She rested her head on his chest. “That’s enough for me.”
It was his stipulation but he was beginning to doubt it was enough for him. He felt badly for Frankie that her ex had been such a rat, but he couldn’t allow that to alter the way he thought about her. She was a temporary distraction from the chaos around them. Anything more than that was stepping into uncharted waters, veering into dangerous emotions he simply didn’t, and wouldn’t, allow himself to have.
“Come on, let’s go get that shower.”
His fingers tangled in hers as they headed back up to the beach, past the camp and towards the front of the hospital.
As they rounded the corner, shouts went up from the area they’d cleared for helicopters carrying aid to land.
“It’s her!”
“Frankie, over here, Frankie!”
“Why are you hiding out here?”
She dropped his hand and surged ahead of him.
The reporters swarmed towards her, like a group of leeches, all wanting their pint of blood. All thinking she owed them something. He stood off to the side, part repulsed, but also fascinated as he watched an entirely different Frankie to the one he’d got to know emerge from who knew where to deal with the gathered media.
She held up a hand. “One at a time, guys, please.”
A smile he’d never seen before stretched her mouth wide and Lucas knew he was the only one who saw the panic in her eyes and fake conciliatory attitude.
“What are you doing here on Astoria?” A microphone was shoved towards Frankie while cameras were hoisted onto shoulders and at least a dozen digital cameras were aimed in her direction.
“I’m not sure I ever mentioned it in our programme, but before Joey and I met, I was a student nurse. I thought it was about time I used my training.”
Lucas’s gut clenched at the sound of the other man’s name—the man was a fool for letting a woman like Frankie slip through his fingers. If his own life were different, if being loved and loving in return were things he deserved, he’d choose someone with the empathy, adaptability, and strength of will Frankie possessed.
“Is it true you’ve broken off your engagement with Joey?” someone else called.
“Yes, that’s right.” Frankie shoved her hands into the pockets of her scrubs, her back so straight it was as though she’d been placed on a backboard.
“Why is that?”
“I think that’s something you guys really need to ask Joey.”
“He’s too heartbroken to comment,” someone else interjected.
Lucas felt every protective bone in his body harden at the other man’s thoughtlessness. Was anything in Joey’s life real or was it all a soap opera he chose to play out in front of the cameras? He certainly had no shame.
“Do you have a message for Joey?”
Lucas hated himself for not interjecting, insisting Frankie had work to do and take her away from the insidious questions she was facing. But to do that would mean to face the cameras himself. He’d come to live with his scars, but he certainly didn’t want them broadcast on the news. That would only lead to questions about who he was and eventually an unearthing of the story that told of his guilt.
It was the last thing he wanted, and he knew knowledge of the part he played in his brother’s death would strip away all the admiration for him he could see in Frankie’s eyes when she looked at him. He wasn’t ready to lose that. Not yet.
Lucas watched as Frankie’s hands balled into fists at her side. “I don’t. But I do have a message for any viewers back home who might want to help the people of Astoria.”
“Take it away, our cameras are rolling!”
“Here on Astoria, a devastating earthquake has left so many people homeless. A powerful aftershock yesterday caused yet more damage. These people need your help. Any donations you can send would be so gratefully received.”
Lucas walked to the front of the hospital and ducked inside while Frankie continued to speak. There was a chance she would call on him and ask him to explain exactly what was needed. He didn’t want that. But it did give him an idea of how she could help him in the future. Her position in society, much as she now detested it, would be perfect to help him to set up a charity of his own—his lifelong ambition.
Maybe when he’d done that, he’d finally be able to shed his guilt.
#
Frankie looked around for Lucas after she’d finished talking, but he’d gone. For an awful moment, she wondered if he thought she’d brought the media to the hospital. But surely he knew better than that. She’d spent the day working with him as well as the entire night, calling home and organising the media had hardly been on the list of her priorities.