After her shower she couldn’t get warm. She listened to Jay put the dishes away and she felt frigid. The freezing cold inside her didn’t go away when she put her hand on the glass window and sensed the heat from outside
What if someone came here in the middle of the night?
Her glance swept across her room, looking for anything that might move.
Jay opened a bottle. She heard the clink.
Quickly she changed into her flannel pajama bottoms and tank top and raced out.
Spotting him with a beer sitting on the couch without a shirt made her mouth drop open. “What are you doing?”
Stretching his arms on the back of the sofa, he gave her a half-smile. “Settling down, Pen. I need to relax.”
Stepping ahead, her legs wobbled a little, but she drew closer to him. Running her hands down her legs, she gave him a hesitant smile. “I’m scared.”
He patted the seat behind him, and his clear eyes made her heart lurch for an entirely different reason. He kept his voice low. “I don’t like playing ‘what if’ games in my head. In a few days everything will work itself out. I still think you should go.”
She nodded, eying the seat, though she remained standing. “No, I’ll find what you need, and even if you put me up in a hotel somewhere, I’ll still be scared and humiliated. It’s better if I stay.”
He sipped his beer then leaned forward. “I can’t tell you no, even though I should.”
Brushing her pajama pants before she sat down next to him, she inched closer, taking his beer from his hands and taking a small a sip. “My mouth was dry.”
His stare at her lips made her body hum for attention. Looking down, she listened to her breathing when he told her, “Pen, I won’t let anything happen to you. Not because of my mother.”
Sighing, she scooted closer again and admitted, “I’d lean my head on your shoulder, but that cracked rib of yours—”
His head relaxed against the back of the couch when he turned to stare at her eyes. “Then sleep next to me.”
She gulped, her entire body electrified, before she whispered her answer. “You know I can’t have sex with you right now. I’m super-fertile.”
His dimples widened before he let out a laugh. “Get your mind off my body. It will be easier to keep you safe.”
She laughed with him, letting her head fall back on the couch. His dimples kept her gaze when he stood up holding her hand. He let her go while her hand traced his calf muscle He leaned down, picked up her hand, kissed it, and tugged to get her to follow.
Taking in a deep breath, she smelled his warm skin, and finally she felt warm. She followed him into his room and headed straight for the bed when he opened the door for her.
He closed the door, and his eyes watched her before he walked away, heading into his bathroom to shower. Her eyes closed and relaxed.
Sighing, she felt the mattress sway when he lay down next to her. Without opening her eyes, she snuggled up next to him.
He chuckled, fixing his pillow. “Your lack of grace is another honest part of you.”
Rolling her head up, she whispered, “I’m tired of talking now. I’m out of words now.”
He hugged her closer and fixed the blanket on them both. “Night, then. There are a few more things, but time will settle it.”
Her lips parted and she knew she needed this stillness. She kept her eyes closed and drifted off.
The smell of coffee invaded her nostrils. Stretching, she lay in an empty bed, though his side still had some of his warmness. Twisting into it, she smelled his sheets and smiled. Keeping her eyes closed, she stayed still, even when she heard his footsteps come back into the bedroom.
Putting his hand on her shoulder, he whispered, “I made you coffee.”
Without opening her eyes, she nodded. “I smell it.”
He sat on the bed and the sheets rolled away. Opening her eyes, she blinked. He had a cup in his hand. Reaching out, she sat up on her knees. He handed it over, mussing up her hair. “Sexiness, you did tell me you’d go to work and find the files today.”
Groaning, she nodded while using two hands to hold the cup. “What time is it?”
He moved one foot on the bed while keeping the other on the ground. “Seven. I called the office and you’re all set to go in.”
Sipping her coffee made her senses awake. With a half-smile, she asked, “Aren’t you going?”
He sat back up and paced to the window. She followed him with her gaze while she sat cross-legged. “No. I’m working here this morning. I’ll leak the news of my takeover bid and announce a press conference for tonight at five. I’ll need whatever you can find before then.”
Tilting her head, she tried to understand. “Will you be okay by yourself? You shouldn’t be alone.”
He nodded to the window, not to her, before he came back to stand at the bed. “I’ll be fine. It’s just business from now on, and no more mercy for anyone.”
She stood up next to him, swaying a little on her feet before asking in a soft voice, “Even me?”
