All In (Casino Nights #2) (23 page)

She started to interrupt, but he squeezed her knee to silence her.

“I get the feeling he dumped a lot of the blame on you, and you took it. This is what I’ve seen since we’ve been together.” He paused to make sure she was still with him. He purposely softened his tone before he continued. “I’ve listened to you admit you’re doing too much, but that doesn’t make you change. I’m starting to think you may never be able to change.”

He heard her breath hitch, and there were tears in her eyes.

He rushed to continue before she would misinterpret. “Francesca, if that’s the way it’s going to be, then I’m gonna do my best to work with it, not against it.”

She wiped her eyes quickly, and he read a look of hope in her brown depths.

“What I can’t work with is when you turn silent.” He paused to let that sink in. “I can’t read your mind, babe. I need to know that you understand I need to hear what’s troubling you.”

“I can try to do that,” she promised.

“See? Our first problem solved. Now, I want you to talk to me about the night with Trevor.”

She looked down at the hands knotted in her lap. “It might not make sense.”

“Here’s the deal. Tell me what you’re thinking, and we can try to make sense of it together.” He ran his hand over her thigh then gave her a squeeze.

She licked her bottom lip. “I wanted that night. I like Trevor a lot. He’s handsome and smart. Plus, he’s sweet, or at least he is to me. I was into, uhm, the stuff going on.”

Remy nodded. “We were into it, too. You were so hot Francesca, I get hard just thinking about it.” His voice had gone deeper.

“When we were resting, I started thinking about what it meant that you would give me that fantasy. I know that you liked it, but I also saw something in your eyes, something like...possessiveness. It had to be hard for you, to watch me with another guy...”

“I am possessive. That’s why I said it would be a one-time thing,” he reminded her.

“At that moment, I realized I loved you so much for everything that you give me, and you give me a lot.” She looked down and started playing with her rings. “You’re the best thing that has ever happened to me, even better than Jimmy and Rose adopting me.”

“Babe,” he whispered and pulled her across his lap. He held her against his chest.

“I couldn’t stop thinking about all of the things that I could do wrong and drive you away. I make—” She drew a shuddering breath. “I make a lot of mistakes. I’m not used to thinking about how my actions affect another.” She rested her bruised face against his chest.

He waited for her to continue.

“After that realization, I didn’t want Trevor to touch me. I only want you to touch me. I handled things wrong. I was so stupid. I made everyone mad.”

“You didn’t make anyone mad, but you scared the shit out of us. Trevor really cares for you, and he’s still torn up thinking that he somehow hurt you. I didn’t know what to do, if I needed to kick his ass or take you to a doctor. You kept saying that you weren’t hurting, but you cried for an hour.”

She rested her head on his bicep. “I need to apologize to him. I don’t like the thought that he’s still worried. I panicked because I couldn’t remember the safe word, and then it all just became too much.”

“You can call him later.” Remy didn’t want to stop the momentum of Francesca opening up.

“I woke up and kept thinking about everything. Everything that I’d screwed up, and all that I can in the future. I decided that I should just stick to my work.” She looked at him and frowned.

“You thought that I would just go away? That I wouldn’t fly out here and confront your ass? Babe, you don’t have a lot of faith in me, do you?” He shook his head at her.

She sighed. “I thought that for about a day, then I spent some more time beating myself up, but by then, I didn’t know how to reverse it all.” She rolled her eyes and gave a shrug. “I was secretly hoping you would get on a plane.” She smiled weakly. “That you would fight for us.”

He chuckled, “I knew my girl had faith in us.” He kissed her neck, nibbling on it gently. “I can see that I’m going to have to work hard to prove that everything isn’t your fault.”

She raised her head with a defensive look in her eyes.

He quickly continued. “Silence.” He touched his finger to her lips. “I’m going to tell you what I want, what I want to see happen with us.” He waited for her to nod.

She did, but her eyes were wary.

“I’m going to propose to you, and you’re going to accept. We’re going to discuss your job and the hours that you work. Then we’re going to talk about my work opportunities, and how they’ll fit with yours. After that, we’re going to have a meeting with your team, and then another with Jimmy. There, you’re going to lay it out for him. Then you’re going to take some days off, and we’re going to look for a house. Something far enough away from The Red Rose that they don’t think to call you in for every blip on the radar. We should keep your apartment, but I want us to have a home.”

