Jacob
Snow falls to the ground in a wild spray as I sweep it off my car. I wish it were that easy to brush away how I feel right now. To be clear and free of what’s weighing on me.
While I’m doing the right thing for Penelope by taking her home, it sucks for me. In a few hours, she’ll be out of my life again, likely for forever unless we bounce up on each other by chance. The odds of that is pretty damn low when we’re five hours apart.
Am I seriously going to let that happen?
What the fuck else am I supposed to do? Penelope only sought me out to fix a problem and I’m going to solve it today, if all goes well. After that, there won’t be anything tying us together.
Unless I got her pregnant last night.
I used money to trap her with me. Now that’s no longer feasible, I want a baby to do it next. Good god. Penelope was once a villain in my life’s story. I’m one in hers too with these schemes.
Though there was nothing villainous about last night for us. Everything about it was perfect. Unforgettable. Her flushed face from pleasure, the taste and feel of her body, her sweet moan when she said she was mine.
I want to believe that, but it’s easy to say things you don’t mean in the heat of the moment. Or she meant she was mine in that particular instance. Not that she wanted to be mine completely.
At the end of the day, staying with me was never her choice. She’d prefer to go back to living her life in the city. A young and pretty girl wouldn’t want to be stuck in a small town with an asshole who’s old enough to be her father.
I don’t deserve her anyway. I held a grudge against her for years for something she did as a kid, treated her poorly when she came seeking my help, and took advantage of her in revenge. And, all along, she was the one who saved my life.
She deserves someone closer to her age. Someone who doesn’t come with baggage and a shared bad history. Someone who’ll love her and take care of her the way she should be.
I can be that last one.
I turn over the brush and start scraping the frost off my windshield with more vigour than necessary. My phone vibrates in my pocket and I pause to take it out. My sister’s picture and name lifts my bad mood. I accept her call.
“Jake, I’m sorry.”
Elizabeth, direct as always.
“Liz—”
“Wait, let me finish.” She pauses for a moment. “I’ve been giving it some thought and I realize I overreacted. Making TV dramas made me dramatic too, I guess.” She sighs. “Yeah, I was shocked when I found out about you and Penny. I could’ve—should’ve handled it better.”
“I wish you hadn’t found out the way you did either.”
She lets out an amused huff. “Then maybe you two should’ve waited to jump each other until I was gone in the morning.”
“That would’ve been wiser, yeah.”
“I was hoping for the both of you to be good again. You guys… ah… exceeded my expectations. Are you dating?”
“We’re… it’s complicated.”
“She used to be your stepdaughter. I’d say it’s very complicated.
” She goes quiet for a second. “Even though I’m still a little disturbed, I understand why you two got together.
You have history, you’re her hero for helping her, she’s sweet and pretty, you’re alone with each other… it was a recipe for trouble.”
I’m no hero, sis. I’m the bad guy. The evil dragon who kept the pretty princess captive and did unspeakable things to her.
“Trouble you started when you sent her my way.”
“Oh? Am I also the one who told you guys to play hide the sausage?”
I chuckle. “Jesus Christ, Liz. What the fuck. I have half a mind to hang up.”
Elizabeth laughs too then her voice turns serious.
“You don’t need my permission, obviously, but just so you know, I’ll be OK with it if you two become less complicated.”
“I’m not sure if that will happen. She deserves someone better than me.”
“Did she tell you that herself?”
“No, but—”
“Oh, well, Jakey, I say this with love—stop being a typical man thinking you know what’s best for a woman. Penny is an adult. Let her decide who she deserves.”
“Noted, sis.”
“I feel awful about what I said to her too.” She groans. “God. I was so shitty. I need to call her but I almost don’t want to. I’m too ashamed.”
“I wasn’t the nicest to her either when she first showed up. You know she said she’s the one who sent the video?”
“Really? Oh, no. Now I feel even worse! How—” She cuts herself off as someone speaks to her in the background. “Damn, I gotta go, big bro. We’ll talk more later.”
The call disconnects with a low beep. I shove my phone back into my pocket and finish scraping away frost. When I’m done, I walk back to the house, reluctance slowing my steps.
I open the front door and come to an abrupt stop. Penelope’s standing by the coat rack in the middle of putting on her jacket. It reminds me of that first morning when I couldn’t wait to get rid of her. This morning, that’s the absolute last thing I want to do.
“Ready?”
She reaches for her green beanie with the pink hearts then gives me a sweet smile.
“Almost.”
* * *
Nostalgia rolls through me as I approach the bar. The familiar feels foreign, the foreign feels familiar.
I was born and raised here in Toronto. I used to be accustomed to the chaotic sounds and smells of city life but it seems small town life changed me.
Wenora is several times smaller than Toronto yet it’s not as claustrophobic. On this street, the buildings are a seamless row of brick, there are too many parked cars, and lots of people are walking and talking in every direction.
I shake my head as some wacky guy makes an abrupt illegal U-turn in the middle of the street. Other drivers lean hard on their horns in response.
I walk up the patio entrance to Rourke’s. According to Penelope, Cedric’s office is at the back of this bar that’s squeezed between a tailor’s and an Ethiopian restaurant. A legitimate cover for his less than legitimate business.
