Chapter 32
Frankie didn’t really understand what her sister did. Being a personal assistant didn’t generally mean you needed to watch your employer do their job, did it? Maybe that’s how celebrities were. What did Frankie know about Hollywood and all of that craziness?
If Harper wanted to watch the talk show and see her boss, so be it. But also, how was Harper able to do her job from thousands of miles away? Didn’t a personal assistant do things like walk the dog and pick up dry cleaning? What kind of stuff did she do that required a Zoom call?
Frankie didn’t get it, but again, what did she know?
Footsteps announced Harper and Archie’s return.
“You are never going to believe this,” Harper sang out as she entered the room.
“Why? What happened?”
Harper went straight for her coffee cup, taking it to the machine to refill. “Mitch Ripley was out on his back deck, and he not only waved, but actually said good morning to me. By name. Hell must have frozen over for him to be so friendly all of a sudden.”
“You said you talked to him yesterday and he was nice.”
“Nice-ish. But I didn’t expect him to keep it up. And I never thought it was a permanent change. If it is. I guess time will tell.”
“Maybe something else happened?”
“I don’t know what that could be.” Harper fixed a new cup of coffee then headed for the couch. “I’m going to get Hulu up so we can watch Kimmel. Well, so I can watch it. You don’t have to. You probably want to get ready for your walk with your new boyfriend.”
Frankie rolled her eyes. “Settle down. We are just walking the dogs. That’s it. And I am ready.”
Harper looked over her shoulder. “Really? You’re going like that?”
“Why not?” Frankie glanced down at her knee-length shorts, T-shirt and sneakers. “What else do people walk the dog in? This is Florida and it’s hot.”
“I know, but you look like a mom.”
“Spoiler alert—I am a mom.”
“No one really says spoiler alert anymore, and I know you’re a mom, but the shorts are too long, and the T-shirt is three sizes too big for you. I just think you could look cuter, that’s all. You have good legs and a great hourglass shape. Stop hiding your assets under those shapeless clothes.” Harper looked at the television again. “A little mascara wouldn’t hurt, either.”
“I’m going to have sunglasses on.”
“What if he invites you for coffee after?”
Frankie hadn’t thought about that. She didn’t say anything for a moment. No one had ever complimented her legs or her shape before. Not in a long, long time anyway. “I don’t know what I could put on. I didn’t bring that much. I guess I could look. Go ahead and watch the show. I’m going back upstairs.”
She didn’t wait for Harper’s reply, just went to the guest bedroom, opened her suitcase on the bed and sorted through what was in there.
She had some capri-length leggings. She hadn’t intended to wear them out of the house. They were really just for lounging around. They did have side pockets, which was nice. She slipped out of her shorts. To be honest, they weren’t great shorts. They’d been left behind by her son when he’d moved out. And they’d been big on him.
Harper was sort of right, though. The only time Frankie put any thought into her clothing was when she was working. And even then, she preferred things a little oversized. Easier to hide the weight she’d gained that way.
She put the leggings on then looked in the mirror. The leggings weren’t bad. The Spandex definitely sucked everything in a bit. But the T-shirt was still long and shapeless. That was what she liked about it. How much it hid.
She thought about Harper’s T-shirt last night, how she’d tied it on the side at the hip. Frankie tried that. Still hid a lot but didn’t make her upper half look like a big blah rectangle. Was it an improvement or just silly? She’d see what Harper thought.
First, she went into the bathroom and put on a little tinted moisturizer, then added some mascara and fixed her brows. She put on earrings, too. Her small diamond studs, a gift from her kids on her last birthday. Probably way more than they should have spent, but she loved them that much more for it.
Her final touch was tinted lip balm in Summer Berry. Just a little color. Not like she was wearing lipstick. Not like she was trying too hard. She squinted at her reflection. Was that what she was worried about? That Lucas might think she was trying to impress him?
She laughed at herself. Lucas didn’t care what she did. She was fooling herself if she thought otherwise.
But it wasn’t a bad idea to look nicer. Especially if she wanted his business. Maybe that was justifying her extra efforts, but whatever. She was a grown woman who could do what she wanted. Without having to explain herself to anyone.
She stuck her phone and one of her business cards into the pocket of the leggings before going back to the living room. “What do you think?”
Harper hit Pause and looked over. She nodded. “That’s a big improvement.”
“Really?” Frankie didn’t feel like she’d done that much.
“You look more like you.”
Frankie smiled and went to sit next to Harper until it was time to go. “Thanks.” She gestured to the tiny blonde on the screen. “Is that your boss?”
“My bos—right. That’s the woman I work for. Mimi Atwell. She’s got a new movie coming out, The Big Silence.”
“Wasn’t she in that silly horror movie, Kill, Bunny, Kill?”
“Um, yeah, but that was ages ago and we don’t talk about that.”
“Hey, even Jennifer Aniston did that Leprechaun flick. Every actor has a stinker or two, right?”
“I suppose.” Harper pushed Play.
They watched Mimi’s segment. When it was over, and the musical act was announced, Harper turned it off. “She did really well. I hope she’s happy with it.”
