Like A Boss (11 page)

We stood close as my heart thrummed. She was in my veins, and I couldn’t master a thought around her. I wanted to fuck her against the desk, I also wanted to march out of this office and never see her again.

“Why did you let me touch you when you have a boyfriend?” I asked a little louder.

“I don’t know,” she whispered, her head bowing toward the ground.

“Fuck, you drive me insane.” My hands flew to the sides of my head, tugging at the ends of my hair. I blew out a breath as she stepped closer.

“I never meant for anything to happen between us.”

“But something did happen. A lot of things happened. I can’t deal with this. You’re my damn employee. I could get in a lot of trouble over you.”

“Well, it wasn’t
my
fault.” She crossed her arms over her chest.

“It was
all
your fault, Penny.”

Her eyes narrowed, brows furrowing. “Are you fucking kidding me? You came onto me.”

Fury, red and molten, blinded me. I leaned inches from her face and whispered across her soft skin. “No other man’s girlfriend should ever want me like you do.”

Her hand connected with my face for the second time since I’d known her. She went to slap again, but I caught it right before she made contact.

“Stop.”

“Or what? This time you’ll fuck me?” she spat off.

“Watch what you say, I just might.” I dropped her hand and slammed the office door behind me as I walked away.

PENNY

Did I hear him right? He might fuck me?

The sound of the office door slamming echoed throughout the small office as I stood there—heart pumping, body aching, and mind sizzling out of control.

Again, I asked myself, what the hell happened?

My body was drawn to him like a magnet, yet we were still unable to get along. Why was he so stubborn? Why couldn’t he say thank you?

Last night at dinner, and even afterwards on the beach, I found myself opening up to him.

The whole time I was with Theo I’d never even checked my phone for Dex’s call. It wasn’t until I got home I saw the missed call from him.

No message, nothing. Just one missed call. One I demanded he make and then was too busy to answer.

I tried not to let it bother me as I gazed triumphantly at the menus one more time. Something I created was being implemented, and it felt fucking amazing. I wanted to make a quick call to my father and shove it in his face.

To show him I didn’t need him or his money to make my way in this world. I was doing fine without him.

I returned to the computer and finished off the rest of the menus before leaving the office.

Walking out onto the patio I was amazed at how Theo managed to bring new life to the bar.

Sure it was little things—new potted plants on the deck, new patio chairs, umbrellas, twinkling lights that glimmered along the rails, and an overall sense of pride in the employees.

Now, I hoped my plans worked. They would. I’d been doing this since I was eighteen, and being twenty-six now, I’d say I picked up a few things along the way.

I spotted Theo standing in the corner of the patio, phone pressed to his ear as he ran a hand across his jaw through his beard. Gray clouds rolled off in the distance as the first drop of rain fell from the sky. A low grumble of thunder sounded from far away as Theo thrust the phone in the pocket of his khaki pants.

A gust of air flew past me as the storm picked up and was set to hit.

“Close the umbrellas,” Theo called to Seth.

Together they worked to close the patio umbrellas before the wind picked up and tossed them. The rain fell in soft pellets at first but began to pick up in strength and ferocity.

“It’s turning into biblical rain,” Henry said, standing beside me.

As always with Florida, storms were a pain in the ass. It would rain for a few hours and then it would end until this time tomorrow when another storm would attack. I waltzed around to the opposite side of the bar and made a customer a drink.

A bourbon Manhattan. I plopped in the cherry and slid it across the oak bar as Theo walked up behind me—soaked.

He shook his hair, and the water droplets landed on my bare arms. “What are you doing?” The cold water brought a shiver down my spine as I wiped it away.

“What do you mean? I’m drying off,” he said as he continued to run his hand through his hair, propelling water all over the place.

“What like a dog?” My temper flared, cheeks heated.

“Do I look like a dog to you?”

“The way you shake your head all around, you do.” I crinkled my nose at him as a barely there smile broke across his face.

“Does it turn you on?” he asked, shaking his head over me.  He laughed as the water from his hair rained down over me.

“You wish.” I pushed him further away as someone clearing a throat behind us broke us from our fight? Flirting? Moment?

