Page 31 of Playing Hard to Get

“Okay, change of plans.” Frankie jabbed at her phone to end her call and walked across her living room to where I was seated on her couch. She looked at her phone with a frown, like she was trying to let it know it’d made her unhappy. “Daginger had an unexpected meeting, so Lee can’t make it. And Bianca just called. Looks like she caught whatever her daughter had last week, so I told her to stay home.”

“We gonna reschedule?” I asked.

“No. I'm taking you two out instead. Luciano’s. My treat.”

“Ma’am, that's not necessary.”

“Cael,” Frankie said, looking at the newest member of our security team sitting in the chair to my right. “How many times do I have to tell you not to call me that? It makes me feel old.”

A laugh rumbled through me as Cael dropped his eyes to his lap and pulled his hand to the back of his head. He patted at the untamable tuft of light brown hair that never stayed put.

“Compared to him, darlin’, you are old.”

She scrunched up her nose and frowned at me. “And what does that make you, old man?”

“Old man?” I gasped and clutched my hand to my chest as Cael laughed at me. The years between us were few. The years between Frankie and Cael were fewer still. The tease in her eyes made her look even younger than that. “I'll show you old.”

Grabbing Frankie's wrist, I yanked her to me, pulling her into my lap on the couch. She squealed as my fingers dug into her sides, her hips bucking before she curled into a ball.

“Mitch!” Frankie squealed again as she struggled to get out of my lap. I released my grip, allowing her to gain a little control, then buried my face in the crook of her neck. The instant my lips touched her skin, I blew out a deep breath, causing her to squeal again.

Cael was laughing so hard at us, he had his hands gripped at his sides as he leaned over his lap. After a few more squeals from Frankie, I stopped my assault and tried to catch my breath.

“You two are a hoot,” Cael said, his voice riding the waves of a loud knock at the door.

“You expecting someone, darlin’?”

Frankie extricated herself from my lap, breathing hard, and righted her blouse with a crooked smile on her face. “Not that I know of. But with this memory of mine, being so old and all…”

Cael stayed grinning in his chair, but I followed behind Frankie. Didn't know why. You had to have a code for the keypad on the elevator in order to get to her floor. Whoever was here had to be someone she knew. But I’d protected her life for a few weeks last year and worrying about her became a habit of mine. I'd do the same for anyone I cared about as much as I did Frankie. She was like family.

Frankie peeked through the peephole and broke into a wide grin. “Vinny!” she said as she threw open the door.

The man on the other side looked so much like his sister it was like a gut punch. Except he was shorter, thinner, fairer in skin and hair. He swept his blond hair out of his eyes as he smiled at Frankie, only to have it fall back in his face when she pulled him into an embrace.

“Hey, cuz, how’s it going?” He pulled back, that smile that matched his sister’s still on his face. “What are you doing in here? I heard squealing, but I thought Corey was out of town.”

“That’d be Mitch's fault,” Frankie said as she laughed and gave me a glare that only made me laugh, too.

“Ah, yes.” Vinny stepped forward and extended his hand. “How’s it going, Mitch?”

“Doing good. You?”

“Never better, never better.”

“Come on in, Vin. I want you to meet someone.” Frankie grabbed her cousin’s arm and we headed into the living room. I plopped down on the corner of the couch farthest from Cael as Frankie introduced Vinny.

“And this is Cael Waldeburg, the newest member of Lee's team.”

“Pleasure to meet you.” Vinny grasped Cael’s hand and you could almost see the shock on the kid’s face. It still shocked me how firm Vinny's handshake was, considering he looked like he’d blow away with a strong gust of wind.

“Pleasure’s all mine, sir.”

Vinny pulled his head back and Frankie let out a quiet chuckle. Cael's cheeks flushed as he patted down that tuft of hair once more.

“Cael’s real big on calling me ma’am’,” Frankie said as she threw a light punch at the kid’s shoulder. Cael ducked his head and smiled at her. “Makes me feel old.”

Vinny grinned. “‘Sir’ makes me feel like my dad.”