“She looked fantastic,” Frankie said. “That dress was really cool. I give her props for having a figure like that and not coming out in something totally revealing. What she had on was so much more interesting.”
Harper smiled. “I helped with that. Actually, pretend you didn’t hear that.”
Frankie tipped her head. “You helped pick out her outfit?”
Harper nodded. “I…do that sometimes. She likes a second opinion.”
“I always thought stars had stylists who did that.”
“She does have one, she just doesn’t always trust her.” Harper looked at the time. “Lucas will be here soon.”
Frankie knew her sister was changing the subject on purpose, she just didn’t know why. Did she not like talking about her job? “I should get Archie’s leash.”
“Just remember there are plastic bags in the little container on the handle if you need to pick up after him.” Harper grinned. “Nice not to be the one doing that.”
“I’m sure. And I remember, because you just told me on the beach. Hard getting old, isn’t it?” Frankie laughed.
“Ha-ha,” Harper said.
Frankie got up and retrieved the leash. “Where is Archie?”
Harper looked around. “Probably went back to bed.” She leaned forward. “Archie, come here, boy.”
He came trotting out of the bedroom.
“Aunt Frankie is going to take you for a walk. With Scout!”
He wagged his tail.
“You think he knows?” Frankie asked.
“Definitely,” Harper answered. “You two have fun.”
“Thanks.” Frankie hooked on the leash and went downstairs with Archie. As they came out the door, Lucas approached from the end of the drive.
He waved, smiling. Scout’s tail wagged excitedly. “Hey, there. Perfect timing.”
“Morning. How are you?”
Lucas stopped. “Really good. You?”
She joined him, her hand through the leash’s loop, but also holding onto it. “Great. Looking forward to this walk.”
“I was thinking we could take them up to the dog park. You good with that?”
“Sure, yeah, sounds like just the place for them to run off some energy.”
“That’s what I was thinking.”
They started walking. He kept a pretty good pace. She adjusted her stride to keep up with him and was quickly reminded that she needed to walk more. She did her best not to huff and puff in front of him.
Then she suddenly remembered the business card in her pocket. She dug it out and handed it over. “Here, before I forget. You said you wanted some logo help. That’s got my cell and email on it.”
He looked at the card. “Thanks. So you mostly do children’s books?” He tucked it into his pocket.
“No, I do a variety of things but I’ve done a couple of children’s books now and I’m starting to get known for them. But I do all kinds of things. Whatever people want, really. I did a Christmas card for the local Chamber of Commerce. I’ve done illustrations for a greeting card company. Did a poster for a charity fundraiser event. Even did an album cover for a band in Raleigh. Oh, and Harper commissioned me to do a watercolor of a sailboat for Arlington Marsh when she worked for him. It was a scene from a movie he was in, actually.”
“That’s a pretty impressive resume. Have you ever done any logos?”
“I have to be honest, no. Unless you count the one I did for myself.” Did that mean he wouldn’t want to use her services? She couldn’t blame him if so. He’d probably go with one of those big media arts companies that specialized in snazzy, hip designs.
“Is it something you think you could do?”
“I could certainly take a crack at it. I do have a degree in design.” Which she’d gotten a thousand years ago. Why had she mentioned that? “Are you sure you want someone like me? I don’t have a lot of experience in what’s hip and hot right now.”
He looked over at her, meeting her gaze. “I think that’s what makes me want you the most.”
She swallowed. He had pretty eyes. “Really?”
He nodded. “I like the idea of a fresh, unbiased approach. In fact, I don’t even want you to see the samples I’ve already been sent. I want you to come at it in your own way. If you’re game, I am.”
She smiled. “I’ll get to work on some sketches right away. See if I can’t come up with a few ideas.”
“That would be fantastic.” He pointed ahead of them. “That’s the dog park up there. Looks like these hooligans will be the only two in there. Probably better that way. They might run over the little dogs.”
Frankie laughed. “They might.”
He went ahead of her and opened the gate. She went in. He closed it behind them and unclipped Scout’s leash, so she did the same with Archie.
Lucas clapped his hands. “Run free, Scout. Run free!”
Scout took off and Archie followed with such speed it was like they’d been shot out of a cannon.
Harper laughed. “It’s like they know it’s okay to run and get crazy.”
“Scout certainly does. I try to bring her up here a few times a week, just for a change of pace.” He tipped his head toward the bench by the fence. “Want to sit?”
“Sure.” She joined him, happy to catch her breath, but trying not to act like she needed to.
He spread his arms out along the back of the bench. If she leaned back, it would almost be like his arm was around her shoulders.
Without having another thought, she knew she was reading too much into this. This wasn’t a date. It was two neighbors, taking their dogs for a walk at the same time. It was a doggy date, really. Nothing to do with her.
“Are you free tomorrow night?”
Had he really just asked that? “I am. Why?”
“There’s a new restaurant that’s just opened in St. Helen’s Beach and they’ve invited me to the soft opening. I hate going to those things alone. Want to go with me? It’s a free meal. Rustic Italian, for what that’s worth.”
She smiled. That probably wasn’t a date, either. “I’d love to.”