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Penny
Penny couldn’t help but look for Jaxson everywhere she went, but the days passed without so much as a glimpse of him or his motorcycle.
She returned to her usual routine, which included staying up late, making early morning deliveries, and losing herself in creating unique floral arrangements. The only exception was, she spent even less time behind the counter. It seemed that everyone and their mother was coming into the shop, wanting to know more about the mysterious biker and his dark connection to Sumneyville.
Overly dramatic, but that was the Sumneyville gossip vine. It wasn’t as if they had anything better to talk about. Rick Obermacher’s ongoing affair with Marietta Buschetti had become old news, as was the disappearance of the town’s only accountant, Luther Renninger, after sending half the local businesses into bankruptcy.
The only other scuttlebutt worthy of mention was the buyout of Obermacher Farms—a staple of the community for over four centuries—by billionaire and Celtic Goddess CEO Aidan Harrison. Of course, some people said that was Sanctuary’s doing since Tina Obermacher had taken up with Doc, but anyone with half a brain knew that it was Tina’s brothers and their shady dealings with Luther that had brought the farm down.
Penny’s mother was far more adept at handling those inquiries and deftly changing subjects than she was. Plus, Addie said that Penny displayed her feelings too clearly and that the gossipmongers would have a field day with that.
To help pass the time and give herself something to focus on other than Jaxson, Penny set a new objective for herself. To figure out who had followed Jaxson and attacked him that night at the motel.
She had a picture of the license plate, but that didn’t do her any good. She didn’t have access to those kinds of official records. She thought briefly about asking Lenny to look it up, since he was a cop and would have access. But after their words in the flower shop, she and Lenny weren’t on the best of terms.
Besides, she didn’t trust him. He was staunchly in the anti-Sanctuary camp, and Penny didn’t trust anyone who believed those ridiculous conspiracy theories over their own eyes and ears.
So, she did the next best thing. She used her insomnia to her advantage and cruised the streets late at night, her eyes peeled for the vehicle she’d seen that night. It was like looking for a needle in a haystack. She’d never realized just how many dark pickup trucks there were around town.
Sumneyville was a small town though, and she knew if she looked long and hard enough, she’d find the right one eventually.
She did—in the parking lot of O’Malley’s on Friday night, sitting there plain as day, as if just waiting for her to happen upon it. All she had to do was remain out of sight and wait to see who it belonged to.
That was easy enough. A chain-link fence ran along the back of the lot as well as a line of tall arborvitae, separating the parking area from the residential properties behind it. Penny found a good spot and settled in.
While she waited, her thoughts went to Jaxson, as they often did. She hadn’t seen or heard from him since their illicit tryst. As far as she knew, he was still in town, staying at Sanctuary.
She tried to ignore the selfish pang of jealousy that came with that thought. It was safer for him up there, no doubt. And really, how often did someone find out they had a brother or sister they’d never known about?
Probably as often as finding someone who pushes all your buttons and lights you up from the inside out, she thought ruefully.
It was ridiculous, she knew. Nothing but romantic fantasy fodder. But it was what it was. She’d taken one look at Jaxson, and something in her had clicked into place. It wasn’t as if she’d willed it to happen. It just had. One moment, she’d been going about her business, perfectly content. The next, it was as if she’d found something she hadn’t known she was missing.
Like that darn bienenstich kuchen. Jaxson was the personification of a delicious German dessert. She’d hadn’t known that existed either, but once she did, she couldn’t forget it. She’d even tried to make it herself a few times, but there was no substitute for the real thing.
Jaxson Adams was the real thing, too.
Had he felt the same way, it would have been fairy-tale perfect.
But he didn’t. And it wasn’t.
The night they’d spent together was though—at least in her eyes. She didn’t know how he felt about it, but he’d seemed to enjoy himself, too. Or maybe she’d let her desire skew her perception of his.
Regardless, she’d done what she said she was going to do: indulge in one night and then walk away without any further expectations. Hopes, yes. Expectations, no.
The night dragged on. Her legs and back grew stiff, prompting her to move around occasionally. Several times, she had to relocate when exiting patrons decided the bushes were a good place to relieve themselves.
She saw more penises in the span of a few hours than she had her entire life.
People came and went, but no one went near the dark pickup. It was after the two o’clock last call when Mike O’Malley personally ushered a half-dozen guys out the door.
The minute she saw Joe Eisenheiser and Pete Krueger walk out together, she knew that they were the ones she’d seen that night. Joe was a cop, like Lenny. Pete used to work at Obermacher Farms but lost his job shortly after it was sold, which hadn’t really surprised anyone. Both men had reputations for being bullies, and both carried huge chips on their shoulders, preferring to blame others for their own shortcomings.
