“Home, sweet, err…coffee.”
Getting out of her car, Penny brushed at her worn jeans to get out a small wrinkle. Not that it mattered. She smelled the coffee drawing her to the door. The delicious aroma of freshly brewed java that could wake her up waited inside. Gainesville had coffee shops, but nothing that held her heart like this place. In high school, this place was her mecca. Her stomach grumbled for the familiar drink at Sodoma Brews.
The coffee shop looked almost the same as it had years ago, except for the aluminum tables and wooden chairs with red cushions. She remembered the plaid chairs and brown tables, but the place still calmed her, like she was coming home.
She stepped up to the counter. “I’ll have a cinnamon dulce nonfat latte, please.”
Leaving Gainesville after college had always been the plan. Just never back to Miami, But she’d changed. She could live here now.
She checked her lip gloss while she waited for the latte at the counter.
When she accepted the promotion from part-time to full-time, she knew she would have to face her mother and the catch of the month, Lars, her mother’s plastic surgeon. What that woman would do for a free tummy tuck.
The job she’d accepted had offered to triple her salary, provided she moved to the Coral Gables office. Somehow, she would have to avoid her mother .as long as possible. What was the new man’s name with money this week? Penny ignored that last call, knowing the man with the largest wallet always took precedence over whatever Penny needed. She watched the barista get the nonfat milk and finish her latte. She’d succeed here, now. She had to.
She’d call Sandra, Eva, John, and Michael later. Wyatt, her half-brother, was stationed overseas, so she’d wait for his weekly call. These people were her real family.
The man handed her the latte. The first sip gave her the strength to do this. The tightness in her chest dissipated while she tasted her liquid savior. Sighing, she tasted heaven, the wake-up to her day.
“Penny.”
Though the unmistakable voice was deeper, she knew who it was without even turning. Her high school crush who never noticed her beyond her brain. Pulling at her pink tank top, she wished she’d worn better clothes. “John Jay.”
His steely blue eyes and sandy blond hair were the same color, but his build had grown more muscular. The leanness of his youth had given way to broad shoulders and hard, muscular arms. He had a straight, faded scar on his left cheek that was new—probably a bar fight. Rich boy wore his fancy, perfectly fitted polo and jeans, and was definitely hotter with age. His million-dollar smile and devastating dimples sparked a warm flush that sped through her all the way to the tips of her toes.
“I’m going by Jay these days. It’s less formal.” He winked at her, turning off his tablet and pointing her to his table.
“It’s a good name, but I still prefer Dimples,” she teased. “It’s what I called you online whenever I needed you.”
His rich, deep laugh sent that familiar spark through her.
Damn. Rich boy knew his effect on women, including her. He could manipulate her when she went quiet, but she’d learned a lot in college. She’d not let him weaken her.
“When did you get back to town?”
“I’ve been in town for, like, five minutes. I stopped in for morning coffee. How have you been?”
“Good. Busy these days. You?”
She pushed back her hair, twisting her wrist, telling herself she was not the nerdy girl with a one-sided attraction any longer.
“I have a lot going on.”
“Flirty, Warm Eyes. How come you never came home after college? The past few months you’ve been out of touch.”
“Warm Eyes” sounded new. She refused to dwell or wonder if it was a little forced. “You noticed? I’m surprised.”
“I noticed.”
She almost lost her balance looking at those dimples. Stifling a giggle, she shrugged, intending to be more adult. “I lost my computer connection at home. Question now turns to you. You weren’t too busy with the South Beach party life?”
“No. I missed our weekly chats.”
“You could have called me. I had my phone.” Not that they had the same view of each other. She was a friend. He had no idea about her fantasies. Staying away helped her forget the unattainable, perfect guy of her teenage years. Sandra kept her up on everything, but she had to ask. Gripping her empty cup tighter, she asked, “How is Tamara?”
She knew both his former and current girlfriend from high school. But she hadn’t heard what happened to the college sweethearts. “Tammy? I haven’t seen her since we graduated last year. I thought you were coming home then.”
“I am surprised. We all thought you two were destined for the altar.” Blonde, blue eyes, like him. They’d make gorgeous children one day. “When did that end?”
“The night before graduation at University of Miami. She moved to Los Angeles and neither of us wanted long-distance. You know how it is.” He shrugged. “I missed you, Pen.”
