Looking at the front of the building, she remembered how her mother had drooled in this store countless times, always hoping the next guy she married had more cash. Geneva hated being poor, and talked about some idyllic childhood that had been stolen from her. Without grandparents to ask, Penny had no reason to be suspicious, but the story had never made much sense.
Lars had kept her mother on a short leash with the finances, much to Mom’s chagrin. Penny smiled knowing how her mother would swoon with delight if she’d been invited to shop for furniture here.
Jay waved to her at the door. When giving her a hug, she bumped into his briefcase. Pulling back, she listened to him. “We need to pick out a couch, stuff for my bedroom and my office, and furnish the rest of the place. For your help in picking this, I’ll buy your bedroom set.”
Her jaw might have fallen to the floor.
“Add a dining room to the list too. I don’t need much, but we will need to eat somewhere.”
“Dimples, you can’t be serious. I’m moving out in a month.”
He ushered her inside the store without batting an eye. “Let’s go.”
“A bed in here will cost a few thousand dollars.”
“I have to work. I called ahead and I have two options.”
What did he want from her? She crossed her arms and narrowed her eyes. “Which are?”
“I’d pay an interior decorator five thousand to do all this. She can be here in an hour.”
She tilted her head, weighing what he said. “Then why would I be here?”
“I’d like your opinion either way, as you’ll be living there. Option two is that I buy your furniture or pay you the money in cash. Doesn’t matter what you choose, but I have a situation at work to deal with.”
Five thousand dollars. Her mother would say take the money, but she would never. If she picked out a set that matched the rest of it, she could leave it at his place. He’d have bought it anyhow. Nodding her head, she met his eyes and relaxed her shoulders. “I’ll hang every picture, Dimples. I like being busy.”
His face relaxed, and his blue eyes almost gleamed with happiness now. Whatever had happened to him earlier today had stolen some of his energy. “Thank you, Pen. I need to sit with my computer and not be bothered.”
“Funny seeing you serious about something.” He walked her into the store as a sales associate opened the door for her. “Makes you sexy.”
He stopped moving. She waved him in. It took him a few seconds to recover. Odd. Strolling to the living-room section, which was first, she scanned the showroom. Jay’s hand went to her back when the saleslady came up to ask them, “May I help you?”
“We need to furnish our new place. I hope you have a few hours.”
“You were both smart to come in here. Is there a budget I’m working with or is the sky the limit?”
“Penny will keep me honest. She’s making the decisions. Would you mind shopping while I connect to the Wi-Fi to work?”
“You have something important.” She nodded her understanding and hugged him, then told the saleslady, “Let’s get started.”
Jay found a seat near the door and opened his tablet, staring intently. What business did the man have? Investors and a financial company made sense, but something else was driving him to be that focused. She’d never asked, but for a place to live while she settled into her new life, she’d shop. Sleeping on a bed for a month from Tiff’s would be heavenly.
The salesclerk pointed out hand-carved foreign chairs that would not be comfortable to sit on. Penny preferred a level of comfort, and Jay needed a place to relax. She found a light tan leather living-room set with one of those chaise lounges she’d seen in magazines all her life. She peeked at the price tag—for this place, the number sounded normal. Jay didn’t operate in her limited world, but it was far from the most expensive item.
For the dining, she went more modern, streamlined, keeping that under what she expected as well. The saleswoman pointed out strange table designs complete with hammered-in monkey arms holding up a glass table, but Jay would prefer simple. For his office furniture, she remembered the three times she’d ever been to his bedroom in high school to collect a book or something for him. Even then he had used a dash of purple, knowing it was royal. She picked out teak, but found a deep purple desk set that he’d like.
She glanced over at him. He didn’t blink at anything going past him except his tablet.
Following along, they reached the bedroom section. In bedroom furniture, she saw something she loved. She’d be the princess in any fairytale in that set. For him, she picked out something more boxy and masculine.
When they finished, they returned to Jay. He stared, engrossed in a spreadsheet. “Dimples, we’re ready for you.”
His eyes stared up but his mouth fell open. “You finished shopping already, Pen?”
“Of course.” She nodded then told him the news. “Issue is they cannot deliver until tomorrow, and you’re paying.”
He took her hand to help stand up before he let go. In his future life Jay would make any socialite a perfect husband. He let her make all the house decisions, and she’d be there for only a month. While waiting for the salesgirl to put the receipt together, Penny told him, “I’m surprised you’re not engaged to one of the Miracle Mile women. Your mother must have pushed you on the yacht club at some point.”
“I’m a member. We’re going with those people on Friday, remember.”
Fun. He handed over the card. “I don’t want to go back to my mother’s.”
“Don’t. Stay.”
She laughed. “Are we camping without furniture for the night, then?”
“I suppose.” Moving would be a long process. “I do have camping bags.”
“Won’t Michael miss you?” He lived with Sandra’s brother, though that combination made no sense in her head. Michael generally despised everything he saw, looking down his nose at the world.
“He’ll be relieved I’m not coming back. Is there anything else we need to buy?”
She rolled her eyes. Furniture hardly made a house a home. “I still need to buy sheets, pots, pans, lights, bathroom hangers, etc.”
“I have an idea.”
“Another one?” The racing of her heart told her she wouldn’t be offended.
“We’ll stay at the place. Tonight will be bonding. Too bad we don’t have marshmallows to roast on an open fire.”
Biting her second finger in her hand for a second, she asked a question, with a lilt in her voice. “Does the camp gear have an air mattress?”
“Yes.”
Smiling, she joked, “You’re not a nature/hunter type like we went to school with.”
“That was Wyatt.” He signed the receipt and took his card back. Glancing over, she saw she’d spent more than she thought. Looking at him, she asked, “Where did the extra four thousand come in?”
“Delivery and setup,” the salesclerk told her. “You won’t lift a finger. Everything will be perfect, and if you need any furnishings, we’re associated with Christina’s Collectibles. I can call ahead to ensure someone is ready to help you with everything you two might need.”
“That’s across the street,” Jay said. “Can you handle shopping there while I finish with my report? Then we can go out to eat and relax. It’s been a long day.”
Helping him made her happy and lifted the guilt that she’d be sleeping at his place. She nodded. “I’ll be like that my first day on Monday. Walk with me.” He opened the front door of the place. “Did you like your sheets at your parents’ house?”
“I’ll like whatever you pick.”
She raised her eyebrows to joke. “I could pick pink flowered bedsheets.”
“You won’t fail me like that, cutie, and get your stuff too. Consider the sheets part of the set. You’re taking care of the details.”
“The business deal you’re working on is a big deal for you.”
“Biggest one I’ve been associated with so far.”
Opening the door to Christina’s, he nodded while finding a seat near the door. The salesclerk came over. “Did you walk over from Tiffany’s?”
“Yes. I need to get furnishings.”
Jay smiled, then stepped back to let her make the calls. “You and your boyfriend came to the right place. Let’s get started.”
Penny hesitated for a second. She didn’t correct the mistake. Spending his money like she was, the mistake was honest. Penny never dared to believe it, and Jay didn’t act like a boyfriend. He was a dear friend, and that was what she needed at the moment.