After stopping for groceries and wine, they made their way home. Penelope showered and changed for her run to the mall before coming home to go to bed, but the question of what Jay’s business was played in her head. There was something she didn’t know. Her feet clamored on the cool tiles under her bare feet while she made her way out of her room.
She listened to his suite for a minute before gathering the courage to knock. When she did, the door opened.
Putting her head in, she noticed that Jay wasn’t in his office. Taking a step into the room, she heard the shower going in the other room. She wrinkled her nose, deciding he must be getting ready for bed. She put one foot in front of the other, and her pulse increased when she walked toward his desk. No papers laid out anywhere. Going behind the desk, she inspected the cabinet. Poking around, she didn’t see anything interesting. Not one speck of paper existed.
“Find something, Penny?”
Twirling around, she saw the wet-haired Jay in his boxers without a t-shirt on. Her pulse raced while her eyes memorized every part of his exposed skin.
He came closer and her lips fell open.
“I asked you a question. What are you looking for?”
Rubbing her ear, she fidgeted. Her body tingled. She fought her stupid crush, pulling her lip into her mouth before she could tell him about her stupid fantasy world. Opening then closing her mouth, she decided what she needed to say. “I know this is about business, but if someone asks me anything about you, all I have are memories from years ago. I don’t know what’s going on with you anymore.”
“What do you remember?”
Swallowing hard, she met his eyes. She struggled to find the right words at the moment. She became quieter, but forced out the words. “I expected you to be a ruthless prep-boy jerk who had life handed to him without effort. In high school, for the first month, I avoided you and your friends, until I became friends with Sandy. After our first conversation, your warmth became obvious. After our third, you became my hero, saving me from social disaster. You’re still the best guy I’ve ever met, though you are up to something big.”
His hands settled on her hips, and she stared up, surprised.
“Penny, I…” He trailed off, instead pulling her in for a fast kiss.
Her entire body came alive. Wow.
Stepping away from her, he caught his breath. “Good night.”
“No.” The word flew out of her mouth. She had to know if that second had been real. She walked back into him, wrapping her arms around his neck and pulling him down for a kiss.
Lightning went through her body when his lips touched hers. She lost focus when she shouldn’t. Pulling out of his embrace, she ignored the fluttering of her heart and told him, “It was real. Okay. Good night, Jay. I have to go shopping.”
Racing out of his office, she ran back to her room, grabbing her bag. He followed her into the living room, in his boxers still, and she ran to the elevator. Nervously fixing her hair, she held her breath until the doors closed. When he couldn’t see her, she put her hand on her lips. All her life she’d dreamed of that moment, but nothing had prepared her for the sparks coursing through her now.
Living here was temporary and to him, all that mattered were his business plan. She had her own life to start too, but Jay would be the icing on the cake.
Blinking, she washed that thought away. No. She couldn’t be like her mother. She’d never use him. He deserved love, and so did she. Jay and her together sounded ridiculous. She’d never dare kiss him again, or else she’d lose her good intentions.