“And how do you feel now you’re here? Do you still think it was the right decision?”
“A hundred times yes. I’m frustrated the cameras have followed me but I think we can turn that around to our advantage. Or, should I say, to Astoria’s advantage.”
“You think?” Lucas tried to keep the negativity from his voice.
“Of course. If people back home see me here, see me asking for aid for Astoria, it will help publicise the situation.”
“You’re that famous, that influential?”
“It’s nothing to be proud of but, yeah, next to the Duchess of Cambridge, I’m probably the best known and most photographed woman in England.” She said it without a trace of arrogance and with more than a pinch of regret.
“So if I wanted to publicise something, you’d be the person to get it out there to the general public.”
“In theory, yes.” Reluctance dripped from every word.
“Would you do that?” Lucas asked, his voice dropping lower, making their personal conversation even more intimate. “For me?”
“You don’t have to flirt, Lucas.” Frankie dropped her gaze and again he had the feeling he’d disappointed her. “What is it you want? It’s almost always best to just ask instead of beating around the bush.”
“You know I mentioned having my own charity? To deal with situations like the one here on Astoria? I have the know-how and I think I could put together a medical team. But I’d need a financial backer. Someone who could help me make the charity a reality, and then someone who could get the word out amongst the general public to get donations.” Lucas hardly dared look at her. This was his personal dream, the driving force behind his relentlessly-punishing schedule.
“I can’t help you with the money. Everything I have is Joey’s. Nothing is mine.” Her eyes sparkled and he watched as an idea formed, transforming her sceptical face into one of hope. “But I could auction off my things. I’m sure we could raise a lot of money that way. Daddy would help, I’m sure.”
“You really think we could do this? Make this a reality?”
“I absolutely do.” Frankie leaned towards him. “Together, I think we can totally make this work.”
He wanted to kiss her. He wanted to lean over the baby and touch his lips to hers and forget about the patients waiting for them and the staff who were no doubt watching them closely even as they worked. It wasn’t until he’d left her checking a patient’s dressing and walked over to another patient that her words came back to him.
Together…we can…make this work.
That wasn’t really what he had in mind. He wanted her help, needed it, but he didn’t want to work with her on his pet project. If he did that, it would prolong the time they spent together and he was already in danger of needing her too much. Wanting her too much.
If they prolonged the time they spent together when they were back home in England, it would send their relationship into dangerous territory. He wasn’t ready for that. He couldn’t allow himself to have what Lewis should’ve had. Not until he deserved it.
And his penance was a long way from being fulfilled.
#
“Ta-da!” Lucas opened the door to the supply closet and pushed Frankie in before him.
“What are you doing?” She smothered a giggle. “We’re supposed to be working.”
“We’re having a short break while I show you your new bedroom.” He stepped back so she could admire his handiwork.
“You didn’t have to do this.” Frankie closed the gap between them and kissed him. “But thank you.”
“You want to stay away from the cameras, so it makes sense.” Lucas smiled, running a hand down her cheek. “And people are going to start jumping to conclusions if we keep disappearing off to the shower and the beach at the same time.”
“Does that matter?” Frankie fought to keep the hurt from her voice. Was he ashamed of the time they’d spent together, despite what he’d said?
“I thought it might be easier if you stayed in here and I stayed outside. Less complicated.”
“I didn’t think we were doing complicated.” Frankie lay the baby down in the crib Lucas had tucked into the corner of the small room. Her own bed was a rolled up sleeping bag on the floor. “I thought we were doing fun.”
Lucas backed away as she moved towards him, the indecision on his face comical if Frankie had time to see the humour in the situation. She didn’t. But she did know that she couldn’t bear it if he rejected her. Not now. Not before she’d found herself.
Frankie asked herself what old Frankie would’ve done. She knew the answer immediately. Old Frankie would’ve done whatever it was Joey wanted her to do. She would’ve done ‘the right thing’ which, right then, was probably to let Lucas go.