7. Travis #2
“It’s still very nice of you to say.” They shared a smile, and I had the strange feeling of being on the outside, looking in.
She related to these people not as my employee, but almost like she was one of them.
She didn’t let their differences get in the way.
And there I was, thinking she would be all fingers and thumbs, so to speak.
That she would get flustered and check out, turning her attention to Sofia instead.
She seemed to make it her mission to surprise me.
I was surprised by many things, like the driving need to get her alone, where only I could drink in the sight of her body and bask in the warmth of her smile. Suddenly, I couldn’t wait for the night to end, almost counting the minutes.
“Is this your first time on the East Coast?” Valentina asked.
“It is.” The way Penny giggled was charming. Normally, I would roll my eyes and consider getting another drink when I heard it. “I’m such a tourist. I took Sofia shopping today, and just stepping into the store was like a major experience.”
“Beverly Hills is pretty ritzy,” Ivy pointed out.
“Please,” Penny countered, laughing gently. “Before now, I wouldn’t dream of stepping foot into a store like the ones out there, either. I’d be too afraid they would tell me to leave.” And I’d burn the store down if they did. Better yet, I’d buy it and fire the fuckers.
“What do you have planned for tomorrow?” Aria asked, prompting Penny to launch into a list of possibilities while I sat back with my scotch, lost in thought.
This was tricky territory. I had to hit the brakes before things spun out of control. I had already seriously considered assaulting a server.
Colton elbowed me. “She’s cute and great with Sofia. You lucked out.”
Funny. Before now, if he’d made that point, I would’ve recited the laundry list of reasons why the girl was all wrong.
Too perky. Too much. Sitting beside her now, gazing at her delicate profile, noticing the way her sapphire blue eyes lit up with excitement when Aria and Valentina offered to take her and Sofia to lunch, I couldn’t bring myself to complain.
I could hardly remember why I had in the first place.
The scotch was probably helping, as every sip unwound me a little more until I was feeling loose, relaxed. For the first time as long as I could remember, I was at peace.
That feeling lasted long into the night, with all of us sitting around the table well past the point where the plates were cleared, and after-dinner drinks were enjoyed.
Valentina leaned against her husband, Evan, while their daughter, Isabel, slept in his lap.
Colton did the same with his Eloise. Sofia struggled to keep her eyes open, but it was no use.
She wound up falling asleep, curled up on her chair, with her head in Penny’s lap.
I watched silently as Penny absentmindedly stroked Sofia’s curls when chatting with the other women. The most natural gesture but one that filled me with an inexplicable sense of satisfaction—watching her love my child.
That satisfaction carried on past the point of our saying goodbye when it was clear the staff wanted to go home.
“We’ll meet out at the country club tomorrow morning,” Colton reminded me, referring to an establishment in the Hamptons that Evan owned.
“I know Dad and Uncle Connor and the others would love to hear about your new expansion.”
“I’ll be there,” I replied, pulling out Penny’s chair. The temptation to touch her was too much to resist. My fingers brushed against her bare shoulder, and she shivered, turning her head and locking eyes with me. They glowed with the same light I saw in them last night. I wasn’t imagining things.
In the car, with Sofia asleep in my lap, I asked, “Did you have a good time?”
Penny’s sweet sigh answered my question. “I feel so good. Like I’m all filled up inside. I never met those people before tonight, but I feel like I’ve known them forever.”
I understood the feeling. It was good to connect with them and catch up on their lives.
I was looking forward to breakfast and an early tee time.
More than anything, I looked forward to getting back to the hotel.
I might have satisfied my appetite during dinner, but there were other appetites to be addressed.
Once Sofia was in pajamas and tucked into bed, I crept out of her room, leaving the door open a crack to let the hallway light in. If she woke up in the night, she’d be able to at least see where she was.
After that, it was a matter of hunting down the woman whose kiss still lingered at the forefront of my memory. I found her in her room, the door open, only she wasn’t getting dressed or preparing for bed. She stood at the window, gazing down at the city.
It was enough for a heartbeat or two to watch her framed against the skyline. Then, it was a matter of my feet carrying me across the room, where she turned at the sound of my approach.
To hell with right and wrong. Nothing had ever felt more right than this, anyway.
To hell with whether or not I could trust her after this.
To hell with the consequences.
Taking her face in my hands, I claimed her delicious mouth for myself again.