One Size Fits All (The Classy ‘n’ Sassy Series Book 3) (19 page)

“I’m going to get some air,” she said, and set her tray on the bar. “Just for a minute.”

“Okay.” He bent and kissed her, his gaze fixed on hers as he said, “Love you.”

“Love you, too.”

Penny headed out to the patio. It was empty now, aside from a lone smoker off to the side. She breathed deeply, not about to let some trampy girl ruin her night. She had Theo. He loved her. A rude bitch wasn’t about to change that.

She headed back inside, ready to finish her night and get out of there, into Theo’s arms and bed, a place that slut would never be again. But when she grabbed her tray and headed toward her row of tables, she saw them. The bitch had her arms around him, six-inch stilettos making her almost as tall as him. She was laughing, and he didn’t appear to be doing anything to get her off of him.

I’m outta here.

CHAPTER
Twenty-Six

T
hor peeled
Monique’s arms from around his neck, but she put them right back. “Stop.”

“I don’t want to. And you don’t want me to, either.”

“My girlfriend is here and she doesn’t need to see you all over me.”

“Then let’s go somewhere private, like we used to. You remember how roomy my backseat is, right?”

He removed her arms again, this time holding her wrists in his hands. “I’m not going anywhere with you.”

“Come on,” she said, and rubbed her chest against him. “You know you want to. I’m so much hotter than that homely thing you claim to date. And I’m sure I can suck your dick way better than she can.”

“That’s enough.” He let go of one of her hands and dragged her toward her table and her posse. “Get your things and go.”

She laughed and yanked her hand free from him. “It’s so cute how you think you can order me around. You know I only like that in the bedroom.” She batted her long fake eyelashes.

“Thor?” Shelly was at his side. “We need to talk.”

“In a minute. I have to take care of this first.”

Monique sat and crossed one spray-tanned leg over the other. “You might as well go see what she wants, ’cause I’m not leaving.”

He grabbed her by the arm and yanked her back up. “Oh yes you are.”

“Penny’s gone,” Shelly blurted.

“She just went out for some fresh air. Check the patio.”

“I did. Her apron is on the kitchen counter and her purse is gone.”

He faced her. “What?”

“Good,” Monique said, taking advantage of Thor’s distraction, and pulled out of his grip once again. She slipped her hand around and grabbed his ass. “Then we can continue what we started earlier.”

“There was nothing started.” He turned from Monique to Shelly. “I swear.”

“I know,” Shelly said. “Go. Seth told me to tell you it’s okay.”

“Thanks,” he said, and headed for the door. He’d thank Seth later.

Monique was at his heels, somehow managing to keep up in those stupidly high shoes. “She’ll never be able to fuck you like I can.”

He stopped and turned. “Good. I’m done with meaningless fucking. I love her, so back off.” He didn’t give her the chance to say anything more. He pulled the door open and ran all the way to Penny’s apartment.

---------

THOR KNOCKED
on Penny’s door and her little dog barked like there was a serial killer trying to get in. But he knew Penny was there. The light was on and he could see her through the curtained window.

“Go away,” she said.

He rested his forehead against her door. “Please let me in.”

The kitchen light flicked off.

“Penny! Come on. I need to talk to you.” The night couldn’t end like this. He knocked again. More barking, but nothing else. Anger surged through his body and he wanted to punch out the window, kick down the door. Anything so he could get to her. “Please let me in.”

Still nothing. So he took a calmer approach and tried the knob. The door clicked open. She shouldn’t leave it unlocked at one in the morning, in case there actually was a serial killer at her door, but he’d address that with her later. Right now, he needed to hold her.

Thor stepped into her dark living room. “Penny?” Nothing but the growl of a tiny beast at his feet. He headed for her bedroom. The door was slightly ajar so he pushed on it, the creak piercing the night like a ref’s whistle in his ear. She lay on the bed, curled in a ball, the moonlight illuminating her body and the sobs that shook it.

