“That’s harsh. With time you’ll understand I only ever helped our family.”
His chest tightened while his expression hardened. “Helped yourself. Look, I have a date and you’re not it. Tell Dad if he wishes to talk business, he can call me without you on the other line. Every dime I’ve ever made with my company is from my own hard work and sweat.”
“I’ll go, but we’re not done with our conversation.”
When he shut down his parents’ company, he’d earn his reward. “Yes. We are. Eva’s here now.”
“She’s lovely.”
Penny’s unfiltered smile and warmness held true beauty on the inside. Eva’s outward looks didn’t matter. “She’s on your payroll.”
Jay stood up and put his drink down. His blue eyes stared down his mother, though she stood taller than most women before she kept her nose in the air and walked away. He glared while she left and Eva joined him. The two shared more than just dark hair and eyes in common. They both would send a boy into prison and stay kidnapped to collect the cash insurance policy.
Eva nodded at him, sparkling in silver and diamonds. With a nod, he indicated to sit.
She understood. “Jay.”
He took a slow, even breath then nodded. “Eva.”
“You didn’t kiss me hello.”
His eyebrow arched. “Was I supposed to?”
Her eyes narrowed on his. She knew something was up when she asked, “Is tonight in public for a reason?”
A girl like Penny would never be boring. He took a long pause and stared at Eva. “Yes.”
“I thought so.”
Penny would never be so cool and put together. He tugged at his ear. “Eva, I want us to be friends.”
She crossed her arms. “So you know?”
His brow squished together though he kept his gaze firm. With a nod, he answered, “I know.”
Without warning, she stood up. “I’ll think about this. Meet me tomorrow.”
His mouth dropped open. He jumped to his feet and watched her sashay away. He’d expected more dramatics.
With a shrug, he sat back down and finished his drink. With his phone, he checked social media. Penny wasn’t online. He checked her profile. Up in Gainesville, she had a boyfriend, yet she never mentioned him in person. She listed herself as single on her page, though, and Jay smiled to himself.
She must be free. He’d find out. Penny would never be cold with him, not like Eva or his mother. His high school friend’s face matched the warmness of her heart. It had been a long time since he’d met anyone like her.
The waitress came over and he turned his phone off to quickly pay the bill. Tomorrow, he’d find Penny again.
Chapter Five
Penny heard the children screaming for their toys while the parents sat still drinking beers under a tree. Even inside the apartment, the upstairs neighbors banged on their floor, causing the apartment to shake. In the back, a car played its music so loud, her lips curled. She disapproved of everything she saw.
Hopefully Jay’s apartment hadn’t skewed her view of all places. She ran back to her car. She’d never afford a doorman.
The first apartment would make her hate living in the area in a week or less. Penny rushed back to her rental car, not stopping to breathe the air.
Starting her car, she programmed her GPS with the directions. Jay’s place gleamed clean and quiet. No. She shook her head. She’d do this on her own, not live the fairytale her mother dreamed of.
Jay’s blue eyes stared at her in her mind. He was seriously sexy. Adulthood made him determined, dangerous, and manly, though living with him couldn’t happen.
She hoped the second place would be better. Steeling her spine, she started the car and turned to see it.
When she reached the street, her phone beeped. Picking up the phone, she saw Sandy had texted her. She dialed her number, not wanting to get into an accident. “Sandra, hey, sweetie. I was going to call you later today.”
“To tell me you moved back home without calling?” Sandra sounded serious until she shrieked, “You have to come to my home for a party. I’m in the middle of redecorating my new place, but you know most of the people coming over. This Thursday. I need to see one of my oldest and dearest friends again.”
A friend not out to trick her into a million-dollar home let Penny relax her shoulders. “Where are you now? Can you meet me for a latte in a few hours?”
“What time?”
Glancing at her clock, she saw time moving fast. She’d need every minute to figure out where she’d live. Jay was higher on the list than her mother. Biting her lip, she decided her answer: “Five o’clock? I have to finish apartment hunting. Keep your fingers crossed for me.”
“Deal. See you then. I’m so excited.”
Smiling, Penny let herself relax again. She’d find a way to make living here work before she told her mother. Geneva Knightheart’s opinion would diminish everything Penelope hoped and dreamed for. As it was, the woman did not understand why a girl would major in mechanical engineering instead of something more feminine like psychology. Her mother loved figuring out ways to manipulate people, and using their weaknesses to her own advantage. College had been her mother’s way of starting her on the road to marrying men for money, but then so had her private school. Penny’s father had a sense of honor, though she hadn’t known the man well. He’d had an affair, and stayed with his wife, despite her mother. He had told his wife and stayed out of Penny’s life for the most part, but at least the man struggled with the right thing. His quietness didn’t bug her because her brother, Wyatt, was already one of her best friends before she knew the score.
Too bad Wyatt was in Kurdistan on some secret military mission. She’d visit his son later as Aunt Penny.
All Penny had was her mom. Avoiding her mother kept her safe from exploding. She’d never be who her mother wanted her to be, and she’d find a place before crashing there.
