She hopped out of bed the next morning and twirled around her little kitchen to the music in her head as she grabbed some breakfast. After pouring kibble into Scarlett’s bowl, she headed to her room to search for an outfit for her doggie date with Theo. She pulled on a pair of skinny jeans and white canvas sneakers and a three-quarter-sleeve sweater that showed off her cleavage. Simple yet cute. Theo didn’t care about designer clothes or hundred-dollar mascara. She dusted on a little makeup, and after a quick run-though with her brush, pulled her hair into a slick ponytail.
Penny grabbed her wristlet purse and cell, just as it started to ring.
“Bryn! Hey! What’s up?”
“I need you to do me a huge favor. Pretty please!”
“What do you need?”
“Eli surprised me with a reservation at this adorable B and B. I was really hoping to go now instead of having to wait till after my Sunday shift at the shop. Can you please take my shift today?”
Shit. If it were any other day, she would. But she had a date today. And she really couldn’t wait to see Theo. But she could see him later, right? The dog park would still be open after work.
No. This wasn’t fair. Why was Bryn’s love life more important that hers? This wasn’t Penny’s day to work. It was Bryn’s. She didn’t mind helping a friend out once in a while, but if Penny could wait until after work to start her date, so could Bryn.
“I’m sorry, but I have plans. I’m actually on my way out the door now.”
“Please. I’ll pay you double.”
Well, that certainly made it more enticing. But no. Not today. “Thanks. I so appreciate that, but I can’t. It’s my only day off until Friday.”
“Ugh. Come on.” Gone was Bryn’s peppy friendly demeanor. “It’s only for a few hours. Can’t your plans wait? I know you could really use the money. And I could really use some sex without my kids in their rooms down the hall. What could you possibly be doing anyway?”
It was none of her business. And she didn’t like that Bryn was insinuating that her plans were more important than Penny’s. She may have considered adjusting her day for Bryn a moment ago, but not anymore.
“I can’t. I have to go. I’ll see you tomorrow, okay?”
A dramatic sigh. “Fine. Bye.”
That was tough, but it had to be done. Penny would deal with the fallout later. Right now, she had a hot guy and sizzling kisses waiting for her.
---------
PENNY PARKED her car, and luckily for her, Scarlett was already in her harness with the leash firmly attached. The second she opened the door, the little dog jumped out. It was as if she knew where they were, a canine sixth sense.
Theo was already there, sitting on a bench with whom she assumed was Blitz, a gray pit bull. The dog looked so fierce siting there, but then Theo scratched his ear and the dog became a puddle on the ground, flopping down and rolling over with his tongue hanging out. Theo scratched his white belly and Blitz appeared to be in doggie heaven.
She walked toward them, sucking in a deep breath, trying like hell to let the unpleasantness of her phone conversation with Bryn fade away. But it wasn’t easy.
“Hey, you,” she said as she approached. Scarlet trotted next to Penny, but then stopped, her stance rigid, a low growl in her tiny throat. “Easy, girl.”
Blitz seemed unfazed and bounded over, lapping at the side of Scarlett’s head. Covered in dog slime, she let her guard down and next thing Penny knew, Blitz was on the ground and Scarlett was pouncing on his chest, having a grand old time.
“I guess they like each other,” Theo said, that adorable crooked smile across his face.
“I think you’re right.”
With the “kids” busy, Theo stepped to her and bent to kiss her on the lips. A simple kiss with a little tongue. Perfect and sweet and so . . . him. “Hi,” he said when he pulled back.
“Hi back at ya.”
Penny’s annoying phone conversation with Bryn melted away as she gazed into Theo’s eyes. She could stand there like that all day, but Scarlett was ready to go. She might be tiny, but that dog was strong, practically yanking Penny’s arm out of its socket. “I guess it’s time to play.”
Theo took her free hand in his and together they followed their canines to the doggie obstacle course inside a fenced-off area. Once off their leashes, Blitz bounded up one side of a ramp and Scarlett followed, then they trotted down. She followed after him to various obstacles, a total case of puppy love. Too cute.
“Hey, babe! I thought that was you.” A tall brunette stepped up to Theo and wrapped her arms around his neck, a white fluffball prancing around her ankles. He dropped Penny’s hand to awkwardly return the embrace. “It’s been ages. How have you been?”
“Uh . . . good.”
“Where’s Blitz? Fifi misses him.” Her gaze turned seductive. “And I miss you.”
“This is Penny,” he blurted, obviously flustered.
The girl flashed a grin and stuck out her hand. “Hi. I’m Natalie. Nice to meet you.”
Penny didn’t have it in her to be outwardly rude, so she shook the offered hand.
Natalie then went right back to ignoring Penny, focusing her attention on Theo. “What are you doing tonight? We should hang out.”
“I can’t.”
That’s it? That’s all he was going to say?
“Okay. I’ll text you. We definitely need to plan something. It’s been way too long.”
Those damn seductive eyes again. She was so nonchalant. So oblivious to the fact that he was on a date. She walked away, white puffball of a dog trotting next to her.
“I’m sorry about that.”
