by Logan Chance
“You love the Lopa?”
“Of course, I do,” she said with a sparkle in her eyes.
“It makes me feel better knowing you care so much. I guess when I bought it I figured no one would love it as much as I do. Does that make sense?” I leaned back into the couch and pulled my feet up onto the coffee table.
“What about you? What made you want to buy a bar?” she asked.
I took a deep breath before beginning, “When I was a kid we didn’t have much. My mother tried hard for us. My father was a deadbeat dad, and my mother was a single mom trying to raise my brother and me.” I cleared my throat before continuing, “My mother on the weekends would sell jewelry she’d make along Ocean Drive. My brother and I would play on the beach, or we would run down and peer into the windows of the closed clubs. We wondered about everything that happened when the city came alive at night.”
“Right,” she weighed in.
“There was a man, he would always buy us an ice cream cone from the vendor near my mother’s booth. He was a bar owner, and everyone loved him. He ran South Beach in my eyes, and I remember wanting to be like him. I don’t know, from there it kind of escalated and I wanted it more and more. Silly, huh?”
“No. It makes me happy you love the Lopa, too. I think with all the changes you’ve made; it should be great there once again.” She drew her knees to her chest as she wrapped her arms around them.
The doorbell rang, and I sprang from the couch to grab the order.
I brought the food to the counter in the kitchen and we rummaged through the bag.
“Hey, don’t take all the spring rolls,” she said, laughing, as I grabbed a few.
“I got you Pad Thai. Thought that would make you happy.” I winked as she laughed harder.
“That’s one of the things.”
I tilted my head at her, suddenly wondering what things made her happy. “What else?”
“Turtles,” she said, picking up a roll and closing her lips around it.
Watching her mouth close around the roll turned me on and made me ready for round two.
“Why turtles?’ I asked, opening the containers.
She sat down on a stool at the counter, and chewed her lip for a moment before looking up at me. “Well, my mom used to tell me a story when I was a little girl about a magical loggerhead sea turtle.” She looked away from me and toyed with the noodles on her plate. “The loggerheads are huge, and this mystical turtle was the biggest and wisest one of all. The turtles would travel all over the world to find the perfect spot to come ashore to lay their eggs. When the babies hatched, somehow, they always made their way back to their mothers. So, she said the turtle watched over all the baby turtles guiding them safely home. She also said the loggerhead would protect all children—human or animal—and would always help guide them home to their mothers.”
I smiled wide and sat down beside her. “Ah, I know all about making up fairy tale shit for kids.”
She laughed. “Well, I like to believe what she said.” She paused and looked over at me. “When she died, I always found myself associating anything that was a baby sea turtle with her. Hoping one day I would make my way through the great big ocean of life and find my way back to her.”
I turned to face her and pulled her stool in closer to me. “I’m so sorry, Penny. I didn’t mean to make you sad.”
She shook her head at me. “No, it’s ok. The turtle makes me happy.” She smiled and rested her cheek in her hand. “I collect some, because it makes me feel like she’s here with me, you know? Watching over me. It’s why I got this.” She turned and brushed her long hair off of her shoulders revealing the nape of her neck. A tattoo.
My fork clattered to the countertop.
A tiny sea turtle.
FOURTEEN
PENNY
Why is he staring at me like I opened one of his dolls?
“Are you ok?” I asked. Theo hadn’t uttered a word since I showed him my tattoo.
It freaked me out the way his eyes were fixed on me.
I hopped down from the stool and closed up my container of noodles. “Cat got your tongue?” I picked up his fork he dropped and he grabbed my hand.
“Penelope,” he whispered, sending chills skating through my body.
He never called me by my given name, and for a moment I saw the recognition in his eyes.
“Yes.”
“It’s you,” he muttered, stepping closer.
I nodded. “It’s me. Are you ok?”
“From the beach?” His eyes pierced straight through me, letting me know he remembered.
I didn’t know what to say. I dropped the fork as he pulled me tighter against his body.
He tipped my chin with his finger and his eyes spoke to mine in a silent plea to answer him.
“Yeah, from the beach,” I said, barely audible.
Suddenly, he kissed me. Our tongues collided, racing to get closer, rushing to feel each other.
He slowly broke the kiss and stepped back. “I have so many questions.”
A tingling sensation shot through me and my neck heated which was in direct correlation to my pounding heartbeat.
“Ok.”
His vulnerability shone in his eyes as they searched mine. He raked his fingers through his wild, messy hair as he took in a deep breath. “Why did you leave me?”
My heart fell as I remembered. “Work. I actually got fired that morning.”
“I’m sorry.” His voice was still soft as if he couldn’t believe I really stood there.
“It’s ok. I came back and you were gone.” I wanted to tell him I thought about him many times since our fateful night. But, his reverent stance caught me off guard. Was he mad?
“The first day at the Goat, did you know it was me?”
“Yeah,” I whispered. His eyes flickered with something which scared me. Not anger, disappointment.
“Why didn’t you tell me?”
“You didn’t recognize me. I didn’t know what to think.”
