Penny awakened with an empty feeling in the pit of her stomach. Jay had promised her that tonight they’d talk and have a good time at his party. She cleared her throat. Her lips were parched for coffee. Normal. She needed it to stop her dry throat. Heading to the closet, she picked out her best interview outfit and turned to look in the mirror. Her pupils were bigger than normal. No way. She had no time for a cold. She needed a job.
Turning away, she packed her work clothes into a bag. She crossed her fingers. New job. She needed it. She’d be secure if she did. Her hands only shook a few times as she applied an extra layer of makeup.
Closing her eyes, she told herself to relax. She’d do great. The forced smile stayed on. After cleaning up her room, she stepped out into the living areas.
“You look cute today.” Jay’s voice sounded scratchy and raw, sending her insides soaring at the compliment.
Tell him. The voice in her head hit her hard, but she couldn’t. Tonight, and this weekend, alone, they’d have forty-eight hours to share. She held her mouth closed, hugged him, holding him tight for a second before she inhaled his mouth-watering, manly smell. She turned away. That was almost better than coffee. “Thanks. Wish me luck.”
“I’m looking forward to tonight, Pen.”
She was too. Stepping into the elevator, she gripped the metal bar in the back and jumped. Sighing, she settled down. Soon she’d come clean about her job and have a new one lined up.
She had heart palpitations while parking. She had to get this job. Three thousand wouldn’t get her far in Miami. The Jeep, rent, loans. Adding it all up, she figured she had six weeks until she suffocated.
“Stop it,” she told herself out loud before getting out of the car. Worrying never solved anything. Her quivering muscles couldn’t be helped. Sighing, she made her way into the building. After going up the stairs, she stared at the impressive block letters in the lobby Penelope Investments.
She crossed her fingers, hoping it was a good sign. The owner had her name. Yeah. Her racing heart slowed down a bit. After signing in, she stepped into the waiting room, where at least a dozen people sat in chairs. Someone’s heavy perfume caught in her throat, making her wince. She took a seat and told herself to calm down and ignore it. Closing her eyes, she remembered Jay’s sexy man smell.
Tonight started off a fun weekend.
He’d never face her troubles, but then, he worked for himself. She’d never have the upfront cash to invest in her own Penelope firm, though she’d have that man naked in her bed tonight. A giggle burst out of her mouth while other people scowled at her.
“Ms. Knightheart, the committee is ready to see you now.”
Nodding, she stood up, straightened her skirt, and followed the indication of the secretary’s wrist. At the door, Penny fixed her top, rolled her shoulders, then walked inside.
Two men and a woman sat across the glass table. Modern square vases, black wood moldings—all screamed to her rich but classy. Penny straightened her spine, then took the seat in the middle of the firing squad.
A woman with glasses asked, “Why did you leave Tallahassee to move back to Miami without a job?”
Her mouth opened with a ready answer. “I moved in faith, believing I had a job waiting for me here. But the company restructured and my position was eliminated shortly after my move. Now I’m seeking a job that uses the skills I acquired at UF.”
She bit back her smile. She’d sounded like an adult there. The man to the woman’s right fixed his glasses then asked, “You’re a Gator?”
Nodding, she smiled. “Yes, sir. Though I will work with anyone.”
The other man added, “The boss is UM. He enjoys the Hurricanes.”
“So is my roommate.” She smiled, relaxing. “I’m not into sports anyhow, so it won’t be an issue.”
The woman wrote something down, then glimpsed at Penny’s shoes before telling her, “Your qualifications are impressive. Can you tell us a bit more about how you see the job you’re applying for?”
She answered the question and about a dozen more before the woman told her, “The final candidate will be chosen on Monday morning. Are you available for a second interview with the CEO that morning?”
“Absolutely.” Penelope stood up, holding in her excitement.
“I’ll have our secretary call you when she makes the schedule.”
Penny didn’t contain the excitement in her smile when she left. She made it past the cattle call outside. The job fit exactly what she needed, and it paid well.
She couldn’t wait to meet this Penelope woman.
Her steps had an extra bounce all day, and time flew by. At five, she bolted for the door at the pizza place to fly home and get ready for tonight’s party.
On the second light home, she realized she hadn’t bought a dress. Putting her finger in her mouth to bite instead of scream, she jerked the car into a parking spot. There was a department store around the corner. If she ran, she’d get something there.
She stared at her phone. She had no time to shop. Then it rang.
“Jay, I’m running late. I don’t have a dress.”
He laughed at her. “Shopping is a job unto itself. Come home. I’ll have something delivered. I’ll call one of my favorite places. Consider it a perk of tonight’s job.”
Could she take his money? She let out a breath. “Okay. I’ll pay you back.”