No. He didn’t mean that like a man interested in her. They’d never be a couple. Crossing her legs under the table, she tilted her head. “You miss the girl who could correct your math and did problems faster than you.”
“Only some of the time, but you were the only one who ever could pull that off. And I could probably beat you now.”
A challenge. This was familiar. “You think? I graduated with a mechanical engineering degree, about to start my job with Mueller Enterprises, so my skills are pretty fresh.”
“Finance and accounting. So we’re on point with our skills. Seeing you here, I’m getting a good idea.”
“Your ideas cost too much. I can’t fly off to Milan this weekend. I am rather busy.”
His eyes swam with excitement. “Penny, you’re exactly what I need. I’m happy you’re here. We always got along, didn’t we?”
“I always thought so.”
“Can I borrow you?” he asked.
Damn. Now that was a tempting flirt. Borrow her. What did that mean? On another morning, she’d have hopped up on that one, but wherever this was headed, she had no time for it.
“I can’t reminisce today, Jay. I have to find an apartment to move into.” She picked up the empty cup of coffee and stared at the two hundred feet to the door and her waiting rental car. Standing up, she pushed her chair out, picked up her bag, and told him, “I don’t have a lot of time for anything else.”
“You’re looking for a place?”
“I need a place to call my own before I start work.”
He scratched his chin. “I know the area, Penny. I have an idea already for a place you can stay—that is, if you’ll go out with me Friday.”
His blue eyes bored deep into her. Then she gazed toward the ground to catch her breath. “Thanks, but I think I can figure it out. We’re both from here, remember.”
“Look, we’ll go together. And I would like to take you out on Friday, regardless. But I have a great idea about where you can live.”
Her eyes widened. Letting him go with her would be a distraction. Besides, with his billions, their definition of a “suitable apartment” would not be the same. He’d never live in the real world. “Don’t be silly. I’m sure you have something important to do that doesn’t include me.”
“You’re important, Pen. You walking into this shop this morning is the answer to my prayers. I need a date, with someone believable, someone smart and able to hold a conversation. And you need an affordable place where you can live, a place with a great view..”
“I’d love to drop everything and follow you with a line like that.”
“I need you, and in exchange I can help. It’s a win-win in my book.”
He needed her? No way could this happen. John Jay Marshall had the looks, the money, and the connections to make any woman fall at his feet, especially her. She opened her mouth to tell him no. “I’d have written you off in high school, but then you turned out to be one of the smartest and nicest men I know. It’s why we keep in touch. So, okay, you can come with me and tell me your big plan about why you need a date so bad.”
Where had that come from? His thoughts on anything could distract her. In high school she was the unnoticed friend, and she would not go back to being on anyone’s sidelines.
He leaned closer with that smile that caused her legs to weaken. “I guarantee you’ll love what I’m thinking of for a place to stay, Penny. It has a view, so let’s sit and finish our coffees.”
“You’ve mentioned the view twice.” She placed her finished latte on the table, and he put his tablet away while she resettled in her seat. “Just because you’re helping doesn’t mean you can interfere.”
“Tell me how I became the luckiest guy on the planet seeing your face again.”
The boy she remembered knew how to flatter a girl. Back in the day, he had spoken and she had sighed and her eyes had drifted up into a dream world where he cared about her. But she had to let that go. Blinking, she dropped her arms and decided to answer his question. “I’m here for my first full-time job. I’m so happy to have this, finally. It’s been harder than I thought finding the position. Now I have this weekend to get my life situated, because I start work Monday morning. I need to impress the new bosses.”
“You will. You’re smart. The job is in the Gables?”
“Yeah.” She met his eyes.
Jay nodded. “Good. You’re staying. Penny, you deserve a high-paying job. You’re one of the few women I trust right now, and I need you on my arm Friday.”
Smart did not equate to pretty. She deflated fast. In Miami, the value remained firmly beauty over brains. This was part of why she never wanted to come back. “I traded my glasses for contacts. Other than that, I’m pretty much the same.” She shrugged.
“I see that. You’re adorable and perfect.” He put his hand on hers, and a jolt rushed through her.
Pathetic to be crushing on a guy from five years ago, but here she was staring into his brilliant blue eyes. This needed to end before he got a grip on her again. “What’s the favor, Dimples?”
