“Ouch.” He touched his chest, eyes dancing. “You wound me.”
“Liar. You’ll say anything to get someone into your bed.”
He grinned. “Really? Usually a simple hello does the trick.”
I shook my head in disgust and rolled my eyes. “Ego much?”
“The truth will set you free.”
“Tell me already,” I gritted out. “I don’t have all day to work on the jigsaw puzzle that makes up your brain.”
“He’s filthy rich.”
“Not a surprise. I’ve been in his brownstone. It’s magnificent.”
“Family money from both sides. His father was one of the founding partners of his law firm. His mother—who’s beautiful, by the way—had a bad scare with cancer years ago. His father died three years ago.”
“Yeah, that’s around the time Nate’s insomnia started. He mentioned it. I think they were very close.”
“There was gossip about the father. That he died in his girlfriend’s bed, and the girlfriend was his wife’s best friend.”
“Ouch. That’s ugly.” No wonder Nate had trust issues. “That explains his no-cheating mandate. He said that was a deal breaker. He hates cheaters.”
“Smart man.” Humor fled Frisco’s face. “Can’t say I disagree with him.”
I gnawed on my inner cheek. “If he ever found out about me and Jared, he’d hate me. I was the other man, after all.”
Frisco finished his cappuccino and broke off the corner of the iced lemon scone he’d brought for dessert. “Damn, that’s good. And yeah, he might. So make sure he doesn’t. Find out, that is. It’s been over and done with for years. As far as you’re concerned, Jared doesn’t ever need to come into the picture. He never existed.”
“But that’s starting out with a lie. Isn’t that wrong?” The thunderous expression on Nate’s face last night rose up before me, and I knew if he ever found out I slept with a married man, most likely he’d never forgive me.
Practical Frisco was who I needed at the moment. “Why? Jared is dead, and it’s not like you ever see his husband, except for that stupid move you made to go to the park for the ceremony honoring their son.”
“I had my reasons,” I mumbled.
“Yeah. Whatever,” Frisco said darkly. He’d made his opinion loud and clear when he’d found out what I’d done. “But what I’m trying to say is, there’s no trace of the man. You can wipe away your affair, pretend it never happened, and start fresh. Enough years have passed that it’s feasible. If you’re serious about moving on, Press, then I think that’s how you should do it.”
Jared was gone, and I was here with a possibility open for the first time in years. Still…
“I can’t erase what happened between Jared and me or what I did. It happened and made me who I am today. I’d like to think I learned from that mistake.”
“I hope so. And I figured you’d say that. As much as I wish you could, you’re not the type to pretend it never happened.”
“I couldn’t…but I think you’re right. I don’t have to be so blatant about my stupidity with our affair.”
“I know I’m right. Trust Daddy Frisco. Now I gotta run. Have afternoon tea to review uptown.” He hugged me tight, and I clung to him. “What’s wrong?”
“I don’t know. It’s like I’m afraid because it might be real this time. I’m torn between being scared to death of having it and fucking it up at the same time. I don’t know what to do, or who I’m supposed to be.”
Frisco kissed my cheek. “Just be yourself. There’s no one better.” Then he left, taking his unique energy with him.
I threw out the scraps of food, and when the door opened and Nate walked in, my heart gave a funny jump and my breath caught in my throat.
“Hi. What’re you doing here? You should’ve called to let me know you were coming.”
“Why?” His crooked smile held no warmth. “So you could tell your boyfriend to leave earlier?”
“Boyfriend?”
