A storm of flashes illuminated the red carpet and the press plunged toward the limo that rolled up to the front.
Heart in my throat, I stepped closer to the doors and stared at the warzone the sidewalk had just become. My fingers felt clammy. My pulse rushed. I’d forgotten about Janet and Alisha.
While our VIP guest list consisted of a few very influential people in the music industry, those weren’t the names that caused people to lose their minds. Outsiders didn’t know or care for Gary Torino.
Roman’s bald head lingering behind the string of security came into my line of sight first. Then Frank emerged from the crowd moments later. He was all light. His presence stole the attention of the entire block. Dressed in black pants, a fitted shirt that highlighted the fine contours of his body, and a plain leather jacket, he looked sophisticated. There was no excessive jewelry or boots with metal studs. Almost as if he wanted to strip himself of all the attributes of his past persona.
I stood in my spot by the door and stared at him through the thick tinted glass with my restless heart pounding so hard, its furious beats didn’t allow the oxygen to reach my lungs. The air around me grew tight. I could feel its weight on my shoulders and against my chest. Frank stopped in front of the barricade and went through the throng of hands that were thrust at him, shaking them one by one. Linda followed him like a hawk, occasionally whispering something in his ear as if they were conspiring to do something outrageous. I was so distracted that I hadn’t even noticed her leaving my side.
He didn’t walk the red carpet nor did he pause for a photo op. Roman led him past the reporters and straight into the theater. The noise sneaked inside at the quick swing of the door. Screams, thuds, and clicks drowned out the wild thunder within my chest for a brief moment.
I had to remind myself to breathe when Frank entered the lobby. Anxiety swirled in my stomach. Then his sharp gaze wandered over to me.
Avoidance and fear clutched my gut. I wasn’t prepared to face him like this after three months of silence, with rabid fans right outside and event staff breathing down my neck. My mind tripped and blanked with panic.
Our eyes met. His were disarming, sober, and full of determination. Chin hitched, I accepted the challenge. Crowds were his specialty, but he was also a great teacher.
He started his approach and the closer he got, the blurrier everything else became. I was in a bubble. His bubble, where the sound of our surroundings didn’t exist and the space between our bodies was filled with tenacious heat and wanton memories.
“Cassy,” his voice said as he neared. “Hi.” Then came a smile. Gentle, intimate, sexy. The kind that made my ovaries melt and my brain short circuit.
Here it was again. The full Frankie Blade effect. The electricity, the fireworks, the zippity-zap that tumbled down my spine. My knees shook and my high-heeled shoes felt like two bricks encasing my feet. The entire world fell away, leaving me one-on-one with the man I thought I’d managed to forget.
The rapid thrum of my pulse told me I was wrong.
Totally useless inside my mouth, my tongue finally moved. “Hello, Frank.”
A slew of voices drifted at me from across the room. Isabella’s was the loudest. Then suddenly, we were encompassed by a group of raging teenagers. Andy wore a Texas-sized grin. Ashton’s goofy smile peeked out from behind Kit’s dark mop of hair. Slightly intimidated by Frank’s presence and the madhouse on the opposite side of the glass, Story stood back. Their conspiring gazes didn’t escape me.
This felt a lot like treason. Hands were shaken. Embraces were exchanged. Janet was hovering.
“What’s going on?” I cast a threatening glance at everyone. My heart bounced against my ribcage like a tennis ball.
“I’m sorry. I planned on telling you earlier, but things got crazy.” Isabella looked at me innocently through her lashes, then gave me a subtle shrug. “He wasn’t supposed to arrive until after six.” She half-laughed, half-grimaced at Frank.
Something passed between them. Understanding? Familiarity? I didn’t quite catch it, but it was there. In the air. Invisible yet tangible.
“I didn’t want to be late.” He winked at her and returned his attention to me. “Traffic.”
His features remained lax, but his eyes gave away the turbulence of his thoughts.
“Traffic, huh?” I shot him a dubious look and pulled out my phone. “How come he’s not on my list?” My question wasn’t addressed at anyone in particular. First, I didn’t understand why Frank was here. Second, I didn’t understand why no one had informed me about his arrival. Third, I didn’t understand why others knew and I didn’t.
But then we were interrupted.
“The doors are about to open!” Linda hurried us away from the entrance. “Let’s get you somewhere quiet.” She patted Frank’s shoulder and smiled at me.
I needed answers, but there was no time for explanations. The lobby came alive as Roman steered us into the hallway, away from the general admission ticket holders. Frank and I marched shoulder to shoulder, our bodies almost touching. I felt his heat. I caught his scent. I heard his breath. It was the strangest thing, to be able to separate him from everyone and everything else in this ruckus.
We meshed with another group of people. More handshaking, more smiling, more I’ll catch you laters. Everyone wanted a piece of Frankie Blade. No one cared he’d wreaked drunk havoc at Dante’s party three months ago. He was wanted, adored, and forgiven. Just not by me. I still hurt from all the ugly words he’d said at that party.
I heard Maria and noted Ashton steering Isabella into one of the dressing rooms. A roll of thunder came from the lobby. Soft at first, the footfalls grew stronger and louder,