“See? We have history. It will work.”
She narrowed her eyes. “What will work?”
“I need a date to a party on Friday, someone who will be willing to pretend we’ve kept our relationship secret for a while.”
“Sandra told me you have a girlfriend.”
“So you have been talking about me?” His lips spread into an even bigger smile, if that was possible. “My cousin doesn’t know everything.”
“You know Sandra. The conversation goes where she wants it to go. She said Eva suits you perfectly. I am surprised you didn’t hook up in high school, though I guess you were into Tamara then.”
“I’m breaking up with her in about two hours. We agreed on the time already. I decided before you walked in the door, but it left me dateless for Friday. I need to impress people then, but I don’t want to pretend with someone I need to walk away from.”
She gritted her teeth. This was why she’d never date a rich man. She refused to be so easily replaceable. “You can’t be serious.”
“I need to show that I’m dating a smart woman with class and things in common with me.”
“I can’t help you. Don’t be serious. I’m not an actress, rich boy. That’s Eva.”
“Actress isn’t what I need or want. I need someone genuine, and we can help each other.”
How was she going to impress anyone? “Look, Eva’s gorgeous. Jaw dropping. A bombshell. Everyone wants to be her. Every guy wants to date her. Why not wait and break up after the event?”
He stopped moving. “Please, Penny. Eva’s demanding, and expects more from me than I want to give. Please save me.”
His sad, pleading expression reminded her of a lost puppy in need of saving. She had returned to high school in less than ten minutes. College hadn’t meant a thing. “You win, Jay. I’ll be your backup girl, though no one might believe you chose the nerd over the award-winning actress. I have one condition—well, two.”
“Name them.” Gone was the pleading face, replaced by one of triumph. His eyes twinkled and that damn dimple stared back at her. He’d find someone else in no time, leaving her safe from his charm.
“One, you show me this magnificent place for me to live today. I don’t want to be homeless or go to my mother’s house. I can’t go back there. You’re a better alternative.”
“Done.” His eyes sparkled.
“Two, I don’t have a fancy dress back here yet. My stuff is still up north. Tell me what to wear and I’ll figure something out.”
“I’ll get you something. Don’t worry about it.”
“I buy my own clothes, Dimples.”
“We can consider it part of the favor.”
“Then we can forget this. Tell me what to get.”
“We’ll be at a charity event on Collins for dinner, dancing, the press. You know.” He shrugged, as if it were an everyday thing having your face in the newspaper—and for him, it was.
This conversation wasn’t going so well She asked him, “What will the papers say about us? ‘Most eligible man in Miami, heir to the Marshall fortune, dates his high school math league partner.’”
He shook his head, telling her, “Or ‘Marshall, on the fast track with his own company, listed in the upcoming July issue of Forbes as one of the biggest up-and-coming financial titans, shows class with a caring woman.’”
The press in Miami? He couldn’t be serious. She would not be wearing designer anything. Penny pasted a smile on her face. She’d carve out time to hit a few thrift shops tomorrow, searching for something. The press would call it “vintage” if she found the right one. It worked for prom, and it would work again. Besides, it was not like she had much money these days. Going from fifteen thousand part-time to forty-five thousand full-time meant she’d stay frugal. She would have enough to eat and maybe a few extras, once she started getting paid. The tight budget, for once, had an end date. Payday.
She jiggled her empty cup before telling him, “Let’s get going. I need to secure a place with a down payment and security deposit. I called ahead to three places with availability before getting on the plane. The list is at the rental office.”
“Give me five minutes to make a few calls, Penny. I have a plan. I promise it will work out for you.”
She nodded, getting up. “I’ll go get my list. Be right back. Remember, the key factor is budget. I won’t be living anywhere near the beach.”
He nodded, though she couldn’t be sure he’d actually listened. Jay had never worried about a bill a day in his life. She needed to be settled in her own place before her mother showed up to swindle her out of every dime she made. Penny had contributed to her mother’s lavish lifestyle while she herself had struggled in college with student loans, but a stark look at her nonexistent checking account sobered her up. Looking back, she’d been doubly stupid, but she’d face this and climb out of her financial black hole.
No one would keep Penny Knightheart down. She’d figure out how to win at being an adult.