2. Chapter Two
Chapter Two
LUCAS
T he grin on my face drops as soon as the door closes on Penelope’s distraught face. What the hell has happened to have the paparazzi out for her blood? Whatever it is, she can handle it herself. If she thinks I’m coming to her rescue, she can think again. She doesn’t deserve my help; not after what she put me through in high school.
“Was that Penelope Aldin out there?” Angel asks. Is that the name she was born with or her stripper name? Who even cares? I brought the raven-haired beauty to my hotel room to fuck, not to get to know her.
“Yeah, it is.” My jaw clenches like it does every time our paths cross. Now that she’s become close friends with my sisters-in-law, I’ve seen her more lately at family events than I want to. I banished her from my mind years ago. With her getting involved with the family, it’s only making me relive the past. And the pain she caused.
“Should we help her? She looked upset. Do you know her fian—”
I hook a hand around Angel’s waist and pull her toward me, interrupting whatever she was going to say. The last thing I want to do is talk about Penelope Aldin.
“You can go out there and help her. What I want to do is fuck. So, what’s it gonna be?” I ask.
Angel bites her bottom lip with indecision. To help her decide, I cup her ass and trail my tongue along her neck.
“I want to fuck,” she says breathlessly.
“Good answer,” I mumble against her neck.
Spinning her around, I pin her against the door. I lift her arms above her head. Her ass wiggles in front of me, and I grind my cock against her, pulling a moan from her. Just as I’m about to remove the tiny piece of glittery, gold fabric wrapped around Angel’s body, the muffled sounds of Penelope’s name being called repeatedly can be heard from the hallway. For fuck’s sake! With Angel pinned against the door and ready for me, Penelope’s name is the last name I want to hear.
Trying to block the commotion outside, my hands roam along Angel’s hips and up her torso until I reach her breasts. I pull down the top of her dress, and her large, firm tits fall into my hands. She cries out when I massage them and tweak her nipples.
“Penelope! Penelope! Give us the story!”
“Penelope! Will you take him back?” The muffled voices continue to interrupt me.
Blowing out a frustrated breath, I lean over Angel’s shoulder and look through the peephole into the hallway. Penelope is curled up on the floor with four men surrounding her taking pictures. My stomach twists into a tight knot. As much as I hate her, I hate the paparazzi more. What they’re doing is fucking disgusting.
Why the hell isn’t she getting away from them? She said she got locked out of her room. Surely she can get another key at reception. Or are those fuckwits stopping her from leaving? If that’s the case, this is fucked up. No one should feel trapped.
“Excuse me.” I move Angel to the side and open the door. “Penelope,” I call. She doesn’t respond. Probably can’t hear me over the noise the assholes are making. “Penelope,” I yell.
At the sound of my voice, her head snaps up. Tears are sliding down her flushed cheeks. Her eyes are red-rimmed and wide with fright. I nod my head for her to come to me. Without hesitation, she scrambles to her feet and takes a step toward my room only to have her path blocked.
I propel from the doorway and barge my way through the assholes. “Get out of the fucking way!”
When I reach her, I throw my arm around her shoulders. Turning toward me, she buries her face in my chest. Her body is shaking in my arms. I nudge the men out of my way to get back to my room.
“Hey! You’re Lucas Alessi,” one of the photographers states.
Crap. I was hoping I wouldn’t be recognized. I don’t want my name involved with whatever shit Penelope has gotten herself into.
“Is this why Darren Ellis cheated on you with Karen Featherstone?” another says.
“Are you two dating?” The vultures keep firing questions at us.
When I rushed from the room, the door had closed behind me, and I have to pull the keycard from my pocket to unlock it again. The men follow close behind, still yelling out questions. Once the door opens, I usher her inside the room, slamming the door on the assholes’ faces.
Pulling away from me, Penelope swipes the tears from her cheeks. “Th-thank you f-for helping m-me,” she says, her voice shaking. “Th-they wouldn’t leave m-me alone.”
“What the hell was all that about?” Whenever photographers are that frenzied, something major has happened.
“You don’t know?”
“Know what?”
“About…about…” She fiddles with the belt on her robe. “The video?”
“What video?”
She gives me a dubious expression. “It’s all over the internet.”
Did she burn a cake or paint the wrong color in someone’s living room? Isn’t that what all her videos are about? Not that I’ve watched any. Harper and Alyssa are obsessed with her show. They’re constantly talking about how Penelope’s given them the motivation to redecorate their homes.
“Tell me about it,” I say.
She wraps her arms around her waist when her gaze lands on Angel. The top of Angel’s dress is back in place. As soon as I can get rid of Penelope, I’ll get back to removing it again.