She was crying because of him. The sight of it hurt more than the pain in his leg that last football game he’d played. The one that ended it all. This couldn’t be the end of him and Penny.

He sat on the edge of her bed, hesitant at first, but put a hand to her arm, rubbing up and down. “Hey.”

“I told . . . you to . . . go . . . away,” she said through hiccupped sobs.

“You can’t get rid of me that easily.”

“Go. Now!” Her voice held more conviction, the hiccupped sobs gone. “Go back to the bar and that piece of trash.”

“I’m sorry for what happened. And for what she said to you. But don’t believe one word out of her filthy mouth.” He had to make this better. Let Penny know that Monique was a stupid, petty woman he wanted nothing to do with. He only wanted her. “You’re the hottest woman I’ve ever seen.”

She rolled to face him. “You seriously think I’m mad because she insulted my looks?”

He did until now. Fuck. “Uh . . . what then?”

Even with the moonlight to her back, he saw the narrowing of her eyes. “I saw you with her. Her dirty little hands all over you. And you didn’t look like you were in too much of a hurry for her to stop.”

Oh. “It’s not what it looked like. She kept touching me but I was trying to get her off.”

“I’m sure getting off was exactly what she had in mind.”

“You know what I mean. Monique and I have history, but I told her I’m with you. That I love you. That she needs to leave me alone.”

“Well, Monique didn’t seem to care.” Penny rolled away, her back to him once again.

This was not going well. How was he supposed to assure her that what she saw was nothing? That every woman from his past was nothing but a tiny blip? She meant everything to him. “I love you. No other woman matters.”

“I thought Jack loved me, and look what happened.”

Fuck. Now it made sense. He hadn’t even realized. What was happening right now didn’t even have all that much to do with him. It had to do with the shit her ex put her through.

“I’m not Jack.”

“How do I know that?”

He didn’t know what to say. How could he convince the person he loved that he’d never hurt her, after she’d been so badly hurt in the past? How could he make her trust him?

“I wish I knew what to say to prove it to you. All I can do is be here and show you how much I care for you.” He took a huge risk by leaning over and kissing her shoulder. “I love you more than anything and I promise to spend every day showing you how much I mean it.”

He hoped his words would help, but they didn’t. Her shoulders began to shake again, more sobs that were all his fault. He should just go. He didn’t want to cause her more pain. Standing up from the bed, he turned toward the door and stepped toward it.

“Please don’t leave me.” Her words were soft, almost hidden behind her emotion.

He crossed the room in two steps, joining her on the bed. “I’m here. And I’m never leaving.”

She turned in his arms, her face buried in his chest. He held her tight as she cried, caressing her, whispering the words he thought she needed to hear. The words he’d repeat until the day he died. And not because she needed to hear them, but because he needed to say them. He needed her to know he meant them.

They lay there like that for a while, until her breathing slowed, her cries calmed. His tee was soaked through with her tears but he didn’t care.

“I’m sorry,” she whispered.

“You have nothing to be sorry for.” He squeezed her and kissed the top of her head.

“I shouldn’t have gotten so upset. I shouldn’t have jumped to conclusions. I know you’re nothing like Jack.”

“I don’t blame you for how you felt. He did a really shitty thing and I want to make you forget it.”

“I want that, too.”

As he held her, promising to make everything better, he knew the scene tonight could happen again. He couldn’t stop it. He’d never regretted his sexual past until now. Until it could interfere with his future and the only woman he’d ever loved. He’d have to find a way to make sure he never hurt Penny like this again.

---------

PENNY OPENED
her eyes, sunlight streaming through her window. She was still in her jeans and Red Brick tee, Theo the same. Scarlett was snuggled between them, still in doggie dreamland. She looked at Theo, his slow even breaths, so gorgeous. Such an amazing man.

