Gunning for the Groom (7 page)

Aidan was sure that was a mistake, but Frankie managed a smile. “Sounds good.”

“My only concern,” Paul continued, holding up a hand, “is your status at the Savannah PD. Your supervisor isn't aware you're job hunting. He believes you're out here on extended leave.”

If she was going to falter and blow their cover, this would be the moment. “I told him I needed some personal time,” Frankie said. “And I agreed to continue consulting on cases as needed.” She looked hard at Sophia. “I wasn't sure how things would go here.”

“That's perfectly understandable,” her mother said.

“Is it?” Paul countered. “We're in the midst of a major client pitch. I'd like to know the team is focused on that primary goal.”

Frankie scooted to the edge of her chair. “I'll call in and give my notice on Monday. I'll do it now if you'd prefer.”

Aidan watched as a wealth of information passed, unspoken, between the older couple. “Frankie and I don't mean to put you in a tough position,” he said. “We have other options in the area and we can always just call this a vacation.”

“This is
home
.” Sophia pressed her lips together. “At least I want it to be.” Her tender, pleading gaze moved to Frankie. “Give us six months. Please.”

Frankie looked to Paul. “Will that work for you?”

He agreed with a nod. “Now, Aidan.” His salt-and-pepper eyebrows dipped low. “We have a vacancy in the training division for our personal security team. You'd be overseeing everything from hand-to-hand combat to weapons proficiency.”

“Sounds good.”

“You're not afraid of paperwork, are you?”

“Not at all.”

“Are you willing to venture into the field occasionally to help with planning and assessment?”

“Of course.”

Paul stood and extended his hand. “Then welcome to Leo Solutions. We'll get the paperwork sorted on Monday.”

The older man was friendly enough, appearing open and content with the new arrivals. Aidan had yet to pinpoint what bothered him about Sophia's business partner. Polite, not quite slick, Paul seemed to be hiding a cold, hard center. The man ran a security company; suspicions went with the job. Maybe he had painted himself as the protector here, of Sophia and the firm. Considering how and when the business had launched, it made some sense. It would've made more sense if Sophia exhibited any sign of weakness.

Like mother, like daughter, Aidan thought, knowing he'd never dare say so in front of Frankie.

Paul turned toward Sophia. “In the meantime, I'm sure you have plenty of catching up in mind.”

“I do.” She was as delighted as any adoring mother to have her child home, within arm's reach. “We'll start with a company tour, and then I'll take them over to the apartment,” she said, leaning close to kiss Paul's cheek. “I'll be back soon to finish that proposal.”

Chapter Seven

Sunday, April 10, 12:45 p.m.

Frankie's gaze moved from her empty suitcase to the nearly empty closet in the bedroom of the corporate apartment leased by Leo Solutions. She was wearing the only dress she'd thought to pack, a last-minute item she'd tossed in. Her half of the closet held two pairs of jeans, an assortment of shirts, one pair of khaki slacks and only two pairs of shoes in addition to her runners.

“Problem?” Aidan paused just behind her. “We can always go shopping or have a friend send you whatever you forgot.”

“That's not it.” She shoved her suitcase into the closet and closed the door. “I guess we're all moved in.”

Her limited wardrobe was the least of her troubles. Currently at the top of her list of problems was the
one
bedroom apartment. They'd had more space—possibly more privacy—at the hotel suite. Aidan had made a valid argument when she tried to back out again: they had to make it look as if they were meeting Sophia halfway.

As they were wrapping up brunch, Sophia had invited them once more to stay at the house. Again Frankie refused. Though she'd appreciated Aidan's diplomatic backup, she wasn't as enamored with his small touches, his chivalrous manners and the occasional chaste kiss.

Sophia, however, was overjoyed with every gesture that affirmed Frankie and Aidan were happy together. Unfortunately, while he played the doting-fiancé role like an expert, she struggled against an urge to skitter away. Or worse, burrow into him.

She had to focus, to stay angry with Sophia, but she was losing her grip on that bitter edge. Sophia had always been vibrant and outgoing, and being drenched in her mother's warmth made something deep inside Frankie long for the way things once were. The life she'd worked toward, dreamed of and enjoyed so fleetingly had been ripped apart and scattered.

Her family would never be the same, and not just because the Leones numbered two now instead of three. Frankie believed her mother bore the blame. She'd come all this way to prove it.

Except they weren't finding anything conclusive. She knew Aidan wasn't working against her, precisely. It just didn't feel as though he was working
with
her. Her mother's passports were bogus and he kept casting doubts over the source of the statement and documentation on the flash drive.