“Oh, sorry,” Penelope says. “I’m disturbing you. I’ll just—”
“What?” I nod toward the door. “Go back out there? You said you locked yourself out of your room. How did you manage that?”
“I ran out to stop a friend before she got into the elevator, but I missed her. The door to the room closed behind me, and I didn’t have the key. Before I could decide what I was going to do, those men—” She shivers. “—surrounded me.” Then her eyes narrow. “They couldn’t have gotten onto my floor without a key. Did you let them up? Did you find out I was staying here and sic them onto me?”
My jaw tightens. There is a reason I never want to see this woman. She’s a cold, heartless bitch. “I just saved your ass out there and you’re accusing me of creating that circus. What was I thinking helping you? I should have left you in the hallway.” I stomp toward the door and grab the handle. “Good luck out there.”
She holds her hand out like a stop sign. “No! Please don’t open it.” Her expression turns contrite. “I’m sorry. I can’t make sense of anything at the moment.”
I drop my arm by my side. “You need to tell me what’s going on.”
“You really don’t know?”
I shake my head. “I just got back from a photoshoot in Brazil. I haven’t touched my phone or been online.” After working five long days all I wanted to do was unwind in bed with a naked woman. Now Angel is sitting on the edge of the bed, swinging her leg from the knee, looking impatient. I have a feeling this night will not end the way I planned.
“Darren got caught cheating. Somone broadcasted a video of him having sex with Karen Featherstone at my show last night.”
“ Darren and Karen ? Those names are a joke, right?” I’d laugh out loud if she wasn’t looking so serious.
“With rhyming names like that, they’re a match made in heaven,” she says, her voice dripping with sarcasm.
The paparazzi’s questions now make sense. They also asked if we are dating. I’ll have to shut that rumor down fast. No way in hell do I want to be connected with Penelope Aldin.
“Who leaked the video?” I ask. “Was it Darren? He’s always been an attention whore.” Before he hooked up with Penelope, he was constantly tipping off the paparazzi as to where he was and who he was with. But his relationship with Penelope was his golden ticket, so would he risk losing it all?
She scratches her chin. “Who else could it have been? It had to have been Darren. I don’t know who hates me that much.”
I can think of one person who hates her—me. Although, I’d never stoop to such a low level to hurt her. It would be a waste of my time. Time I don’t want to spend on her.
“If it was him, why do it? Doing such a thing could ruin everything for him,” she says. “You’re right, he does like the limelight. But would he risk ruining his reputation?”
“Maybe he thought a good sex tape would boost it? Celebrities have done it before.”
She shuffles to the minibar and grabs a tiny bottle of whisky and twists off the cap.
“Help yourself,” I say with sarcasm.
“Don’t worry, I’ll pay for it,” she says then drinks it. “You might be right. He could have done it for the attention.”
I’m not worried about the money. I don’t want her passing out drunk in my room. The quicker I can figure out how to get her out of here, the better.
“Weren’t you and Darren getting married soon?” I ask.
She cocks a questioning eyebrow, her eyes looking a little glassy. “How do you know that?”
I lean my shoulder against the wall. “I’ve heard Harper and Alyssa talking about it.” Not that I care what’s happening in her life. It’s hard not to overhear their excited chatter.
“Tonight would have been our wedding night,” she says.
She drops on the edge of the bed next to Angel. Two contrasting women, each beautiful in their own way. Angel with her black hair, enhanced breasts, and olive skin looks like she can grace the covers of a swimsuit magazine. Penelope’s robe gaps slightly open, and I get a sneak peek of the tops of her creamy, full breasts. Her long, wavy, auburn hair hangs in wet strands over her shoulders. Even in her disheveled state, her natural beauty outshines Angel. Back in school I always thought Penelope stood out among the girls. Now she’s more beautiful as she’s gotten older.
“Oh, that is so sad,” Angel says, the comment pulling my gaze and thoughts away from Penelope. Why the hell am I looking? I hate everything about her.
“What’s sadder, or rather more pathetic, is I’m spending the night in our honeymoon suite.” She rubs her fingers along her forehead.
Angel massages soothing circles on Penelope’s back. “I saw the video. Darren Ellis is disgusting. Men are such dogs.” She gives me an apologetic look. “Except for you, Lucas.”
Penelope gives Angel a ghost of a smile.
Don’t sound so sure about that, Angel. I like to fuck hard and often, with rarely the same woman. I may not cheat, but that’s because I’m never in a relationship. And never want to be.
“You need to plan a payback. Maybe make your own video, only spice it up. A threesome would do the trick.” Angel glances at me like she’s running the production in her head.
