Penn's Fortune (Saddles & Second Chances Book 2)

by Rhonda Lee Carver

  Later, he’d offered her a deal to buy the store, and she’d refused. She’d also been blocked from selling the business to anyone else. His attorney had handed her a legal judgement that stated she had one year to pay Marshall what she owed him.

  She’d realized how foolish she’d been. His attorney had failed to mention the underlying conditions in the contract. And she’d trusted Marshall. Big mistake.

  Other things had been happening too—things on a personal level. She had been receiving hang ups from unknown numbers. Always feeling as if she was being watched. Seeing shadows on the street. Even at times going home and having a gut feeling that someone had been inside her house. She couldn’t prove Marshall was behind any of these things, but she believed he was just the type of person that when he didn’t get his way, he made it known.

  Then recently came the pictures on her front step. It only took a phone call to Charlene, Marshall’s secretary, who Harley had been close friends with, to find out that he’d hired Penn Jericho to ‘watch’ her. The pictures disgusted her, making it look as if she and Ray Patterson were romantically involved, when that wasn’t the case. Ray had wanted more from her, even catching her at a vulnerable time in her life, but she’d made it clear that she wasn’t interested.

  What would Penn think of the altered photos? Did she really think it would change anything? Probably not, but in her desire for justification, she wanted him to see…what?

  How good she kissed…?

  She shook her head.

  Her phone rang just as she parked on the street in front of the bookstore. Seeing the number on the screen, she hesitated, but she hadn’t spoken to her father in weeks. She finally hit ‘talk’ and brought the phone to her ear. “Hi, Dad.”

  “Harley, I tried calling earlier, but you didn’t answer.”

  “I was a bit tied up.” Being kissed by a naked cowboy, Dad.

  “Monique’s birthday is next week. Can I look forward to you coming for the party?”

  She immediately tensed. “I’ll be busy. Business has been booming.”

  His sigh vibrated the line. “She’s your mother, Harley.”

  She had to bite her tongue to keep from spouting a few choice words. Once upon a time she could be guilted into falling for his words, but she’d grown a steel wall. She took a deep, relaxing breath before she spoke, “Monique is not my mother.”

  “She was there for you growing up. Can’t you at least respect her?”

  Something broke within her and she couldn’t restrain the anger that demanded to be heard. “When will you see things for what they are? She was never there for me.”

  “Har—”

  “No. Please don’t defend her. You worked all the time and didn’t see how she treated me. Until you’re willing to see my point, I can no longer discuss this subject with you.”

  “I don’t want things to be like this.”

  So many things came to her, but she knew he wasn’t ready to hear her. “I’ve got to go now.” She hung up, looking through a veil of unshed tears where a mother and daughter were crossing the street. They were holding hands and the little girl was skipping happily. Harley’s heart panged as it always did when she saw a scene like this. Although her mom, Hannah, had been gone for many years, there wasn’t a day that passed when Harley didn’t think of the happier times. All her memories were that of a ten-year-old, and certainly she had forgotten a lot of things, but what never faded was the love her mother gave. She had a beautiful voice and had been in lead roles in theater. That was how Harley’s father met Monique. She and Hannah had been friends and in plays together. Monique was like Hannah in having a melodic voice, but that was where the similarities ended. Monique had always made Harley stay in her room while social events were happening downstairs, even a Christmas gathering with family. Not to mention, she was always hushed when she attempted to speak. She’d often wondered if Monique had hated her step-daughter because she was a constant reminder of Hannah, and how she’d been a bright star before she’d passed too early in life.

  Pushing her thoughts aside, she left her car and stepped inside of the store. Jodi was wiping down the counter. Her blonde hair was pulled into a messy bun and she wore a colorful dress that she probably made herself. Harley realized she’d hit the jackpot when she’d hired the woman who was loyal to a fault. “Looks like you have everything finished. I’m sorry I’m late.”

  Jodi lifted her chin and smiled. “I didn’t expect you back.”

  “Oh?”

  “You seemed pretty bummed when you left earlier.”

