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I glanced over at the bottle of wine Sydney had left on my desk, and before I had time to really think, I picked it up and carried it into the kitchen Once I had it open, I poured some into a coffee cup I didn’t sip it like I normally did Instead, I drank it quickly and pouredon some music, I carried it over to the sofa and sat down We’d been closed for over an hour, so I didn’t have to worry about anyone co my best to put my phone call with Marc out of my mind Unfortunately, that didn’t happen until I started on my third cup By then, I didn’t have a care in the world In fact, I was feeling pretty good I even found ivenbefore my mind drifted to Widow A smile swept across my face when I remeht about it, the et it

Hoping for a little liquid courage, I took another big sip of wine, and then went into the office forin the pit of my stoivenfairly confident as I picked up my phone and dialed his number, but the nerves kicked in the second I heard his voice on the other end of the line respond, “You got Widow”

Chapter 7

Widow

I left Frankie’s place with the ain That didn’t et the the stories Corry had shared about his piece of shit father got to me Hell, they haunted me I hated to think that he or Frankie had been forced to suffer a past so si I didn’t have He had a h to find a way out But that was Frankie Strong and deter to protect the people she loved

When I’d given her ht she’d use it, so I was surprised she’d texted to thankoff the new spare I was evenalone in her coffee shop drinking fucking wine Not only that, she was pretty insistent that I co the low, intoxicating tone in her voice I toldto check on her, that she’d been drinking and I needed to make sure she made it home okay Deep down, I knew that wasn’t the case and I was fucking up, but that didn’t stopover there

When I pulled up to the shop, there was only one light on, and I didn’t see any sign of Frankie anywhere I knocked on the door, and after several seconds, I spotted her walking in my direction I was pleased to see that she see just fine In fact, she looked in complete control as she turned the lock and opened the door She batted those long eyelashes at me and smiled “Hey”

“Hey” I stepped inside and waited for her to lock the door behindokay?”

“Better now”

“Is that right?”

“Um-hmm”

“How’s that wine treatin’ ya?”

“It’s et what an asshole ood” Her eyes skirted around the rooot home to open the bottle, but thenI probably wouldn’t be seeing you right now if I did that”

Her eyes darkened as her gaze drifted to h wo the sa fucking trouble I took a step back, hoping a little distance would ease the burning need I was feeling Unfortunately, it didn’t ease a da I knerong to want her like I did, but I couldn’t seeht the urge to reach for her and pull her close Damn “Frankie, I’m not sure what you have in mind here, but you should really think about it”