by Kayla Hensen
“Nah,” Penny glanced up at him and tightened her arm against his elbow, “I’ve got you, Ace.”
Ace. Duncan liked that. When people used nicknames for him, they really weren’t usually so nice.
In the dinning room, he let Penny chose her seat. As she sat down, he pushed her seat in. Duncan leaned in close to her cheek, taking in the scent of her delicate perfume. Her eyes glanced at his and in that moment they locked, Duncan began to think… well, he began to rethink everything.
****
They spent the next two hours eating plates of beautifully presented foods that were especially small when it came to actual nutrition. Delicious but only enough to really wet your palate before it was time to move onto something new.
Dessert was a lavish chocolate mousse with a cake base and the largest portion size of the night. Even the coffee served was espresso size. Dark and strong but left little comfort when it was gone.
“Good?” Duncan asked.
Penny nodded behind her miniature white coffee cup. “Potent.” She leaned in and whispered. “Maybe you were right about going for Chinese food.”
“There’s still time.”
She looked unsure of herself but slowly nodded. Her mouth right against his ear she said, “maybe in a few minutes.” Her soft, hot breath tickled him against his hair.
“You two look close,” a woman from across the table said.
Penny faced front and her pale skin blushed several degrees pinker. Duncan didn’t like to see her called out like that. He leaned back, his arms resting on the back of his chair. “We’re close enough and it’s not up for discussion one way or another.”
The older woman, Duncan thought her name might be Christine, leaned forward with puckered lips. “It wasn’t a criticism. It is just… nice to see one of the Williamsworths ready to maybe settle down?”
The long table of guests chuckled quietly and Duncan felt himself getting a little flushed around the collar. Penny played with the corner of her folded napkin. He slipped his hand onto her back for a quick second. “Maybe I just enjoy Penny’s company, Christine. She has a name.”
Christine pulled back sharply. “I was only making conversation, Duncan. You used to like a healthy back and forth. Remember how we’d get on?”
Duncan did and looking back he wasn’t sure which of them had gotten more out of their flirtatious relationship. “I’m a charmer, what can I say?”
His dad stood up and cleared his throat and clinked his butter knife against his water glass. “I would like to thank you for coming. It’s nice to be back in Hamilton Springs and home where we all belong.” He gazed down and touched Mom’s hand who had been quiet most of the night.
“It’s nice to be invited, Jon! You throw the best parties!”
“Except for maybe the Sinclairs,”
Dad laughed but it was clearly forced. “Maybe they do but as everyone knows, the Williamsworth family was one of the founding families of Hamilton Springs and no matter how time marches on, that’ll never change. The Sinclairs can have their fame and the over the top homes but we stride to be something else. About family and integrity. I learned that from my father and it’s a lesson I’ll never forget.”
Duncan scowled. What exactly was his father getting at exactly? He tried to piece it together. Matthew’s face was long, Mom looked equally somber if not more. Everyone at the table was on the Williamsworth’s board of directors or a shareholder. Duncan couldn’t be positive but he had a feeling this was nothing more than an elaborate meeting. It wasn’t a welcome home dinner party. It wasn’t a get together.
Dad was up to something and once again… Once again, no one saw fit to tell him what was going on.
“In any regard,” Dad took a deep breath, “it’s time to move on and forge a new partnership.” He paused and glanced over to his left. The door to the west wing opened and Logan Sinclair stepped up along with his wife, Elizabeth.
He grinned victoriously at the crowd. “Good evening and greetings to you all.”
Duncan couldn’t believe he had been so stupid. He couldn’t believe he hadn’t seen the writing on the wall. He rose up from the table, banging into his plate and jostling his utensils. “Dad, what are you doing?”
“Duncan, sit down.” Dad’s voice bellowed sternly and clearly cross.
He couldn’t sit down. “You’re selling out to Sinclair? To him?” He spat the words out angrily.