Penny didn’t know them well, but she did know that they were part of the police chief’s inner circle and shared his anti-Sanctuary sentiments. That didn’t explain why they’d attacked Jaxson though. Unless Lenny had said something to them, and they’d felt compelled to send a stay away from our women message.
Or maybe they were just asterholes.
She waited until the pickup pulled out of the lot and drove away, shaking her head when Pete forgot to put his headlights on. He probably wouldn’t even realize it until he got out past the main street, where streetlamps were nonexistent, and wondered why he couldn’t see the road anymore.
Penny began a slow walk home, her objective complete. Now that she’d identified Jaxson’s assailants, what would she do about it?
Penny agonized over that question the entirety of the next day. The situation was complicated. Should she tell someone and risk inciting more violence? Or should she remain quiet and let sleeping dogs lie?
No matter how she looked at it, she kept coming back to the same thing—unprovoked violence was wrong. Allowing someone to get away with it by not speaking up was just as bad. There were already too many people willing to look the other way, not wanting to get involved. That was one of the reasons things had gotten as bad as they had.
On the flip side, would saying something at this point do any good? Jaxson had the protection of Sanctuary while he was in town, which probably wouldn’t be for much longer, and he hadn’t reported the attack. Plus, even if she did say something, Joe was a cop, which meant he wouldn’t get more than a slap on the wrist, if that. Penny would be opening up not only herself, but also her family to Joe’s wrath along with everyone else who was part of that bully gang.
After a second nearly sleepless night, Penny still wasn’t sure what to do. Reverend McFinley had moved on from the seven deadly sins to the seven heavenly virtues, leading off with justice and courage. To Penny, it was the nudge she’d needed.
After Sunday services, Penny had a quick dinner with her family, and then she changed into comfortable clothes and made a trip to Sanctuary.
* * *
“Penny,” greeted Matt Winston. “Are you here for girl time?”
He smiled a little when he said it. It took Penny a moment to figure out what he was talking about. She’d forgotten about the Sunday afternoon girl time that Kate and the others had invited her to.
“They did tell me about that, but that’s not why I’m here.”
His eyes narrowed in concern—or possibly wariness. “Is everything okay?”
“Yes. I mean, no. Maybe,” she hedged. At Matt’s raised eyebrow, she blurted out, “I know who attacked Jaxson.”
Matt ushered her inside and directed her toward his office, where she told him about her amateur sleuthing endeavors.
“You shouldn’t have done that,” he chastised. “You could have been hurt.”
“Somebody had to do something,” she countered.
“Somebody did do something.”
“I don’t understand.”
“We already know it was Joe and Pete who attacked Jaxson that night.”
“How?”
Matt looked conflicted for a moment and then exhaled. “Jaxson forwarded the picture you took of the license plate to his own phone, and we were able to identify both men from the motel’s surveillance camera footage.”
Penny opened her mouth to ask how, but Matt put up his hand. “Please don’t ask.”
Penny shut her mouth. “Okay.” She was quiet for a few seconds before she asked, “So, what are you going to do about it?”
“Nothing at the moment.” Matt’s voice was calm, but the glitter in his eyes suggested that something would be done at some point.
She hoped there would be some consequence while at the same time hoped that didn’t make her a horrible person. There was definitely satisfaction in seeing bullies brought down a peg or two.
“Hooyah,” Penny said. When Matt’s eyebrow rose again, she quickly added, “That’s what Navy SEALs say, isn’t it?”
His lips quirked. “Yes.”
“I thought so. My dad says hooah sometimes, but I think that’s an Army thing. How is Jaxson, by the way?” Penny asked, inwardly cringing at the obvious segue. “He’s healing okay?”
Matt’s expression went neutral once again. “Yes.”
She waited for him to say more. He didn’t. “Did he and Sam get the information they were looking for?”
Matt nodded, not even providing a verbal reply that time. Penny ignored the subtle hint and plowed ahead, rationalizing that it might be her best chance of seeing Jaxson again for a while.
“Is he around?” she asked lightly. “I wouldn’t mind saying hi before he heads back to Virginia.”
Matt’s eyes softened. “He’s already gone, Penny.”
The words were like a punch to the stomach. Aware of Matt’s assessing gaze, she rallied her brave face and managed a small smile. “Oh, right. I must have gotten my days mixed up.”
“I’m sorry. He said he had some important things to take care of.”