“I’m sorry, you should have told me.”
“I thought you would fire me, and I needed the job.” I turned away and played with the box of noodles.
“Fire you? Fire you for what?” He stepped closer, running his hands down my arms.
I turned and met his questioning eyes. “You weren’t very nice when we met, Theo.”
“Do you know why I chose the name Lopa?”
“No.”
“I didn’t forget you.” He paused and unknowingly took another piece of my heart with his next words. “Lopa is a form of the name Penelope.”
Relief swam through my system as I realized I wasn’t some one night stand he had a million times. The Lord of my O’s didn’t forget me, he thought about me too.
“I almost feel jealous of myself,” I joked as a smile spread across his handsome face.
“You have no reason to ever feel jealous of anything.” He gripped my hips with both hands and pulled me closer. “You’ve been a part of me since that night, and I was never able to let you go. I have you now, and you can bet your fucking life I won’t lose you again.” His eyes swept over me as a lazy smile appeared.
God, this man is sexy.
“Theo, you never really left me either,” I whispered.
He closed his eyes letting my words sink in. When he opened them a bit of mischievous fire blazed. He kissed me, pressing his hands under my ass lifting me up. Passion, want, and pure lust pulled me under like a rip current until I was drowning in the way he made me feel. My legs wrapped around him as he carried me down the hallway.
“What am I going to do with you, Penelope?” he whispered across my lips.
“Make me feel everything.”
And he did. He touched my body in ways I’d never felt before, ever. All night he kissed every part of me as I gave him more pieces of my heart.
When he pumped inside me, I’d never been more connected with any man before. It was scary and exhilarating all at the
same time.
And when I lie in his arms, and the lull of sleep threatened to pull me under, I felt Theo’s lips press against the tattoo on my neck. I fell asleep with a contented smile on my face and prayed it would never go away.
The next morning, I met with my father.
I left his office despondent.
FIFTEEN
THEO
Reasons Why I Need Mr. Pardo’s Help
● I’m fucking broke
● Seriously his proposal isn’t too bad
● I’ll still get to be part owner
● If I don’t he’ll shut me down and I’ll have nothing
Fuck, this was hard. I contemplated my options as I sat at the Hard Rock Cafe in Bayside, near downtown Miami. I glanced at the beverage napkin on the table as I jotted down my options for even considering Mr. Pardo’s proposal.
● If I agree maybe he’ll see how serious I am about Penny
● I can’t be broke and take care of her
● I need this to work
● I can NOT fail
● Xavier thinks it’s my best option
● What other choice do I have?
● I need this to work for Penny
I heard the sound of a throat clearing and crumpled the bar napkin in my hands. Turning my head, I stared at a bald, squat man with the same color eyes as Penny.
“Theo Sullivan,” he said as he took a seat at the table.
“Mr. Pardo, I’m presuming.”
“You presume right. Have you read over the contract I sent you?” His long fingers weaved together along the table as his eyes roamed over me.
“Yes, and I’ve signed it.” I handed over the agreement.
The cacophony of music and chatter was overwhelming, and I couldn’t think clearly. I loosened the Windsor knot of my red Hugo Boss tie and flagged the waiter. He stopped by, and in a daze I ordered a drink, a stiff one.
“Relax. Everything is going to work out great.”
“So, how will this work exactly?”
“I want to make sure my investment is taken care of properly.”
I narrowed my eyes, grinding my teeth together. “Yes, what do you have in mind?” I was at this man’s mercy now; my own decisions didn’t matter.
“I’m bringing in someone very experienced to run the bar,” Mr. Pardo said, amused by himself.
“A new boss,” he boasted as he smoothed over the material of his button-down, dress shirt.
“Who?”
The music changed to “Black Magic Woman” by Santana and I spotted Penny across the restaurant. She was beautiful and she stole my breath away.
It all kicked in slowly, an arm wrapping around her from behind, my breath catching in my throat, and my brother’s triumphant smile shining down on her.
Our eyes met for a second before she returned her attention to Dex.
I turned and saw her father beaming at the two of them, and my heart plummeted to my stomach. They made their way to the table, together. Holding hands like a fucking couple. What the hell was going on?
“Ah, there’s my daughter and her fiancé now.”
Fiancé?
“This is the new boss...Penelope.”
To be continued…
Keep Reading for
Part Two
ONE
PENNY
“This is the new boss...Penelope.”
My father's words floated from his smug lips and hung suspended in the air between Theo and I. It was how I imagined Theo’s cartoon books. The words scrawled stationary over your head. I wanted to pluck them out of the air before he could register them. Too late. Fire blazed in his eyes, scorching me with its heat. He blinked, and then blinked again, before rising from his seat. In a restaurant, from my father, with Dex at my side, wasn’t how I wanted him to find out. How cruel of my father. Theo deserved better than this. I clenched my fists to stop myself from grabbing my father’s Gin and tonic and flinging it at his balding head. Without a word or a second glance to me, Theo walked away. Panic crept through my body as each step of his long legs took him further from me.