Customers are sparse inside on a late Monday afternoon. Penelope wanted to come with me. I made her wait in the car because I didn’t want her to endure Cedric’s presence anymore.
It’s gloomy in here because of the dark walls and low amber lights. The bartender looks bored as a guy in a red jacket rambles on. He perks up and meets my gaze as I approach the bar.
“I need to see Cedric.”
He sizes me up. “What for?”
“It’s about Penelope.”
His suspicious stare lingers on me for a moment before he turns to the landline behind him. While he speaks on the phone, presumably to Cedric, Red Jacket swings a look over his shoulder at me and almost falls off his stool.
His face is flushed, his eyes glassy. That half-empty beer mug in his hand isn’t his first. Probably not his second either.
My mind drifts to Wayne, then to Sasha’s revelation last night. Did the police catch her yet? The next time I’m at work, I’m sure Cynthia will gleefully share the news on any developments.
The bartender hangs up the phone and faces me again. He jerks his thumb over his shoulder.
“Down the hall. Make a right.”
I follow his directions and arrive at a door. Two knocks later, it swings open. A stony-faced bald guy dressed entirely in black beckons me inside.
“Arms up,” he demands.
I get the frisk I gave Penelope though this one isn’t as enjoyable for me. Stony Face pats a little harder around my jacket pocket containing the envelope.
A burly guy seated at a desk watches me with a smile. He indicates Stony Face.
“Can’t be too careful, you know. A lotta guys have evil thoughts in their minds about me. You look like one of ‘em.”
He leans back when Stony Face gives him the all clear I didn’t bring any weapons.
“Ah, Penelope. Where is she and who are you?”
I take out the envelope from my jacket pocket and toss it down on his desk.
“It’s everything she owes you.”
Cedric stares at me for a moment then snatches up the envelope and opens it.
He takes out the wad of cash I withdrew before I came here and drops it into a money counter sitting conveniently on his desk. I bet he loves that thing more than anyone.
After counter finishes tallying up the bills, Cedric props his elbows on his desk and interlaces his fingers. He levels a calculating look on me.
“I’m afraid Penelope’s still short. You see, she caused me a lot of stress when I found out she skipped town. Another five should ease my suffering.”
I step closer. “You told her you have friends. I have friends too, Cedric. Friends in higher places than yours, and they can cause a lot more stress for you and your line of business. Is the five worth that? Because she’s worth me doing anything I can to protect her from you.
The guy behind me won’t stop me either.”
He rubs one hand over the back of the other in consideration until his expression turns sour. Then he leans back in his seat and makes a dismissive gesture.
“Her debt’s been paid. My business with her is done.”
* * *
“How did it go?”
Penelope gives me an anxious look as I pull the car door shut.
“It’s over.” I hand her the folded contract Cedric signed. “Proof he won’t harass you anymore.”
She unfolds the contract with shaking hands and stares at it for a moment. She covers her mouth, blinking rapidly, then turns and flings her arms around my neck.
It’s harder to breathe as she practically chokes me with her fierce hug. I don’t care. I wrap my arms around her, silently cursing the armrest between us.
“Thank you,” she murmurs against my neck, her warm breath tickling my skin. Below my hips react to it too.
“You’re—”
Penelope pulls back, cups my face, and cuts me off with a kiss. I hold her tighter and return it, pleasantly surprised when she’s the one who deepens the kiss.
She swirls her tongue with mine as she slips her hand up my neck and into my hair. I groan into her mouth, sliding my hands up and down her back, then lower still to squeeze her hip and ass.
We’re making out while I’m parked on a busy street and my cock is already hard. Fuck, I really want her. Can we get away with more than kissing in public?
A car horn startles us out of our lust-filled trance. We pull back, still holding on to each other. I grab one of her hands and kiss her fingers.
“I’m sorry for the way I treated you, Penny. For the shitty things I said. For humiliating you out of revenge. For holding on to a grudge for too fucking long. Will you forgive me?”
“Do you forgive me?”
“I do.”
She smiles. “Well, I’m sorry to say that my forgiveness comes with a price, Jake.”
“What’s the price?”
“Six kisses.”
I let out a short chuckle. “Oh, tit for tat, huh? Do you want them on your feet?”
“You can work your way up from there to the right location.”
“I’m more than happy to do that.”
As I stare into her eyes, my heart pounds faster at the hope shining in them. Realization is a sudden smack upside the head.
I’m a dumbass who almost made another regrettable mistake.
While I was convinced Penelope would rather return to her life, and that it would be better for her if she did, she’s been waiting for me to ask her to stay in mine.
“I want to take my time paying your price, but I have to head back to Wenora now.” I squeeze her and kiss her fingers again. “Do you want to come with me so I can give you those kisses, sweetheart?”
“Yes.” She kisses me on the lips and pulls back, her eyes sparkling, a light flush in her cheeks. “Yes, Daddy. I do.”
“I told you to leave and don’t come back when you first showed up. Forget what that asshole said.” I kiss her forehead then brush my lips over hers. “When I take you home, I want you to stay and don’t fucking leave.”