“Can I get a dog?” There was so much yearning in her voice that it hurt his heart. She dropped her gaze, like she dreaded his negative answer.

“Babe, we can get two dogs, if that will make you happy and make you want to come home to me.” He kissed her again. “You’ve got good people on your team, Frankie. They’re excellent at their jobs, and even more, they care about you, and they want to do better because of that. Let them do their work. You’ve trained them, monitored them, now let them go. Right there, your load will be cut by a shit ton.” Rico had told him this, and after watching the group dynamic during the meeting yesterday, he had to agree.

“I can try to do that,” she said. When Remy continued to stare at her, she frowned but added, “Okay, I will do that.”

“Most of all, I want us to be a unit. I want to be there for you—when things are good and when they suck. You need to do the same for me. I love you, Francesca. You’re everything to me. Can you tell me the same?”

His brows had drawn together and his jaw was closed so tightly he felt his molars grind together as he waited for her response.

“Yes, yes I can. I love you with all my heart. I want all of this with you.” She kissed him.

He believed her.

“Are you going to be happy living out here?” She looked like she was holding her breath waiting for his answer.

“Babe, you’re here, and I’m going to be wherever you are.”

She still looked troubled.

He waited for her to share.

“Do you want kids?” Her voice cracked.

“With you? Sure, if you do, but that isn’t a deal breaker. I want a life with you and whatever it entails.”

“I’m not sure what kind of mother I would make.”

He thought maybe she’d worried over that a lot because she said it so quietly. “I’m guessing the same kind of mother as you are a friend—protective, loyal, and demanding. If we decide to try to have a baby, we’ll figure it all out. I can cut back on work and be Mr. Mom.”

She laughed loudly. “I don’t know if I can visualize that.”

“Or you can cut back on work, too, and we can raise a great kid or three. What I’m saying Frankie is that, together, we can figure this shit out.” He watched that sink in. “Okay?”

She nodded and then met his gaze. “Okay.”

“Now, can I take you to bed?”

“Yeah, that would be good.” Her laugh echoed as he carried her to the bed.

Chapter Fourteen

“Babe, watch where you’re going.” Remy was holding onto the door handle of Francesca’s BMW. She had nearly rear-ended the car in front of her.

“Calm down. Who would have guessed you’d be such an old lady riding with me,” she teased him. She glanced at her left ring finger and was mesmerized by the sparkle of the diamond.

“I should have waited ’til we got back to give you the ring. If you don’t stop looking at it, you’re gonna kill us,” he told her.

She turned left into a driveway. She had called her mother, Rose, a half hour ago, asking if they could stop by. Her mom was excited to meet Remy, and she’d told them that they would be staying for dinner.

She glanced at Remy as she parked her car along the side of the circular drive just past the front entrance. His mouth was slightly open. She knew the huge house with elaborate landscaping was a lot to take in. “Just wait until you see the back. Rose has amazing gardens set up. She’ll gladly take you on a tour, but it will be a long tour,” she warned him.

“You grew up here?” he said, sounding shocked.

“Well, when my dad was alive, we lived over the main garage around to the side, and then after the explosion, I moved in here.” She opened her door and waited for him to meet her at the back of her car.

“You grew up really rich.” He was still looking at the house.

“Does it make a difference?” She’d always worked, earned her allowance by washing cars and helping the staff, and then at The Red Rose. This house and everything—well that belonged to Jimmy and Rose. She didn’t think of herself as rich.

“No, it’s just a shock to see it.” He took her hand.

“So, you still love me even though my folks are rich?” she teased.

“Yeah, I do.” He kissed her.

“Are you ever going to come in, or are you going to stand in the driveway kissing all day?” Jimmy’s voice broke them apart.

“I’m not sixteen, and I don’t have a curfew,” she told Jimmy as she climbed the three steps to the ornate doorway.

As she passed him, she kissed his cheek and Remy shook his hand.

Rose was walking toward them with a warm smile. “This is wonderful.”

Francesca kissed her mother’s cheek, and then pulled Remy closer. “Mom, this is Remington Cooper. Remy this is my mother, Rose.”

