Penelope
“How are you not sleeping?” I cuddled next to Trevor while he scribbled down a few more lyrics. He looked dead sexy in black-rimmed glasses, completely naked, with the sheets falling dangerously low on his hips as he continued writing.
“I’d be an idiot to sleep while you’re in my bed, plus I slept most of the day because of how crappy I was feeling, and now inspiration.” He grinned down at me. “You sleep, and I’ll wake you up when I’m done.”
“What are you writing?” I leaned up on my elbow and covered up my yawn with my hand.
“You,” was all he said.
Stunned, I stared at him, waiting for him to elaborate, and when he didn’t, I cleared my throat.
He grinned down at the notepad. “You inspired me.”
“As in my boobs inspired you or something else?”
He burst out laughing. “While I do find your boobs especially inspirational…” He leaned down and kissed the side of my mouth. “I’m afraid I’m a bit more obsessed with this.” He pressed his palm to the center of my chest. “And when I get obsessed, I write.”
Tears filled my eyes. “You’re—you’re writing about me?”
“You. Your heart. Your beautiful soul. Yes.”
“Are you done?” I moved slowly.
He scribbled something else down and studied the paper. “Why?”
“Because I’m about ready to seduce you for saying those words, for writing a song—you do realize how sexy that is, right?”
He shifted his gaze to me. “Yeah, I’m actually just writing my name over and over again. Took you long enough.”
I tossed a pillow at him.
He caught it and then caught me by the wrists and pinned me against the mattress. “I’m kidding, I really am writing about you. People like songs that have passion, and I’m feeling very passionate—about you.”
“Keep saying things like that and you won’t get rid of me.” I used a teasing tone, but part of me didn’t want to tease.
He drew out a long kiss against my lips and whispered into the night, “Good.”
I fell asleep against him, the heat of his body almost as addicting as his kiss.
I woke up with him wrapped around me.
With a smile on my face.
And contentment in my heart.
Being with him had been different, a good different. It felt like we fit and for the first time in years it was like the universe was putting me back on the right path, with him. Maybe I left Cunningham Falls for him, for this.
I knew I had to get up early to work, but I really, really wanted to stay in bed with him with the fireplace on.
Grumbling, I got out of his massive bed and started putting my clothes back on from the night before. At least the walk of shame was only a few doors down.
I smiled to myself and quickly ran to my room to get ready.
An hour later, the house was still dark. I tiptoed back to the master and found him sitting up writing again.
“Same song?”
“Yeah.” He looked up and smiled. “You headed to work?”
“Somebody has to make coffee in the shit hole.” I crossed my arms and gave him a little taunting look.
He groaned. “I’m sorry, it just came out. I think I was exhausted and—sorry, there’s no excuse. It’s a really small coffee shop—that happens to have the best coffee in Seaside. Forgive me?”
“You may need to earn more forgiveness.” I raised my eyebrows then shot him a suggestive smile. “Hard labor. I’m owed more nakedness, don’t you think?”
“As much as you want.” He set his papers aside, stood, and slowly sauntered toward me. I knew he didn’t do it on purpose. He oozed sexuality, and now that we’d been together, it was impacting me so severely that my thighs were trembling and my body was already buzzing with awareness of what it felt like to have him inside me, to hold him tight and cling to him like he was my universe. “You know…” He tilted my chin toward him. “I’m this close to asking how much they pay you so I can double it and keep you in bed.”
“Ah, but the world needs me.” I laughed. “Oh, and that’s prostitution, Trevor, so maybe let’s not get arrested today, okay?”
He laughed. “Fine. I’ll see you at one?”
“Want me to grab Subway for the kids or something?”
“Sure, they’d love that.” He reached for his wallet on the nightstand.
“Got my own money. I mean not millions like you but I can handle Subway.” I chuckled and pointed at his notebook on the bed. “Your payment is getting that song done so I can hear it.”
“Deal.” He pressed a kiss to my mouth and then deepened it. God, his tongue was like velvet, how was that even possible?
I moaned into his mouth.
We broke apart, both of us out of breath.
“Going,” I rasped. “Before I put my mouth—”
He kissed me again, interlocking his fingers with mine, pressing me against the bedpost. “How much time do we have?”
“Trev—” Oh, holy wow, okay, he had his hands in my leggings, already rolling them down my hips. “Maybe eight minutes.”
“Mmm…” He flipped me around so I faced the bed post and thrust into me with one smooth movement that had me gasping for air. “The only way to start the morning.”
“Except Folgers,” I joked, and then nearly collapsed against him as I felt my release, quick and forceful.
“We should start every morning like this,” he whispered against the crook of my neck.
“Deal.” I drew a few deep breaths until I felt steadier.
And was still catching my breath by the time I made it to the coffee shop. Dani stopped by to grab coffees for the guys since they were headed into the studio later.
Just when I was about to leave my shift, a really pretty woman walked in.
She had jet black hair, perfectly pouted lips, and a tan that I knew had to be real, it was so golden.
