“This guy isn’t much of a challenge. Brought him down with my right leg and my right hand, so my left hand was free. It’s called multitasking.”
Matt leaned against the door. “So you don’t need me for anything at all? How about compliments?”
“Compliments are good. I’ve discovered I like them.”
He scanned her slowly. “Nice dress, honey.”
“Thank you. I’m glad you noticed.”
“I’m noticing the legs, as much as the dress. They’re incredible. Anything else you need me for?”
“I need you for a lot of things. That’s why I came home. To tell you all the ways I need you. And I came to give you something. Keep still—” She growled at the man who was trying to extract himself from her hold. “I’m talking. Don’t interrupt me when I’m talking. I love you, Matt. That’s what I came to say.”
His heart kicked against his chest and his gaze locked on hers. The look in her eyes was something he’d given up hope of ever seeing. “You love me?”
The man on the floor squirmed. “For fuck’s sake—”
Neither Frankie nor Matt spared him a glance.
“I love you.” Her smile was wobbly but her voice was full of conviction. “I’ve been in love with you for years.”
&
nbsp; “So you’re saying you want to have a fling?”
“I’m not interested in a fling. Not with you. I want the whole thing, thick and thin, richer and poorer, sickness and health, but only if you one hundred percent trust in what we have.”
For the first time in his adult life Matt found it difficult to speak. “That’s what you came here to say?”
“Yes. And I came home to give you something, too, but then I found this scumbag in my apartment.” She dug her elbow into the man’s back. “You hurt the cat and got glass in my Ocimum basilicum.”
“Your what? Lady, I wouldn’t touch a single part of you, let alone your—whatever that thing is.”
Matt didn’t shift his gaze from Frankie’s face. “What did you want to give me?”
“A token of my feelings. And they’re strong feelings, Matt. I hope you’re up to handling them.”
“He’d have to be a sadist to want to go anywhere near you,” the man on the ground screeched and Frankie frowned.
“I think the word you’re looking for is masochist. Sadism would describe what I might do to you if you don’t stop interrupting what might be the most important conversation of my life. Matt, I love you.”
“You already said that.” The man on the ground squirmed. “And I don’t want to hear this shit.”
“Well, tough. You’re hearing this shit. And if you’re sensible you’ll take something away from it, like the fact that when a woman says she doesn’t want you in her life, she means it. Love isn’t something that can be extracted through pain, fear or extortion, Eddy. It’s something that is given. Watch and learn.” Her eyes locked on Matt’s. “I’m giving my love to you, Matt. All of it. All of me.”
The air left his lungs in a rush. “Frankie—”
“Shut up!” Eddy squirmed like a fish on a hook. “It wasn’t my fault! I never wanted the baby. She was the one who insisted on keeping it.”
“That’s because Roxy is a wonderful human being. You can think about that when they lock you up. And if you ever come near Roxy or Mia again, I will personally make sure you are never again able to make a baby you don’t want.”
“I’m going to fucking kill you. One dark night when you’ve forgotten all about me, I’m going to be waiting for you in the shadows. And what are you going to do then?”
Matt felt anger rip through him and took a step forward but Frankie shoved Eddy’s arm higher and gave him a thoughtful look.
“I guess I’ll do the same thing I’m doing right now. Pin you to the ground and give you a piece of my mind. You’re a wimp, Eddy. A bully and a wimp. And it’s time you took your bullying wimpy ways and left Roxy the hell alone. How can I put this so that I’m sure we understand each other?” She paused, thinking. “If you ever lurk in the shadows and try to scare me or anyone I love again, I will personally kick the shit out of you.”
“You won’t have to, because I will already have done it.” Roxy stood there, her face set and angry. “You stay away from me, Eddy. And you stay away from Mia.”