Chapter 32
Penny
“Who’s the prettiest cow in town? You are, yes you are!” my delusional sister says to Daisy as Babs does the final snip.
“Just wait until I blow it out.” Babs reaches for the hair dryer.
“Is that necessary?” I can’t imagine that a cow, even one as refined and special as Daisy—as my sister keeps reminding us—will be okay with the sound and feel of a hair dryer.
Rosie takes a big sip of prosecco from her This Is Definitely Coffee mug. “Necessary? Definitely not. Must happen? Yup.”
Billie snorts before hiding behind her prosecco when I side-eye her.
“Don’t egg her on,” I warn.
Tally waves her hand. “Ignore them, Daisy, you’re going to love how you look!”
Daisy eyes my sister and then lets out a loud moooo.
I must admit, for a cow, Daisy is pretty. Especially with her copper hair trimmed and styled. But as much fun as I’m having with the girls, I wish I was with Monty like we planned tonight.
It’s only been a day since I last saw him, but I miss him. It’s not just about sex—though I wouldn’t mind more of that—I miss him.
I should force myself to take a break from our late-night rendezvous because of how I feel. How addicted I am to him.
And also because there’s an expiration date on this relationship. A time when I won’t be able to kiss him, and he won’t look at me the way he does now. If he stays in town, what will it be like seeing him and being unable to touch him? Even worse—my stomach twists at the thought—what if he leaves?
I take in the scene in front of me: the pizza boxes—open and picked over—that are spread out over the salon, the empty bottles of prosecco, the group of women gathered here to see a cow get a haircut. This world must be so different to Monty’s in New York.
And there is a strong chance that one day, maybe one day very soon, Monty is going to grow tired of this quirky little town and go back to his exciting city life.
While I’ll still be here.
I should be focusing on Bonfire and Bliss. Things may be looking up when it comes to the financials but I still don’t have a working computer. And every time I close early, like tonight, or open late, like earlier this week, I’m costing myself business.
Right now, I have a huge number of boxes to open and sort through, which, without the computer, is going to take days.
I bite my lip. I should head back to the store and get to work. Instead, I take out my phone.
Me: What time will you be done bowling?
Monty: Why? Miss me?
I snort.
“Who are you talking to?” Tally asks. The sound jerks my head up and I am faced with everyone’s eyes on me.
I glare at her. “Monty.”
“Tell him I said hi,” she replies with a grin.
Me: My sister says hi.
Monty: You didn’t answer my question, Xuxuzinho. But that’s okay, I’ll go first. I miss you.
Me: Do you want to come over when you’re done? Maybe spend the night?
I bite my thumb while I wait for him to reply.
Monty: Fine. Don’t tell me you miss me. But I want you naked in your bed when I get there.
Monty: Oh. And Penny. Tonight we’re going to do something off my list.
His list? Now I’m intrigued.
Me: Deal.
***
I’m on the floor, a box of books in front of me, cross-checking it with the list I had to write out by hand, when there’s a knock on the glass door.
My eyes lift and, when I spot Monty, a short-sleeve navy shirt on, hands stuffed into his jean pockets as he sways in the cool October evening, a huge smile finds my lips and warmth caresses my insides.
I toss the book in my hand back into a cardboard box and jump up to meet him.
“You’re not naked,” he murmurs as I swing the door open.
I laugh. “You wouldn’t have been able to get in if I was.”
He shrugs as he drops a kiss to my cheek. “I’m creative, I would have figured it out.”
He steps past me but I’m still stuck on the way he greeted me. On the feel of his warm mouth against my cheek. On how such a simple gesture sets butterflies flapping in my chest. This is how it could be. If we were real. If he stayed. Hell, if he believed in love. This is how it could be.
He turns to give me a wicked smile. “Especially if I knew you were naked. That’s the best incentive to get creative, Xuxuzinho.”
I force a smile but it’s slow to hit my lips. It’s clear he notices. “Everything okay?”
A quick nod of my head is all I can manage. I clear my throat and point to the box on the floor. “Was just getting a little work done.”
“You work too hard.” Monty’s tone is soft. He holds out a hand, beckoning me closer. “You still haven’t told me you missed me.”
“You’re right in front of me,” I say.
He gives me a quick shoulder shrug.
“Getting attached, Montgomery?” I tease, trying to keep the mood light before I say something I might regret. How I miss him when he’s right here, how I’m scared of the day he won’t be.
Three steps and he’s in front of me, his left hand reaching for my hip, his right one for my chin. With a gentle tug, he pulls my gaze to his. “Terribly.”
Any response I have fades from my lips when he presses his mouth to mine.