“Here I thought we had developed a good working relationship,” Logan sad. “Your boy has clear talent, Jon. He’s an impressive negotiator as ever I’ve seen.”
“When he focuses,” Dad agreed and gave a dispassionate shrug.
Duncan’s mood sunk even further. He spiraled downward and he felt out of control. Penny grabbing his hand and squeezing it was the only thing keeping him from flying off the handle.
“Before everyone gets too upset, I’m not selling out to Sinclair Enterprises, we are just partnering up to benefit both our companies.”
“Yeah, code for he’s going to have controlling stock. You’re giving up. Maybe just say so.” Duncan tossed his napkin down on the table and stormed off.
He couldn’t believe any of this. He thought he was playing Logan and all this time, Logan had been playing him. He was the master. Duncan should’ve figured out long before now that the tycoon hadn’t turned over a new leaf. He was the same shrewd businessman he had always been.
“Don’t you dare go out that door!” Dad yelled, running up behind him. “You will go back in there and you will apologize, do you hear me?”
“Apologize for what? Ruining your spin? I get times are tough but that doesn’t mean you give the farm away.”
“I’m giving nothing away. I’m getting enough to settle our debts so we can start fresh. Logan isn’t taking the company. That’s not what is happening here. I would’ve explained it to you if you ever showed your smug little face around here. If you bothered to answer your phone. But no, all you do is storm off and hide at the pool house with your flavor of the month.”
“If that was an insult to Penny, you take that back. You take that back and you shove it somewhere the sun don’t shine because she’s not like that. She has the misfortune of liking me for whatever reason and I won’t have you insult her.”
Dad held his hands up in surrender. “I got heated. I’m sorry. Doesn’t change your past behavior or the fact that we never see you. If you want to air your opinion, you need to be more involved. You don’t fly off the handle in a room full of shareholders and board members.”
“If this was a company meeting, you should’ve said so. You called it a party. Seems more like a wake from where I’m standing.”
“You know what? Get out.” Dad pointed at the door. “I’m the one that is swallowing my pride here. What have you ever done for the company? The family? Logan might have plans for using you in our partnership but I don’t see what he sees. You want to know what I see?”
Duncan really didn’t but he couldn’t stop himself from asking. “What? A loser?”
His father scowled. “You said it. Get out. Your brothers can fill in any holes you leave behind.” He snorted with disgust. “To think, you’re the most talented of the three but you just won’t even try. You won’t play along.”
Duncan stared after his Dad and called after him but the older Williamsworth just shook his head, walking away. “Dad, come on.”
But he got nothing in return. Not even a little bit. All he was asking for was a little nod or an olive branch but instead he got just what he deserved.
Nothing.
Penny stood at the mouth of the living room with tearful eyes. Duncan didn’t know why she was feeling so upset. It was his father and Duncan wasn’t… Tears rose in his eyes, too, and he glanced away from her.
“Duncan, don’t go,” Penny pleaded.
But he did. He failed at everything he meant to do. Now how must he had looked to Penny? How could she even associate with him after that? Maybe h
e really had lost everything. He yanked the door open and ran.
Penny’s pleas ringing in his ears.
Chapter Fourteen
He left. He just left leaving her standing behind at a party she had no business being at if he wasn’t there. She had no car. No ride. The only person she remotely knew was her boss and Penny didn’t know what to think.
All that time she had wanted to protect Logan from Duncan and now she was starting to think maybe she had it all backward.
She had to go after Duncan. Make him see how things could work out in the end.
“He’ll be all right. He’ll come around.”
Penny spun to face Logan Sinclair. “Were you playing him from the start? I have to know.”
Logan shook his head. “I can see how it looks that way and why he thinks so but no, Penny. My offer of employment was sincere. Jonathan reached out to me with a lucrative deal. It wasn’t until our lunch meeting today that I saw Duncan’s real assets and how he an be of use to the company—my company and his family company—once this all goes through.”
