Sophia removed her ski cap, shaking out her naturallywavy hair. She took off her peacoat and handed it to Frankie to hang up. “I don’t need a pair with fur.”
“Can I get you something hot to drink?”
“No, thank you. I’m not going to be here that long, because I promised my father I would spend some time with him.”
“How is he?”
“He’s good. I keep telling him that he’s working too much, but whatever I say goes in one ear and out the other. He claims if he can find a mechanic who is as good as he is, then he’ll cut back on his hours. I know Daddy is just talking out the side of his neck, because he doesn’t believe anyone can be as good as he is.”
Reaching her hand, Frankie led her into the living room. “How long has your father had his shop?”
“More years than I can count. Remember, I told you the garage belonged to a cousin, and my father began repairing cars when he was still in high school. Once his cousin retired, Daddy took over.”
“That sounds familiar, because I took over the family business even before my uncle passed away.”
“There’s something to keeping it in the family,” she said, smiling.
Frankie stared into the large gold-green eyes framed by long black lashes. “I want—no need—to talk to you about something that may affect whether you’re willing to continue to see me, or if this will be the last time we’ll be together.”
A slight frown creased Sophia’s smooth forehead. “You’re scaring me, Francis. What are you trying to say?”
“I’m trying to say that I love you and that I’m willing to wait, if you agree to marry me, and not make love to you until our wedding night.”
She lowered her eyes. “What brought on this epiphany?”
“I met with some friends, who set me straight about things I’d done in my past life that should remain there.”
“Like sleeping around?”
“Yes,” Frankie admitted.
“And abusing drugs?”
He looked at Sophia as if she were a stranger. “Why would you say that?”
“I may be innocent when it comes to sex, but I’m not that naïve when it comes to drugs. And no, I’ve never indulged, but I know people who do.” She looked at him as if she dared him to refute her accusation. “Cocaine?”
Frankie knew he was between the proverbial rock and a hard place. If he hoped to have any kind of future with her, he had to be open and honest about his life. “Yes, babe. I’ve snorted cocaine.”
Her eyebrow lifted slightly. “Snorted or still snorting?”
He nodded. “I did a few lines last night.”
“Why, Francis? Why do you feel the need to medicate yourself with drugs that will eventually destroy you? There’s no way I’m going to agree to have a future with a man who can’t stay away from drugs. Do you think I want our children to see their father high all the time?”
All he heard was “our children,” and realized Sophia was seriously thinking about marrying him. “I’ll stop.”
“You better, or there’s no way I will consent to marry you. And by the way, who do you buy your cocaine from?”
“I don’t buy it from anyone.”
Sophia shook her head. “I don’t believe you. And if you fucking lie to me, Francis D’Allesandro, it will be the last time you’ll ever see me after I put my coat on and walk out that motherfucking door.”
It wasn’t often that Sophia used profanity in his presence, and when she did, he knew she was enraged. He’d witnessed her explosive temper once and vowed to do everything he could not to see it again.
“After I tell you what I’m going to confide in you, if you want to walk, then I won’t stop you. But you ever repeat what I’m going to tell you, then I’ll hunt you down and blow your brains out.” His lips twisted into a cynical smile. “And it won’t be the first time that I had to shoot someone.”
Sophia sat up straighter. “You’re sick when you talk about loving and shooting me in the same breath.”