“Can we try something, Xuxuzinho?” he murmurs against my mouth before diving in for another kiss.
“Sure,” I answer breathlessly.
He pulls back and nods toward the door. “Let’s lock up and go upstairs.”
It takes a few minutes to get everything sorted, but once the door is locked and the lights are turned off, Monty follows me upstairs to my apartment. He doesn’t stop in the living room but guides me into the bedroom. I step inside and he shuts the door behind us.
“Worried someone is going to sneak into my apartment and see us?” I say with a laugh.
Monty doesn’t laugh. Instead, his eyes rove over my body, as if he’s memorizing every inch.
“No, Penelope. But I’d like to show you how much I’ve missed you today.”
My chest warms. “I could get on board with that.”
“Good. Now face the mirror.”
I jolt back. “Huh?”
Monty shifts out of the way and gently moves me until I’m standing in front of the mirror. I try to turn. I don’t need to see what a mess I am from today. I feel sexy when Monty looks at me but my disheveled reflection jars with those feelings.
“Please, baby,” he breathes as he steps behind me, watching me in the reflection. “Do you trust me?
I nod.
“Then let me show you what I see when I look at you. Let me show you all the spots I adore. All the things I miss every time you hide yourself from me.”
A whimper slips out of my throat. I don’t know if I can handle this. My heart pounds when Monty steps just a bit closer and places his hands on my shoulders, tugging at my cardigan.
“May I?” he murmurs.
I’m wearing a pair of pajama shorts I’d thrown on when I got back from the hair salon along with a simple tank and a long, cranberry cardigan.
“Y-yes,” I stutter out.
He tugs the cardigan off and tosses it toward the bed.
Resting his hands on my shoulders, his green eyes meet mine in the mirror.
“This spot right here,” he says, voice gruff, as he swipes my hair from one shoulder to the other before dragging his lips across the soft skin of my neck. “I’m never not dreaming of kissing it.”
Goose bumps erupt over my skin and I suck in a breath as he drags the strap of my tank top down over my shoulder with his mouth. He mimics the same movement on the other side before lightly sliding his fingers across my chest.
“So many freckles, Xuxuzinho.” He nuzzles his head into the crook of my neck and inhales. “And I’m completely obsessed with them all.”
I watch Monty in the mirror as his eyes fall shut and he revels in the closeness of our two bodies.
I stay still as he drags his palm over my breast before dipping beneath the fabric of my top and pulling it out. My eyes roll back as he glides his fingers over my nipple.
“And these tits.” He squeezes one before covering the other one with his palm. “They’re so fucking sexy.”
My head falls back against his chest, and I watch as he plays with my nipples. Somehow, despite our differences—my fair skin against his expanse of ink, my wild auburn waves against his jet-black locks, my soft curves against his hard lines—we fit. We’re beautiful together.
“Take off your shirt,” I beg.
Monty’s lips curve up in the mirror and his groan rumbles against my back.
“I love it when you tell me what you want.”
He drops my breasts and pulls his top over his head, exposing all of his beautiful tattoos.
Monty’s mouth tips into the most glorious smile as his hand settles on my hip and his fingers dip beneath my shorts. “Can I take these off?”
I nod as he pulls both sides down slowly, smoothing his hands over me. I’m practically panting when the fabric falls to my ankles and his hand settles on my stomach. He rolls his fingers over the soft skin, humming as he peppers kisses to my shoulder and up to my neck.
I turn to allow him to claim my mouth. We both moan as the kiss deepens, but when I try to spin around, he holds me in place.
“Not yet,” he rasps, pulling my top over my head and tossing it to the ground.
He tweaks one of my nipples and smiles when I moan. “I want you to watch yourself fall apart. Want you to see how beautiful you are.”
My knees threaten to give out at his words but Monty steadies me with a firm hand between my legs, wrapping his other arm around my shoulders and across my chest to my other breast. Like this, I’m trapped in his embrace, forced to watch him unravel me.
When Monty slides a finger through my drenched sex, he hums in appreciation.
“So fucking soft, baby. So fucking perfect.”
I can’t help but close my eyes as he touches me. It all feels too good.
Monty’s hand ceases movement and his deep voice cuts through the silence. “Eyes on me, Xuxuzinho. If you close them, I stop.”
My gaze snaps back to my reflection and I lick my lips.
“Good girl.” He pushes two thick fingers inside me, and I have to keep reminding myself to keep my eyes on where they disappear. It’s obscene, the way the veins in his tattooed arm ripple and strain as he thrusts in and out of me. I can’t look away.
“That’s it, Penelope,” he whispers. “Watch me fuck you. Watch me make you mine.”