Now they were living together in an apartment that might very well be bugged. They couldn't speak freely and couldn't jam a signal without blowing their cover. They would go to the office each day and come back here. The engagement was working, giving them a reason to be together, yet Frankie felt trapped by her own scheme. She finally understood what he'd said on the plane about lying to each other in public.

“I didn't think this through,” she said, just in case the bugs were live. “Six months will be an exercise in restraint.” She sneered at the closet. “At least we'll have the company gear for work.” Bags of Leo Solutions shirts and workout gear had been lined up on the corner of the furnished sofa when they walked in.

“Why don't we head out and see about stocking the kitchen?” he suggested.

“Great idea.” She grabbed her purse, her smallest knife tucked inside. While they were out they'd have a chance to talk freely. Of course, that also gave their opponent time to search the apartment. On missions like this one, Frankie knew every choice came with a calculated risk.

It made her feel marginally better when Aidan planted a wireless camera to catch anyone who might enter the apartment. When they were clear of the building, she caught him watching for a tail, because she was doing it, too. “We're a pair,” she said with a short laugh.

“A good pair.” He took her hand and drew her close to his side, playing his role to perfection once more.

“You don't have to fawn over me all the time.”

He only grinned. “Relax. I know you're not big on public displays of affection.”

“I'm affectionate,” she argued.

He laughed as they crossed the street. “Sure you are. Just keep following my lead.”

His assessment gave her pause. “Do you think my mom suspects we're pretending?” That could put an end to her best chance to know the truth.

“No, she's seeing what we want her to see right now.”

“Why do I feel slimy?” The moment the words were out, Frankie regretted them. Aidan tensed, just a subtle flex of muscle in his arm, and she chattered to cover the gaffe. “I know this approach was my idea. I stand by it,” she insisted. “You said yourself it's working. She's distracted by wedding brain. We'll be able to get what we came for before she knows what happened.”

“At this rate you'll be telling her you're pregnant by Friday,” he said, his voice cool.

Frankie considered and dismissed the idea as too soon. “The corporate apartment can work for us, too.”

“How? You think the doorman knows something?”

“No.” Her patience had stretched thin during brunch, but she couldn't let it snap. Aidan was her only ally. She needed him to see the real Sophia under the social sophistication and perfect-mother image. “We'll uncover the truth.”

They walked down the block toward the waterfront, admiring the blend of historic and new architecture spiking up around them. Aidan asked her questions about the city and she answered, trying to decide if this was part of the cover. A pleasant breeze toyed with the hem of her skirt. “Are you pleased or disappointed we don't have a tail?” she asked, getting the conversation back to safe ground.

“Pleased,” he replied. “She trusts us. Paul might pose the bigger problem.”

“Paul's reserved, that's all.” Thinking about Sophia's business partner, Frankie couldn't help making a comparison. “He's the polar opposite of my father. Do you think she went for the quiet and serious type this time on purpose?”

“I think she partnered with the man who gave Leo Solutions the best chance to succeed. He and your parents go way back.”

“Don't remind me.” Aidan had found the connection last night and pieced together the trail. Frankie had been more than a little alarmed by the discovery. Not to mention the kiss her mother had deposited on the man's cheek.

“She wasn't having an affair, Frankie.”

“You sound so sure.” She reached back and pressed a point on her back, above her hip. Keeping pace with his longer stride created a good ache as her muscles loosened up.

“I am. I've been systematically working through your mother's history.”

They'd divided the searches for the purpose of efficiency and objectivity. Everything Frankie found on Sophia only made her cranky, which stalled the progress. So she dug into the general's last months in Afghanistan while Aidan investigated her mom.

“Are you working present to past?” If so, it left her exposed as he learned of her mother's trips to hospitals and spine injury rehab centers to help Frankie recover. She pushed down the swell of embarrassment. Of all the people involved in this mess, she had the fewest secrets.

“A little of both, actually.”

She could tell he had more to say, a new question or accusation about her lousy approach on this case. “Spit it out. I can take it.”

He stopped to admire a display in a gallery window, draping his arm around her shoulders. They were just a couple out for a walk on a fine Sunday. Though she wanted to sink into the comfort he offered, it was too risky. She couldn't afford to mirror her mother's mistake and get distracted by Aidan's false romance.

“You realize your mom took hits from all sides, nearly all at once.”

Frankie caught her scowling reflection in the glass. She nudged him on down the street. “What do you mean?”

“Charges against the general were filed only a few days after you were injured. He was arrested. You were undergoing surgery.”

“And?”

“That's a lot for anyone to handle. You were medicated before the surgery. Sedated for nearly two days after. Do you understand she never left your side?”

Frankie had no memory of the day before the IED or those immediately following. She'd learned the facts from her doctors and the survivors from her team. She had only a hazy recollection of Sophia being nearby in those early days.

