Chapter 6 Greyson
GREYSON
There is nothing I love more than fucking Penny Green.
And it’s safe to say that she enjoys it too.
Every morning, I try to let her sleep in, but seeing her naked beside me, I can’t help myself, and things get carried away.
I’ve taken to calling her into my office for no reason other than to role-play because something about hearing the words, “Mr. Prosper,” coming out of her pretty lips makes my dick as hard as it’s ever been.
And every damn night when I come home, she’s waiting for me, eager to be filled and used however I like.
But as much as I enjoy her body, she never lets me into her heart. Every time I try to talk about our future together, she mentions the blonde bimbos I used to consort with in the past, insisting I wouldn’t want to give them up when the truth is, she’s the only woman I’ll ever get hard for again.
Hopefully, tonight’s dinner will show her how serious I am about us.
“I don’t like the way this fits,” Penny huffs as she looks down at the crimson dress I ordered. “It’s too snug around my belly, and my boobs look enormous.”
“Your boobs are enormous.”
“Yeah, but I don’t want the whole damn ranch knowing that.”
“I do.”
She sticks her tongue out at me, which predictably makes my dick hard. I consider spreading her sweet thighs and fucking her one last time before dinner, but decide against it.
Frowning, Penny whispers, “I don’t want the entire world to know I’m expecting.”
“And why the hell not?”
“Because I still don’t know what our arrangement will be.”
“It’ll be you, in my house, forever, with our baby. Maybe two.”
She rolls her eyes and shakes her head.
“Here.” I offer her an oversized cardigan to make her feel more comfortable.
“Thank you.” She smiles, slipping it on. She lifts her arms and turns. “Does this look okay?”
I take in the sight of Penny’s gorgeous figure in the party dress and kick myself for not taking her one last time before the dinner, because it’s going to be torture.
Her hair is done up in a clip, and she’s put a light covering of makeup on. It does nothing to detract from her beauty, but I still prefer her fresh-faced.
“God, you’re perfect,” I tell her.
When she tries to look away, I redirect her gaze to mine so that I might get lost in her big doe eyes. “Believe me, Ms. Green. You are absolutely breathtaking.”
Her cheeks tint pink.
“You ready?”
“Oh, I almost forgot.” She grabs her glasses and puts them on. “Without these, I won’t get to see everyone’s judgmental expressions.”
Ignoring her comment, I say, “Let’s go.”
“Wait…do I really have to go?”
“Did you think I was going to let you hide forever?”
“Everyone is going to know that you’re only with me because I’m pregnant.”
“That’s not even a little bit true.”
“But it feels like it is.”
“Penny, your pregnancy is starting to show. Soon, people will start whispering, and it’ll turn into a scandal.”
“So that’s why you’re telling everyone like this?”
“No, I’m telling them like this because I’m excited. I’m just informing you of how it will look if we don’t get the word out soon.”
“This is easy for you, because you’re not the one that will be on the receiving end of all the hateful gossip that’s bound to come of it.”
“Hateful gossip?”
“More than one Hollywood starlet has you on their radar.”
“And by that, you mean the Prosper legacy?”
“Yeah, with the number of zeros you have attached to your name, it’s a surprise you haven’t been courted by royalty.”
“I have.”
“See? Now imagine being a nobody and having to contend with the ire of Hollywood and European nobility when they realize I’m having a Prosper heir.”
“Well, that’s going to happen, and I swear to protect you.”
“But it doesn’t have to happen. I could remain a nobody.”
“I’m not hiding you and my child from the world, Penny, and you’d better get that through your head right now.”
PENNY
He’ll never understand the impossible situation I’ve been put in. How much hatred and scorn I’ll receive once word gets out of my pregnancy.
It’s unfair of me to blame Greyson. I’m just as much at fault for the predicament as he is, but somehow, people will see him as the victim, saying I’m some type of gold digger who baby trapped him.
And maybe he is trapped. He doesn't act like he feels that way, but he never would.
