Chapter 20
Penny
The holidays are over now, but parts of Vail still replay in my head at random moments.
I had an incredible time with my family in the gorgeous mountains, but every time something funny or interesting happened, I caught myself wanting to share it with Miles.
More than once, I pulled out my phone to text him or send him a meme before stopping myself at the last second.
I couldn’t start blurring the lines between us.
Miles and I weren’t a couple. We were just two people having fun while temporarily playing house during the winter.
At least that’s what I believed.
Still, I couldn’t deny the strange warmth that spread through my chest when I reached for the last present with my name under the tree.
“Oh yes, that one arrived right before your father and I left the house,” Mami said, suddenly far too interested in my reaction. “Open it.”
Around us, everyone else had mostly moved on from presents and started helping set the table for dinner, but Mami stayed planted right beside me like she knew something I didn’t.
I slowly peeled back the wrapping paper, my pulse picking up with every tear.
The second I spotted the Louboutin box, I frowned.
Miles was constantly giving me shit about how much money I spend on shoes. There was no way he bought me a pair himself.
For one horrifying second, I wondered if they were from Easton, and the thought sent a cold chill racing down my spine.
Then I opened the box and found a tiny handwritten note resting on top. Relief flooded through me so fast my shoulders nearly sagged.
Boss,
This is your reminder to wear appropriate shoes to work. You don’t have to compromise your style. You can be safe and sexy at the same time.
Merry Christmas,
M
A laugh escaped me before I could stop it.
Heat crept into my cheeks as I ran my thumb over the handmade paper. I read the note too many times.
How was Miles still single?
Seriously.
“Penny Bean?” Mami called out. “Care to share with the class?”
“It’s from a friend,” I said casually while sliding the note back into the box.
Mami’s expression practically screamed liar.
I quickly grabbed my phone and texted Miles a thank-you before she could start interrogating me properly.
Unfortunately for me, my mother had never respected boundaries a single day in her life.
“Is this a certain MacAllister friend?” she pressed.
“Yesss.” I dragged out the word, trying very hard not to give away more information.
“Is this your house host?”
“Yes.” My hands flew to my face, mostly to hide the stupid grin threatening to expose me completely.
“Oh, lordy.”
Before Mami could say anything else, Dad walked over and joined us.
“Susana, are you giving Penny a hard time?” he asked with a grin as he took the seat beside her.
“Of course not, I’m just enjoying spending time with our daughter,” Mami replied without missing a beat.
Dad gave her a look that made her laugh.
“Okay, fine.” She sighed dramatically. “You caught me.”
She gently patted his knee before pressing a kiss to his lips and wandering off toward tía Marta, already slipping into rapid-fire Spanish.
Dad watched her leave with raised brows and a fond smile.
“Yes?” I asked, suddenly feeling like a little girl again under his attention
“What?” He shrugged innocently. “I’m just sitting here wondering when exactly you became this amazing businesswoman. Last time we were here, I was teaching you how to ski.”
I scoffed, brushing off the compliment.
“Please, Dad. You’ve watched me be a successful businesswoman for at least a decade now.”
“That may be true, but seeing you not only handle investments successfully, but also oversee construction projects?” His eyes shone with pride. “It’s impressive, Penny.”
“I love you, Dad. Thank you for always believing in me.”
I rested my head against his shoulder the same way I used to when I was little.
“I hope you never change, Penny.” His voice softened. “Always remember what I taught you. Never let money make your choices for you. Let your brain—and your heart—do that.”
Something about his tone made me lift my head.
“Is there anything I should know, Dad?”
He reached over and patted my hand, his smile warm and reassuring. “No, my princess. Don’t worry. Everything is well in the Levine Kingdom.”
I smiled at the mention of the imaginary kingdom he created for my bedtime stories when I was a kid.
If I’ve ever had a mentor in life, it was my dad. He taught me everything I know about business, discipline, and believing in myself.
And judging by the calm confidence in his voice, I’m sure he had everything completely under control.
Today I decided to dress down and wear my new combat boots. Even though I’m spending most of the day in the office, a part of me wants Miles to see me wearing the shoes he bought me.
“Ms. Levine,” he greets me as soon as I step out of my car and start walking toward my office pod.
It takes everything in me not to roll my eyes. At this point, I’m pretty sure everyone in Azalea Creek knows I’m living at his place.
