Sunset in Central Park (From Manhattan with Love #2) - Sarah Morgan Page 0,95

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