  Harley nodded. “I did it.”

  “You actually went to his house?” Jodi stopped wiping the counter and tossed the towel to the side.

  Harley dropped down into one of the overstuffed, flowered chairs and dropped her keys on the side table where several books were laid out. “I can’t believe I did it. I showed up at Penn Jericho’s house. Why didn’t you convince me how crazy the idea was?”

  “Sorry, darlin’. I’m not one to talk someone out of doing something that she was bound and determined to do. That’s pretty ballsy.” Jodi grabbed the last cupcake from the glass case, poured the remaining coffee and handed both to Harley. “Your favorite, my dear. Vanilla Bean Supreme. We sold out before nine o’clock and that one was calling your name so I held it back for you in case you returned tonight.”

  “How’d you know I’d need calories?”

  Jodi shrugged. “What are best friends for? Tell me how it went.”

  Harley bit into the cloud of fluffy, buttercream frosting and rich, moist cake, licking her lips to get every last crumble. “Best decision ever to start selling Dinah’s baked goods here. These are fantastic. And to answer your question, not as I intended.”

  “I called the bakery and placed the order you wanted. Three dozen each of vanilla, chocolate, and hazelnut cupcakes. Another three dozen of fresh croissants. The delivery person also brought the turkey, salami, and buns to make sandwiches. I can stop and grab condiments on my way home. We’re almost out of mayo. Did Penn speak to you?” Jodi sat down in the closest chair.

  Connecting the words ‘buns and Penn’ made Harley remember just how good his looked. “This is going to sound crazy, Jodi, but listen before you freak out. Promise?” With the other woman’s nod, Harley sighed. “I kissed him.” She watched several expressions flit across her friend’s face before settling on one of confusion.

  “You kissed him?”

  “Well, actually, he kissed me, but I couldn’t help myself. It felt nice.” In every part of my body.

  “Okay. I’m lost.” Jodi tucked her sandaled feet up under her bottom, easing into the large chair. “You were supposed to go there and let some steam off. Show him the pictures. Prove a point. Maybe it wasn’t how you planned your visit, but sounds like things turned out pretty darn good.”

  “I should have pushed him away, but his lips were so soft. His scent was exotic. And he was naked.” She bit into her cupcake and it melted in her mouth. Jodi tapped the corner of her lips and Harley laughed as she swiped away a dollop of frosting from her own.

  “He was naked? Okay…I’m really confused now. And envious.”

  Shrugging, Harley groaned. “He was expecting someone else. Some woman by the name of Saucy. Some nickname.” Seconds passed and finally Jodi burst into laughter. “I’m glad you find this funny.” Harley stared.

  “Sorry, hun, but this is hilarious. You spent all afternoon giving yourself a pep-talk into following through, and you end up getting kissed from a naked man—not only a naked man, but a Jericho. Do you realize how many women would line up at his front door if they knew there was a possibility of this happening? The cowboy would never get any rest.” She waved her face dramatically.

  “I don’t know. How many?”

  Jodi shook her head in disappointment. “I often wonder how you’ve gone so long in your life without following current events. The Jericho brothers. The most wanted bachelors in Texas. Every on
e of them is better looking than the last. You’ve been in this town long enough to see them on occasion, although they don’t come around often.”

  “I don’t have time for that stuff.” Harley got up, started to throw her half-eaten cupcake away, but thought better of it. She popped it into her mouth. “I have a business to run here,” she said around her mouthful of cake.

  “Honey, when will you let me take you out? It’s not good for you to be holed up here, day in and day out. Seriously. Do this for me.”

  “I’m not your charity case, and I don’t want to go to clubs. I know I’m not cool and I’m fine with that.”

  Jody shrugged as if to change the subject. “So, the big question is, how does the man kiss? And what does he look like under his clothes?”

  Harley concentrated on cleaning out the coffee maker and prepping it for the next day. “I’m not going to talk about this.” She couldn’t without getting all bothered again. “The fact is and remains, he was wrong by infringing upon my privacy and taking pictures, especially for a man like Marshall.”

