Sunset In Central Park (23 page)

T
he oppressive heat of August slid into the mellower heat of September. The tourist congestion eased, and locals gradually reclaimed their city.

New York Fashion Week came and went, and in between work demands Frankie and Matt explored the city that was their home.

They ate hot dogs while watching a baseball game, and sprawled on the grass in Bryant Park listening to classical music concerts. They strolled along The High Line, the elevated park built on a disused railway line, and discussed the planting and how they could apply some of the ideas to their own work. Occasionally Roxy and Mia joined them, and during those walks Frankie discovered just how smart Roxy was. She wanted to know every plant name, and not just the common name but the Latin name, too. And she
never had to be told twice. She pushed Mia in the stroller, muttering about
Acer triflorum
and
Lespedeza thunbergii
under her breath.

They joined their friends for pizza at Romano’s, and had movie nights up on Matt’s roof, but the moments Frankie enjoyed most were the ones when they were alone. Their favorite place was Central Park and they explored hidden corners together, and soaked up the last of the summer sun on Summit Rock, the highest point in the park.

Work on the roof terrace was coming to an end and Matt had pulled his whole team onto the job to make sure it was finished before the summer weather flew south with the birds.

It was hot, sweaty work but Frankie had discovered there was nothing she liked more than getting hot and sweaty with Matt. Whether they were naked between the sheets or clothed on the roof terrace, being near him was exciting. She found herself stealing glances when she was sure no one was looking and he did, too.

Unlike her, he was never embarrassed at being caught.

Instead, he gave her a sexy smile loaded with a promise of what they’d be doing later.

Although her responsibility was the planting, she quickly understood that in a small team like Matt’s, everyone had to be prepared to roll up their sleeves and she did so willingly. Everyone did the same, until the morning Roxy didn’t show up.

They were all at the workshop, preparing to move the three log benches to the site, along with some of the custom-made planters, and they needed every pair of hands.

Frankie was feeling unsettled, thinking back to a conversation she’d had with Matt that morning. It was a conversation they’d had a few times. He’d suggested she move
some of her things up to his apartment and she’d refused. He hadn’t pushed her, but she knew that by refusing she’d hurt him, as if by holding back on moving her things she was holding back part of herself.

Why did it matter that she still kept her clothes downstairs?

Why did he need her to move everything she owned as well as herself?

Guilt mingled with exasperation, along with the uncomfortable suspicion that she was a coward.

She hated that feeling, but most of all she hated hurting Matt.

She lifted the pots into place, ready for them to be transported across to the job. Then she went to help James, who was struggling without Roxy.

“Did you call her cell?” Matt questioned James, who was hauling a bench into place.

“Four times. No answer.”

“It’s not like her. If we haven’t heard from her by lunchtime, I’m going over there.”

Frankie wiped her palm over her forehead and felt bad for Roxy. “You’re going to give her a warning?”

“Warning?” Matt looked at her blankly. “I’m going to check she’s okay. She’s a single mother with a kid and no support. She’s juggling a lot.”

Frankie pushed her hair away from her face, feeling foolish. She knew Matt better than that. “I guess I’m still oversensitive about the whole job thing, having been laid off earlier this year.”

“And it turns out you’re a million times better off than you would have been if you’d stayed. Jake was telling me that Star Events is in trouble.”

“They’re losing big clients—” Frankie broke off as she saw Roxy appear in the door of the workshop. Her rush of relief lasted as long as it took for her to see that Roxy was carrying a wriggling toddler on one hip and a huge bag over her shoulder.

Matt put down his power tools and strode toward her. He caught the bag before it slid to the floor.

“What’s happened?”

“Nothing. Everything is good, boss.” It was obvious from Roxy’s overbright voice that everything was far from good. “We just had a bit of a morning, that’s all, didn’t we, Mia? Fun and games all around.”

“What happened to your face?” Matt lifted his hand and gently pushed her hair back from her brow, examining the livid bruise on her temple.

Roxy flinched away from him. “It’s nothing.”

“Mommy hurt,” Mia said solemnly, and Roxy produced a smile that Frankie suspected she’d dug from somewhere deep inside.

“Mommy’s fine, honey. I’m clumsy, that’s all. I fell, like you do sometimes. Woops.”

