Page 111 of Wicked Fantasies

“So I’ve noticed. Why?”

She swallowed and he could see she was uneasy with the conversation. “I think my family sort of screwed me up a bit. I’m the only child of the world’s last caveman.”

She tried to lighten her comment with a laugh, but he could see she was using it as a defense mechanism. Tight lines surrounded her eyes and mouth, and he knew she was struggling to tell him some hard truths about herself, about her upbringing.

“I got that impression when we met him at the restaurant the other week. He’s not fond of your career?”

She snorted. “That’s putting it lightly. Women aren’t supposed to hold positions of real power in the workforce.”

Brian leaned forward, and Reed was sorry he’d initiated this conversation here. At least, he was until his uncle’s words. “What a load of bullshit. I didn’t know men like that still existed in the world.”

This time, Frankie’s chuckle was sincere. “Hate to break it to you, Brian, but for all intents and purposes, this is still very much a male-dominated society. Lucky for me, I learned a long time ago how to crash a stag party.”

Reed frowned. “I’m sorry about thatit’s a man’s worldcrack after the Golf Connection bid. I shouldn’t have said that. You’re a natural in this field and you have every right to be here.”

She smiled. “Thank you. But my father’s really only a part of my hang-up. My mother sort of perpetuated the rest of my issues.”

Reed rested his elbows on his knees and watched her face carefully. Though she was uncomfortable sharing her personal feelings, he knew now that she’d started, she wouldn’t stop until it had all been said. “Your mother?”

“I watched her lose her entire sense of identity during her marriage. She’s lived her whole life for my dad—giving up her dreams of being a nurse, letting her friends slip away, changing her fashion style. You name it, she gave it up. She’s remade herself into my father’s image of what she should be. She’s a shell of her former self and she did it all in the name of love.”

“How do you know she wasn’t always this person?”

“I met one of my mother’s best friends from college once. We had dinner together and she told me a million stories about my mother, about all the fun she used to have, how vivacious and lively she was. She even had pictures. Then she mentioned my father, talked about how much it bothered her to see my mother accede to his control. Mom dropped out of college during her last semester. Her last freaking semester.”

He leaned forward, grasping her hands. “There are a lot of people in the world who fall in love and remain true to themselves, Frankie. Hell, I’d bet there are more who do than don’t.”

“I know that, but you know that old saying, the fruit doesn’t fall far from the tree? I’ve always worried. What if I’m like her? Reed, there’ve been times when we’ve—” she paused, looked at his uncle again, then she forged on, “—there’ve been times when we’ve been together and I’ve sort of lost sight of myself. Times when there really wasn’t anything I wouldn’t do for you.”

He knew it wouldn’t ease her mind, but to hear her feelings ran so deep lifted the two-ton weight on his heart. Then another thought permeated and he frowned. “I don’t want to change you, Frankie, and I would never make you do anything you weren’t comfortable with. Friday night?—”

She shook her head quickly. “Friday night was perfect. At first, I thought…” She paused, struggling to find her words. “It scared me, but I’ve had all weekend to relive it and I wanted it. You didn’t force me to do anything I didn’t want to do. I was a willing participant. Hell, I’d do it again tonight.”

His eyes narrowed slightly, studying her face, looking for any trace of deception, but finding none.

He accepted her words and gave a deep sigh of relief. “I love you just the way you are, Frankie. I hope you know that.”

Her eyes widened. “You love me?”

He laughed, lifted her knuckles to his lips for a kiss. “Of course I do, you crazy woman. I’ve been walking around here feeling like the world’s biggest fool wearing his heart on his sleeve. You had to know I wanted a relationship with you.”

She licked her lips, biting the lower one briefly. “I was so busy trying to sort out my feelings and misreading your intentions, I don’t think I ever stopped to consider how you felt.”

“Well, now you know. I adore you, Francesca Carlyle. And I’d like a lifetime or so to prove exactly how much.”

She blinked back tears, but before she could respond, Brian stood up.

“Give me those resignation letters.”

Reed wanted to blast his uncle for his untimely interruption, but Brian remained undaunted. Holding out his hand, even snapping his fingers. They handed the papers over.

“Brian,” Reed started, but his uncle’s actions stopped any further comment he could make.

Brian tore up both resignations. “I don’t accept either of these.”

Reed scowled. He’d grappled all weekend with his decision to leave The Donovan Group. Walking away from the company felt like the equivalent of tearing off a limb, but he was through bowing to his uncle’s demands.

“You don’t have a choice.”

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