by Claire Adams
"I know what it's like." I caught myself in time and snapped my mouth shut.
Penn pulled back but kept his arms around me. "What do you know?"
"Ask your father," I muttered. "I'm sure he's looking further into it."
"Corsica, wait." Penn stopped me from grabbing the door handle. "I didn't ask my father to do a background check on you. I wish he hadn't, and I wish you hadn't told me. I wasn't kidding when I said I wanted to get to know you. I want you to be the one that tells me about your life, whatever you're willing to share."
"You deserve to know who you invited into your home," I said.
"I invited you." His brown eyes warmed. "I don't care about all the rest. I'm just glad that you're here."
Xavier made the mistake of returning to the car to get Alice's scarf just as we got out. Penn brushed past him with a hard shoulder. Then, he turned and confronted his father. Toe to toe, it was obvious they were father and son. Both stood over 6'2" tall and challenged each other with identical, hard expressions.
"You had no right to check up on Corsica," Penn snapped.
"You didn't even know her hometown," Xavier said. "How could I let you keep going on so blindly? Especially after you've been together so long. Didn't you ever ask yourself why she kept so much secret?"
"Not for the reasons you thought," I reminded him.
Penn had his opening, and I thought he was going to take it. It was the perfect time to throw our little charade in his father's face. It was Xavier, after all, that had made Penn feel like he needed a human shield.
"I'm not like you," Penn said. "I'm not in a hurry to figure everyone out. All I know is that I love having Corsica around. I love her in my life. We've been dating for a while now, but I trusted that she would tell me everything when she was ready. You've never trusted anyone in your life."
Xavier caught my shocked look. "You're right. I have trust issues. So, tell me, how did you two meet?"
Penn hooked my hand through his and escorted me up the front steps as he told his father our story. I was surprised when it last for more than two steps. "I met Corsica in a nightclub. Actually, I ran into her."
"You tried to claim I ran into you," I added. "But we both know you weren't my type."
"And now, I'm growing on you." Penn squeezed my arm.
I had no idea why it was so important for his parents to believe in our relationship, but I was glad. As complicated as it was, I liked being in Penn's life, too.
"You met at a nightclub and that's supposed to convince me?" Xavier asked.
"She stuck with me," Penn said. "I couldn't help but look for her every night after that. Then, one night, I was in this little karaoke lounge. I was about to leave when she stepped onto the stage."
Xavier hummed under his breath as we went inside. Alice had gone out on the patio facing the ocean and was doing Yoga. He watched her thoughtfully for a moment and then turned to Penn. "So, you're telling me she hooked you with a song?"
"I seem to recall she did the same thing with you," Penn snapped. "Why all this sudden mistrust?"
Xavier sighed heavily. "I've had to face some heavy truths in the past two years, and though it was painful, it opened up the way to a life I thought I would never have again. I just wanted the same for you."
Penn gave a pained laugh. "You let Alice get in your head. I can't believe the two of you are teaming up behind my back to control my life. And all you've done is proven that Corsica and I are more alike than we thought. She ran away when she was young, and so did I."
"You turned your back on your family," Xavier said. "You refused to acknowledge me. Even when I joined A.A. Even when I got sober and wanted to make amends. I thought maybe it was her influence over you."
Penn caught my hand. "Influence. Corsica was a better influence on me just a few days after we met then you've ever been my entire life."
Alice slid the patio door open. "You all look so serious in here. What is going on?"
Xavier opened his mouth to explain, but Penn surprised us all. He dropped down to one knee and kissed the back of my hand. "Corsica Allen. I know these last few days have been a mess and you deserve more romance than this, but I want to prove to you and to my family that it's not your past I care about. I only want your future. Will you marry me?"
I wanted to scream. How could he put me through such a scene? What would this possibly prove to his family? And, what would they do when they found out the truth?