I wasn’t quite sure what to make of what happened between Theo and me. He knew how to push my buttons, yet at the same time he knew how to make me laugh.

“Mr. Sullivan, there’s a telephone call for you from a Mr. Chevy,” Henry said.

Theo’s expression changed drastically, gone was the laughter and playfulness, and in its place a sour mood took over.

Chevy? Dex Chevy? My Dex?

Did Dex know everything Theo and I did? Fingers shaking, nerves erupting inside me, I couldn’t concentrate. I rushed to my phone hidden away in my purse and checked the display screen to see if I had any missed calls or texts—nothing.

With an uneasy feeling, I continued my shift as I served customer after customer.

After Theo returned from his phone call with Mr. Chevy, who I was still convinced was Dex, he wouldn’t even look at me. Which made me more and more concerned.

I didn’t want to ask, but the curiosity was killing me.

Before I had a chance to confront Theo, he left. At the end of my shift I packed up my belongings and headed out through the front wooden doors.

The storm all but dissipated, leaving in its wake a humid, muggy night. My hair frizzed to an ungodly mass of madness. I clutched my phone in both hands waiting until I was in my car to dial Dex’s number.

Sliding into the front seat, I took a deep breath. After tapping the screen to call, I waited.

Nothing, straight to voicemail. Fucker turned his phone off. What was going on? I left the shortest message imaginable and headed home, defeated.

Whatever would happen, would happen—I felt I deserved it.

As I turned the corner of my street, I saw Dex’s car parked in the driveway of my concrete block duplex.

He waited on the front porch steps, red roses in one hand—which I hated—and a box of chocolates in the other. He smiled.

“You know chocolate gives me hives,” I said as I approached him.

His dark hair crumpled against his forehead while his blue eyes held mine.

“They do? I never knew.” His answer was almost believable, except, I told him—probably more than fifty times at least.

“Why haven’t you returned any of my calls? Why haven’t you just plain called?” I wanted to fire off more questions but felt we should move our heartfelt reunion inside instead of on the front porch for all of the neighbors to see. He followed closely behind me to the kitchen.

“I was busy, Penny,” he said as he tossed the flowers and chocolates on the island bar.

Picking the roses up with both hands, I brought them to my nose and took a whiff of their scent before plopping the arrangement back down on the marble counter in the same manner he had.

“Too busy for your girlfriend?” I challenged. There was no excuse for not calling, and I had every right to be pissed. He wasn’t going to downplay my feelings again.

“I’m here now, so what’s the difference?” He opened the chocolates and popped one in his mouth.

His arrogant attitude made me sick, and I wanted to flick his forehead. “What’s the difference? Are you kidding?”

He’d changed from the man I once knew. Or did I ever really know him?

“Penny, calm down. You’re getting worked up over nothing. I was with your father the whole time. Do you think I would cheat on you with your father looming off in the distance?”

I thought back to his “maybe” phone call with Theo and couldn’t keep quiet on it. “Why did you call the Lopa today?”

“Excuse me?” He stepped back, suddenly seeming very out of place in my kitchen with his crisp-button down blue shirt and black pants pressed by a professional. I was sure even Dex’s socks were cleaned and pressed by an expert.
Why was this guy my boyfriend? He was so charming when we first met. What happened?

“The Lopa, you spoke to Theo Sullivan?”

“I know you work there, Penny,” he said, crossing around the countertop to me, his expensive shoes barely making a whisper on the hardwood floors. “Your father and I are trying to acquire it. But, it’s none of your concern.”

“Acquire?”

He braced his hand on the countertop next to me. “Come on Penny, you’re a smart girl. Figure it out.”

My heart sank as I gazed at him. What did I ever find attractive about this man?

“Dex, it’s over between us.” Fed up, I walked away from him.

“What?” The word fell from his lips, and it almost sounded like he breathed it more than anything.

I turned to face him. “Did you really think I would stand for this?”

After an intense stare down, he snapped his eyes closed and then shook his head. When his eyes opened, his demeanor changed instantly, cold and calculating, as he stalked closer. “Don’t think for one second I will stand for this. You’re upset, so I will give you some time to really think about what you’re saying.”