  “Sweetie, that’s Penn’s job. What part of private investigator do you not get?”

  She turned and leaned against the edge of the counter. “What gives anyone, even a PI, the right to invade someone’s life? If he’d done research before he took the job, he would have seen that Marshall is just a disgruntled man.”

  “Hey look, I’m not defending the guy. I’m on your side. I only worry about Marshall and his intentions for this place. You know he’s hoping you’ll cave.”

  “And sell?”

  “No, my dear. He wants you to come back to him.”

  “Why? He’s moved on with a blonde who has boobs that reside in two different zip codes.”

  Jodi cleared her throat. “Babes, have you checked yourself out in a mirror lately?”

  Harley pulled out her shirt and glanced down at her breasts. “Nope, their address is thirty-six C and they haven’t earned their own zip code.” She laughed.

  “Although they are ample and perky, that’s not what I’m referring to. You’re a beautiful, smart woman. You’re probably the first female that Marshall has spent any time with who has read a book. Oh, unless you want to consider porn magazines as reading.”

  Harley rubbed the bridge of her nose. “I get that he wants me to repay the loan immediately, but I don’t understand the pictures. The hang ups. And anything else he’s doing.”

  “Have you thought of asking your dad for a loan?”

  Harley’s stomach turned. “No.”

  “Come on…”

  “No.”

  “Okay. I’m sorry I mentioned it.” Jodi held up her hands in defense. “I know that is a bad idea. Heard from him lately?”

  “Just earlier. He wants me to show my respect for Monique by attending her birthday party.”

  “Oh crap.”

  Harley lifted a shoulder and let it drop. “I’d rather have my privates waxed every day for a month than spend time with her snooty friends.”

  “I’m sorry, Harley. I wish I could help. If I had anything in my savings I would give it to you. I shouldn’t have convinced you to go out with Marshall a second time. I-I just had no idea…”

  Stepping over to Jodi, Harley patted her shoulder. “If I didn’t see the warning signs, how would you? I was the one who said yes. I’m usually a good judge of character, but on occasion people are manipulators.”

  “You know I have your back. Anything you need, I’m there. I’ll follow him. I’ll sleep over at your house. You can sleep at mine.”

  “You don’t have the space at your place.” Harley chuckled. “No sleeping at my house. That’d mean I’d have to deal with Carlos’s snoring.” Carlos was Jodi’s boyfriend. Harley loved the man, but he snored loud enough to wake up the neighbors. She wasn’t sure how Jodi managed to sleep through the noise.

  “Hey, Carlos might be loud, but he has your back too. And he’s pretty handy with his tools.” Harley moaned. Jodi chuckled. “Hey, dirty girl. I’m referring to his plumbing tools. A plumber who doesn’t show crack and is that handy with pipes is a keeper.” She wagged her brows.

  “I’m happy for you, but I also know how loud you two are behind closed doors. I’ll pass.”

  “Alright. Probably for the best because I bought new lingerie I’d liked to try out tonight.”

  Feeling her cheeks warm, Harley waved a hand through the air. “Why don’t you go home and let me finish up here?”

  “Are you sure?”

  “Go now before I change my mind.” Harley shooed her off.

  When things were chaotic in her life, nothing soothed her better than being alone in her favorite place. Her bookstore. She situated herself in the comfortable chair and picked up one of the books from the table. Pride & Prejudice.

  CHAPTER TWO

  PENN BIT INTO his cold burrito and chewed thoughtfully. He’d been sitting in front of Harley Tate’s small house on the quiet street for the last three hours.

  He growled and dropped the uneaten burrito into the paper bag and tossed it to the back of his truck. Scrubbing his sandpapery jaw, he sighed. He passed up Seneca and her gorgeous body for this…watching a woman’s house who could have easily altered the pictures herself. Yet, it didn’t make sense.

  The last light went out on the top floor of the house. He assumed it was Harley’s bedroom.