“It’s fine.” Penny knew she couldn’t get mad. They weren’t really an item. It was only their second official date. She couldn’t be jealous. Why was that always easier said than done?
She walked toward Scarlett and Blitz and the series of tubes they were running through, hoping to forget the brunette.
“We sorta used to date and I haven’t seen her in a long time.”
He could stop talking now. “I get it. It’s fine.”
“I didn’t know she’d be here.”
“It’s over with. Forget it.” It came out sharper than she’d planned.
“Okay.”
He tried reaching for her hand but she suddenly had the urge to fix her ponytail. And then the visions started. Theo with the girl, holding her, kissing her like he’d kissed Penny. And more . . . The same visions she’d had for months after she found out about Jack and the slut. Why did her brain like to torture her?
Scarlett dashed by and Penny stooped down, grabbing her before she got too far. She clipped the leash to her collar and stood. “I’m gonna go.”
“Why? We just got here.”
She refused to look at him. Refused to let him see how hurt she was. Because she knew it was stupid. “I don’t feel good all of a sudden.”
It wasn’t a lie. Her stomach roiled like she was going to vomit. Like she had so many times after Jack.
“Oh. Okay.”
She started to walk away, having to physically drag her dog, who was apparently having a blast playing with a beast that was ten times her size. What a shitty day. She should have just gone into work.
---------
THOR KNEW Penny wasn’t sick. He’d fucked up and that’s why she was leaving. Natalie had caught him completely off guard and he hadn’t known how to handle the situation. He now knew it had all been very wrong.
And if he didn’t get his ass to Penny before she left the dog park, he might not get the chance to fix it.
“Come on, boy.” He pat his leg and Blitz ran to him. He clipped his leash on and they jogged toward the parking lot. They caught up to Penny and Scarlett just as they reached her car and he blurted, “I’m sorry.”
She
stopped but didn’t turn around.
“Natalie and I are just friends.”
That made her turn around.
“That’s not what it looked like.” Penny breathed deep and let it out. “Listen. We just started dating, or whatever this is we’re doing. I like you, and judging from that kiss last night, you like me, too. I have no right to tell you who you can or can’t date or be friends with, but I can’t be with someone who has other girlfriends. I won’t be second place again.”
He took a chance and moved closer. Blitz flopped down at his feet and Scarlett snuggled up with him. “What do you mean?”
Penny crossed her arms over her chest, moisture welling in her eyes. “You know that pregnant woman we saw the other night? With Jack? He was cheating on me with her. And got her pregnant. While we were trying to get pregnant ourselves.”
What a fucking asshole.
“I thought we were trying to start our own family, but he was off with some other girl. After I caught him, he told me he’d found his soul mate.” She used air quotes. “So he left me for her. And now they have a happy life starting a happy little family.”
“Wow. I had no idea.”
She looked to the ground, shaking her head. “I don’t even care about it anymore. I was devastated at first, but not now. He was wrong for me, on so many levels. We never had a real relationship. Not like the ones I see my friends have.” She met his gaze again. “And I refuse to settle for anything less. I won’t be second place in someone’s heart again.”
She looked so sad, so defeated. He just wanted to hug her. So he did, knowing she might push him away. But she didn’t. She let him hold her.
He wanted Penny. Only her. Wanted to see where this thing went. He wanted to hold her and comfort her, take away her pain and make her smile. This felt more real than anything he’d ever felt before, with Natalie or any other woman.
He rubbed his hands up and down her back. “You’re the only one I want to be with.”
Penny relaxed into him and unfolded her arms, wrapping them around his midsection.
Blitz started to whimper and he stood, pulling on his leash. Thor looked down and then in the direction of his dog’s attention. A guy had thrown a Frisbee for his black lab.
Thor turned back to Penny. “I have a Frisbee in my truck. Wanna stay and throw it for the dogs, or do you wanna leave?”
“We can stay,” she said, and wiped at the corner of her eye with her fingers. “But I doubt Scarlett will beat Blitz to the Frisbee.”
He laughed. “Probably not, but I think he might have a thing for her, so maybe he’ll let her get it a few times.”
Thor took Penny’s hand in his, intertwining their fingers, and gave a squeeze. They walked to his truck and got what they needed, then headed back into the park, never once letting her hand fall from his.
CHAPTER Ten
Penny headed to work, glad it was Bryn’s day off. She had no desire to see her. But she had to tell Mia about her new job and rearrange her schedule at Classy ’n’ Sassy. Or at least try to. And she was not looking forward to that.
“Can we talk before the shop gets busy?” Penny asked.
“Sure. What’s up?”
She was just going to blurt it out. “I got a second job, so I need to adjust my schedule.”
“What? Why?”
“Honestly, I need money, and since you said I couldn’t have a raise—”
“I never said you couldn’t have one.” Mia didn’t sound happy, as predicted. “I just said not now.”
“But right now I can’t afford to pay my bills on what I currently make, so I need a second job.”
“Doing what?”
“Waitressing at The Red Brick Inn.”
“Really?”
“It fits with my schedule better than anything else. And they don’t require experience, like most other places do.”
“How is this going to work? I don’t want you to slack off here. Or be tired all the time.”