“Bad man,” Mia said emphatically. “Bad man shouting.” She covered her ears and shook her head so that her blond curls flew around her face.

Frankie saw Roxy’s eyes fill, and Matt clearly saw the same thing because he immediately reached for the little girl and scooped her into his arms.

“Do you want to see something special, Mia?”

“Fairies?” Mia looked hopeful and Matt shook his head.

“Better than fairies. Butterflies.”

Mia stared at Matt’s mouth and tried to copy the sound. “Fies.”

“Butterflies,” Matt repeated. “Go with Uncle James. He’ll show you.”

Mia brightened at the thought of playing with James. “Play horsey?”

“Not here.” James obligingly took the child from Matt. “Horsey doesn’t want to put his knees on a chain saw. Horsey would never walk again. Come and see the butterflies.”

“Fies.” Mia grabbed a hunk of James’s hair in her fist and they wandered out of earshot.

“Thanks.” Roxy blew her nose hard. “I don’t want her to see me upset. I know it’s a lot to ask, but I was wondering if I could take the rest of the day off. There are some things I need to do. You don’t have to pay me or anything.”

Matt didn’t answer. Instead, he took another look at her head. “Frankie, there’s a first-aid kit in the drawer in my office. Were you knocked out, Roxy?”

“No! There is no way I was passing out and leaving my baby alone with—” She broke off and shook her head. “I’m fine.”

Frankie hurried to the office and returned with the first-aid kit. She opened it up and found alcohol wipes and sterile dressings.

“I washed my hands while I was there, so I’ll do it.” She set about cleaning Roxy’s head while Matt asked the probing questions.

“Headache? Nausea?” He watched as Frankie applied the sterile dressing and then closed the first-aid kit.

“You’re worried about brain damage, but my mom always said I had no brain to damage.” Her attempt at a joke ended in a sound somewhere between a laugh and a sob, and Matt curved his arm around her and pulled her against him in a brotherly hug.

“It’s all right. You’re safe now.”

“I don’t need help. I can handle this.” A single tear spilled down Roxy’s cheek and she made a furious sound and brushed it away with the heel of her hand. “It’s dusty in here. We need to clean this place up.”

Frankie could see that she was shaking. “Roxy—”

“Don’t give me sympathy. I don’t want my baby to see me cry.” More tears glistened in her eyes and she blinked rapidly. “Say something annoying. Make me mad.”

“No problem. Making people mad is my special gift.” But Frankie moved so that she blocked the child’s view. She wanted to hug Roxy, too, which surprised her because emotions usually sent her running. Maybe being with Matt had changed her in more ways than she’d thought. “What happened? What can we do?”

“I got involved with the wrong guy, that’s what happened. I don’t know how he found me, but he did. If he put half as much effort into finding a job maybe he wouldn’t be such a loser.” Roxy gave a disgusted sniff. “I’m not going back to the apartment. I grabbed what I could although I’ve probably left loads behind.”

“Why did you have to grab your things, Rox?” Matt’s voice was gentle. “Eddy did this? He hit you?”

“Sort of.”

A muscle flickered in Matt’s cheek. “You don’t
sort of
hit someone, Rox.”

“He shoved me really hard and I hit the wall.”

“Did you call 911?”

“No. That would have made him mad, and he was already mad enough. I told him to get the hell out, and he got the hell out. I don’t think he’ll be back, but I don’t want to risk it. That’s why I need time off. I need to find somewhere
safe for Mia and me to stay, just while I sort myself out. There’s a mom at nursery I might be able to crash with for a couple of nights.”

She glanced over at Mia again, checking on her constantly, but the little girl was tugging hard on James’s hair as they studied the “fies,” oblivious to the drama playing out close by.

“You need help, Roxy.”

“Who’s going to help? Eddy isn’t exactly the type who lives up to his obligations. And even if he wanted to try again, I wouldn’t let him. I promised myself I would never, ever stay with a man who scares me. I don’t want Mia growing up thinking that’s okay. I’m going to have to help myself. And that’s fine. Totally fine.” Despite the heat, her teeth were chattering and Matt tightened his grip on her.

“I wasn’t talking about Eddy.”