As we step into Prosper Manor, I feel like there’s a spotlight on me. All five of his brothers and his father are already there, along with a few staff they treat like family.
His brothers look surprised to see us together. All except Duke, who’d walked in on us all those months ago.
Papa Prosper comes over, his cane thumping with every labored step.
“And what do we have here?” he asks in an amused tone.
Greyson winks at his father, who chuckles in response.
It’s been long expected that Greyson would be the first to take a wife, being the eldest brother.
Clint, the next oldest, lacks the drive of a second son, so Duke fills that role even though he was born fourth.
Wade came third, Ryder, fifth, and, finally, Axel, the baby, who only just turned twenty-two.
Six eligible bachelors that women fall head over heels for, and I managed to get knocked up by the most desirable of them all, albeit unwittingly.
Papa Prosper has had to wait a long time for grandkids, so it’s safe to say he doesn’t care who Greyson knocked up, and he makes no attempt to hide his enthusiastic grin.
The food is set up buffet style, and without addressing the elephant in the room, Greyson loads up a plate with appetizers and hands it to me.
The heat of everyone’s gaze makes me feel small as Greyson guides me to the table. Papa Prosper sits at the head with Greyson to his right. Typically, Clint would sit on the other side of Grey, but he insists I claim that seat, which will not go ignored.
Greyson’s brothers whisper to each other under their breath, smirking. All except Axel, who looks sullen.
He’s always had a soft spot for me, his gaze lingering a little longer than it should. Not that he ever acted on it.
After the appetizers have been devoured, Javier, the chef, brings out the prime rib roasts along with sides.
Greyson grabs me a portion so big my mouth falls open. I want to hand it back, but I know it will only make him fuss, drawing more attention.
Once we’ve all been served, Papa Prosper stands and clinks his glass with his fork.
“If I could have everyone’s attention for just a moment, I’d like to give thanks to the good lord and all the people who helped make this meal possible.”
Everyone murmurs in agreement as he goes down the list of workers, clients, and kin before finally directing his gaze to me and Greyson.
“Is there anything anyone would like to add?” he asks. “Perhaps the person who arranged this feast?”
Greyson clears his throat and rises to a stand.
If I could melt to the floor, I would.
“Thank you, everyone, for coming tonight. I had Duke plan this dinner so I could make an announcement, because you’re all as close as family, and I want you to be the first to know.”
I bow my head and wait for impact.
“A few months ago, I made a decision that would change the course of my entire life, and that was to open my eyes and see what was standing right in front of me: Ms. Penny Green.
“For years, she’s worked tirelessly to keep our ranch running, never complaining—”
“Bullshit!” Wade cracks with a chuckle.
“Never complaining too much and always offering to help others. She’s also been the only one to tell me no, and to stick it where the sun don’t shine.”
Everyone laughs. Even Axel, whom I know is hurting.
“Now, circling back to my decision, I just want to say that this isn’t sudden. It was a long time coming, and I hope I have y’all’s support and blessing when I tell you my intention of bringing Ms. Penny Green into the Prosper family.”
Into the family?
It suddenly occurs to me that this dinner wasn’t to announce my pregnancy.
Greyson digs into his pocket and pulls out a tiny box, flipping open the lid. Duke takes away his chair, and he gets down on one knee.
“No!” I blurt, mortified that he would do this without warning me first.
Greyson chuckles. “I haven’t even gotten to the question yet.”
The room laughs along with him.
I want to crawl under a rock.
“Ms. Penny Green, would you do me the honor of becoming Mrs. Penny Prosper?”
I look around nervously, my face flushing with heat.
Ever since I’d started working here, I’d dreamed of what it would be like to be a Prosper.
But not like this.
One careless night shouldn’t doom Greyson to marry someone he doesn’t love.
And make no mistake—he doesn’t love me. Not in the way a man should love the woman he’s asking to marry.
I’m fairly certain he likes me. Maybe even a little more than like. But love? Nope. He’s just doing what he thinks is right.
