The stern look Gabriel sends me is so different from what I’m used to from him that I almost do a double take.
“You can still manage logistics remotely on ouralternative projects, but you should move to a behind-the-scenes position there too. The team and I don’t need you on site.” His suggestion stuns me.
“I don’t have to do that.” Does he hear in my voice how much I want to? “It wouldn’t be fair to you.”
“I can see the guilt in your eyes. Knock it off. You’ve already invested more than your fair share of blood, sweat, and tears. Our work will go on without you risking your neck to do it. You need to be safe and alive to raise a kid. Stay behind the scenes. Use that big brain of yours for logistics. We need you there more.”
For a moment, I can’t pull in a single breath. I nod. And, with my acceptance, weight falls from my shoulders in a nearly audible crash.
Across the dance floor, Franki watches me, her whiskey eyes intent, her posture leaning in my direction. My guess is that whatever she sees on my face has her worried about me.
“I need to talk to—”
Franki rises from her chair and heads my way.
I leave Gabriel and meet her halfway across the dance floor. A new slow song begins. Tugging her against me, I bend down and bury my face against her neck. “Hello, Franki.”
She holds her cane in one hand and sifts her fingers through my hair with the other, the motion comforting and arousing in equal measure. “Hello, Henry.”
I always crave feeling close to her, but tonight the urge is voracious. I need to be part of her, sink into her, feel her surround me. “I’m out, love,” I choke. “There’ll be a transition period, but Gabriel is taking over.”
She turns utterly motionless in my arms, then her breath brushes my ear, her voice tentative with the fear of hoping for too much. “Taking over what?”
“Everything.” Laughing, but with burning eyes and a tight chest, I raise my head to bask in the look on her face. “We can find a university where we can both teach after all. Buy a housewith a back porch where we hear crickets in the summer instead of traffic and a field with an open view of the night sky.”
She screws her eyes closed, her long lashes fanning over her cheeks. When she opens them, they shine with unshed tears. “Good.” She rests her forehead against my chest, and she lets go, her body shaking with sobs of relief. “Good.”
Tunneling my hand into her hair, I cup the back of her head. “I should’ve found a way to make it happen sooner.”
“No. Everything happened the way it needed to.” She steps out of my arms and brushes the moisture from her cheeks. “Come with me.”
I follow, but when she motions to her bodyguard who reaches behind himself and produces her sneakers with the orthotic lift inside, I watch in confusion as she swaps out her strappy sandals for comfortable shoes.
Dante and Spencer arrive. Dante’s brown eyes sparkle as Spencer holds his hand out. “I’ll take care of those. You two shoo.”
Franki passes the sandals off to Spencer.
“Go get him,” Dante says.
Franki grins, then tugs me after her, her cane tapping and her guard trailing slightly behind us.
When we step onto the walkway leading toward the village, I stop moving. “We’re not going to our room?”
She grins. “Nope. Elliot was a little misguided about my invitation to your parents’ yacht.”
“Don’t remind me.” I scowl.
She leads me by the hand. “But it gave me an idea.”
“Their yacht isn’t here until tomorrow.”
“I know. Come with me.”
We make our way through narrow streets.
“Are you okay to walk this far?” I ask.
“I could probably ditch the cane entirely today. I’m feeling much better.”