“Don’t worry about it.”
Putting her hand on her forehead, she had to bend. “I’m on my way.”
“Good.”
Pulling herself up to the steering wheel, she added, “Shoes too. Matching shoes. I have my silver shoes, so tell them whatever you order they must match silver shoes.”
“Are these shoes in your closet?”
Turning the key in the ignition, she hesitated. “Yeah.”
“I’m going in to get the pair.”
After checking her mirrors, she pulled back on the street. “Okay. Why?”
“I’ll take a picture to send over.”
She pulled onto US 1. She’d be home soon. “Ohh. Good idea, Dimples. See you soon.”
“Don’t forget you’re my girlfriend tonight.”
She giggled and hung up the phone. Tonight they’d enjoy each other. She needed the release, and somehow he’d be the one. Fate worked out after all.
She sped home fast. She’d almost ruined his night, forgetting the dress. When she pulled into her assigned spot, a van from Sandra’s bridal boutique sat in visitors’ parking. Aww. She’d been oblivious today. Duh. Her best friend owned a store. Jay invested. She’d never shopped on Miracle Mile for a dress, and didn’t do that addition right.
Fingers crossed that meant discount.
Holding her breath, she swiped the elevator. The pulsing in her veins whispered to her to kiss that man, but she’d play it cool.
He sat on a kitchen stool, talking to someone on the phone. His black dress pants were tight and she stared at the muscles in his legs. She gulped, gazed away, then raced past him. Behind her, she called out, “I’m grabbing a fast shower.”
“You’re in jeans.”
Biting her lip, she tilted her head, “Long story; talk later. Shower.”
After closing her door, she cleaned up. Fifteen minutes later, she shook the water out of her hair and sat down at a vanity, turning on her hot flat iron.
The humidity wouldn’t matter if she stayed cool. Picking up her body lotion, she lathered herself up with the scent of vanilla. The scent relaxed her. Almost an hour later, she stayed in her robe and peeked her head out, “Is the dress here?”
Jay strutted, all proud of himself, handing over a purple dress on a hanger. Reaching for it, she brushed past a box attached. “You bought shoes.”
“I wanted the best and told Sandra. She picked everything out.”
“We’ll talk later.”
She’d yell at him later. Picking up the dress, she dropped the shoes on the bed. The purple had a modest-cut jeweled neckline and one sheer long-sleeved arm, all made from silk. The right leg had a cut on the leg, but until she put it on, she’d never imagined the slit went up to her hip.
She stood up and stared at herself in the mirror. Her entire leg could show if she stepped forward too fast. She could not wear this. It would be modest and pretty if not for showing off that much leg. One wrong move and she’d show everything to the world. Staring at the wall brought her clarity back. She had no choice in what to wear. She’d have to be super-careful tonight.
She sat on the bed and gazed at the box. Opening up to look at the shoes, she almost dropped them. Louboutin? The silver shoes cost more than her severance pay.
“I can’t wear this,” she called out through the door.
He called back, “Let’s go. It’s fine. I get a discount with my cousin. She picked everything out for you.”
Going to the door, she touched the handle while calling out, “It’s not modest enough. I won’t be comfortable.”
His voice sounded close. She exhaled and listened. “You’re there to be my date, convincing people we’re dating. The red-carpet look is what I need. Please, Penny. You promised.”
Gulping, she made her move. Watching his eyes grow wider staring at her and his mouth drop open sent heat coursing through her. She lost part of her argument.
“You’re beautiful, Penny.”
Did her blush go down her leg? Looking away from him, she hoped not, though the liquid warmth running through her had little to do with the humidity of Miami. “I’m going to make a fool of myself.”
He touched her hip. The silk offered no protection. Gulping, she gazed up, and he spoke low and slow. “Stand next to me. Keep your head up and don’t let my mother or any of her people get to you.”
Her knee bent up, touching his leg. Looking down without pulling away, she told him, “Easy for you to say.”
He leaned closer. His mouth came close to hers. “I’ll be kissing you when we arrive, and throughout the night. If you freak out over anything, come to me.”
Her heart thumping she hoped he’d start without the audience. “Dimples, you make it sound easy.”
Stepping back, he ran his hands behind his head for a second. “It’s boring and simple. I wish we were watching a movie in our sweats.”
Going forward, she stood next to him, offering him a smile. “I’d like that too.”
“Trust me tonight.”
Taking her hand, he kissed her cheek. Later, she’d let the flirt out of her. But first she fought back a sigh. She couldn’t sigh all night, every time he touched her. It would be bad. Leading her to the elevator, she clutched his arm tighter.
When the doors opened, he led her to a waiting limo. Tonight, she’d be Cinderella.