“Well,” she said with fake brightness as she got up, “I guess I made the trip for nothing. At least it’s a beautiful day and a scenic drive.”
“Won’t you stay for lunch?”
“Thanks, but I’ve already eaten. And I’ve got to head back. Maybe another time.”
She left quickly before he could say anything else, but in her haste to get to the parking lot, she made a wrong turn and ended up in the dining room anyway.
“Penny! I didn’t think you were coming,” Kate greeted with a smile and a wave, beckoning her over.
Shasta daisies.
“I can’t stay,” Penny said apologetically, making her way over to the table. “I just came to tell Matt that I know who attacked Jaxson.”
“Who?” Sam asked immediately.
Apparently, Matt and the guys hadn’t shared that information with the women. They had every right to know, too, Penny rationalized.
“Joe Eisenheiser and Pete Krueger.”
Sam scowled. “Joe is a dick.”
“Pete’s no better,” Tina muttered.
Kate shook her head. “We should have guessed. Joe ran me off the road a few years ago on my way up here, thinking I was Steve.”
“And he and his cousin, Eddie, shot out my tire last year when they found out I was seeing Doc,” Tina added.
“How did you find out?” Sandy asked, sliding over and patting the seat beside her.
Despite her intentions to flee, Penny sat down and told them. Unlike Matt, the women nodded approvingly. It was a tiny balm.
“Good for you,” Sandy commented.
“Matt wasn’t too happy.”
Bree waved her hand dismissively. “Alpha males. It’s in their DNA to be overprotective. You get used to it after a while and learn to work around it.”
That wasn’t something Penny would have to worry about.
“I guess Matt told you that Jaxson left, huh?” Kate said softly, suggesting Penny had either spoken her thoughts aloud or Kate was really good at reading faces.
Penny nodded, and just like that, the urge to flee once again rose up. “I really need to go.”
“I’ll walk you out,” said Sam.
Penny bit back the protest, not wanting to be rude. Plus, she’d already made one wrong turn. There was no telling what she might walk into if left to her own devices.
“Don’t think too poorly of him, Penny,” Sam said when they were out of earshot of the others. “He’s dealing with a lot right now.”
“So are you. You’re doing okay.”
“I am,” Sam agreed. “But I have Steve and everyone else here supporting me. Plus, I made peace with my past years ago. Jaxson’s still working things out. His father’s death, his injuries, me ... you.”
“Me?” Penny asked and then shook her head. “No, there’s nothing to work out with me.”
“I’m no expert, but I do know a thing or two about broody, strong, silent, slightly damaged types,” Sam said with a little smile. “If you ask me, he’s got it bad for you.”
Penny snorted. If he did, he had a funny way of showing it. “He left without saying good-bye.”
“Maybe he didn’t want to say good-bye.”
“What are you saying, that he’s coming back?”
“If he’s anything like me, he needs some time and space to work things out,” Sam said carefully. “But, yeah, I think he’ll be back once he figures out that he’s got something worth coming back to. He does, doesn’t he? Or am I totally misreading things?”
“You’re not,” Penny admitted as they reached her car. “At least, not on my end. From the moment I saw him, it was like a switch flipped inside of me.” She smiled ruefully as she opened the door and slid into the driver’s seat. “Crazy, right? I barely know him.”
“Not so crazy,” Sam said. “I was in the same boat, certain that Steve didn’t feel about me the same way I did about him.”
“What changed?”
A dark cloud passed over Sam’s features. “Nothing I’d want you or Jaxson to have to go through, that’s for sure. For what it’s worth, I think Jaxson feels the same way. He’s just not as open to the possibilities as you are.”
“So, what do you suggest?”
“Give him some time to sort things out but not long enough to let the doubt take hold—because trust me, it will. Then, go get him and convince him he’s better off with you than without.”
“Just like that?” Penny shook her head doubtfully. “You’re forgetting that I was the one showing up at his door while he was in town. Most of the time, he pushed me away.”
“But not all the time.”
“No,” Penny agreed, remembering the last night they’d spent together. He might have resisted at first, but once he’d let go, it had been incredible. “Thanks, Sam. I’ll think about it, okay?”
“Okay.” Sam reached into her back pocket and pulled out a slip of paper. “Here.”
“What’s this?”
“Jaxson’s address in Virginia. You know, just in case.”
“You just happened to have this in your pocket, huh?”
Sam shrugged. “I was hoping you’d show up today. Good luck, Penny. Let me know if there’s anything I can do to help.”
“Thanks. I will.”