Christmas in Coconut Creek (Dirty Delta, #1)(79)

My mom's eyebrows danced provocatively. “Nice of him to let you get so comfortable.”

“You’re prying without prying.”

“I just think it’s nice. You’re practically snuggling with his pillows. Must be an accommodating host.”

“Maybe he is.” I stuck my tongue out.

“Fine, I won’t pry.”

I bit my lip, but it was useless pretending I didn’t want to talk about Frankie. The praise was nearly dripping off my tongue. “He’s ex-military.” I covered my mouth. “A pilot.”

Her face lit up and she got closer to the camera, trying to inhale the details through the screen. “Handsome?”

“Irritatingly.”

“Caring?”

“Emotionally and physically.”

She gasped. “Don’t fall in love in Florida, Ophelia. I need my daughter back.”

“That’s ridiculous.” I hid my face in the pillow and inhaled the subject of discussion’s galvanizing scent. “We’re just having fun. God knows I need a break from husband hunting.”

“Make him crazy then,” she said. “Throw out the sails, have a tête-à-tête. Everyone deserves a torrid love affair at least once and there’s no aphrodisiac like a ticking clock.”

“Mom!” My body vibrated with laughter. “If Josh could hear you now,” I teased. “His wife, the harlot.”

She shifted the camera and I caught a glimpse of my stepfather sitting on the leather recliner to her side reading a book. His attention hardly waned from the page, but he wore an amused smirk.

“Hi, Josh,” I chirped.

“Hiya, Phee.” He looked over the rim of his glasses resting on his nose and into the camera briefly. “Missing you here.”

“I miss everyone, too.” My heart warmed inside my chest and I sank further into the mattress, my phone outstretched above me. I missed them in a different way than I did a week ago, though. I missed them like you miss a lifelong friend. One that you know will always be there waiting for you no matter how much time goes by. You miss them, you love them, you want to see them—but if something else gets in the way, that’s okay too.

Not how I knew I’d be missing Frankie. He was a slow growing addiction that scared me as much as it made me feel on top of the world. Even if I didn’t want to, my body would still be seeking out that fix of him. Wishing we existed in the same place at the same time.

“Another week or so and I’ll be back. It’ll go quick,” I said reassuringly.

“We’ll be counting down the minutes,” Mom promised. “I’ll call you on Christmas, honey. Go enjoy your night, I don’t want to keep you.”

I sat up in bed and blew a kiss toward my phone. “I love you, talk soon.”

“Love you,” she repeated.

The call cut out and I threw myself back into the mattress, a delighted, weightless groan following. I was maybe the easiest woman to make happy, or just thrived on mutual emotion, but a conversation as short and simple as that with my mother was like a mood elixir.

I caught a sideways glimpse of myself in the standing mirror and was amazed at the satisfaction in my expression. Things were so fucking good, I couldn’t believe the person looking back at me was the same woman in the throes of self-deprecation two weeks before.

My confidence materialized into something brash as I lay there, heels digging into the soft give of Frankie’s sheets. Alone in the quiet, dark, sensual atmosphere of everything that was him, without consequence.

I tapped my fingernails against my bottom lip and unlocked my phone again.



Ophelia: Hi





A few seconds later three dots appeared on the screen.



Frankie <3: Hi, Trouble

Ophelia: How’s Miami?

Frankie <3: You’ll get an earful tomorrow





I stood and paced a slow circle around the wood floor in his bedroom.



Ophelia: That bad?

Frankie <3: Mom’s got a new boyfriend

Ophelia: Fuck

Ophelia: Are you okay?

Frankie <3: I’ve been lying in the grass outside for two hours. Addy abandoned me for her girlfriend after beer number three

Ophelia: Are you drunk?

Frankie <3: And so, so horny





My finger dusted across the top of his dresser as I stopped in front of the mirror.



Ophelia: Need a distraction?

Frankie <3: Don’t tease me, Ophelia





I snapped a flirty picture of myself in the reflection and sent it.



Frankie <3: Are you in my bedroom?

Ophelia: Seems that way

Frankie <3: Fucking Christ, why?

Ophelia: I’m supposed to be making gingerbread houses with Nat and Mateo





I opened the camera again, this time pulling the hem of my T-shirt up above my chest so my bra and a peek of cleavage stood out before taking the picture.



Frankie <3: Damn it, O

Ophelia: My mother told me to drive you crazy





I hatched an idea suddenly, wriggling out of my clothes and rooting through the drawers in the dresser for something of his to wear.