Aren’t you?”
    He turned her to face him,
lifted her chin, compelling her to meet his gaze. “I’ve loved you
since the first time you came to visit us in California. I was
blown away by you, but we were just kids. And then the timing was
never right. You got married— twice —and then everything happened
with Clare. I thought I’d die when Jack told me you’d gotten married.” He leaned
in to kiss her. “Both times, I wanted to die, Frannie.”
    Tears rolled down her face. “Why didn’t you
ever say anything?”
    He brushed her tears away. “I don’t know,
but I wish I had. Is there any chance you might, you know, love me,
too?”
    Clinging to him, she tried
to catch her breath. “I’ve always loved you,” she said in a hoarse
whisper. “ Always. ”
She risked a glance at the face she had adored for more than half
her life and saw his love for her.
    Finally.
    “ Will you do something for
me?” she asked.
    “ Anything.”
    She curled her fingers around his. “Take me
home with you?”
    He closed his eyes for a brief moment, took
her hand, and led her to the front door.
     
    Jack and Andi came into the kitchen a few
minutes later with cups and plates from the patio. He