“It’ll be fine. I can work here day or evening shift on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Wednesdays. Then Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays I just need the day shift so I can work The Red Brick at night. You can pick whatever you want to be my days off during the week, just like we always have.”
Mia did not look enthused. “So . . . that’s it. You can’t be more flexible than that?”
“I thought that was pretty flexible. Pretty much as flexible as I’ve always been. The only difference is that I can’t work evenings on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday.”
“So Bryn and I will always have to work the evenings on the weekends?”
Penny sighed. She hated this. And didn’t know what else to say other than, “I guess.” Geez. This was their shop, after all. “You have Chanel, too, remember.”
“Yeah. You’re right.” She seemed to relax a bit. “But in a couple of months, if we can afford to give you a raise, will you quit the bar?”
“I guess. Maybe.”
That seemed to make Mia semihappy. “Then I guess we’ll make it work.”
Penny could finally breathe. It had gone better than she’d thought.
“Since it’s slow,” Mia started, “why don’t you work on the promo stuff for the Halloween party. We really need it finalized as soon as possible.”
“I’m on it.” Penny headed for her office, but when she sat down, her mind went blank. She played around online, hoping for inspiration, but somehow she ended up on the Kenville High School Web site, the school where Theo worked. She found the staff directory, and photos of all the teachers. Even in a boring staged photo, he looked hot as hell.
He’d looked hot as hell even when she was pissed at him, like she’d been the day before. But she’d believed him when he’d apologized. He wasn’t one of those guys who could lie well, like Jack. He wore his emotions right on his face. And she liked when he’d said she was the only one he wanted to be with.
Oh and that yummy toe-curling kiss before they’d left. That had been nice, too. She could still feel the zing on her lips.
Penny sure needed some zing today. Their promo needed some zing. Maybe she was on to something with the electricity thing. She got to work.
A couple of hours later, Penny had created promotional items, scheduled posts for all their social media platforms, and drafted a post for their blog.
Mia popped her head in. “Hey. It’s almost lunch. You want a sandwich from the deli?”
“No. I brought lunch today.”
“Okay. You get a lot done so far?”
“I did actually.” She smiled, proud of what she’d come up with, sure that Mia and Bryn would love it, too.
“Can I see?”
Mia leaned over Penny’s shoulder as she flipped through the items, simple black with realistic-looking orange lightning bolts, and a fun font that went perfectly with the look. And of course, their model Logan’s sexy body and face. Penny loved the idea of it being a little creepy, but not too much. Halloween without being in your face.
“It’s . . . . simple.”
“I know, but it has a certain elegance about it, right?”
“Yeah. Okay. I can see that.” Mia stood straight. “Let me grab Chanel.”
Ugh.
Mia left and came back with Chanel at her heels. “What do you think?”
Penny once again flipped through her designs. “Here are the postcard invites we’ll mail to our customers.” Another flip. “And I started working on some ads we can post to our social media pages, mostly on Friendspace, since that’s where the majority of our demographic hangs out online.”
Chanel put a hand on her hip and pursed her lips.
“What?” Mia asked her. “You don’t like it?”
“Well . . . . It’s just kind of . . . boring.”
What the hell did she know
? She was nineteen and still in college.
“I think simplicity can be really elegant. We don’t want this party to be cheesy. Right, Mia?”
“That’s true. But do you have any other ideas, Chanel?”
“I’m thinking bolder. And scrap the mass mailing. That’s a waste of stamps. I’d rather use those postcards and tack them up all over town. Do a guerrilla marketing type of thing.”
“Interesting,” Mia said, nodding her head. “What else?”
“Friendspace is dead. We’d be better off buying ad space in Art World magazine.”
“Really?”
Whoa, hold on. Penny had suggested buying ad space a dozen times, but it was always too expensive. “That’s pretty pricey, Mia. We’ve always stayed away from print advertising, and that one in particular because we’re not sure if it’s our key demographic.”
“But if we nix the mass mailing, it’ll free up money,” Chanel answered. “And it can be the key demographic if we want to grow the business and bring in a younger clientele.”
We? Since when did Chanel have the right to use “we” in regards to the shop? She’d barely been there a month!
“I like it,” Mia said. “Let’s look into it. We already know that we need to take risks to reap rewards. Chanel, do you have any contacts at Art World?”
“I do, actually. My friend interns there. I can totally go text her right now.”
“Great.” Chanel left and Mia turned back to Penny. “Can you spice these up a bit and work on a postcard for a guerrilla thing? I’ll send Chanel back in when she’s done and you guys can work on it together.”
Great. Penny forced a smile and nodded. Now she had to work side by side with Chanel. And with the way things were going, pretty soon they’d just swap jobs completely. Chanel would be the new marketing guru and Penny would be the one rehanging lingerie and tidying up the shop.
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THOR WALKED into his favorite little Mexican joint, but Penny wasn’t there yet. He’d texted her earlier that day and asked if they could meet up for a late dinner after he was done with practice. She said yes, as long as the place had liquor. Not good. The hostess asked if he’d like to be seated, but he chose to wait for Penny.
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