Her Old-Fashioned Husband by Laylah Roberts Read Free Book Online Page B

Jaron?”
    “Jaron’s good. Growing fast,” Heath said with very real affection for his stepson in his voice. “Running around and getti ng into mischief. Ava isn’t very happy. She wants to be running around after him. I’m not her favorite person at the moment.”
    “You want me to check up on her?” Tom asked with concern. Ava was nearly five months pregnant and it wasn’t going easy on her . Her blood pressure was high, she was excessively tired and having a toddler to chase around wasn’t helping matters much.
    “That would probably be a good idea. When you have time. Not that she’s any worse, but if you could just reiterat e the need to rest and not stress . She’s pushing me hard. I’m not sure how much stricter I can get with her.”
    Tom heard the tightness in his voice, knew worry over Ava’s health was starting to wear on the stoic man.
    “I’ll come out some time this week ,” Tom promised. “I hate to ask, but can you do me a favor?”
    “Of course.”
    “Go and check on Frankie for me tonight. She’s a bit upset. I’ll be home tomorrow, but...”
    “But you’re worried about her and you’d feel better if someone checked on her,” Heath finished understanding exactly how he felt.
    “Yeah,” Tom said with relief.
    “Course I will. She’s still my little sister. If I think she needs it, I’ll bring her home with me.”
    “Thanks.”
    “Hey, no thanks needed. We’re family, remember?”
    Tom hung up, feeling much happier.
    *****
    Later that night, Tom tiredly climbed the stairs to his hotel room. He was glad that the conference was finally over and he could get home to Frankie.
    His cell buzzed just as he entered his room. He looked down, hoping to see Frankie’s name. Instead it was Heath’s.
    “Hi Heath,” he answered as he sat on a chair and toed off his shoes.
    “Tom.”
    Tom immediately sat up at the displeasure in Heath’s voice.
    “What is it? What’s happened?” Tom asked urgently.
    “I’m at your place. Frankie’s not here.”
    Tom looked over at his clock. Seven forty-five. She should be home by now, even if she’d stopped on the way home to get groceries or takeaways.
    “Your house is all locked up and her car isn’t in the garage.”
    “Damn,” Tom sighed. “I’m sorry to get you all the way there for nothing. I’ll ring her cell; she must have go ne out to dinner with friends. She mi ght be home soon. She knew I was going to call her.” And he always called at eight.
    “I’ll wait,” Heath said.
    “No, you need to get home to Ava. I’m sure Frankie ’s fine. You know how easily she loses track of time.”
    Heath was quiet. “Sure you don’t want me to go looking for her?”
    “No. Honestly, go home. Thanks Heath.”
    “You ring me if you need to. Promise.”
    Tom smiled. Heath sounded like a concerned parent, and he guessed in a way he was. He’d raised Frankie from a teenager .
    “I promise.”
    He closed his phone then rubbed his forehead. A headache was forming in his temples. He’d give her until eight then he’d ring. After all, she didn’t know he’d asked Heath to come around. Tom hadn’t wanted it to look like he was checking up on her when that was exactly what he was doing.
    Tom hated the fact that he was miles away from her right now. Not when she was hurting, confused. The fact that she wasn’t safely tucked up inside their house ate at his guts.
    He paced. Never had fifteen minutes seemed so long.
    Seven fifty-eight. Close enough.
    Tom called the house phone. It rang until the answer phone picked up.
    Letting out a deep breath in an attempt to cage his fear, he called her cell. No answer.
    “Goddamnit, Frankie,” he swore. “I’m going to whip your butt good for scaring me like this.”
    He called the house phone then her cell again, leaving messages on both.
    Sitting back on the bed, he prepared himself for a long night.
    Where the hell was she?
    *****
    What the hell was she doing here?
    Frankie stared around her