Putting his hands on her hips to steady her, he lifted her chin to meet her gaze. “Keeping you safe is my goal now, too. I need you too much.”
Her lips opened, half expecting a kiss before she closed her mouth. Shaking her head, she stepped back. “I’ll get dressed. I won’t let you down, Dimples.”
“You never could.”
Without turning around, she stopped and her feet curled up. She wished she believed that. Holding her coffee in her hand, she stared down at it, promising to do her best.
Getting dressed, putting the coffee cup in the dishwasher, and picking up her bag, her mind sharpened on Jay. She wished she never had to let him down. He deserved better. She forced herself to focus on her car, the road, parking, but Jay’s fierce promise to keep her safe made her yearn for the impossible.
Adjusting her clothes, she straightened up and headed inside the high-rise. Jay’s work. Penelope Financial. A silly grin caught hold, thinking about that. Smiling, with a bounce to her step, she opened the office door, where everyone stopped and stared at her. Disappearing into the ground didn’t happen like she imagined. Raising her chin just a notch, she nodded, remembering Jay had hired her. With more assured steps, she continued going farther inside. At the first desk, she told the receptionist, “I’m Penelope Knightheart. I’m here to work on something.”
The woman stood up, stiff and shaking. “I’ll show you to your office, ma’am.”
Raising her eyebrow at the woman’s nervousness, Penny offered a tentative smile. “Don’t call me ‘ma’am.’ We’re the same age.”
The woman shook her head with a glued-on smile full of nerves. Penny gave her an understanding nod until she told her, “Your boyfriend pays me and named the company after you. We’re not in the same league.”
Her brows shot up momentarily right before she laughed. How silly. Reaching out her hand, she asked, “What’s your name?”
“Adena,” the woman answered, taking the offered handshake.
A smile returned to her. “Hi, look, I’m Penny. I’m not in any league, but I am here on a mission for Jay. Where can I get the plans I’m supposed to check?”
“I’ll get them for you now.”
Penny stared in her office. She’d talk to Jay about it later, but the task at hand was to find flaws in the design. Adena brought the plans in. After unwrapping the designs, Penny opened her laptop and went into concentration mode.
A few hours later, her stomach grumbled. Dropping the pencil in her hand, she hit save on the computer. The smile on her face wavered while her mouth watered for food. Fourteen flaws already and only two-thirds of the way done. Her stomach churned again. Sustenance would revive her work ethic.
Getting up, she stretched her cramped muscles, prayed this was a period sign, then reached for her bag. Closing her eyes, she giggled at her foolishness. No lunch bag. She’d had enough pizza for the next month, possibly forever. She only lived ten minutes away.
After closing her office door, she locked up, then walked out. Fewer stares at her this time. Everyone focused on their jobs. As she raced to the elevator, her heels clicked on the marble floors. Food, say hello to Jay, go back to work…the plan made sense.
The drive to her place by the water while the sun streamed in revived her spirits. Her muscles weren’t tense anymore. Dimples would be upstairs too, making her smile brighter. The doorman nodded at her as she pulled into her spot. She waved back, hitting the button for the elevator while humming her favorite new song. Today she helped that man waiting upstairs for her.
When the elevator door opened, her lightheartedness dropped like an anchor in her stomach. Jay’s horrified eyes stared at her from his seat near the entrance before his jaw dropped. She stepped off the elevator awkwardly. What was she supposed to say?
He ran his hands through his thick head of hair. “You’re supposed to be at work.”
Was she overheated from the humidity? She swallowed. “I forgot my lunch.”
He ran his hand down to his mouth, revealing a harder grimace before he took her hand, dragging her into his office. “Did something happen? What are you showing me?”
“I can’t explain right now.” Keeping a firm grip on her hand, he opened the safe room under the stairs and shoved her inside.
Twisting around, she felt the door slam in her face. Shuffling back, she stared at the door. Her stomach fluttered before she stumbled in the darkness. Cursing under her breath, she searched the wall until she found a light switch.
Kicking the door, she yelled at him, but he couldn’t hear. A sudden coldness hit her hard again. Her gaze darted around the room until she found a remote for the monitor. Fumbling to turn it on, she hit the button. Backing into the wall, she screamed. Three men with guns stepped off the elevator while Jay walked over to greet the one in the middle. Shallow, quick gasps did not stop her entire body from tensing.