At the second apartment, she scurried across the urine-smelling parking lot cluttered with broken beer bottles and litter. A couple screamed at each other in Spanish in the parking lot. She locked the car door, refusing to get out. Her pounding heart began to slow. This place was a slum. She backed out of the place, wondering if she would have had the same reaction had she not seen Jay’s apartment first, with its elite security system and thick-armed doormen.
Jay. She needed to block him from her mind.
Where did she go now? She programmed her phone for the third place. Holding her breath, she hoped her last option of the day worked out. This one’s address was not too far from her mother.
Jay’s place had potential.
In college, she’d lived with a male roommate. Crawford had been so busy with sports that he had never been home much anyhow. And Jay had said he needed to focus.
While she drove, she wondered if she could—
No.
Pulling into the third place, she had hope. The place appeared quiet and peaceful. Good. She stepped out of her car, locked the door, and made her way to the front desk. The receptionist nodded, and Penny let hope spring up. The agent came out with a man a minute later, shaking hands. Waiting her turn, Penny told her, “Hi, I’m Penelope Knightheart. I called yesterday about an apartment.”
“Ms. Knightheart, hello. Please come into my office for a minute. I rented our apartment this morning, but let me look up our next possible open apartment. Our residents often choose to stay here.”
“I can see why. The place is beautiful.”
“Our next possible vacancy is next month. Is that good for you?”
At nine hundred she’d live on her own without anyone, and the place seemed decent. “Okay. I’ll make it work and stay with my mom until then.”
“Great.” The leasing agent typed into her computer, “We’ll be needing first, last, and the security deposit.”
Sighing, she signed a check and filled out the paperwork. For a month, she needed a place. She had run out of options,
and this place was perfect. When done, she stood up, telling the agent, “Thank you.”
“We’ll see you soon.”
***
Going to Jay’s had appeal. She could taste the decadence in her mouth. But she couldn’t. Walking to her car, she did the one thing she hated. She drove to her mother’s.
The drive took less than two minutes, but Penny stayed in her car for longer, staring at the two-story house with its palatial columns. The circular driveway wound around a large bronze fountain that spat water into the air. If Lars was home, her mother would feign exuberance about how her college graduate of a daughter needed to settle down, with a smile pasted on her face. If he was not home, her mother would lecture her about finding a man to sleep with and support her without the painted smile. Either way, tonight wouldn’t be fun. Groaning, she stepped out of the car.
Her back tensed before she knocked on the door. Her leg shook while she stood there with a bag over her shoulder. A second later, her mother opened the door, saying, “Penny, what are you doing here?”
“I told you I had a job offer in Miami. I looked all day, but the place I found isn’t available till next month. I need to stay here, with you and Lars.”
“Go stay with your friends.”
“Mom, I’m your only child. Don’t you care that I’ll be on the street, homeless?”
Her mother grimaced. “Okay, you can sleep on our patio for the night. I’ll figure out where to put you after that. Lars will be home later. He’s in surgery number whatever, turning a former three-hundred-pound heifer into one hundred and fifty pounds of delight, complete with two-sizes-larger chest.”
“Too much info. How are you?”
“Finally happy, sweetheart. Lars took me to Las Vegas because I had always wanted to sit beside a man in a high-stakes poker game, and he won.”
“That’s a stupid goal to have, Mom.” Penny let that come out of her mouth before she bit her lip.
“Did I not teach you anything?”
Here it comes. “Teach me what?”
“Ferdinand—”
Penny closed her eyes. She knew this speech. She chose losers, but she corrected her mother anyhow. “Fernando. His name was Fernando.”
“That boy you were sleeping with, he had no way of supporting you. Women do not pay for men. You stick with one who’s the best option until an even better one appears.”
“He was looking for a job, and we graduated at the same time. We had part-time jobs to make ends meet. Gainesville isn’t a huge place, and we hoped to stay. Doesn’t matter now. I left him for a job.”
“You left him because he was no good for you. He had no money.”
Looking out the window, her mother saw the rental. “Where is your car, honey?”
“It wouldn’t have made the drive back. It was dying, so I gave it to Fernando. I also have to go to the dealership now that I’m back to buy one, plus I have to dig up furniture.”
“Sweetheart, we go for men with money in the future. You’ll be happier.”
“Stop.” Was there some way to make her mother stop? She was well acquainted with her mother’s lack of moral fortitude. It gained her a new step-daddy every couple of years. What became a logistical nightmare for her childhood was: what do you call “step-uncle becomes your step-daddy after Mom ditched the brother”? Penny would never be the gold digger, but her mother sounded ridiculous and lacked any center of moral right or wrong. Staying here would drive her crazy. “Patio’s out there?”
She didn’t get a room. She would be on display through the glass, but she had to sleep somewhere.
Walking away without finishing her conversation with her mother saved her head. After clearing off the day bed, she lay down.
Jay would never need her money. Paying Fernando’s bills had slowed her savings, but she’d learned not to date men without a job. Hard work was its own reward. Fixing the pillow, she thought about Jay’s dimples.
Jay’s house and offer kept her safe from her mother. He’d work, focus, and escape his mother. Hmm. She licked her lips and dreamed of being out of here. Was Jay serious about his motivation on why he needed her? His blue eyes that stared into hers gave her the impression he’d been earnest. But she could be seeing what she wanted.
