I gape at her. “You wouldn’t. I love that babydoll nightgown you bought!” It’s definitely for me because it’s way out of her comfort zone.
“Oh, wouldn’t I?”
"You do know that Dad is well aware we had something to do with Dyers's downfall?"
"Of course, but we'll never admit to it and there's no proof.” She slips her arms around my waist. “What happened with your dad after the funeral? I didn’t see you two talking. If I had, I’d have adjudicated.”
My mouth purses. “We didn’t talk. We shouted. I told him he ruined her life and he said that I was too young to understand. As if. I knew what a piece-of-shit husband looks like then and I know now?—”
“Franklin?! What the hell are you doing here?”
She peers around the doorway. “Sounds like your dad knows my stepdad.”
“They’re the same age,” I say dryly, drawing her back into a hug. “Ancient.”
“Hey! I like him.”
“You do?”
“Yeah. My brothers are morons. That’s why they don’t. He doesn’t let them get away with murder. Not only does he make Mom smile, but he also treats her right. Didn’t you notice she ate dessert every night this week?”
“That’s the measure of a good boyfriend?”
“Sure is. She doesn’t feel like she has to diet all the time.” She strokes my cheek. “You never question what I eat.”
I grab her ass. “Only if this got less juicy.”
Her smirk is pure sass and I have to kiss it. “Did I tell you what Dad said when Logan told him Mom had married Franklin?”
“Was he even listening? Figured he'd be on the phone to his party planner seeing as he won't have to pay her alimony anymore.” Her snicker tells me I’m partially right. “No?”
“Apparently, he was happy until Logan told him who Franklin was.Apparently,they don’t like each other.”
What Denny failed to mention when discussing her mom’s boyfriend—back when that was all Franklin had been—was the fact that he’s one of the best in the business.
He owns a law firm that services the whole of Florida, and he makes Rod’s agency seem small fry.
Honestly, I get why D likes him, justfigured she might not because of her outright disdain for Francesca. Franklin has a great sense of humor and Mel’s laughed more this Christmas than I think I’ve ever noticed before. It’s great to see her so happy.
“I’d have figured they’d run in the same circles.”
She points her thumb at the door. “Maybe your father does too.”
“Maybe.” I pull a face. “I wonder if Rod told him where I was.”
“I warned Logan with the threat of a long and painful death not to tell him, and I don’t think he’d mess around.”
In her ear, I whisper, “What do you have on him?”
“Whatdon’tI have on the little shit?”
“My girlfriend, ladies and gentlemen.” I applaud.
She winks at me. “You got that right.”
FORTY-FIVE
CHAOS PUPPY
