Comfort
He had come as soon as she called.
"Stop it, Nancy - I don't blame you for any of it. You need to stop blaming yourself. It was an accident."
"I know...but I just keep thinking that if I had listened to Dad, my roadster wouldn't be totaled and I wouldn't have caused so much trouble - "
"Um, since when has Nancy Drew ever cared about whether or not she caused trouble?" Frank teased, pulling her close.
She stiffened.
Frank pulled away. "What?" he whispered, clearly hurt.
"I'm just annoyed at myself. You don't need to see me like this," she murmured.
"That's what, oddly, you don't seem to understand. I want to be here for you," he said, his voice no more than a whisper.
Blame it on adrenaline.
Blame it on relief.
Blame it on his dark eyes or warm touch or gentle tone.
She kissed him.
It was almost worth losing the roadster.