I push away from the wall. “Keep me out of this. I’m not starring in your porno.” Although, with two beautiful women on my bed, my cock hardens at the thought. Then I quickly remember that one of those women is Penelope and I turn as soft as a cooked marshmallow.
Angel pouts her full, red lips. “Well, we’ll think of something else.”
For fuck’s sake, this isn’t a slumber party where girls sit around and gossip. What will they do next? Start a pillow fight? Actually, that thought has stirred my dick back to life. Shit! I have to get Penelope out of here.
“Can we save the girl talk for another time?” I say. “We need to figure out how to get Penelope back to her room without the paparazzi surrounding her.”
“Thanks again for coming to my rescue. I know I’m the last person you want to help.” The sincerity in her tone and expression makes me uncomfortable. Normally, whenever we see each other, we’re throwing death stares and insults at one another.
“You’re welcome.” I walk to the door and look through the peephole. “The fuckers are still out there.”
“What should I do?”
Dropping my hands on my hips, I blow out a frustrated breath. “I’ll see what the hotel staff can do.”
Walking to the bed, I pick up the phone on the nightstand and dial the reception desk. Asking to be put through to the manager, I explain the situation.
When I end the call, I pull a chair out from the table in the corner of the room and straddle it. “So, the fuckers out there have rented a room for the night. That explains how they got onto the floor. I’m surprised they paid that kind of money. Your photos must be worth a lot for them to go to so much trouble.”
“Unbelievable!” Penelope scoffs. “How did they know what floor I’m on? Would a staff member have told them?”
I shrug. I don’t have the answers to her questions. But my guess is that they slipped someone some money to find out.
“I hope the manager is asking them to leave.”
“All she can do is tell them to stop harassing you. If they don’t listen, then they’ll kick them out.”
“Great. They’ll probably watch me through the peephole and spring into action as soon as they see me leave your room. They won’t care if they get kicked out. As long as they take all the photos they can.”
“There’s not much more we can do,” I say.
“Thanks for trying. How do I get back into my room?”
“Someone will come up as soon as possible to give you a replacement keycard.”
She shuffles back on the mattress until her back is pressed against the headboard, making herself comfortable. Tilting her face to the ceiling, she gives a heavy sigh. “I just want to disappear.”
There’s nothing I want more too, yet I’m stuck with her. Well, only until she gets a key to her room.
Her eyes flutter closed as she mumbles, “To a place no one knows who I am. Where no one can find me.” A few seconds later, her head tilts to the side and she’s making soft breathing sounds.
“Did she fall asleep?” Angel asks.
“I think so.”
“What do we do now?”
“I don’t know.” Tonight has turned to shit. The woman in my bed was not meant to be Penelope Aldin.
Angel slaps her palms on her thighs and rises to her feet. “Well, we should try this again another time.” She walks over to me, cups my cheeks with her hands, and kisses me long and deep. “Call me.” And then she struts from the room.
I could stop her and tell her we can continue what we had started as soon as Penelope leaves, but I don’t. And I won’t be calling her either. That kiss didn’t stir an ounce of interest. It’s like the events of the evening has caused my body to malfunction. All thanks to Penelope.
Yet, when I look at her with her robe scrunched around her upper thighs and the top gapping open, there’s nothing wrong with the way my body is responding. Christ! I rake my fingers through my hair. I can’t be perving on a sleeping woman.
Turning away, I walk to the door and look through the peephole. I see a hotel staff member talking to the men. With disgruntled expressions, they make their way down the hallway and disappear from my line of sight.
A moment later, there’s a soft knock at the door. Answering it, I take the keycard, thank the man, and give him a tip for his assistance with the paparazzi. Now I can get Penelope back into her room and salvage what’s left of the evening.
Maybe I can go back to the club and find another woman to hookup with. I immediately shake the thought away. I’ve lost all desire. Exhaustion is catching up with me, and I just want this night to be over.
Ready to give her the keycard and get her out of my room, I walk to the bed. My shoulders slump. She’s fast asleep. Well, she’s not staying here a moment longer; I’m going to have to wake her up. I stare down at her. With her makeup-free face soft in sleep, her mouth slightly open, she doesn’t look like the cold, heartless bitch I know she is. Instead, she looks sweet and innocent. My spine stiffens. I can’t let her fool me.
“Penelope.” I shake her shoulder. “Wake up.”
No response.
“Penelope.” I nudge her harder. “You can go to your room now.”
She grabs my hand and hugs it under her chin. “Just five more minutes, Mom,” she mumbles.