And I can’t have that.
Unable to look at him, I get up from my seat. Tears sting my eyes. I wipe them away, trying to put on the bravest face I can.
“I can’t,” I choke out to a chorus of gasps.
“Penny…” Greyson says quietly.
Knowing it’ll come out soon anyway, I look around the room at the shocked guests.
“While it would be an honor to join the Prosper family, this proposal isn’t what you think. I’m pregnant and Greyson is trying to do the right thing.”
Greyson rises to his feet. “That’s not true!”
I wipe a few rogue tears away. “Then tell me, Grey, why haven’t you so much as looked at me since I came to work on your ranch?”
His mouth falls open, but before he can reply, I run.
GREYSON
I watch as Penny storms from the banquet hall, furious that she felt the need to run.
I tried to do everything right. I moved her straight into my house, gave her whatever she wanted, and gathered the family together to celebrate our union, so she didn’t think I was trying to hide her. I even proposed to her with my momma’s ring, at Duke’s insistence.
What else was I supposed to do?
“If you’ll excuse me—”
Before I can finish, Papa cuts me off. “Take your seat, son.”
“I need to check on Penny.”
“No, you don’t.”
“But—”
“Give her time; give her space,” he says, cutting into his food. “Enjoy the good lord’s bounty.”
How the hell am I supposed to enjoy my meal when the love of my life just stormed off after I asked her to marry me?
Every cell in my body demands I go after my girl—and make no mistake, she is my girl—but a nagging feeling in the back of my mind tells me to listen to my pa.
Before Ma passed, they’d had thirty-three loving years together. They were the gold standard as far as relationships go, and since she’s been gone, my father hasn’t so much as looked twice at another woman.
That’s what I want with Penny.
But maybe it’s time I acknowledge that our goals may not align, and that through my heartache, I’ll have to find a way to co-parent.
I take my seat and push my food around my plate. Pa has someone package up Penny’s meal to bring it to her, which brings me a measure of relief because she needs to eat.
When the meal is finally over, Father says a few things to my kin and gestures for me to follow him, leading me through the sprawling estate to a sitting area where he spends most of his time.
“Take a seat.”
I do so without arguing, hoping he doesn’t take long.
He sits down in his favorite chair and pulls out his pipe. “So, you and Penny?”
“I…honestly don’t know.”
“I always did like that girl. Hard worker. Never complains.”
“You obviously haven’t been around her much.”
He chuckles. “I suppose I haven’t.”
“I don’t know what to do. I thought this was going to be easy, but she’s so damn stubborn.”
“That was your first mistake—assuming affairs of the heart would be easy.”
“It was for you.”
“That’s only because you saw the destination, but never the journey. Your ma wanted nothing to do with me on account that she thought I was too wild. It took me five years to whittle her doubts away.”
“But me and Penny don’t have five years.”
“Sure you do. You think that just because she’s having a baby, there’s some clock ticking?”
“Yeah.”
“Well, you’re wrong. Tonight, you’re staying here, in your old room, and tomorrow, you learn what courtship is.”
“I know what courtship is.”
“No, you don’t. It’s slow, sensual. It’s the unveiling of each other, and the discovery of your true self. If your relationship is a brick wall, courtship is the mortar.”
“What if I give it my all and she still doesn’t want me?”
“Then you’re going to have to find a way to live with that, but if I had to guess, that’s not your problem. You need to assure Penny you want her, not just because she’s pregnant, but because she’s Penny. That’s where the courtship comes in.”
I hate the thought of being away from Penny for a single night, but I know my father is right. I can’t rush this, even if she is pregnant.
It’ll take time. I’ll take the rest of my life proving myself to her, if I have to, because she’s worth it.
But I honestly don’t know if I can keep away from her.
“Thanks for the advice.”
“Are you going to take it?”
“I don’t know.”
“Give it a night, son. I think you’ll find that with a good night’s rest comes clarity.”
“I sure hope you’re right.”