“Wow.” She scrunched up her nose and looked around the place. The woman looked like a Brazilian supermodel with nothing but good genes running through her body. “How cute.”
“Um…thanks?” I smiled even though something felt off about her. “Is there something I can get for you?”
“Oh, sorry.” She looked anything but. “I’m looking for a Penelope or Penny?”
I frowned. “That’s me.”
She stared, and stared harder. “You’re kidding.”
“Afraid not, what can I do for you?”
Her smile grew to epic proportions. “Oh, honey.”
“Oh, honey? What?”
“You know—” She clasped her hands in front of her then turned on her heel. “Never mind, problem solved. Have a good day, Penelope. I know I will!”
“’Kay.” I shook my head. Stupid actresses and models swarming the area to get a look at A list actors. I rolled my eyes and made myself a coffee, then ran to Subway to grab some sandwiches. I was about ten minutes late by the time I got to Trevor’s.
A car I didn’t recognize was parked in front. Maybe one of the guys whose expensive car I hadn’t seen yet.
This one was a nice red Maserati SUV.
I’d stopped knocking on the door by day three, but when I went to open it, it was locked.
Forced to knock, I set my things on the ground in front of me and did just that.
The door swung open.
Rude woman from the coffee shop stood there in her leather dress and black painted fingernails that matched her hair, bright red lipstick, perfect tan, and little booties hugging her what I imagined would be perfect feet. “Ah, the nanny’s here.”
“That’s me,” I said through clenched teeth. “I’m sorry, but what are you doing here? Oh no! The kids!” I shoved past her, worry about the strange woman gone as I saw each of the kids sitting at the table eating pizza.
“Penny!” they said in unison.
“Hey, guys!” They were fine. In fact, they looked more than fine. “Where’s your dad?”
“Oh, he went to the studio.” The woman crossed her arms. “You get the day off, yay.”
“I’m sorry, but I’m not leaving you with the kids alone. I don’t know you.” I crossed my arms to mirror her. “Unless I hear it from Trevor—”
“Mommy!” Bella giggled. “Can you get me some more Sprite?”
“Sure, honey.” She winked and went over to the fridge to grab some Sprite, Sprite that I’d purchased for the kids for when they were allowed to have soda.
It was next to the gallon of milk I’d gotten because Trevor had forgotten.
A golf ball lodged in my throat as I watched this strange woman, Trevor’s ex-wife, move through the house like she’d been the one to make it a home. When I knew that in the last two weeks I’d done more than she ever had.
“What are you doing here?” I asked boldly.
“Being a parent,” she fired back. “And a wife.”
My jaw went slack. “Can I talk to you for a minute?”
“Sure.” She gave Bella her pop. “Eric, help your sister open it. No spills.”
“Okay.” He was the only one who seemed mildly upset over the pizza. And suddenly the Subway I’d bought them felt pathetic and stupid.
So did my cheap leggings and my long-sleeve Henley.
And the stupid beanie I’d put on.
The lip gloss I’d purchased at Sephora.
Everything felt…less than.
And I hated it.
Trevor had never made me feel that way.
This woman did with not so much as a word.
“You can’t just say things like that,” I whispered in a low voice. “The kids, they miss you—”
“I’m going to stop you right there, Penny.” She held up her hand like I was a petulant child. “Those kids are mine, not yours. This life is mine, not yours. Got it? I’m their mother, not you. And Trevor and I are still working through some things.”
That was when I saw the ring.
On her left hand.
It was so many karats that I was sure it cramped the muscles on that side of her body because of the weight.
It was beautiful.
It was just like her.
I shook my head, tears filling my eyes.
“Sweetie, we’re talking about Trevor Wood here. Did you really think that he was going to go for—” She narrowed her eyes in disbelief as her gaze raked over me. “Whatever you have going on?”
I felt that stare all the way into my Nikes.
“That’s not—” I prayed for patience. “That’s not what I mean. Trevor said you guys are divorced, ergo, you can’t come in here randomly and give the children hope.”
There, that sounded good.
“Oh, sweetie, he didn’t tell you, did he? Shame.” Her grin was pure evil. “I haven’t signed shit. We’re legally separated. Not. Divorced.”
The room started spinning.
The kids laughed in the distance.
And she stared at me like she’d won, when I wasn’t even aware I was in a game. Let alone racing her.
“I’ll just…” I moved past her. “Kids? If you need anything, you have my number, okay?”
“Okay!” they chirped.
I shared a look with Eric, but he quickly averted his eyes.
Bella grinned at me. “Isn’t it great, Penny? Mommy’s back!”
“It’s…something.” I forced a smile that felt more like my face was on the verge of breaking into a million pieces and excused myself from the house.
I grabbed the Subway food and put it back in my car.
With shaking hands, I took a sip of coffee, only to have it spill down the front of my shirt.
And then I burst into tears and called the only person who could give me answers.
Only to have it go straight to voicemail.