“Mr. MacAllister,” I reply, deciding to play along as we fall into step beside each other.
Without a word, he passes me a travel mug filled with coffee. It’s become our thing ever since the cold settled over town.
And if I’m being honest, I secretly love that he brings it to me at work instead of just leaving it waiting on the kitchen counter at home.
I flash him a flirtatious smile in thanks.
“Any meetings today?” he asks.
I frown. “No, why?”
“Because you look so fucking good in those jeans,” he says quietly, low enough that only I can hear him. “Pretty sure I’d agree to anything you asked me for if you said it nicely enough.”
Then, with a wink, he keeps walking and leaves me standing there all hot and bothered in the middle of an icy parking lot.
“I’m pretty sure it’s the boots,” I call after him before common sense can stop me.
He stops but doesn’t turn around.
“The boots pull the whole outfit together,” I continue as I catch up to him. “They make my ass look incredible.”
I wink, then walk past him toward my office, taking a sip of my perfectly made coffee to hide my smile.
Between managing the ice rink and handling both Gio’s investments and my own, I barely have a second to breathe lately.
Thank God I live with the most caring and supportive man I’ve ever met.
If it weren’t for Miles cooking for me and physically dragging me away from work long enough to eat and take a break, I’d probably be an absolute wreck by now.
“Ms. Penny, someone’s here to see you,” Martin, one of the workers, says as he opens the door to my pod.
“Did you catch their name?” I ask as I get up from my chair and walk around my desk.
“No, ma’am. He just said he’s interested in doing business with you.”
I frown.
Who in Azalea Creek—besides Gio or Xander—would want to do business with me?
Martin hesitates.
“Actually, he said he would rather wait for you outside.”
The tension in his voice instantly puts me on edge.
I don’t have a good feeling about this.
I nod slowly, forcing a tight smile while my brain starts building an exit strategy in case this conversation goes sideways.
I grab my coat on the way out, thank Martin for coming to get me, and head toward the parking lot.
The second I spot the blue Maserati, every drop of blood drains from my body.
Mierda.
With the fuck-bliss I’ve been living in since moving into Miles’s place, I’d almost managed to forget about Easton and his ridiculous proposal.
“Pen,” he says brightly when he sees me.
His entire face lights up with a smile that probably looks sincere to anyone who doesn’t know him.
But I do. This Easton is in full performance mode—the charming I'm a nice rich guy act he pulls out whenever he wants something.
“Hey, Easton. I wasn't expecting to see you here.”
My arms cross instinctively over my stomach, my body reacting before my brain fully catches up.
Easton has never been aggressive with me. But after our last interaction, something about him hasn’t felt right.
And him showing up unannounced at my workplace?
Definitely not helping. Feels like a bad omen.
“Well, I kept thinking about your answer to my proposal, and the more I thought, the less convinced I was with your answer.” Easton flashes me a polished smile. “So I figured I’d come take my best friend out to lunch and ask one more time.”
He doesn’t get to finish the sentence because, at that exact moment, a tall, broad-shouldered, devastatingly attractive construction manager appears beside me.
“Everything okay here?” Miles asks, his hand settling against the small of my back.
My body relaxes on instinct.
“Yes, of course,” Easton says smoothly. “I just came to take my best friend out on a lunch date.”
A strange smile appears on his face.
“Is that so?” Miles asks calmly.
Then he turns toward me, one eyebrow lifting in silent question.
The absolute last thing I need right now is these two getting into some testosterone-fueled showdown in the middle of the parking lot.
“Yeah,” I say quickly, though my voice comes out shaky enough that I have to clear my throat and try again. “Yes. Easton and I have known each other since we were little.”
I hold Miles’s gaze, hopefully reassuring him that I’m okay.
He studies me for a second before nodding once.
“Alright. Have fun.” His hand squeezes my waist gently. “Just remember we’ve got that meeting at two. I’ll be waiting in my office.”
Then he presses a quick kiss to my lips and walks away without sparing Easton another glance.
“Ah,” Easton says as soon as Miles is out of earshot. “So you found yourself a little fuck buddy out here.”
The disdain in his tone hits me like a thousand bricks.
“Well,” he continues with a careless shrug. “I guess it won’t matter once we’re married.”
“What exactly makes you so sure I’m marrying you?” I ask sharply. “If I said no before, now I’m absolutely certain that there’s no way I’ll participate in the charade.”