Chapter 21
Keel drove home, not looking forward to telling Frankie he would have to leave soon. The mission wasn’t guaranteed, but they were making plans to go if they were called up.
When he stepped inside, he was surprised that the place smelled like a gourmet Italian kitchen. He set his bag down and moved so he could see the kitchen, and Frankie was putting the finishing touches on a dish.
“You didn’t have to cook.”
Frankie glanced up and smiled. “Oh, you’re home. It’s almost done. Like another few minutes.”
“It smells delicious.”
“Thank you.”
He moved to her, and she turned, kissing him before going back to putting meat, tomatoes, cheese, and olives on a plate. “What did you make?”
“Lasagna, and I have some antipasto to snack on before the lasagna is done.”
“Wow. I haven’t had homemade lasagna in ages.”
“Well, I hope you like it. It’s been a while since I made anything this intricate.”
“I’m sure it will be fantastic. I want to take a quick shower before dinner.”
She smiled and nodded before turning to look in the oven. No one had cooked for him like this since his mom. Not even his ex made dinner like this.
He showered quickly, then pulled on shorts and a T-shirt. When he stepped out of the bedroom, the smell was even more intense. He saw that the lasagna was out of the oven.
He rubbed his hands together, excited to try the dish. He grabbed a plate, but Frankie stepped between him and the lasagna. “What?”
“It has to rest for about ten minutes, otherwise it will be like lava.”
He nodded. “Oh, I guess that would be bad.”
“Yes. It’s way too hot to eat. Have some antipasto.”
He was surprised that she’d done so much for him. Having someone care for him was novel. “This is amazing,” he said as he spooned olives and cheese onto his plate. He grabbed a few tomatoes and some meat, then moved to the bar, popping a cherry tomato into his mouth.
The scent of food was making him very hungry. He probably should have eaten more at the end of his workout, but they’d been busy planning.
He needed to mention his potential trip. Thoughts of her throwing a fit made him hesitate. But she wasn’t Shana.
“So I got news that I’m probably going to have to leave town in a few days.”
Frankie turned to him, her eyes narrowed as she nodded. “Okay. Um, let me just go through my thoughts.”
“Of course you’ll stay here. I don’t want you to worry about that.”
She nodded more. “It will be dangerous, so I’m just going to keep calm about that.” She moved to him and put her hand on his chest. “Sorry, it’s just new to me, and I want you to be safe. I know you’re capable, so I’m not worried, but I’m worried.”
Her words made him smile. “It’s okay. I totally understand. This is new for you.”
“I’ll miss you, but I’ll be fine.”
“I know you will be.”
“Oh, the lawyer’s office is sending someone to check on my identity. They said they needed to make sure I am who I say I am. I’m not sure exactly how they are going to do that.”
“Your license maybe.”
“I hope it’s that easy. They were glad to hear from me.”
“Good. I hope you can get it all settled. I know Garnet and Ansley will be around to help if you need something. I’ll leave you with the phone numbers of one of my buddies. Someone will be able to help you.”
“Thank you. I’m sure I’ll be okay.”
A timer rang, and Frankie flashed a big smile. “The lasagna has been out long enough. We can eat.”
“Thank goodness. Not eating that lasagna was a study in self-control.”
Frankie’s laughter felt good. He enjoyed spending time with her, even when they were discussing things like his work and when he would be traveling.
The first bite of lasagna had him moaning. “This is amazing. How did you learn to cook like this?”
She swallowed and wiped her lips with a napkin. “I’ve always had a knack for recipes. I didn’t cook much when I was with my ex, but looking at the recipes for lasagna ignited a passion inside. I ran to the market and picked up a few things, which I consider a win.”
“And you weren’t afraid to go out on your own?”
She shook her head. “No. I figure he has no clue where I am. I was careful, wore one of your ball caps, and I haven’t posted anything. I did use a ride share app, but I had them pick me up down the block, not on this street. I just felt a need to make something good.”
“It is good. I’m impressed.”
Her smile warmed him. Maybe being with Frankie would be different. She hadn’t reacted badly to the news of his leaving town.
“I’m glad you like my cooking.”
“Like it, more like love it. This is better than any other lasagna I’ve had. But you know you don’t have to cook for me. I don’t expect it at all.”
She nodded and glanced down at her plate, then back up. “It’s nice to have good food to eat. Also, with me cooking, I know I have access to food.”
His heart hurt. She’d been so abused by her ex, and he’d only been thinking of himself. How could anyone treat another person like Forest had treated her?
“When you get back, there’s a stew I like to make. It’s better in cold weather. I think you’ll like it,” she said.
He nodded. “Thank you. And you’re right, we are heading into winter. Soups and stews will be good. But I really don’t expect you to cook for me. But I can understand you enjoying cooking. I like to grill and smoke meats.”
Her lips tipped up in a smile. “Cooking can be fun. And it keeps me busy.”
He took another bite, moaning around the mouthful. “This is amazing. I want to make sure we keep our lines of communication open. I want you to feel like you have a say in what you’re doing around here.”
“Thank you. I think I need to start therapy. Like actual therapy. I wasn’t sure at first, but the more I journal, the more I feel like I need to talk to someone.”
“That’s good. I think you’ll get a lot out of having a therapist.”
She shrugged. “I hope so. I need a few wins to help make up for the problems in my past.”
“You’ll get there.”
He had faith in her. He wished he could stick around, but his job was unpredictable, and sometimes he had to leave the country when he would rather be here.
Still, even with the few annoyances of his work, he loved his job.
There’d been plenty of guys who left the team after a few years, but he was in this for the long haul, or as long as he was a viable operator.