She took the glass baking pan out of the oven, noticing her breaded chicken shone a perfect dark brown color. She pushed into cleaning up the mess, hoping to ease the panic attacks. With an oven mitt, she put the pan on the counter top before heading back to her pot with the potatoes.
The slamming of Jay’s door told her enough. Her heart palpitations left her fighting off faintness, but she’d muddle through. She was checking on the green peas and carrots when his arm went around her waist.
Wiping her brow with her hand, she stifled her sigh at his nearness. Stepping backward, he put his hands in her back pocket and asked, “How did it go?”
Her nerve endings tingled.
“I bought the company. I have a favor to ask you.”
Smiling, she relaxed her shoulders. She could help him. “What?”
“I need you to find all the mechanical design problems in the latest project. I need to tell investors the plans were structurally unsound, and it’s why I’m canceling everything.”
The fluttering in her stomach stopped. “You were looking to hire someone with my skills. I’ll take the job if you’re still offering.”
“It’s been yours all along.”
He stepped into her bubble and froze when his lips met hers. The kiss was a smoldering heat that stole her words. The warmth of his arm was so strong, so deliciously safe. Closing her eyes, she let a small shiver pulse through her. Putting her hands on his waist melted her insides even more, but she pushed back. “We have to talk, Dimples.”
“Penny, you’re the one person who doesn’t run. I can’t fight it anymore, because I am falling in love with you, more every day.”
Jerking away, she almost fell. Tears formed while she turned to click off the oven. “Vegetables are done. And we have to talk. You can’t love me. You shouldn’t.”
She turned, falling into his arms, where she fit into his chest. He rocked her, kissing the top of her forehead. “We can talk. You did mention something about your mother. I’ll set the table with the plates and serve the chicken.”
In unison they finished and put everything into bowls, she buying precious moments where she didn’t have to tell him.
“Smells delicious, Pen. Thank you.”
Sitting across from him, she put the last plate of food down and unfolded her napkin. Finally she glanced up to see the curiosity in his eyes. Tapping her foot on the ground, she opened her mouth. “When will everyone know what happened?”
“Tomorrow, when they go to work. A few people will know tonight, but Mom will know tomorrow. Dad won’t tell her bad news. He’s afraid of her.”
His confidence only added to her legs jittering. “I’m scared right now to say what I need to say.”
“Just spit it out. I told you about my mother.”
Putting her hand on her leg to stop the bouncing, she met his eyes. She had to tell him. Her chest tightened before she spoke. “Yours and mine are similar in their controlling behaviors, but mine is far more single-minded.”
“What do you mean?”
Swallowing didn’t stop her neck from getting unbelievably hot. Looking down, she willed herself to speak. “She didn’t just steal your tablet, Jay. I was heartbroken and sick that day.”
“What happened?”
Her chin trembled when she stared up, seeing his clear blue eyes. “She had broken in before.” She pushed her head back, the tears flowing now. “She drugged me. She drugged you. She switched out the condoms. She tried so hard to turn me into her.”
He stood up and moved his chair next to her. “What? I’m not following.”
Coughing, she tried to stop crying. It didn’t work. Sucking in her cheeks didn’t work either, because tears wet her cheeks. “I studied mechanical engineering to never be her.”
Offering her a hug, he whispered, “I know, Sexiness. You’re a good person.”
This can’t be happening. Pressing her lips together, she continued. “No. I decided we could have sex and I wouldn’t expect more. I let you buy dinner. I wore that fancy dress to impress you, and I wanted to come back here and steal those pretty shoes you bought me before I disappeared.”
His knees touched hers. “I don’t want your shoes. Penny, you’re the most stable person I know. Explain what happened. Let me help fix this mess.”
Her hands curled around her sides when he put his hand on her lap to hold her. “She drugged us. At this moment, I could be pregnant because she came in here and switched your vitamins for a sexual-enhancement drugs.”
His brow curled. “Pen, I wore a condom.”
She cleared her throat and stuttered, “Made…of lamb…skin…with holes…she made.”
Her breathing became heavy, but she’d told him.
“What?”
Didn’t he understand? She swallowed again while her head became hot. “And she pumped my pills full of hormones to ensure I had lots of eggs to fertilize. If she gets her wish, we could be having quintuplets in nine months.”
His mouth fell open, but he said nothing.
Penny buried her head in her hands. She needed to finish this. He needed to know everything. “I was at a gas station in Jupiter when Sandy called me about you. I had finally stopped crying, but I wanted to keep on driving and never come back here.”
Brushing her arm in kindness, he asked gently, “You came back because of me?”
. “Yeah. And mom told me she took all the money in my account. Every last dime. I have nothing left.”
He nodded at her. “Did you want to leave me? I’ll give you whatever you want.”
Her shoulders curled into her body and her nose ran. The napkin didn’t clean up her face, and nausea hit her hard. Closing her eyes, she told him, “At that moment it would have been easier to never tell you. I’m so ashamed, as hard as I’ve worked against it, and in the end I’ve become her.””
With a deep sigh, he met her gaze. “You are not making any sense. You’re not her. First of all, you told me, which is more than she’d have done—”
“Don’t. I need a job and to pay my own way, Jay. I will work for you and find every detail in the plans for you, and I’ll stay here, if you’ll have me.”
He nodded. “Of course.”
Tightening her fists, she uncurled her arms to her side. “But don’t tell me you love me. You can’t. We’re a huge lie.”
He reached to take her hand, but she stayed rigid. “Pen, don’t hold yourself to her standard.”
Standing up, she put her chin in the air and placed her napkin on the table. “I’m not hungry anymore. I’m going to bed now.”