by Logan Chance
Remembering where I was, I gently pushed her shoulders and she spun around. “Theo, hi,” she whispered.
“Did you want to take a walk?”
“Yeah,” she murmured.
We didn’t speak again until we were well past the Bearded Goat, and the flashing lights of the main strip faded in the distance.
The air was balmy, yet she still held her hands clutching onto her shoulders. “You’re not cold, are you?”
“No, just thinking,” she murmured.
“Care to share?”
“You don’t strike me as a father. The way you were with her tonight, it was sweet.” She stopped walking to face me. “Well, you’re not very sweet, Theo.” She sighed, looking up at the sky, then back to me. “I guess I’m trying to figure you out.”
“Ok, I don’t really know what to say here.” Her eyes bore into mine, and I felt as if she could see straight through the guarded fortress surrounding my heart.
“I’m just thinking out loud.”
“I guess I’m not the pompous asshole you thought I was?”
“No, guess not.” She smiled. “Where would you like to have this business talk?”
I tried to think of where to take her. “Why don’t we sit on that beach bench over there?”
We sat side by side on the wooden bench perched near the coast, and I felt it was the time to “eat crow,” as some say. “Tell me everything you think The Goat needs,” I said, resting my arm along the back of the bench. “I had thought about a new name.”
“Definitely.” Her eyes lit up and I could see the passion shining from them. “A new name would be most important.” She tucked a leg under her. “Also, you could do something with the patio. It needs help, everything is boring. New umbrellas, add more seating, some lights around the patio. Spice it up, add a little class to the joint.”
I ran my fingers over my beard. “I like it.”
“What would you rename it?” she asked.
“I was thinking of calling the bar, Lopa.”
“I love Lopa, sounds very mystical,” she said, as she turned her head to gaze out at the ocean. “Where did you come up with it?”
“Just a name that reminds me of something, and it’s never really left me,” I said, watching how the moon reflected against her skin.
She sighed as I slid closer. “It’s a nice name. I think it will work.”
I leaned in and ran my nose along her neckline.
“What are you doing?” she whispered.
“Shh. Quiet.” My fingers were already running through her soft strands of gold. Her copper eyes glistened in the moonlight, and my eyes dropped to her mouth. Her lips called to me like a siren, and I would no longer deny myself the feel of them.
I joined our lips as her soft whimpers muffled into my mouth.
Her tongue slid along mine, soft and wet.
She broke the kiss suddenly and pushed my chest away.
Her eyes sprang open, and I couldn’t read the expression hidden inside. “I still have a boyfriend,” she said, softly.
My neck grew hot, my fingers still clutched in her hair as my mind raced. “Oh, ok. Then why are you here right now?” I breathed across her cheek.
“I’m sorry. I should have never let it get this far. You seem to always catch me off guard.”
“Off guard?”
She pushed me the remainder of the way away from her.
“I can’t think straight when I’m around you,” she said.
I stood from the bench. “I understand. I’ll see you tomorrow morning and we’ll start implementing the changes. Have a good night, Penny.” I clenched my fists, my knuckles turning white from the pressure.
She sat there with her mouth agape as I turned to walk away. I heard her faint goodbye as I neared Ocean Drive.
I pushed away any sexual desire toward Penny, as I slid into the leather seat of my Audi.
When I arrived home I grabbed my notebook and pen and tried again to write another list.
Reasons why you NEED to stop thinking about Penny
● She has a boyfriend
● She has a boyfriend
● She has a boyfriend
● She has a fucking boyfriend you fucking moron
With despair, I stared at the words written. I flipped the page, and with a new sheet I wrote out a new list.
Reasons why I CAN’T stop thinking about Penny
● She’s everything I’ve ever wanted
Fuck. I slammed my fist against the notebook and tossed it across the room.
The next day I sat down in my office of The Goat to start the first phases of Penny’s ideas.
First I needed a name for the project. I stared to the ceiling as my mind went blank. Grabbing my clipboard, I turned the page to a new sheet.
Plan of Attack
● Project Freckle’s Ideas
● Operation Freckle’s Brilliant Plans
● Penny may be smarter than me
● Freckle’s sexy ideas
● Operation she has a boyfriend.
I stopped for a moment as the thought of her boyfriend hit home. Fuck.
● Project who cares about her (ideas)
● Operation Penny’s bright ideas and stupid love life
● Operation this is fucking pointless
I give up. Her plan of attack would be just that. An attack I wasn’t expecting. One which took me by surprise, freckles and all. Operation Fix This Bar and Leave Me Alone. I shoved the clipboard away from me and blew out a defeated breath.
After my failed attempt at a list, I called the fan company to have the oscillating fans installed.
Next, when Seth and Henry arrived, we spent the whole morning rearranging the patio furniture.
Penny suggested the patio could use a makeover, and more tables could be added to accommodate more guests.
Funny thing, the extra tables and chairs were in the storage room. The previous owner took them out because he didn’t like the Feng Shui it created.
I, however, wanted to fill the seats, not harmonize with the universe.