“Maybe you should tell him that.”
“Now?” Logan laughed. “He’s too upset. He’ll come around and then I’ll explain myself. I helped raise a volatile son. I’m not going to repeat my past mistakes. If you were wise, you’d stay away from him, too. For the time being.”
Penny didn’t want to do that. She wanted to go after him. She wanted to find him and make sure he’d be okay. She had a feeling he wouldn’t, at least not tonight, but she desperately needed to see him.
“If you want a ride, my limo can take you home.”
Penny nodded. “I’d like that. Thank you.”
Logan escorted her outside and saw her into his waiting limo. “I promise you, everything will work out just fine. I’m not planning a take over. Give me the benefit of the doubt.”
“You’re right. I should. I’m sorry, Mr. Sinclair.” Penny slipped into the limo and put on her seat belt.
“Good.” Logan leaned over the open window and peered at her. “We’re going to have a lot of work to do in the morning, so get a good night’s sleep. We’ll be burning the midnight oil for a few weeks at best.” He stepped away from the limo and the chauffeur put the car into drive.
“Where can I take you, miss?”
“Before we go home,” Penny’s mind spiraled as she tried to plan out what to do and what to say, “let’s make a stop at the pool house. Get me as close as you can.”
*****
The limo dropped her off by the tennis courts. Then it was just a quick walk down a slopped walkway toward the pool. Penny could smell the chlorine and warm mist lifted off the surface of the hazy blue water lit up by an underwater light. The pool house glowed from the inside as Penny approached.
She touched the doorknob but removed her hand and knocked instead. “Duncan? Are you in there?”
There came no response.
Penny took a deep breath and blew it out hard. The door pushed open when she put some weight against it and she called out again. “I know you’re here. I just want to talk. I want to make sure you’re all right.”
“You shouldn’t be here.” His voice, though angry, was small and meek.
Penny didn’t think he was upset with her. It made her brave and she took a tentative step inside. Duncan sat on the sofa with his back facing the front door. His hands followed, he was bent forward. In front of both of them was a mini bar and it had been destroyed. Broken glasses on the floor, smashed bottles on the ground.
She raised her eyebrows as she took in the sight. “Oh, Duncan…”
“Now you know why you shouldn’t be here. Why I’m going to ask you to go.”
Penny stepped forward, careful not to step on the glass. “I wanted to make sure you were all right. Clearly, you need a friend right now.”
“Is that what we are? Friends?” Duncan gazed up at her with bloodshot eyes.
“I hope so.”
“Did you know?” Duncan asked, his eyes crinkling around the edges.
“About Logan?” Penny shook her head. “Of course not. I wouldn’t have played you like that.”
He gazed at her a long time before looking down again at his hands. “I should’ve known better than to try to play the master, huh?” Duncan shook his head. “Look what it’s gotten me. Nothing. Except now I know how my father really feels about me.”
Penny sat down beside him. “He said some cruel things. I think both your tempers were flaring but underneath what he said, were a few compliments, too.”
“Don’t try to make me feel better.”
“Is it working?” Penny asked hopefully.
“No. I felt like a fool. I thought I had it all in the bag. I’d save the company and the family. Plus, I’d take the Sinclairs down a few pegs.” Duncan shook his head. “Looks like the laugh was on me, wasn’t it?”
Penny guessed it was but she didn’t want to say that. “It’ll look better in the morning. Maybe it won’t even look as bad as it does right now.”
Duncan glanced over at her. “Looks pretty good from where I’m sitting.”
Penny thought he was talking about her. She didn’t know what to think other than he needed a friend. She didn’t know what it meant for the future but she was glad she had gone to find him.
“Except for in here. It looks like a toddler had an epic melt down.” Duncan sighed. “Guess that’s kind of what happened.”
“I can help you clean it up,” Penny said.
Duncan laughed. “We have hired help for that.”
She raised an eyebrow at him. “Well, you made this mess.”