“Who, then?” Roxy sniffed and pulled away, her eyes widening as she saw the look on Matt’s face. “You? You’ve already done loads, and Mia isn’t even your kid. You gave me this job and your sister helped me find childcare.”

“You can stay at my place.”

“Hey, I’ve waited a year for you to make me an offer like that—” eyes glistening, Roxy gave him a playful punch on the arm “—and you do it now while my face looks like a rainbow.”

“I’m serious, Roxy.”

“So am I. It’s kind of you Matt, but I can’t stay with you in your fancy Brooklyn brownstone. I’m not that kind of gal.”

“What you are is a good, kind, caring person who needs a break,” Matt said. “So for Mia’s sake, you’re going to ignore pride and say ‘Yes, Matt.’”

Roxy stared at a point on the center of his chest, her face set as she struggled not to cry. “You have a life to live. I’m
not going to be a burden to anyone. And anyway, your cat would try and kill Mia.”

“You can use my apartment.” Until the words came out of her mouth, Frankie didn’t realize she was going to say them. “It’s safe and it’s all one level, unlike Matt’s. We won’t need to do much in the way of childproofing.”

She felt Matt’s gaze on her and knew he was as surprised as she was by her offer.

Oh God, what had she done? She’d given up her beloved apartment. Her security. Her independence. Despite Matt’s suggestions, all she’d left so far in Matt’s apartment was a toothbrush. This was a huge step.

Anxiety rippled through her, and she tried to ignore it.

Of course she wasn’t giving up her independence. And anyway, she already slept in Matt’s bed every night. It was ridiculous to feel that keeping a few items of clothing in his apartment somehow changed things.

“That’s kind,” Roxy said, “but we take up a lot of space. Our things have a way of spilling over everywhere. And you told me you only have one bedroom.”

Frankie felt her face heat. “I’m not using it right now.”

Roxy looked puzzled and glanced at Matt. Then a smile spread across her face. “Okay, that’s one piece of good news.
Finally
.”

What did she mean by
finally
?

Frankie opened her mouth to ask, but Roxy was looking anxiously at Matt.

“Before I say yes, you’d better tell me how much the rent would be.”

Matt named a figure that would have covered a windowless basement in the roughest borough of New York.

Frankie felt a lump form in her throat.

Crap, she was turning into a marshmallow.

“We can go back to your apartment and pick up your things right now,” Matt said. “Or you can give me your keys and a list and I’ll do it myself.”

“Are you my landlord or my bodyguard?”

A hint of humor lit Matt’s eyes. “I’ll be whatever you need me to be until you’re back on your feet.”

He didn’t hesitate to help, Frankie thought, swallowing hard. He didn’t think about his own comfort or convenience. He wasn’t putting his business first, or trying to protect himself.

He was focused on helping Roxy, a vulnerable woman who had no one in the world.

He was a man in a million.

So why was she feeling so terrified because she’d given up her apartment?

What was
wrong
with her?

Something squeezed in her chest.

Roxy rubbed her palm over her cheek, undecided. “That’s a really low rent. I don’t want any favors.”

Frankie’s heart ached. If anyone needed favors, it was this girl, but as someone who had turned independence into an art form, she understood and sympathized.

“Right now that apartment is sitting empty,” Matt said. “But I can’t rent it to anyone else because it’s Frankie’s home and all her things are there. It makes sense to have it occupied, but there aren’t many people I’d trust with it.” With those few simple words he threw a bucket of water over the flickering flames of Frankie’s anxiety.

He understood. He understood how she felt.

Frankie felt a rush of warmth and gratitude and all her worries seeped away.

It was fine. Everything was going to be fine.

“It would feel wrong,” Roxy muttered, and Frankie stepped in.

“We all have moments in life when things are tough, Roxy. When that happens, it’s okay to reach out and let your friends help. Look at it this way—one day you’ll be able to do the same for someone else when they’re in trouble.”

“Pay it forward, you mean?” Roxy sniffed and chewed the edge of her nail. “I guess that makes sense. And you’re right that I have to think of my baby. Her safety comes before my pride.”

James walked back to them and handed over a wriggling Mia. “You’re a good mom, Rox.”