Rose looked Remy up and down, and then turned to Francesca and laughed. “I like him. He’s a cutie, and he has kind eyes.” She then pulled Remy into her arms for a hug.

“You don’t even know him, yet.” Francesca laughed as Rose finally released Remy.

“I have a good feeling, and your father likes him, so he must be good.” Rose winked at Remy.

“Are we going to stand here all day, or can a working man get a drink and a soft chair?” Jimmy groused, but he was smiling.

“Let’s sit in the sunroom. It’s cool today, so we won’t get too warm.” Rose turned and led them to the plant-filled room.

As they were choosing their seats, Francesca asked, “Can we get something to drink? I think my fiancé might be thirsty.”

“What?” Jimmy boomed.

“I did it, sir.” Remy placed his arm around her waist. “When we spoke, I told you my intentions. I asked and she accepted.” He was smiling proudly.

“Oh my Lord, Jimmy, you didn’t tell me.” Rose’s smile was huge. “I’m so happy, so very happy for you both.” She moved to her daughter and pulled her into her arms. “Baby, you are beaming. I know this time you’ve found real love.” She kissed Francesca’s cheek.

“I guess, you know a good woman when you see one.” Jimmy slapped Remy on his back, and then hugged him. “Make her happy—that’s all I ask.”

“I will do everything in my power to do that,” Remy promised.

Jimmy moved onto Francesca. “You want this?” He had pulled her into his arms but was staring into her eyes.

“Yes, Daddy, more than anything.” She felt a tear fall down her cheek.

“I love you.” Jimmy kissed her good cheek, and then hugged her tightly.

Rose was hugging Remy, and he was smiling at her over her mother’s shoulder.

“We need to celebrate,” Rose said. “Jimmy, call her friends, and I’ll order champagne. Tell them to come for dinner.”

“Mom, you don’t need to do that,” Francesca knew her words would hold no weight. Once her mother made a decision there was no turning back.

“I want to celebrate my daughter’s engagement. Any of you going to have a problem if I do that?” She glared at the group.

“No, Rosie,” her father said in a mild tone no one at the casino would recognize. “You figure out what you want us to do, and we’ll have one hell of a party.” Jimmy winked at Remy.

***

The impromptu party was in full swing. Remy couldn’t begin to guess at how many bottles of champagne had been emptied. Rose and Jimmy had invited friends and neighbors, and Team 2 had arrived along with Blade’s wife and Lorraine with her husband.

Remy’s cheeks hurt from smiling so much. He and Francesca had Face Timed his mother, and she was ecstatic. She made plans to visit in two weeks’ time. He could already see both their mothers becoming good friends.

“If you have a moment, I’d like for you to take a walk with me.” Rose linked her arm through his as he allowed her to lead him away.

“What can I do for you, Mrs. O’Haire?” He had already witnessed that Rose ran her household with a firm hand.

They headed down a pea gravel path, deeper into the back yard. When they were away from the house, Rose pointed to a bench, and they sat.

“First, please call me Rose,” She crossed her legs.

“All Right, Rose.” Remy gave her a warm smile. He liked the woman very much.

“You love my daughter?” She wasted no time asking.

“I do.”

“It’s not always going to be easy. You know that right?” she eyed him warily.

“Frankie is many things, complicated being one of them. I know that her first marriage left scars. I know that her career means everything to her. I get that, and I won’t ask her to choose.”

Rose nodded as she considered his answer. “I wish I had intervened when she was younger. She and Jimmy were inseparable, and even then, she put in a lot of hours working. I thought it would wear off over time. They have this bond. I don’t know if it’s because of the car bomb. She had misplaced her book bag, and that delayed Jimmy getting in the car. That delay saved their lives. We both adored her; however, she and Jimmy always had a bond. She used to call him Mr. Jimmy, and she would come into the house and wander from room to room looking for him. I’d find her sound asleep in his study while he worked. There was never a doubt we wanted her to be a part of our family, but in her mind, there is no difference between the business and Jimmy. You need to understand that. Her first husband didn’t, and he ultimately asked her to choose between their marriage and Jimmy. She calls it her job, but really, her obsession with The Red Rose, is about Jimmy.”