When she’d left The Red Brick Inn, she’d assumed the worst. That she’d been replaced—again—by a slutty woman. She couldn’t help that her brain had jumped to the worst conclusion. But when she’d seen them, the crazy had completely taken over. It couldn’t happen again, or she really would lose him.

She gazed at his face—his nose, his lips, the stubble dotting his chin and cheeks. She wanted to touch him, pull him close, cover him with kisses, but she didn’t want to wake him. Instead she slipped out of bed to the kitchen. Breakfast in bed, served by her, in nothing but a little apron. Her fantasy from the other day could totally still happen.

She whipped up some pancakes and sliced some strawberries and melon. She then nuked a few frozen breakfast sausage links. It wasn’t gourmet, but it was Penny style. At least until she could learn to make better breakfasts.

After setting it all on a tray, she shed her Red Brick uniform and tied on a little apron. She remembered the impulse purchase from awhile back, when she’d been excited to get pregnant and learn to be the perfect mom and wife for Jack. Had to have the proper attire! That silly dream was gone, but she could still get some use out of the apron. And this was going to be far more fun.

When she walked back into her bedroom, Theo was flat on his back with Scarlett curled up on his chest. One hand scratched her between the ears. The sight made her heart swell. It was probably the closest she’d ever come to having a family, and she was starting to be fine with that.

“Good morning!”

He turned to her, his eyes bugging out when he realized what she was presenting. And she was pretty sure it wasn’t the pancakes.

“Well, good morning to you, too.”

“Hungry?” She stepped closer.

“Hell yeah.” He sat up and Scarlett jumped off the bed, looking perturbed. “You look delicious.”

She set the tray across his lap. “
Bon appétit
.”

“I can’t eat with you standing there like that.”

“No? I can leave.” She turned, showing off her bare backside.

“Don’t you dare take another step,” he demanded, desire in his voice. He lifted the tray as he stood and set it on the vanity, then stepped to her, his hands reaching around for her ass, fingers pressing into her flesh, and he lifted her up. “First I’m going to devour you. Then we’ll have food after.”

He tossed her onto the bed and stripped down to nothing, leaving not one square inch of skin unkissed. The misery of the night before melted away with each lick, each nip. Every “I love you” he whispered blew away another ex from his list. None of them mattered. Only the two of them mattered and the future they planned to build . . . together.

CHAPTER
Twenty-Seven

P
enny headed
into Classy ’n’ Sassy for the afternoon shift. Until she could find something new, she’d keep her head down, do her job, and earn the money she so desperately needed. She’d started browsing the want ads in the paper and online. A few things interested her, but she’d yet to make any calls.

“Good afternoon!” Mia greeted her.

“Uh . . . hello.”

“Gorgeous day, isn’t it?”

Penny looked out the front window of the shop to see if the cloudy day had changed in the five seconds since she’d been outside. “Sure.”

So weird. Was it possible that Mia had taken ecstasy or some other mood-enhancing drug on her way to work that morning? This was so unlike her. Mia didn’t do chipper.

“Morning,
chicas
!” Bryn said as she breezed in. Chipper was definitely a Bryn thing, but this seemed chipper-er. If that was even possible.

Had they both gotten laid before work?

“I have news!” Bryn squealed, and bounced on her toes.

“Me, too!” Mia said.

“You go first!”

The pair could barely contain themselves. Penny just stood there watching the show.

“We’re engaged!” Mia screamed, and jutted her diamond-encrusted hand out.

“Oh my God!” Bryn shoved her hand out, diamonds shimmering on hers, too. “We eloped!”

“What?” Mia’s tone fell down about a thousand pegs. “You got married?”

“Yes! Isn’t it exciting? Eli surprised me with a sunset wedding on Saturday night.”

“It’s too soon. What were you thinking?”

Now it was Bryn’s turn for the excitement to fade. “I was thinking I love him and he loves me so why wait?”

“Because you just got your problems worked out. It’s barely been two months. How could you possibly know you want to spend your life together?”

