Chapter 10
JOSIE
Someone who looks a hell of a lot like Victor Penmayne walks through the coffee shop door, and for a moment I totally freeze in shock.
He’s back?
No. He can’t be.
I have a double look at the man, and I realize my mind is playing stupid tricks on me.
It’s not Victor who walks into The Oak - it’s a man who very much looks like the famous actor. He might not have the exact characteristics as Victor, but there’s a real Penmayne-ness to him. That same shape. Square jaw. Visible Adam’s apple. A broad-shouldered figure.
This man has hazel eyes. He seems more world-weary than Victor. He’s seen more shit.
And he’s wearing a uniform - a firefighter’s uniform. A deep blue polo shirt with the title of Crystal River’s Firefighter Department printed on the back.
And now I get it...
He’s Connor Penmayne – Victor’s brother. No wonder I thought he was him for a moment. He’s another one from that billionaire family. I have heard all about Connor but, surprisingly, have never seen him in the flesh before. I’ve heard he has shunned his family’s fortune to work in the fire department of Crystal River. He’s tried to keep his head low and out of gossip ever since he left that mansion of theirs. Going incognito in this world must be pretty damn hard to do as a Penmayne, but it seems like he’s succeeding. Even if he does look like a spitting image of one of his siblings.
Standing behind the coffee counter, I look out the window to see the crew’s firetruck parked outside. An army of firefighters disembarks behind Connor and heads inside The Oak.
And straight for me.
I serve each of the firefighters in turn. They are all polite and courteous as they order their coffees and almond croissants. They’re big burly men but with good hearts and kind natures, exactly the kind of people you want beside you as your house burns to the ground.
Seeing the sudden burst of men swarming the coffee shop, Amanda suddenly appears beside me to help.
“I love a man in uniform,” she whispers to me as I hand over another coffee to the next firefighter.
“Of course you do, Amanda.”
“I’m always willing to serve the good firefighter men of Crystal River. Very willing.”
“Very selfless of you, Amanda.”
I turn back to the till. Connor is up next. His Penmayne-ness makes my heart skip a beat.
God, they are all really alike, aren’t they?
Closer, he is revealed to be even more handsome than he was from across the coffee shop. He’s got rough and rugged features, much more so than his preening actor brother – clearly, this is the tough Penmayne brother.
“And for you?” I ask him, trying to pretend I don’t recognize his face. He must get that all the time.
His eyes meet mine for the briefest of moments before he glances at the price board behind me.
“Coffee,” he replies. It’s barely more than a grunt.
He’s quiet. Grumpy. He’s not rude, but I can tell he’s an introvert and clearly hates human interaction. That’s fair.
I get him his coffee from Amanda.
“We’re famous for our almond croissants,” I tell him. “Maybe you should try one.”
“No.”
He turns around and heads to the table full of his firefighter colleagues. I watch him walk away, unintentionally holding my breath until he sits down.
Two Penmayne brothers in as many days...
It really is like the universe is playing games with me.
“That’s Connor Penmayne,” Amanda whispers into my ear. “Do you know that?”
“Yes, I could tell,” I reply. “He looks like his brothers but seems a lot grumpier.”
“First, there was Victor, now there’s Connor. I wonder if their dad will come in next. Apparently, he’s a real piece of work.”
“I can imagine,” I reply, still staring at the firefighter.
“Connor doesn’t like to be associated with his family, though, doesn’t he?”
“Yeah, I’ve heard.”
“But he’s still so goddamn gorgeous,” Amanda remarks. “I don’t know what they fed those Penmayne brothers as children, but it sure worked a charm.”
“Maybe you should stand outside their mansion waiting for one to scoop you up,” I say to my boss with a wink.
She laughs.
“There are worse things than having a handsome billionaire fall for you, Josie.”
“Sure there is.”
I step to the side and start washing a tray of drinks in the sink. As I do so, I spy Connor out of the corner of my eyes.
The Penmayne family is so strange. It’s so strange that this quiet, unassuming, grumpy man is the brother of the charismatic larger-than-life playboy actor who boldly asked for my number. They come from the same genes.
I actually succumbed to temptation last night and watched one of Victor’s movies. It was an action-drama flick. Not my usual type of thing - I’m not someone who goes for explosions and fist-fighting. But I have to say that Victor was amazing – every inch the movie star. There was a scene where he rescued a girl and said some killer line and, yeah, I know it’s all make-believe, but his performance made me slightly fall for him. He won me over in ninety minutes. I know it was just a movie, but damn – I can see why he’s paid the big bucks.
I still can’t believe we actually spoke at the place where I work.
I still can’t believe he found me interesting.
I still can’t believe he asked for my number.