“All right… all right. There’s a broom in the closet.”
“I’m impressed that you even know what a broom is.” Penny laughed when he made a face.
“I don’t know why I feel better when you tease me but I do.” Duncan slapped his thighs and rose up to his feet. “You know if you tell anyone about this, I’ll deny it.”
“The sweeping or the tantrum?”
“The sweeping. Everyone already knows I can throw a tantrum.” Duncan grabbed the broom from the closet and started to sweep up. Penny held the dustpan and they gathered up all of the broken pieces of glass. She slid everything into the waste basket.
When she stood back up, Duncan stood still beside her. He had a longing look in his eye and when he bent down to kiss her, Penny was helpless to resisting the puppy dog look on his sad face. Their lips met once and then twice. The first kiss a peck, the second kiss a bit longer as their warm breath mingled around them.
The dustpan slipped from her hands as Duncan took her by the waist and pulled her closer. Her hand caressed his cheek and she wanted nothing more than to be with him. Finally, Duncan ripped his lips away from her and took a shaking breath. “I like you,” he admitted. “I like you a lot, Penny. That’s why I shouldn’t have kissed you. I shouldn’t…”
“Duncan, come on. No one is making me do anything I don’t want to do. No one made me come here to find you. You’re not the toxic bad boy you make yourself out to be.”
“No?” He challenged her, gesturing to the room around them. “Look at what I did. I can’t do anything without messing up. I can’t even work for the mighty Sinclairs without it blowing up in my face.”
“I think you like punishing yourself but you’re not who you think you are. You live down to your father’s expectations. Instead, he needs to rise above them and begin to live up to your own standards. What your father says or does, doesn’t have to be true.”
“I appreciate that. I do.” Duncan wiped his lips away but held his fingers against them too long. He was weighing his options. Penny didn’t think she could trust him that night but the more time they spent together… And the way his father spoke to him, Penny wanted nothing more than to give him the benefit of the doubt.
“If you’re thinking of asking me to leave…”
“I am,” Duncan admitted. “It’s the last thing I want but it’l
l be the best possible move for you. Eventually I’ll blow up in your face.”
Penny pushed her lips together firm.
“Don’t make cute faces at me when I’m trying to be strong.”
She nearly burst out laughing. “I’ll go because it’s been an emotional night. For both of us. But there’s something you need to know. Tonight I came here thinking I was going to ask you not to go after Logan Sinclair. I thought he was naïve and maybe a little frail. Now I realize how wrong I was. I’m sorry.”
“Don’t be. He fooled us all.”
“He said he didn’t. He said he has a job for you when all this settles down.”
Duncan laughed bitterly. “It’ll be a cold day before that happens but thank you for this. It might’ve been the best kiss of my life.” He touched her chin and kissed her cheek. It felt like more like a kiss off than a hello.
“Will you… call me tomorrow?”
“I think it’s best to let things lie for now, don’t you?”
Penny sighed. “Duncan…” But she saw the look of resolve on his face and thought if he needed space, then she had to do the right thing and give it to him. “All right. It’s your choice but if you call, I’ll answer.” She stepped back out the front door, careful not to step on anything breakable that littered the floor.
She took one more look at him before she headed up the walkway toward the tennis courts. Maybe things would look brighter in the morning.
*****
In the morning, Penny awoke with a sinking feeling in her stomach. Not even petting the top of Klous’s head was enough to lift her spirits. She chose a black skirt and a black blazer for work, something she almost never did. Even the idea of eating breakfast and drinking coffee wasn’t something she looked forward to.
In her car, Penny checked her text messages but there were none. Not even Duncan and not even from her mother. So much for all of that.
Penny tried to shake off how she was feeling and headed to work. The office up on her floor was in a frenzy. That meant Logan was already in. He certainly was early. Penny dropped her coffee off on her desk and lifted the lid to her laptop. She usually checked in with Logan first thing, but today Penny hesitated.
