Jay rubbed the sleep from his eyes. Last night’s sex dreams starred Penelope, though he wouldn’t tell her. Instead, he shook off the amorous thoughts. Today he finalized a short deal to finance their favorite coffee and keep that in business. Then he had a meeting with Danvers. And tonight, he’d do something nice for Penny.
Every time he thought her name, a warmness filled his chest.
Silence greeted his ears. She must have gone to work already. He sat up and stretched. With a yawn, he headed to the shower, but his phone rang. He glanced at the number, grimaced, then continued. His mother. With a shake of his head, he closed the door. He’d need coffee before he spoke to her.
An hour later, he scrubbed his plate from breakfast and flipped open his tablet.
His mother’s email stood out. Determination ran in the family. He read her warning that he wasn’t “prepared for business,” then hit delete.
Next, he scanned the few papers his secretary had sent him. First was the advertisement for a planning engineer. His mind wandered to Penny, but she already had a job.
He nodded to himself, then responded, Perfect. Send this out. I’ll get a team together to interview the candidates that meet the qualifications.
He’d need someone to ensure his building structures were secure before he offered anyone financial backing.
Next he read the contract for the coffee shop. A vision of Penny with a smile as she sipped a latte and laughed next to him played out in his mind. Unlike everyone else in his life at the moment, even thinking about her seemed to make him more peaceful.
He printed the PDF to sign. Last he checked his email from Danvers.
Looking forward to meeting you in person, Mr. Marshall. Your plans are impressive. I had received an earlier report that you have a reputation for being untrustworthy and unstable. From my impression, this report must be wrong. Most eager tomeet you and your girlfriend this weekend.
Who would report him unstable? His mind steamed while the answer popped up. His mother. He shook his head, then smiled to himself before he typed back. Penny was the perfect choice for his date. I don’t have time to be anything but stable. Can’t wait to meet in person this weekend.
Finished, he stood up and went to his printer. The contract had all the right sections. He picked up the papers, signed, then put everything on his color scanner. With a click of a button, his secretary would receive this, and he’d pack the originals for her. The deal was complete.
He now owned the place where he’d first laid eyes on Penny. A grin grew on his face. She deserved a good first day.
Groceries. She’d like eggplant and chicken with pasta. He rubbed his chin and read the note she’d left. Tonight was his turn to cook for her. A smile grew on her face. He’d like to please her. So he found his flip-flops and headed downstairs.
With a wave to the doorman, he stepped into the hot Miami heat. The store at the corner was a short walk away. Halfway there his phone rang. After he glanced at the name, a sigh escaped his lips. He fixed his headphones then answered, “Mom.”
“Son. You cannot continue to stand in the way of your father.”
“Dad isn’t the issue, Mom. I need you to stand aside.”
“Fine. We’ll talk about that later. Why are you living with Penelope Knightheart? You know her family.”
He spotted Penny’s mother inside the store as she spoke to the cashier. He stayed near the window outside. “Mom, leave it. I trust her.”
“Son, everything I do is for you to be happy.”
“Everything you do is to ensure your life is how you want it. Every time we talk, I grow more determined to go against you. I’m not a child, though, so it’s time to hang up the phone.”
Without another word, he followed his words with actions.
The thought struck him that Penny Knightheart equaled fun and innocence in his life again. He would not involve her with his family. She had brought him back to life where he enjoyed the warmness of the beach again.