“It’s not a big deal. My mom and sisters were reading it for their book club, and it sounded interesting.”
I blinked rapidly.
“Stop looking at me like that.”
“Nope.” I sat back in my seat. “I just found out that not only do you know who Grace Jones is, but you are also in a book club with your mom. That’s so fucking precious.”
“Sure is.” He sucked up a noodle.
“Oh no, you don’t. You’re not going quiet on me now. Tell me more about your family.”
He rolled his eyes and took a sip of water. “My dad died last year of lung cancer, my mom’s a saint, and my sisters are fucking ridiculous.”
“Sorry about your dad.”
“Thanks. It was a long time coming. I’ve been trying to quit, but it’s damn near impossible with all this shit going on.”
I soaked in the information. Frankie had said more in the last minute than he had the entire time I’d known him.
“Have you tried vaping?”
Frankie scoffed. “Do I look like a pussy?”
I lifted an eyebrow.
“Fuck. Sorry.”
I smiled. “Don’t worry about it.” Deciding to push my luck, I asked, “Girlfriend? Boyfriend?”
His stoic face split into a grin. “Now, why do you want to know that, Mrs. Moretti?”
“I’m a nosy bitch.” I laughed, picking my rice back up. “And it would make this whole brooding thing make more sense if you weren’t getting laid.”
“You think I’m brooding?” His eyebrows rose, and he laughed.
“You’re monosyllabic, always frowning, and you lurk. You’re a lurker. What would you call it?”
Without missing a beat, he said, “Dignified.”
A surprised laugh burst from my mouth. Frankie’s eyes crinkled as he grinned over the desk at me. With an air of triumph, he popped the rest of a Crab Rangoon into his mouth.
“You got jokes. Who would’ve guessed?”
Mouth full of food, he said, “In this line of business, you have to have a good sense of humor, or you’ll go crazy.” He swallowed, looking more at ease than I’d ever seen him. “I’d like to think I’ve struck a good work-life balance.”
“You’re the king of compartmentalizing.”
“I mean, you’re the boss's wife. It’s probably for the best I keep my distance.”
“We’re not married yet,” I said absently. “But yeah, I get it. It’s just weird spending all this time together and not knowing anything about you.”
“To be fair, all I know about you is that you’re the boss’s fiancée, own your own business, and look fantastic naked.”
“So, you watched the show?”
“I mean, I was there and have eyes. You’re a change for the family. That’s for sure.”
“Don’t I know it.” I stabbed at my food and let the silence drag me down. “How am I going to do all this?”