Christmas in Coconut Creek (Dirty Delta, #1)(35)

She shouldered me playfully. “I wasn’t suggesting full frontal, Phee. Not that I think Frankie would protest whatsoever. He’d probably print it and keep a copy in his wallet.”

I looked down at my phone as it buzzed again.



Frankie <3: What are you girls up to today?





“See? Double texter. He’s obsessed,” Nat pointed out.

I shielded my phone screen as she read over my shoulder. “Don’t you have a boyfriend to be sending butthole snaps to?”

Natalia flipped her shiny hair off her shoulder, slapping me with the ends as she stood from the bed. She cleared the side tables of the empty wine glasses and bottles and swayed out the door. “Remember! No nudes without approval!”

When I heard the click of a door being closed down the hall, followed by the soft rain of the shower, I focused back on my phone.

Ophelia: Thinking about making it a spa day. I could use a good massage

Frankie <3: Something making you tense?

Ophelia: Fighting off tireless men

Frankie <3: I wouldn’t call what you did to me “fighting me off” exactly

Ophelia: Can’t a girl have a moment of weakness?

Frankie <3: You can have as many moments of weakness as you want O. I encourage it. Actually I implore it

Ophelia: Big words there from a military brat

Frankie <3: I had to adjust my game for the hot teacher I’m trying to impress

Ophelia: She’s impressed

Frankie <3: How impressed? Like, meet me on my lunch break for another go impressed?

Ophelia: Like, continue texting you despite your frat-level insistence impressed

Frankie <3: Ouch

Ophelia: You’re right, that was a little harsh

Frankie <3: No quarrel, Ms. Brody. It was grossly incompetent of me to assume something so outrageously promiscuous. I’ll see to it that I keep my egregious masculine urges to myself henceforth.





I snorted and played with the drawstring on my shorts.



Ophelia: Are you on thesaurus.com?

Frankie <3: Would it make you wet if I said yes?

Ophelia: No comment

Frankie <3: I’ll make a dirty girl out of you yet, O





I swung my legs off the bed and padded down the hall into the kitchen. I couldn’t remember the last time I felt this impending infatuation toward a man. Which was as exhilarating as it was terrifying given the circumstances. I wasn’t even sure at that point if a glaring red flag tagged “will end badly” would deter the path toward Frankie. It felt as though every second I tried to stave off any involvement, the pull toward him just became more magnetic.

I flipped on the coffee machine and leaned against the counter as the grinds began to drip.



Ophelia: Does Mateo pay you to text on the job?

Frankie <3: I’m not texting, I’m testing the internet speeds

Ophelia: Slowest internet ever

Frankie <3: Part of the reason this install is gonna take the next two days

Ophelia: Ah, that must be why Nat and Mateo are having a sleepover on Friday. Two days without sex probably feels like a prison verdict

Frankie <3: First I’m hearing about it. What does that mean you’re doing?

Ophelia: Making cookies, wrapping gifts, singing Christmas music at the top of my lungs in an empty apartment

Frankie <3: Fuck that, come over with Tally

Ophelia: You don’t think that’s infringing?

Frankie <3: Last time I checked I paid half the mortgage and utilities, so whatever raw cookie dough I do or do not put in my oven is no one else’s business





The coffee came to a sputtering stop in the pot and brought my attention back to the room. Nat was idling around the kitchen with a towel around her chest, pulling two mugs from the cabinet above the sink and cream from the fridge.

“Would you care if I tagged along on Friday?”

She raised an eyebrow and then fitted me with an knowing expression as she put two and two together.

“Why, oh why would you ever want to do that, Ophelia?” she teased.

“Can we save the I told you so’s for when they’re necessary? We’re just hanging out. You and Mateo are hanging out, Frankie invited me to hang out. It’s friendly.”

“What Mateo and I are doing is far from friendly.”

“We’re just baking cookies.”

“Is that what the kids are calling it nowadays?”

I took the two mugs from my friend and poured the steaming coffee, attempting to hide a smirk. There was no telling exactly what would come of spending time alone with Frankie, but I also wasn’t naive enough to believe some salacious activity was completely off the table.

“So, you’re cool with it?” I asked, handing the mug back to Nat.

“Of course, Phee. I’m glad actually. I felt like shit leaving you for the night as it was. Now at least I know you’re in capable, strong, veiny hands.”

I swatted Natalia’s ass as she turned away, laughing and heading back toward her bedroom.



Ophelia: Sending you a list of ingredients, don’t forget anything

Frankie <3: Atta girl





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