A sign company to change the name was next on the list. After a quick phone call, the paperwork was taken care of to bring the Lopa to life.
Next, I went over a new menu with the head chef, Hector. We decided to serve sexy tapas as opposed to the fried, greasy garbage we slung out on a daily basis. As soon as I gave Hector the freedom to create whatever he wanted he came alive with enthusiasm.
His Spanish heritage had the small bites and appetizers appearing a lot more delicious than the previous menu.
The next day he made a few of the dishes and let the staff try the cuisine.
We dined on Ceviche, Ensaladas, and even Pulpo A Las Brasas.
Hector explained with a diverse menu of high-end tapas we would bring in a new class of guests, and this type of menu would showcase the Latin community of Miami.
The menu not only featured tapas, it also had family-style dishes of Paella, Albondigas, and Coctel Marino.
When Penny arrived, our eyes met, and I quickly squashed the feeling of rejection from a few nights ago and called her over to try some of the food.
“Try the Pulpo,” I said, handing her a fork.
“Looks good. What is it?”
“Octopus.” I laughed as her freckled nose turned away from the food. “It’s good, I promise.”
She was adventurous and I watched her try a small piece. “You’re right. Hector, good job,” she said, smiling to the chef in his white coat.
“Penny, can you help draft a few cocktail menus for the days of the week promotion in the office? Seth can handle the bar right now,” I said.
“Sure. I’d love to.”
She left down the hallway and I returned my attention back to Seth and Henry.
“Let’s grab a few of the new chairs, guys. The installers for the fans should be here tomorrow or the next day, so it should be real nice out here soon,” I said, surveying the back porch deck
.
“Mr. Sullivan, it’s real cool how you’re trying to change this place to make it better. I think the previous owner only enjoyed partying and didn’t care if this place went belly up,” Henry said as he ran a hand across his jaw.
“You can thank Penny.”
Thinking of her, I wandered down the hall to see how she was doing. I didn’t want her to get too nosey in the office, or to see anything more from Pardo Inc.
I opened the door and she sat behind my oak desk, her bright teal tank showcasing her perky tits.
Shutting the door behind me, she lifted her head and her eyes met mine.
“How are the menus coming along?”
“Almost done. I’m excited.” Her enthusiasm was cute. Her nose crinkled and the adorable freckles splattered there were highlighted by the sun coming in through the small window.
Upset about the idea of her having a boyfriend, I frowned as I moved closer to check out the menus she created.
Fuck, all of my emotions were centered around the anger I felt from the fact of the mysterious boyfriend. Did he eat her out as well as I did? I pushed away the thought of Penny’s succulent pussy as I tried to focus on the first set of menus.
The Spanish mosaic design she created along the paper was the perfect amount of class and not too girly.
She knew what she was doing, and I questioned why I dismissed the idea of her for the management job.
She stood from the office chair and came next to me to study the menus.
“This is really good work.” I forced a smile.
“I think you need to advertise.” Her eyes lit up as she spoke, her voice rising with excitement. “Maybe on the radio? Or the news stations.”
Another great idea, and I fumed I wasn’t the one who thought of it first. “Maybe.”
“Oh come on. You know it’s good,” she taunted.
“I guess. I mean, meh.”
She swatted my arm playfully as she laughed. “Ok, Mr. Tough Guy, I’ll let you have it. You can tell everyone you thought of it.” She chewed on the corner of her mouth as she glanced at me.
“No, I would never take the credit away from you. I’ll admit it, Penny, you’re the Queen of Good Ideas.” I smiled and held up the menus as evidence.
“Why, thank you.”
My smile faltered as I held her stare. The light buzz of the computer sang in the background, and my brow furrowed at the thought of the boyfriend once more.
I had questions, so many fucking questions. “Why?” was the only one I was able to mumble.
“Excuse me?”
We stood close as my heart thrummed. She was in my veins, and I couldn’t master a thought around her. I wanted to fuck her against the desk, I also wanted to march out of this office and never see her again.
“Why did you let me touch you when you have a boyfriend?” I asked a little louder.
“I don’t know,” she whispered, her head bowing toward the ground.
“Fuck, you drive me insane.” My hands flew to the sides of my head, tugging at the ends of my hair. I blew out a breath as she stepped closer.
“I never meant for anything to happen between us.”
“But something did happen. A lot of things happened. I can’t deal with this. You’re my damn employee. I could get in a lot of trouble over you.”
“Well, it wasn’t my fault.” She crossed her arms over her chest.
“It was all your fault, Penny.”
Her eyes narrowed, brows furrowing. “Are you fucking kidding me? You came onto me.”
Fury, red and molten, blinded me. I leaned inches from her face and whispered across her soft skin. “No other man’s girlfriend should ever want me like you do.”
Her hand connected with my face for the second time since I’d known her. She went to slap again, but I caught it right before she made contact.
“Stop.”
“Or what? This time you’ll fuck me?” she spat off.
“Watch what you say, I just might.” I dropped her hand and slammed the office door behind me as I walked away.