Then, I wanted to cry. Penn had said the one thing I had always wanted to hear. He didn't care about my past, he just wanted my future. With Joshua, it had always been a case of correcting me, retraining me, and making sure I kept my more-than-humble beginnings quiet. Penn didn't care about that.
What he cared about was his mother. Alice had brought both hands to her face to hide a huge, delighted smile. It was clear in the bright glow of her eyes that she had always dreamed of seeing her son happily in love. Now, when Penn was scared he might lose her, it was suddenly very important for him to give her what she wanted most.
And our fake engagement would give his mother a reason to fight her cancer with everything she could get.
"Yes. Yes, of course I'll marry you," I whispered.
It was only because I understood. How many days had I scoured the fields around our home to find the daisies my mother wished she could see again? I had driven four hours away and back just to bring her a piece of pie she craved. I would have done anything to make her happy when she was sick, and I couldn't blame Penn for doing the same thing.
"Penn, what are you doing?" Alice shrieked and we both froze. We thought our dreamy little scene was too transparent until Alice rushed over to us. "You don't even have a ring to give her. Here, darling, use this."
She pulled a long chain that lay hidden under her myriad other necklaces and beads. On it was a slim band of vibrant diamonds surrounding an emerald cut sapphire the color of the midnight sky.
Penn held it in two fingers. "I can't take this, Mother. I know you use all your jewelry for healing."
Xavier snorted. "That one doesn't have many healing qualities. It belonged to your grandmother. My mother."
Alice tossed her dark hair. "I'll have you know this ring has helped me on more than one occasion. Sapphires are known to help restore the wearer's faith, give them spiritual insight, and heal them through hope."
"Then you need it more than me," I squeaked.
"No." Alice smiled. "This is all I need. New love, new beginnings–you two are like the fountain of youth for me."
Penn took the ring and slipped it onto my finger. It fit perfectly, and I couldn't look away from its blue depths. I felt a twinge in my heart and worried that Alice was right. I had buried all my faith and hope long ago, under thick layers of practicality. Ambition had kept me insulated and safe for so long, that faith felt unfamiliar. And frightening.
What was I doing?
"Excuse me." I ran down the hallway with only enough presence of mind to choose Penn's master suite over the guest room where I had been sleeping. I rushed inside, darted around the massive bed, and dove into the bathroom.
There, I took a few choking breaths before swinging around and locking the door behind me. What was I thinking? It wasn't hope I was feeling, just waves of insanity. There was no other explanation for me accepting Penn's proposal than I was losing my mind.
And the worst part was it had felt so right.
"Corsica? Are you all right? Corsica, let me in. Please." Penn tapped on the bathroom door and rattled the door handle.
"Just give me a minute," I yelped.
It was just a ploy, a helpful fantasy that would inspire his mother to pursue the aggressive cancer treatments. I was a complete idiot to have felt anything else, even for a second, and I needed to get myself under control.
I swiped the ridiculous tears off my cheeks and fanned away the redness. Then, I smoothed down my hair and opened the door. "Sorry, I was just so shocked, I didn't think I could p
ull it off for much longer."
Penn pushed his way into the bathroom and took my hands. "I shocked myself, too. But, now that I think about it, this is the perfect plan. My mother will be happily distracted with wedding planning while she starts her treatments. And my father will have to get off my back."
"I aim to please," I muttered.
"Thank you!" Penn scooped me up in a hug and swung me around the large bathroom. "You're perfect. Like my very own get-out-of-jail-free card. How can I thank you?"
I turned away so he wouldn't see my face. "How about you let me swim in this giant tub?" I joked.
"Done." Penn leaned over and started to run the water for a bath.
When he dumped lavender oil into the water, I cleared my throat. "I know we're engaged and all, but seeing as it's a total sham, how about a little privacy?"
Penn stood up and grinned. "Whatever you say, dear."
He shut the door behind him. I waited until I was sure he was gone before I sunk to the bottom of the bath and finally let my tears flow.