  He stretched his leg and settled deeper into the leather of the driver’s seat, folding his arms over his chest. The radio was turned down low and rain had started to fall, pelting the hood of the truck, making his mind wander back to what happened earlier at his place. Damn. He’d kissed her. First time ever, he’d broke an unwritten rule in the security business. Don’t fraternize with the clients or any of the subjects of investigations. Hell, it wasn’t as if he’d meant to kiss her. Even so, he’d done it, and nothing ever came without a price. Right now, the aching in his balls was his price. Her soft lips left a lasting impression on his body.

  He’d gotten the feeling that she wanted things to go further too. She’d been responsive, especially her nipples. At least she had the advantage of knowing who she was kissing.

  He closed his eyes, feeling his body relax.

  Then he heard tires on pavement.

  He opened his eyes as a car’s headlights feathered across the house. He crouched deeper into the seat, watching until the car passed, continued to the stop sign and then turned. Once he could no longer see the rear lights, he sat up. His eyes grew heavy again, but he’d done enough of these stakeouts that he knew sleep wasn’t an option. He grabbed his coffee from the cup holder, taking a long sip. It was cold too. If he’d been better prepared, he would have brought his usual thermos of strong coffee and a couple of the famous Jericho ham sandwiches. So popular they’d been added to many diner menus. The Jericho Hammy was a specialty his mom invented and started making when she had married. Ham, havarti cheese, homemade pickle relish, and her renowned honey mustard with a generous slather of mayonnaise. All stacked on an onion roll and fried in butter. No one could make them as good as his mom did. Of course, since she wasn’t around to make it, he had to settle for a subpar sandwich that he whipped up himself. His stomach growled in hunger.

  He missed his mom and dad—missed how they would hold hands, whisper to each other then giggle. They were damn good parents. Always there to give the best advice.

  He took off his hat and placed it on the seat. By the way Seneca had stormed out of his house, angry, he doubted she’d see him again. Why didn’t he feel some sort of sadness? Disappointment?

  Probably because he knew in his gut that it was time they moved on from each other. For a time now they’d been pleasing each other when the mood arose, but he wasn’t interested in turning anything into long term. Her fit tonight made things clearer. She deserved better and he’d never be able to give her more than he was now.

  More importantly, he had no proclivity of settling down…ever.

  Oh, he liked�
��no, loved women. Loved their soft curves, warm, willing bodies, and claws down his bare back. He enjoyed one with intelligence and a sense of humor, but he had to take the time to get to know them, and he didn’t do that often. He kept his emotions behind a wall.

  He wasn’t an ass, at least he didn’t consider himself one. He always made his intentions clear from the beginning. When it came to Seneca, he did care for her. He wasn’t a robot, he just had an icy heart when it came to love.

  What he didn’t enjoy was how lovers turned against each other and marriage ended in divorce too often. In his line of work, he’d been witness to cheating and broken families more times than he could count. The brutal honesty of how people fell out of love so easily could make a man tepid when it came to emotion.

  No denying, he liked the single life. No one to worry about but himself. He appreciated not having to explain things when he worked late hours or wasn’t in the mood for conversation.

  His gaze automatically fell to the ashtray where he’d placed the earring. It had to be Harley’s. He couldn’t believe Seneca had gotten upset. She understood the rules. He never asked her who she was sharing her bed with. Hell, he knew they weren’t exclusive, although she’d been the only one he’d been seeing. He didn’t have the time to entertain himself with more than one woman at a time—or maybe he no longer had the motivation. It wasn’t because his body didn’t have the enthusiasm because he was always ready to go, but there was a deeper feeling that he couldn’t quite shake. Satisfaction of the body didn’t quite reach the mind these days. He felt restless, and didn’t like it.

  Preoccupied in his thoughts, he almost missed the subtle shift of a shadow at the corner of the house. He shot up and leaned forward, focusing on the area where he thought he saw someone—something. Damn. The light was lousy. The security lamp at the end of the street didn’t reach that side of Harley’s house, making it difficult to decipher what was a slight of the eye or something that needed his attention.