Mom? She’s obviously dreaming and talking in her sleep, and has taken my hand prisoner. I try to pull it free, but she grips it harder.
“Don’t tell Lucas,” she mumbles again.
Hmm. I could get some information from her. Maybe even hold it against her. “Don’t tell Lucas what?”
A smile spreads across her face. “Don’t tell him I think he is hot.”
Now I know she’s dreaming. There’s no way she’d confess something like that fully conscious. I smirk. “You think he’s hot?”
She nods. “Mmm-hmm.”
“How hot?” Asking the question gives me a moment of amusement.
Little creases form between her brows. “Too hot for me.”
Okay, time to stop playing games. When I tug my hand again, this time she lets go. Instead of waking up, she slides onto her back and rolls on her side. Snuggling a pillow to her chest, she breathes heavily with a slight snore.
Unless I throw a glass of water over her head—which sounds like a great idea—she’s not moving. Shit! I should have left her in the hallway. But no, I had to stick my nose in her business. Now I’m stuck with her.
There’s no chance I’m sleeping on the floor or the uncomfortable-looking sofa. This is my room. My bed. I could leave her here and go to her suite or book another room, but I’m too exhausted. Jetlag is settling in, and doing anything else feels like too much trouble.
Kicking off my shoes, I then strip out of my jeans and t-shirt and toss them onto a nearby chair. My fingers hesitate at the waistband of my briefs. Should I take them off? I always sleep naked. If I’m sharing a bed with Penelope, I should leave them on. I wouldn’t want her accusing me of indecency or some shit.
Sliding into bed, I prop my head on the palm of my hand and stare at the ceiling. Not in a million years did I think I’d end up in bed with Penelope Aldin. Ten years ago, I never would have helped her with the paparazzi. I would have walked past her without giving her another thought. She got me expelled from high school, which completely change my life. I lost my chance of getting into college and playing football. A career path I was working toward. Luckily, I’m doing something I love more than football, and that’s being the head photographer and part owner of Alessi Fashion.
I look at Penelope and the old rage still simmers underneath the surface. I’ve switched my passion for football to photography, but that doesn’t mean I’ll ever forgive her.
Not only for my career, but for the death of my best friend.
The next morning, I wake to the sound of my cell phone vibrating on the nightstand. I scrub my hands over my face and prop myself into a sitting position. It’s then I remember Penelope. How could I have forgotten? Twice during the night I woke up with her arm flung around my waist and her leg wrapped around mine. Feeling her warm, soft body pressed against mine made for a difficult night’s sleep and a painful hard-on. Any woman draped over me like a second skin would pull out that reaction from me.
Grabbing the phone, I walk into the bathroom to take the call. I know what it’s about. I get this call from either Hayden or Finn on this day every year. My big brothers want to check up on me. Make sure I’m not going to drown myself in alcohol and do something stupid. I know they care, but after nine years, I’m getting sick of telling them I’m okay and they don’t need to bother.
I guess I’m not convincing them, because I haven’t convinced myself yet either. When I leave the hotel and head to the cabin, I plan to drink until the memories stop flooding my mind.
Not wanting to wake Penelope and have her overhear the conversation, I close the door behind me. I glance at the caller ID before I answer. “Hayden,” I say. It’s his turn this year.
“Hey, Lucas. How are you?” He doesn’t mask the concern in his voice.
“Like every other year, I’m good. I will not crack. Make sure you tell Finn too.” In the past, they’ve seen me broken. Picked me up from the floor. It’s no wonder they call on the anniversary of Garrett’s death.
“Just making sure.”
I lean my hip against the vanity. I know they mean well. The three of us are as close as brothers can be. If one of us is going through something, we all are.
“I’m fine. Really,” I say as convincingly as I can. “I’m heading to the cabin as soon as I get Pen—” I stop myself from saying Penelope. That’s a conversation I don’t have the energy for. I’ve never told them why I hate her so much. All they know is that something happened between us in high school.
“So you do have Penny Aldin in your hotel room. They’re saying you’re a couple. What the hell is going on? If you’re using her while she’s vulnerable after her public humiliation, I’m going to chop your balls off and shove them down your throat.”
“But if this is fuck-you revenge sex to get back at her ex, then well done to Penny,” Alyssa’s voice in the background cuts into the conversation.
“How do you know about Penelope?” I ask.
“It’s all over social media,” Hayden explains. “I thought you hated her.”
I pinch the bridge of my nose. I do one good deed, and now I’m paying for it. These assholes work fast.
