She pulls away, and we both turn at the sound of the barking dog on the interior side of the fence. “Get out of here, Teddy. It’s just me. Go away.”
The exterior lights on the corner of the house come on. “Frankee? Is that you?”
Shit. It’s Scott.
Frankee leans forward and places a quick kiss against my mouth. “Gotta go. Stay here until I turn off the lights.”
Shit. I’m thirty years old and sneaking around behind everyone’s back with a girl almost ten years younger than me. I’m fucking hiding out at the side of her house and waiting for a cue to leave so her daddy doesn’t figure out that we were making out after our secret date.
Everything about this is fucked up.
But everything about being with her feels wonderful.
The light goes off, and I return to Ken’s car. “Sorry about the delay.”
“No worries. I’ve been driving you for a while now. I’m used to delays.” Ken’s words are a reminder that he has waited in the car many times while I finished off a one-nighter.
I don’t know why it matters to me, but I don’t like that Ken sees Frankee as another one-nighter. I guess it’s dumb, but I feel the need to set him straight. “This one is different.”
“Ah, I said that once about a woman.”
“What happened?”
“I put a ring on it. That was seven years and three kids ago.”
I had no idea Ken was married with children. “She’s my intern. And her father has been one of my best employees for five years. He knows things about me and my personal life. I’m not sure he’ll approve of his daughter dating me.” Not when he’s been the one to turn away the women who came to the brewery looking for me.
“She’s an adult, right?”
“Barely.”
“Well, Daddy can’t do anything about it if she’s legal.”
True. But that’s not the way I’d prefer this to play out. I’d want Scott’s approval.
I don’t know why I’m sitting here worrying about this. Frankee is only here for ten more weeks. Scott will probably never even know about us.
If there is an us.
Fuck. I really want there to be an us. And I’m ready to work on that right now.
I scroll through my list of contacts and find Frankee’s number. I have to know she’s thinking about me and what just happened.
Porter: Everything ok?
Frankee: It’s fine. He didn’t know you were there.
Porter: I had a great time tonight.
Frankee: I did too.
Porter: I hope you’ll want to see me again. Outside of the office.
Frankee: I would like that.
Porter: Can you see me tomorrow?
Frankee: I wish, but the whole family is going to visit my grandparents after church. I can’t skip.
Porter: Can I book you for lunch on Monday?
Frankee: My boss is a real hard-ass. He has me doing a lot of busy work, but I think I can work you in.
Porter: Good.
Porter: And just so you know, I wasn’t finished kissing you.
Porter: Does that scare you?
Frankee: More kisses? No.
Frankee: How much I want more kisses? Hell. Yes.
Porter: Why are you afraid of wanting more?
Frankee: Because I’m leaving soon.
Porter: I think this is a conversation better had over lunch instead of text messages.
Frankee: Agreed.
Porter: Sweet dreams, beautiful.
Frankee: Goodnight. Sweet dreams to you too.
They will be sweet dreams if they include Frankee.
I already know Frankee well enough to figure out that she is a creature of habit. She clocks in between 7:43 and 7:45 every morning. Hence, the reason I’m here at 7:35 to have a venti white chocolate mocha waiting for her on her desk, fire up her computer and select a Journey song to be playing when she comes in, and leave a note reminding her of our lunch date. Not that I think she has forgotten. I just want to let her know that I’m pleased to be spending time with her today.
I open the top drawer of her desk in search of a sticky pad and come up empty-handed. I only find her sketchbook. Odd she’d leave it here for the weekend. I’d expect her to take it home in case inspiration struck.
I crack it open and flip from the beginning, searching for a blank page I can tear out. Portraits. Landscapes. Abstracts. You name it and she’s drawn it. She’s talented beyond her years. But her last sketch is the one that catches my attention and hypnotizes me.
Intricate thick black tapered lines. Swirls. Crisp, clean edges. Ink on skin. My skin. Except these sketches aren’t just my tattoos. They’re the lower portions of my tattoos, the only parts Frankee would be able to see below my sleeve, but with new ink and designs added to them. And they look cool as hell.
I take out my phone and snap several pictures of her drawing before putting her pad back in the drawer. I forgo tearing out a sheet; I don’t want her to know that I’ve seen her sketches of my tattoos. At least not for now.
I bolt next door to my office and scribble out my message.
Lunch with the boss at 12:00.
Don’t forget. —P
I have no more than two minutes before she’ll arrive at her desk so I dash back to the art department. I select ‘Faithfully’ to play; I want her to be reminded of our dance. Lastly, I fold the note in half with her name on the outside like a seating card.
I rush out the door and run right smack into Molly, chest-to-chest. Well, almost. More like chest to abdomen since Molly is so much shorter than me. “Good morning, Porter.”
“Good morning, Mama Molly.”
“Why do I have the feeling that you’re up to something?”
Molly’s motherly intuition is never off. “Because I’m always up to something, and this morning is no different.”
“This morning is different. You’re here earlier than usual, and you’re running out of the art department like a scalded dog.”
“I brought Frankee a cof
fee.” I shrug, playing it off like it’s nothing. “You caught me.”
“Did you bring me a coffee?”
“Yes. It’s waiting for you on your desk.”
“Good boy.” Molly makes a V with her index and middle fingers, using them to point at her eyes and then mine. “But I’m still watching you.”
“What’s new?”
I’m in my office no more than five minutes before Frankee is standing in the doorway knocking. “Thank you for the white chocolate mocha. And the music. That was really thoughtful.”
Ah, she noticed the song playing. “You’re welcome.”
“I was planning to work on the new merchandise today. Is that okay, or do you need me to do something else?”
“Merchandise would be great.”
“Do you have a minute to look at the draft of the new website? Or are you tied up?”
“I can come have a look.”
I go to the art department with Frankee and roll a chair over from the opposite desk so I’m beside her. Close.
She opens her draft. “Home page. I’m keeping everything clean and streamline but with bold graphics.”
“Looks good.”
“Do you really think so? Because I want you to tell me if you don’t.”
“I do. Really.”
“The first drop-down is our beers. I think it’s nice for the customer to see all of the beer options on one page but that’s a lot for a mobile device to load. Since most people will be looking at this from a phone, I broke them down.”
“Makes sense.” I lean closer and inhale deeply. Mmm… peach and floral. “You smell really good.”
“Thank you.” She clicks on the next drop-down. “This one is beer locator. Nothing special going on there. Just a search for Lovibond beer distributors.”
I can hardly concentrate on what she’s saying. “I haven’t been able to think about anything but kissing you again.”
Frankee looks toward the open door and lowers her voice. “Porter…”