“You're implying my mom chose me over my dad.”

“I'm not implying. I'm saying it outright.”

Frankie glanced around for a distraction, uncomfortable with the way her heart cramped at his words. “Another way might be to say she was already distancing herself from his problems.”

Aidan sighed. “You told Victoria you tried to have a civilized conversation with your mom about your father's case.”

“A complete disaster,” Frankie admitted. People were bustling around them now as they strolled by vendors in Pike Place Market. The produce was bright and the scents of greens and fruits mingled with flowers and seafood and the close waterfront. She knew they'd have to return with something or eat out again, but neither of them moved to make purchases.

“Why?”

Frankie wondered how best to explain it, wondered more why she felt so compelled to make him understand this wasn't merely a vindictive witch hunt. “The last time Mom and I talked about my dad was at his funeral. I admit there's no such thing as rational during a time like that. I needed to understand why she hadn't been more vocal about his innocence.”

“Did it ever occur to you he might've been guilty?”

“Absolutely not.” To believe that went against everything she knew about her dad's character and integrity. She didn't care if that skewed her perspective.

“Frankie.” Aidan took her hand and guided her past buckets of bright, happy snapdragons that mocked the misery inside her. “We've picked up some company. We need to start shopping while we talk.”

She blinked, momentarily startled by the instruction. A quick glance and she thought she'd pegged one. “The guy across the street with the paper?”

Aidan nodded. “And one on our six.” He chose a dozen snapdragons and pulled out his wallet. “Is there a vase at the apartment?” His movements gave them time to assess the men tailing them.

“If not, we'll improvise.” She pushed her mouth into a smile to match his and felt that feminine flutter grow. If her mother would just come clean, none of this would be necessary and Frankie wouldn't be stuck knowing the best romance of her life was a complete fraud.

He handed her the flowers so he could pull out his phone. They looked at it together, just another couple consulting an electronic list as they checked the camera in the apartment. “Clear,” he said, for her ears only. “Fieldwork can be such fun.”

It made her laugh. “We can't let this take six months.”

“You think it will be such a hardship to live with me?”

Not at all.
The thought scared her. “I'd ask for hazard pay,” she teased to lighten her mood. “I meant being this close to my mom. I'll crack if I have to play nice that long.”

They strolled up and down aisles of vegetables, making choices and planning meals. Learning what tastes they had in common and where they differed. It was ridiculously real.

“Frankie, I'm begging you to be patient here,” he said, standing too close while she selected fresh greens. “If you want the truth, you have to look at things objectively.”

“You seem determined to repair a broken family. That isn't why we're here.”

He was quiet as they started back up the hill to their building. The silence suited her, if only because he was right. She did have tunnel vision about Sophia. It would've been bad enough if her father had lived and been forced out of the army. She couldn't imagine the betrayal that drove him to suicide.

“When I asked her, point-blank, over my dad's grave, she said it was her fault.”

Aidan stopped short and people flowed around them on the sidewalk. “That's a big detail to keep to yourself.”

Frankie could just imagine what Victoria would think when he sent that in. “Would it change anything?” She shifted her hold on the grocery bags. “Sophia wouldn't explain and she refused to cooperate with anyone who could clear his name. I walked away and didn't speak to her again until yesterday.”

“Give me those,” Aidan said, taking the produce bags from her hands. “Did you consider that she was speaking figuratively?”

“That's the real question, isn't it?” Frankie picked up the pace, knowing he'd drop the subject when they reached the apartment. “I can't let her get away with it. When Dad's friend showed up, when he gave me the key, I made a choice to follow through, no matter what hell I discover on the way.”

“I don't think it's that simple.”

Frankie jerked open the building door with a harsh laugh. The strained sound bounced around the marble lobby. “Of course it isn't simple. Families and weddings never are,” she added, just in case the security guard was on her mother's payroll. “But we'll get through it.”

In the elevator, he set the groceries down and took her hands in his. The move rattled her until she remembered the security camera high in the corner. “Promise me you won't make a decision about any detail unless we talk about it first.”

She opened her mouth to agree, but he silenced her with a soft kiss. The fleeting touch left her lips tingling.

“Don't just say the words, Frankie. Mean them.”

“You can make the same promise to me, right?”

He nodded. “We're in this together,” he said as the elevator doors parted at their floor.

Together.
The team concept had always been important to her. An only child and an army brat, she put serious value in that word. For years, it had been the Leone family taking on the world. Then it had been the navy and her SEAL team. She'd recognized and battled loneliness through the years. She hadn't realized how deep it went until this moment. It was nice to know she wouldn't have to face the inevitable ugliness to come alone.