“Nothing happened between us. I was helping her get away from the paparazzi. Ask Raymond to shut it down. Get a statement out saying I was helping her and that we are only…friends.” The word clogs my throat. We are anything but friends. Hopefully, our PR manager will write something to shut the rumors down.
“The photos they took look like you’re more than friends,” Hayden says.
Shit! “ Nothing happened,” I reiterate. “Fix it. I’m spending the next few days at the cabin. I don’t have the time for this.”
“I’ll see what I can do. I can’t promise we can make it go away.” He clears his throat. “If you need us while you’re away, just call, and we’ll be at the cabin as soon as we can.”
“I know. Thanks. I’ll be fine. I want to take some photos for my exhibition.”
“How’s that coming along?”
For years I photographed beautiful women wearing beautiful clothes, which I love. Then one photoshoot in Italy pulled my attention into the direction of the culture, history, architecture, and people living in small villages with their lives etched on their faces. It was photographic heaven, and I was hooked.
With so many photos of fascinating subjects from all over the world, Hayden and Finn encouraged me to get a collection together and show them in a gallery. This was a creative outlet, something fun with no pressure. But now, with the exhibition only a couple of weeks away, I’m wondering if this hobby should stay that way. Are my photographs good enough? It’s too late to back out now. Everything is booked. Invitations have been sent. I have to see this through.
“Putting the finishing touches on a few things. If I take some good shots at the cabin, maybe I’ll have more to add.”
“Good luck with it. I’ll talk to you when you get back.”
We say goodbye and I end the call.
Hayden said the photos on the internet look like me and Penelope are more than just friends and they’re calling us a couple. What the hell did they publish? Though I’m hesitant to check, I go online and look.
My stomach twists into a knot. Multiple photos show Penelope’s hand resting on my chest with her face trustfully pressed against me. My arm is thrown over her shoulders in a protective way. The fierce expression on my face says this woman is mine; back off or I’ll fuck you over . None of the photos show we are in fact enemies.
Hopefully Raymond will shut it down. If not, give it a few days and the paparazzi will hunt down the next scandal. As long as we’re not seen together again, there’s nothing to gossip about. It’s time to get her out of my room.
While I’m in the bathroom I shower. When I’m done, I wrap a towel around my waist, and I walk back into the bedroom to get my clothes. Instead, I pull up short. Penelope is still sleeping. The sheet covering her is pushed down to her feet, leaving her sprawled on the bed in her robe, which is doing nothing to cover her creamy-colored thighs. The belt has come loose, and an open gap runs from her collarbone to her naval. Her breasts are precariously close to spilling out. One slight move and the robe will part to show me if she’s wearing panties or not.
Swallowing hard, I turn away, willing my dick to die down. I can’t be attracted to Penelope Aldin. I’d rather poke my eyes out with a blunt stick. To distract myself from the view, I call room service and order breakfast and strong, black coffee.
When I turn back, Penelope is sitting up against the headboard, the robe secured tightly around her body and her fingers combing through her hair. Something so shapeless as the fluffy hotel robe and disheveled hair shouldn’t look as sexy as it does. I scrub my hands over my face. God, I need to stop looking at her.
Then her gaze travels the length of my body. I’m not the only one appreciating what they’re seeing. Like she realizes what she’s doing, her eyes snap away from the towel to my face. “Good morning,” she says, her voice hoarse from sleep. “Thank you for letting me stay the night.”
“Had no choice. You fell asleep. The keycard for your room is on the table.” If I sound abrupt, it’s because I’m pissed at myself for having any kind of attraction toward her.
She frowns. “You could have woken me up.”
“I tried. You were out cold—not even a bomb would have made you stir. I seriously considered throwing water on your face.”
“I’m glad you didn’t.” She glances around the room. “Where’s your date?”
Calling Angel a date is a bit of a stretch. “You cockblocked me. Thanks a lot for that.”
“Oh, I’m so sorry.” Mirth shines from her eyes. Yeah, she’s not sorry at all. Then her face turns serious. “Arhhh, you slept on the couch, right?”
“No, in the bed.”
“Next to me?”
“Do you see any other bed? Yes, next to you. Don’t you remember clinging to me last night?”
Her eyebrows shoot into her hairline. “I did not!”
I cross my arms over my chest and grin. “You did. And pinned me down with your legs. I had to put a stop to your wandering hands.”
“I would never do that.”
I shrug a shoulder. “You even talk in your sleep. Told me how hot you think I am.”
“Now I know you’re joking.” She rolls her eyes. “I’d never touch you. Or say that you’re hot.”
If only she knew I was telling the truth. “Whether or not you believe me, it’s time for you to leave. I’m going into the bathroom to get dressed. I want you gone by the time I come back out.”