CHAPTER TEN
Corsica - 10
All I could think about was running away. So, I got up early the next morning and tied on my shoes. The dim light of the rising sun had barely touched Penn's Monterey house, but I was dressed and ready to go. I had to get out of there.
After hiding out in the bathtub until I was wrinkled and shivering, I had insisted on going to sleep in the guest room. Penn was worried that I was regretting our little act, but I could also see the golden embers of desire in his eyes. He still thought of me as someone to use and get over. The truth of that thought had kept me up most of the night.
When I stepped out into the hallway, I still couldn't help but glance in his direction. My heart raced every time I thought of Penn.
The memory of his proposal and the feel of his hands clasping mine replayed more often than I wanted to admit. I had said yes because I understood what he was trying to do for his mother, but there was a part of me that had meant what I said.
Penn was awake, the door to his master suite swung wide open. He raised his shaggy head and watched as I turned away and took off down the hallway.
Outside, I couldn't run fast enough to catch the full meaning of any of my thoughts. After an half an hour, I was at least exhausted enough not to have to think. It was all I could do to drag myself back to the mansion and up the front steps. When I did, Penn was there with a glass of water and a worried smile.
"Are you okay?" he asked.
"Been too long. Needed it," I gasped. I took the water, but tried to walk past him to the guest room.
Penn caught my arm gently. "I think I called enough of the shots yesterday. How about you get to plan today?"
I shook my head and groaned as my legs ached. "If I call the shots, then I'm going back to bed."
"Sounds good to me," Penn said with a warm glance.
I shoved him, glad to be back on the solid ground of our teasing banter. "How about we finally use that spa day your mother and father set up for your birthday?"
It was Penn's turn to groan. "I thought you didn't like the idea of being cooped up all day."
"It's a resort. I'm sure they've got gardens and pools. That'll have to be enough outside for you. I want the royal treatment."
I didn't understand why that casual comment made him frown until his driver pulled into the driveway of the resort. A team of four people greeted us at the car in a rush of ingratiating welcomes. Xavier Templeton had made the reservation and any guest of his was getting the full service. It took us ten minutes and eight hundred questions about the smallest preferences before we were able to move through the lobby.
"We have champagne available, if you would like," the manager said with a slight bow.
Penn's lip curled up at the man's sniveling offer. "No, thanks. We just came here to relax."
The manager nodded and then proceeded to introduce Penn and me to every one of the staff. Each staff member was instructed to take extra special care of us.
At first, I loved the attention. I had only gone halfway down the hallway to the women's changing area when I was already gifted a satin robe, a pair of supple leather sandals, and an appointment to have a perfume custom-made.
"So, what first?" Penn asked, literally fighting off the circle of staff all ready to help. He turned his back on them and raised an eyebrow at me.
I ran through the incredibly long menu of services, plus the additional perks Mr. Templeton was offered. It was impossible to find something that would not include a hovering staff. Then, I saw an idea and smiled. Penn might be disgusted with the royal treatment, but I had an idea to make it work for us.
"I like the sound of the hot springs. Maybe at this time of day it won't be too crowded?" I asked.
The manager immediately promised that we would have the hot springs all to ourselves for the next two hours. Penn laughed at the thought of anyone spending two hours in the super-heated water, but he nodded. The flock of staff members scattered and within minutes we were escorted out to the steaming pools and left on our own.
"Well-played," Penn said. "But I thought you wanted to take advantage? What happened to wanting everything?"
"I am regretting that you turned down the champagne," I said.
Penn grinned as I slipped out of my satin robe and into the hot springs. "Then I'll get it for you, with my own money, and not on Xavier's tab. I want you to know who to thank."
I tied my hair up in a bun. "Then I'll thank myself for having such a great idea. Are you sure you can afford champagne? They'll bring you the best bottle, whether that's what you want or not."