***
The next morning, she woke up to her mother’s whiny voice. “Lars, darling, do you think my butt could use another injection?”
Penny closed her eyes. She needed air. She could never be her mother, and she had to get out of here fast. She swallowed. Jay would be easier to take.
***
Staring at the street, she realized she needed coffee. The morning wake-up sounded amazing. Redirecting her car, she debated “Jay or Mom.”
Jay offered everything she’d dreamed of in a place, except living with him. Well, if she was honest with herself, she admitted she’d like him in “he’s a good guy and a great friend” way.
She’d said that out loud. Talking to herself was never good.
On the other side, her mother made her want to scream with her loyalty of a gnat with men.
Penny would never cheat on any man to move up the social ladder, and Jay would be all she ever needed in a man.
No. Cooling off would help her make sense. Coffee would make this headache go away.
***
When she stepped out of her car, she noticed his black Harley in the lot again. Blinking, she shook her head before walking in. They had the same schedule and tastes when it came to morning coffee.
Jay hadn’t seen her. His focus was his tablet and reading some pie chart with numbers. She put her head next to his to stare at the tablet before she told him, “Funny, you never had that look when you were studying.”
“Good morning,” Jay said, and his smile brightened the whole place. He turned off the tablet and set it on the table. “This is important. It’s my life, not homework.”
Live with him. For a month. Living with him might be good. She’d never lived alone, and Miami did have an underside. “Where are you living now, Jay?”
“At Michael’s. I’ve been there for two months now, and I need to get out.”
“Why?”
“He doesn’t let me focus at home.”
Boys with trust funds tended to throw it around to control people. She lowered her eyes and asked, “Were you serious about your money being tied up?”
“My cash flow is tied up in a deal. It’s why I need you on Friday to meet a few of my investors.”
“Why me?”
“One of my biggest investors is conservative, and believes heavily in family values. He believes I might be too much of a carefree Miami guy out to make a fast deal, not caring about long-term.”
“You’re not.”
“‘Long-term’ has always been a goal of mine. On Friday you would truthfully say you’ve known me a long time, and that I’ve always done what I promised or set out to do.”
She shrugged. “Okay. Easy enough.”
Jay did what he needed to get what he wanted, but he’d also lie if he had something to get, whatever it was he saw. He couldn’t have lost that part, but he did like to win. She wrinkled her brow and tried to figure him out. “Let’s go back to your parents for a second. What happened with your mother?”
“I don’t want to talk about it, Pen.”
“She’s not anything like mine.”
“Penny, I need to be a man and create my own empire, away from my trust fund. She’s having a hard time understanding that I’m doing things without her help now.”
“I don’t want to be anything like mine.”
His dimples smiled at her when he shook his head. “You’d never sleep around on anyone, Pen. You’re one of the good girls.”
Fumbling for her words, she settled on letting her heart speak. “You won’t turn into a serial killer if I moved in with you, though? I don’t want to live with a crazy person.”
His eyes opened wider. “I won’t. Are you reconsidering?”
>
A comfortable warmth spread across her face, and she must have blushed. She ignored the heat inside her and nodded. “I have. I need a place for a month. I have never lived alone and can’t stay with my mother.”
“I can’t stay at Michael’s either. He’s a good guy, but between him and Eva, I’m going insane. Tell me you’re not going to go all dramatic on me.”
“No. I have work Monday morning at Mueller Enterprises.”
Pushing out the seat next to him, he pointed for her to sit. She did, then patted his shoulder. “Dimples, I’d love to live in your gorgeous place with you.”
He put his phone on the table while he leapt to his feet, pulling her back up into a hug and twirling her around. Laughter erupted, uncontrollably. “You’re an idiot. I’m getting the good end of this deal.”
He set her down with her feet pointed forward. His adorable smile weakened her, making it harder to steady herself, though he stayed in her personal space. She’d find a way to repay him for taking her in. He told her, “Penny, working at home is going to be so much easier. I can sleep at night without expecting you to break through my firewalls.”
“You’re being paranoid, Dimples.”
Walking away, she swayed her hips a little more, knowing he stared at her. “Pen, wait.”
Looking over her shoulder, she winked while she lifted her arm. “I’m getting my coffee. Be right back.”
Stepping away from Mr. Perfect, she relaxed. For the next month, she’d ignore any of his romantic entanglements. She had headphones, and living with him as a friend was something her mother had never done with any man. Whatever had happened to him, he needed her at the moment, and she could be his friend.
Sitting at his table, he packed his bags, and asked, “Do you remember how to get to the place?”
“Sure.” She had grown up in South Miami, before all the construction. “Where are you going?”
“I have the appointment to go round two with Eva in ten minutes. She knows we’re done. She didn’t take it well, but it’s over. I’m going to get whatever box she intends to throw at my head then let her have the final say. I’ll call the doorman, telling him your name so he can give you the key card. You can get in. Can I call you later when this is over? We now have a lot to do.”
Favorite Coffee, Favorite Crush Page 3