“Of course I’m upset, but that’s not why I’m doing this.” My voice, devoid of emotion, drove my point home, “I’m doing this because I no longer care for you in the way you want me to.”

He played with the button on his cuff as he smirked. “Fine Penny, I’m leaving now.” His eyes swept over me. “Take some time to think. I’ll be in touch.”

Laughing to myself as he grabbed the box of chocolates from the counter, I watched him stalk off to his Mercedes. He peeled out of the driveway and sped off down the road.

I locked the door after he left and called him a few choice curses before heading into the bathroom to shower.

My mind drifted to Theo and how bad this was for him. My father and Dex would stop at nothing until they had the Lopa out of business so they could buy up the land.

I needed to speak with my father myself. It was past due we had a sit down.

I stepped into the shower and let the hot water work out the tense muscles in my shoulders.

Tomorrow morning, I would visit my father, first thing. But, for now there was only one person I wanted to see—Theo.

I phoned him, got his address, and raced to his house.

After he let me inside his swanky two-bedroom condo, I was met with beautiful floor-to-ceiling windows, overlooking Miami. His contemporary styled décor, with deep blues and soft greens, had a relaxing effect on my nerves. The place had a touch of class, yet it still felt lived in—a mahogany curio cabinet near the television caught my eye and I stepped closer.

“Are those dolls?” I peered at a Batman doll on the top shelf.

“Dolls?” His appalled voice sounded behind me. “No, these are action figures. Way manlier than a doll.” He ran his hand over the box holding the Batman figurine inside.

“Oh, of course. I didn’t mean to offend…”

“No, it’s ok,” he said, cutting me off, his eyes darting over the collection and unable to meet mine. “It’s silly, really. But, I’m kind of a collector.”

“It’s not silly,” I said, smiling. “It’s actually kind of cool. So do you play with them?” I asked.

“No, Penny, I don’t play with them.” His gaze bounced to mine briefly before returning to his collection. “Actually, I don’t even open the packaging.”

“You don’t open the packages? What a waste.”

“Yeah they’re worth more if they’re never opened,” he said, running his finger across his bottom lip.

“Oh, so you plan on selling them one day?”

He shook his head, cracking a smile. The boyish grin I loved so much made my heart race. “No, I’ll never sell them.”

I shook my head, grinning, as he asked me to take a seat on the deep-brown leather sofa.

“Thank you for seeing me so late, Theo.”

“What’s going on? Is everything ok?”

“Yes…no…I don’t know.” My mind overloaded with everything I wanted to say but couldn’t articulate.

“Take a deep breath.” He knelt in front of me as I closed my eyes. “In through the nose, out through the mouth.” He placed both hands over mine on my lap. When my eyes sprang open they locked onto his chestnut-colored irises—so beautiful and intense.

“Better?” he asked as his thumb circled patterns against my fingertips. “Now start from the beginning.”

“My father is Pardo Inc...” before I could finish, he muttered “Fuck” and stood.

Agitation radiated from him as he crossed to the large glass window and stared out. “Did you know?”

“That my father is trying to buy out the place I work at?” I rose from the couch as he turned away from the window and paced the hardwood floors in the large space.

He stopped, turning to face me. “Yes, Penny,” he shouted. “Did you know?” His hand flew through his dark, disheveled hair.

“No.”

“Fuck, I don’t believe you.”

“Excuse me?” I was pissed. What did he mean he didn’t believe me?

“You heard me.”

He stalked closer. I moved back. My knees hit the arm of the couch as he loomed over me.

“Back up.” I tried to push him away but his body was solid, not budging as his chest pressed against mine.

“So, you came over here tonight to tease me? To throw it in my face that ‘daddy’ is trying to buy me out and you still have your precious boyfriend?”

My face grew hot. My body felt out of control. Anger pumped through me. And it was all more than I could handle.

His breath against my skin sent trickles of desire rolling through me. I wanted his touch, yet I fumed he could think so little of me.

“Think whatever you want,” I said.

“Dammit, Penny.” His eyes were as hard as his body as I tried to push him again.