“Excuse me,” I said to My Mother’s Sperm Donor, turning to leave. No longer would he get the distinction of ‘Father’. A father loves, nurtures, and encourages their child. The man I left behind sitting at the table cared about one thing only. Himself.
The music blared through my ears, making my head spin. Who could eat with all this fucking noise? I could barely even hear these internal thoughts; it was so loud. The heels of my shoes clanked against the tile of the floor as I left the clamor of the Hard Rock behind. Theo made it halfway to the exit before I caught up to him. “Theo, please wait.”
He pushed open the gold framed glass door, and I followed him through. Stars lit the night sky as we stepped out onto the walkway of the Bayside Marketplace.
“What, Penelope?” He spun around with rage in his dark eyes and a mask of pure fury on his face. “Leave me alone, Boss.”
My heart sank. I never wanted to leave him alone. Ever. He was everything to me. I wanted to laugh with him, hold him, hear about his dolls and his comic books, watch the way his eyes lit up when he looked at Lucy, kiss him... just be with him. Not leave him alone. That thought terrified me. “Please, let me explain.”
He shook his head and turned from me, walking off at a hurried pace. I lifted the hem of my cotton red dress and tried to keep up. Why in the hell I let Margo talk me into wearing this tonight would remain a mystery. Running after a man on a cobblestone sidewalk in four inch heels and a tight sundress was no easy task, but damned if I wasn't doing it.
A darkened corridor sat next to another neon lit restaurant overlooking the bay. He stopped, dropping his head to gaze at the cobblestone path. “Explain what? How you lied to me? How you’re engaged? Engaged, Penny,” he breathed.
His hurt seeped throughout my entire body. I wanted to make it all go away.
My mouth went dry as I tried to think of how to explain everything.
And then, two pathetic words slipped past my lips in a whisper, “I’m sorry.” I wanted to scream into the still night. Such useless words. Sorry would never erase the pain I saw on his face. Sorry wouldn't take the defeated slump from his shoulders. Sorry would never be enough but was all I could give. My hands were bound and tied by My Mother’s Sperm Donor and Dex.
As slowly as possible Theo leaned against the brick wall, crossing his arms, and kicking his foot up to rest on the wall behind him. “I’m waiting.”
Squaring my shoulders, I inched closer and leaned into him. “I never meant to hurt you. It’s just my …”
“Enough. I don’t want to hear it.” He grabbed my arms with his strong hands and spun me around until the exposed skin on my back scraped against the rough surface. “Always against a wall with you, Penny.”
My body came alive as he leaned in, his mouth mere inches from mine. Those lips had been all over my body and knew every inch of me. I could almost taste his desire until he lashed out, his words like a whip striking my body. “What makes you think I want to hear about your father? Or more of your lies?” The words hissed through the air, their impact nearly buckling my knees. “Did he force you to fuck Dex?”
“What? No, please listen.” Tears flooded my eyes, threatening to spill over my lashes as I tried to explain.
He raised both hands and placed them against the wall enclosing me as he continued to brandish his weapon. “You make me sick.” Anger and hatred coiled and retracted, then struck me, the sting burning my chest. “Do you think I would ever want to touch you again after knowing Dex has touched you?”
I closed my eyes, not wanting to see the bitterness in his. “I’m sorry. I never...”
“Goodbye, Penny.” My chest heaved with desperation as he walked away.
I couldn’t let it end this way. Hell no. Not like this. I couldn’t let him leave without knowing the truth.
Pushing off the wall, I ran after him. Again, no easy task in this getu
p I wore. Cobblestone is nice to look at, but it's a bitch to run on. He was worth breaking a leg on this uneven sidewalk, though.
Weaving through a mob of faceless people, I saw Theo rushing into the parking lot. He reached his car and I sped up, my calves burning from the effort.
I needed to speak to him, to make him understand. Before I knew it he pulled away, his headlights beaming in my direction. When he glanced my way, the tires screeched to a stop.
He nodded his head, silently asking me to get into his Audi. I let out a sigh of relief as I rushed to the passenger side and slid into the leather seat. He threw the car in gear and took off like a bolt of lightning.
“I don’t know what it is about you, Penny, but I can’t seem to let you go.”
“Please don’t, just drive.”
He pulled into an empty lot, put the car in park, and shifted in his seat to face me. “Talk.”
Clearing my throat, I turned to him and forced myself to look into his eyes. Those fucking eyes. When I first met Theo, I never told him how his eyes drew me to him. Eyes were my thing. His were the reason I ended up on a lifeguard station having multiple orgasms. They were full of laughter and mischievousness. The sadness in them now made me want to weep.
“Dex and I started dating a few months back and…”
Theo slammed his fist into the steering wheel. Oh shit. This wasn't going well. “You’ve fucked him?”
I shook my head, my eyes searching his. “Well, no... I mean, before.”
He slammed another fist into the steering wheel. “I don’t want to hear any more about you and him. You piss me off.”
“No, listen to me.”
“Enough. I don’t want to hear how he’s touched you. But, let me ask you…” He moved closer.