TWELVE
PENNY
Did I hear him right? He might fuck me?
The sound of the office door slamming echoed throughout the small office as I stood there—heart pumping, body aching, and mind sizzling out of control.
Again, I asked myself, what the hell happened?
My body was drawn to him like a magnet, yet we were still unable to get along. Why was he so stubborn? Why couldn’t he say thank you?
Last night at dinner, and even afterwards on the beach, I found myself opening up to him.
The whole time I was with Theo I’d never even checked my phone for Dex’s call. It wasn’t until I got home I saw the missed call from him.
No message, nothing. Just one missed call. One I demanded he make and then was too busy to answer.
I tried not to let it bother me as I gazed triumphantly at the menus one more time. Something I created was being implemented, and it felt fucking amazing. I wanted to make a quick call to my father and shove it in his face.
To show him I didn’t need him or his money to make my way in this world. I was doing fine without him.
I returned to the computer and finished off the rest of the menus before leaving the office.
Walking out onto the patio I was amazed at how Theo managed to bring new life to the bar.
Sure it was little things—new potted plants on the deck, new patio chairs, umbrellas, twinkling lights that glimmered along the rails, and an overall sense of pride in the employees.
Now, I hoped my plans worked. They would. I’d been doing this since I was eighteen, and being twenty-six now, I’d say I picked up a few things along the way.
I spotted Theo standing in the corner of the patio, phone pressed to his ear as he ran a hand across his jaw through his beard. Gray clouds rolled off in the distance as the first drop of rain fell from the sky. A low grumble of thunder sounded from far away as Theo thrust the phone in the pocket of his khaki pants.
A gust of air flew past me as the storm picked up and was set to hit.
“Close the umbrellas,” Theo called to Seth.
Together they worked to close the patio umbrellas before the wind picked up and tossed them. The rain fell in soft pellets at first but began to pick up in strength and ferocity.
“It’s turning into biblical rain,” Henry said, standing beside me.
As always with Florida, storms were a pain in the ass. It would rain for a few hours and then it would end until this time tomorrow when another storm would attack. I waltzed around to the opposite side of the bar and made a customer a drink.
A bourbon Manhattan. I plopped in the cherry and slid it across the oak bar as Theo walked up behind me—soaked.
He shook his hair, and the water droplets landed on my bare arms. “What are you doing?” The cold water brought a shiver down my spine as I wiped it away.
“What do you mean? I’m drying off,” he said as he continued to run his hand through his hair, propelling water all over the place.
“What like a dog?” My temper flared, cheeks heated.
“Do I look like a dog to you?”
“The way you shake your head all around, you do.” I crinkled my nose at him as a barely there smile broke across his face.
“Does it turn you on?” he asked, shaking his head over me. He laughed as the water from his hair rained down over me.
“You wish.” I pushed him further away as someone clearing a throat behind us broke us from our fight? Flirting? Moment?
I wasn’t quite sure what to make of what happened between Theo and me. He knew how to push my buttons, yet at the same time he knew how to make me laugh.
“Mr. Sullivan, there’s a telephone call for you from a Mr. Chevy,” Henry said.
Theo’s expression changed drastically, gone was the laughter and playfulness, and in its place a sour mood took over.
Chevy? Dex Chevy? My Dex?
&n
bsp; Did Dex know everything Theo and I did? Fingers shaking, nerves erupting inside me, I couldn’t concentrate. I rushed to my phone hidden away in my purse and checked the display screen to see if I had any missed calls or texts—nothing.
With an uneasy feeling, I continued my shift as I served customer after customer.
After Theo returned from his phone call with Mr. Chevy, who I was still convinced was Dex, he wouldn’t even look at me. Which made me more and more concerned.
I didn’t want to ask, but the curiosity was killing me.
Before I had a chance to confront Theo, he left. At the end of my shift I packed up my belongings and headed out through the front wooden doors.
The storm all but dissipated, leaving in its wake a humid, muggy night. My hair frizzed to an ungodly mass of madness. I clutched my phone in both hands waiting until I was in my car to dial Dex’s number.
Sliding into the front seat, I took a deep breath. After tapping the screen to call, I waited.
Nothing, straight to voicemail. Fucker turned his phone off. What was going on? I left the shortest message imaginable and headed home, defeated.
Whatever would happen, would happen—I felt I deserved it.
As I turned the corner of my street, I saw Dex’s car parked in the driveway of my concrete block duplex.
He waited on the front porch steps, red roses in one hand—which I hated—and a box of chocolates in the other. He smiled.
“You know chocolate gives me hives,” I said as I approached him.
His dark hair crumpled against his forehead while his blue eyes held mine.
“They do? I never knew.” His answer was almost believable, except, I told him—probably more than fifty times at least.
“Why haven’t you returned any of my calls? Why haven’t you just plain called?” I wanted to fire off more questions but felt we should move our heartfelt reunion inside instead of on the front porch for all of the neighbors to see. He followed closely behind me to the kitchen.
“I was busy, Penny,” he said as he tossed the flowers and chocolates on the island bar.