Before he could ask after that, she was stopping them inside a door.
Josette was on the couch in that room, shoveling popcorn in her mouth from a bag, her eyes glued to the television where Interview with a Vampire was playing.
“Josette, my dear, Noc’s arrived and we’re about to be away,” Franka called.
Josette turned her head to them.
“This food says it’s flavored with cheddar but it’s not any cheddar I’ve ever tasted. That said, it’s the most delicious thing I think I’ve ever eaten, outside tacos,” she declared.
After tacos, while they were waiting for the phones to charge, Noc had taken them grocery shopping. He’d bought them a cart and a half full of food. He’d also subscribed them to Netflix and showed them how to pull it up on Valentine’s TV so Josette would be set while he and Frannie were out for the night.
He didn’t know if Netflix had Interview with a Vampire in their queue. Though, it being that movie, maybe local stations played it on a continuous loop.
“The creatures in this program drink blood,” she went on. “It’s gruesome and wonderful.”
“I’m delighted you’re enjoying yourself, my sweet,” Franka said with a smile in her voice. “Now, you have all our numbers in your telephone and remember how to use them in case you need anything, yes?”
“Yes, Franka.”
Noc put a hand to the small of Frannie’s back and started to move her out of the door as she bid her girl to “Continue enjoying your evening.”
“You enjoy yours as well, and hello and goodbye, Master Noctorno!” Josette called.
“It’s Noc, babe. And here it’s really just Noc,” he told her, giving her a smile even if his words were firm.
“Noc,” she said on a huge return smile then gave a swift wave and looked back to the TV.
Noc guided Franka down the hall. She stopped at a table to grab a black clutch. He nabbed the wrap that was thrown over a chair and draped it around her shoulders, kissing her neck while he did it, doing it to touch her, have her taste on his lips, but earning himself another look of soft satisfaction that he felt in his dick.
When he had her ready, he took her out to his car.
While they walked, she said, “You look very nice as well, Noc. Most handsome, or more than usual.”
He pulled her closer with the arm he had around her waist, murmuring, “Not surprised my Frannie likes me in a suit.”
“What you’re wearing is called a suit?”
“Yup.”
“Clever, seeing as it suits you.”
He chuckled, beeped the locks and helped her up into his Suburban.
He’d learned the times she’d been in it to start it up and then take her hand.
Even when he did, he felt her tenseness come fast, fill the cabin and he saw her other hand move out and latch on to the grip on the armrest at her door.
“You’ll get used to it, sweetheart,” he said quietly as he hit the gas, not wanting to call too much attention to it.
His Frannie, she had pride. She’d appreciate the assurance but not so much him pointing out she needed it.
And he knew he was right when she said nothing but her fingers flexed in his hand.
They were on their way when he brought it up.
“We can get you different shoes.”
He felt her gaze on him when she asked, “Pardon?”
He glanced at her then back to the road before he answered, “Different shoes. Ones without high heels like all the ones you’ve been wearing since you got here.”
“Do you not like these kinds of shoes?”
“Oh yeah, I like ’em,” he told her, gave her a squeeze of his hand and dropped his voice. “But, baby, until you’re used to walking in them, you can wear other stuff. I’ll take you guys to a mall tomorrow. Josette’ll like that and I figure you will too. And since Valentine took some of your stash, converted it to cash and opened you both bank accounts, you got a shit ton of money to spend, so you can have some fun.”
“I’m perfectly fine in the shoes Valentine bought me, Noc. I’m growing accustomed to them. And just to say, I had time this afternoon to go through the things she procured for me and there are five similar pairs in my chamber and they’re all very lovely. I’m looking forward to donning them.”
He wondered if she’d lose the way she talked the longer she was in his world.
He hoped she did, she’d fit in better and he didn’t want her to feel awkward.
He also hoped she didn’t because it was so Frannie.
“You can have both,” he said.
“I like what I have,” she replied.
He gave her hand another squeeze. “Babe, what I’m trying to say without saying it is that today, when we left the phone store, you tripped and then went funny on me. I don’t know if that’s why you went funny, could be you’re not used to riding in cars and you weren’t looking forward to getting back in mine. But whatever it was, I noticed it, and whatever it was, I want you to know I’m here to look out for you. So let me do that.”
She didn’t say anything and this lasted so long, he glanced to her from the GPS he’d programmed, something he needed because a week in NOLA was not near enough to know how to get around.
His eyes went back to the road and he noted gently, “Nothin’ to be embarrassed about, Frannie. Again, just lookin’ out for you.”
“I know,” she murmured.
“You wanna keep the heels, I am not gonna complain. You look great in them.”