“Uh, and how long have you been with Oliver?”

“Longer than you. And we’re just engaged. It’ll be awhile before we’re actually married.”

Bryn crossed her arms over her chest. “This is so typical. You go do whatever you want but you constantly judge everyone else.”

“Because I actually think about things before I do them. I don’t just jump in blind.”

“So now I’m blind?”

Oh shit. Penny didn’t know what to do. She’d never heard her bosses squabble with each other. She tried to ignore them and got to work on sorting through a new shipment of shapewear.

“You think you know everything,” Bryn continued. “My opinions about the shop don’t even seem to matter anymore.”

“Sue me for trying to look out for my best friend. I’m sorry I’m trying to keep this business afloat so I don’t have to watch you struggle for money again.”

“Don’t even try and make it sound like you’re watching out for me. You like to be in control and boss people around. Just like your father.”

Oh snap. Even Penny knew that was a low blow, after all the family drama Mia had had to deal with.

Mia’s eyes went wide, her jaw falling open. “You did not just compare me to him.”

“I’m sorry, but it’s true. Poor Penny can’t even do her job anymore because you needed to control everything.”

That made Penny’s ears perk up.

“What are you talking about?” Mia said.

“Don’t think I haven’t noticed how you’ve completely eliminated all the things she’s worked so hard to do around here. You made all these decisions regarding promotion and marketing and barely even asked her opinion, or mine for that matter.”

“Chanel has fresher ideas and I can’t help it if you don’t see the value in that.”

“We’re a team and you took your little pet’s ideas and ran with them, regardless of what anyone else thought.”

The bell over the door rang out, announcing the arrival of a customer. The woman browsed the satin and lace section of the store, Mia and Bryn breathing heavy from their emotional battle.

“I’m leaving,” Mia said, and turned on her heel.

“Good riddance,” Bryn whispered, then went to assist the customer.

Shit. This was bad. Penny had been on the fence, but this was definitely the perfect time to find a new job.

The rest of the afternoon was awkward, to say the least. Bryn kept to herself—quiet—which was so unlike her. Penny knew the fight with Mia had been hard on her. They’d been best friends since they were little girls.

“Did anyone update the PhotoChat today, or whatever the hell it’s called?” Bryn asked. “Seeing as it’s our only social media outlet now, we should probably keep it updated daily.”

“I have no clue.” And Penny really didn’t. It was no longer her department.

“I’m sorry for all that. And for having to witness our fight earlier.”

“It’s okay.” Penny didn’t know what else to say.

Bryn slumped on the counter, face in her hands. “This is so fucked up.”

“I’m sure it will be fine.”

“We’ve never fought like this before. I mean, we’ve argued, but this was so different. It was supposed to be such a happy day and now it’s all screwed up.”

“I’m sure she’ll calm down and you guys can talk.”

Bryn sighed. “I shouldn’t have been such a bitch. I know she’s only looking out for me. She’s been very protective since Johnny died.”

“That seems natural, but I think she went a little far.”

“Maybe. In regards to Eli. But the shop . . . I should’ve never said she was acting like her father.”

“I’m sure she knows you didn’t mean it.”

“Mia is tough when it comes to Classy ’n’ Sassy, but I know it comes from a good place. And if she thinks we need an overhaul of our marketing plan, then I need to trust her. She’s the one with the business degree, not me.”

“Wait a minute. I thought you disagreed with Mia about the marketing?”

“I never said I disagreed. I just wish she would’ve asked my opinion. It’s stupid not to pursue all our options.”

“But she basically took my job away from me and gave it to someone far less experienced. I thought that bothered you.”

“Well . . . kind of. I mean . . . Chanel is younger than all of us, but she’s got a lot of new ideas and connections. She knows things that you . . . er . . . we don’t. We’re really lucky we found her.”

What the hell was this? Now Bryn was in the Chanel fan club? Penny thought she’d found an ally, but nope. Tossed aside again.