"Funny you should mention that." Penn sat down next to the hot spring and dipped his feet in the steaming water. He flagged down a faraway, hovering staff member and ordered the champagne. "There's talk that this black sheep is reformed, and, now that he's getting married, he might even get his trust fund back."
"Trust fund?"
Penn laughed. "Yeah. I'd forgotten all about it, but since I turned thirty, my accountant called to mention it. The amount doubles if I get married during my thirtieth year."
He chuckled over it like a great joke, but even the super-heated water could not warm the chill I suddenly felt. So, now, I was just the means for him to reclaim the money he'd throw away?
When the champagne arrived, it tasted sour. It was probably the hot water and the steam, but to me it felt like more. I recognized the label on the bottle and knew there was no way I could afford that champagne. Not even if I worked successfully at the Ritz for ten years.
It always came back to the money. I felt it in my gut like a hard twist. If I couldn't earn the money for something, then I couldn't have it. That had been the hard lesson learned again and again in my childhood, but now it was the line against which I measured my morals.
I needed to make my own way. I could never be dependent on another like my mother had been.
All those years she cared for my father, stayed at home with me, and then when she was sick, he couldn't afford to give her good care, much less the best. She wasted away under that negligence, unable to take care of herself. I had promised myself then that I would always be able to take care of myself, no matter what.
"Not enjoying the hot springs?" Penn asked. He splashed into the water beside me, despite the prominent beads of sweat popping out on his forehead. "You can always go in and do the whole facial, hot-stone massage, manicure, or whatever else you want."
I shook my damp head. "No, this is a birthday gift for you. I'm just taking advantage. Actually, I think I'm going to go."
I hauled myself out of the heavenly hot water and grabbed a resort towel.
Penn caught my ankle. "Hey, don't look so down. I have an idea if you want to get out of here. You know, you haven't given me a birthday present yet."
I tugged my ankle away from him and gave him a rueful smile. "I know what you think would make a good birthday present, but I'm sorry, that's not part of our dea
l."
"Our deal," he snorted. "It's not really a business transaction, you know."
I had to grab a lawn chair to steady myself when he pulled himself out of the water. The steam clung to him, his tanned skin slick with the water. He brushed it off his arms and chest, but the heat still shone on his skin. I had the wild desire to taste him and had to shake it off before I could form a clear thought.
"Fine. It's not business, but it's not a relationship, either. And, we're not going to sleep together, if that's what you're thinking of as a present." I wrapped the towel tighter around me.
Penn shook water droplets from his shaggy hair. "No. That's not what I was thinking. I was thinking that this resort has a really great little Tiki bar."
"Bar? It's a little early in the morning for that, don't you think?"
He plucked the still half-full champagne bottle out of the ice stand. "I know the bar's not open, but when you see it, I think you'll be glad we took full advantage of our hosts here."
He was right, I later grumbled to myself.
We had pulled back on our clothes and announced our intention of using the bar. The ingratiating manager scurried in front of us and threw open the padded doors that lead to the Tiki bar. He turned on the lights, pointed out more, then bowed to Penn's edict that we be left alone.
"Darn," I joked. "Who's going to pour me a drink?"
Penn winked and slid behind the bar. He made a big show of uncorking our already open bottle of champagne and filling my glass. I took a sip as he fumbled with the switches on the back wall.
"There. That should do it. Now, look," Penn nodded behind me.
I turned around and choked on the fizzing bubbles in my champagne. The bar was small, but one whole corner was taken over by a raised dais. The small stage was set apart by Tiki torches and a palm leaves backdrop. Penn played around with a few more switches and managed to turn on the waterfall that poured down from the ceiling into a pool at the foot of the stage.
"How about a song? It was the most romantic part of how we met," Penn said.
"Yes. Oh, by the way, good job with that. I've never heard one evening get stretched into a year so easily." I couldn't help but approach the stage. Penn waved me on, and I stepped up. "Who am I supposed to sing to?"