“I need to go,” Bryn said. “I need to find Mia and fix this. You don’t mind handling the shop alone, do you?” Bryn didn’t wait for Penny to answer. She grabbed her purse and was halfway to the back door before she added, “Thanks!”

---------

THIS SUCKED.
It’s not like Penny had never been alone in the store before, but still. And of course it got super busy. By the time she flipped off the neon Open sign, she was exhausted and starving. She grabbed her stuff and locked up. Theo, and Chinese takeout, were waiting for her.

She crossed the darkened parking lot, typing a quick text as she headed for her car.

“Hey.” The voice startled her and her heart pounded as a shadowed figure stepped into the light. “I hoped you’d be done soon.”

It was about three seconds of pure panic before she realized who was standing there. “Jack! You scared the crap out of me. What are you doing here?”

“I wanted to talk to you.”

“In the dark? In a parking lot?”

“After you ignored my text the other day, I figured you wouldn’t answer my call or meet me anywhere.”

“You figured right.” She brushed past him, clicking open the door locks of her car.

“I like your hair. Are you doing something different with it?”

“Nope. I can’t afford to have it styled anymore.” She pulled on her door handle.

“Well, whatever you’re doing, you look radiant.”

That stopped her. She turned and faced him, curiosity getting the best of her. “What’s with the compliments all of a sudden? I don’t think you ever said that to me while we were married.”

“Maybe I was blind to what was in front of me while we were married.”

“Yeah. Blind to everything but slutty strippers.” She turned back.

“I was a real jerk to you.”

“Yeah. You were.” What the hell was going on? “But it’s over now and we’re both moving on.”

“I guess so.” He stepped toward her. “Remember that hospital fund-raiser gala we went to last year? You wore that backless red dress.”

She did. Bryn had helped her shop for it, insisting she get something sexy for once in her life. As if it had done any good. “And?”

“I can’t stop thinking about it. You looked so damn hot I almost dragged you to a linen closet and made love to you right there.”

Why hadn’t he? Why was he telling her this now? And why did she care? “I don’t understand what that has to do with today.”

“I just wanted you to know.” He shoved his hands deep into his two-thousand-dollar suit pants. “I’m really sorry about what I did to you. You didn’t deserve that.”

Had she been sucked into some parallel universe? Jack—apologizing? This couldn’t be real. “Oh . . . kay. Thanks?”

“Good night,” he said, and walked toward his car.

Penny slid into her seat. That was the weirdest thing ever, and she was having a hard time processing it. The man had dumped her for a sparklier piece of ass and was now apologizing for it and complimenting her? Unreal.

But she had to admit, it felt good. Damn good.

---------

“HEY,” THOR
said as he welcomed Penny into his house and his arms. “You don’t look so good.”

“I had a horrible yet bizarre day. Mia and Bryn had a huge fight and they both left so I was all alone in the shop. It got super busy, which never happens on a Monday. People were getting pissed and there was nothing I could do. I swear . . . I’m done putting up with this shit.”

He held her close, rubbing up and down her back. “That sucks. They never should have left. It’s their place. They should’ve stayed. But what was the bizarre part?”

“Jack came by the shop.”

Thor pulled back. “What
?
”

“I know. It was totally weird.”

“What did he want?”

“He apologized.” She pulled out of his embrace and hung her coat on his kitchen chair. “Said I didn’t deserve what he did.”

He stood there, stunned, trying to form a thought. “You didn’t believe him, did you?”

“Of course not.”

“Good. Because he’s an asshole. Why do you think he apologized?”

“No clue. But it doesn’t even matter—he’s out of my life.” She reached into the brown take-out bag she’d carried in and pulled out a paper carton of pork-fried rice.

“Just be careful, okay? I don’t trust him.”

“I sure as hell don’t, either. So, can we eat now?”

Thor dropped it after that, but he’d stay on high alert when it came to Jack.