Favorite Coffee, Favorite Crush

by Pinder, Victoria

  Jay rubbed the sleep from his eyes. Last night’s sex dreams starred Penelope, though he wouldn’t tell her. Instead he shook off the amorous thoughts. Today he finalized a short deal to finance their favorite coffee and keep that in business. Then he had a meeting with Danvers. And tonight, he’d do something nice for Penny.

  Every time he thought her name, a warmness filled his chest.

  Silence greeted his ears. She must have gone to work already. He sat up and stretched. With a yawn, he headed to the shower, but his phone rang. He glanced at the number, grimaced, then continued. His mother. With a shake of his head, he closed the door. He’d need coffee before he spoke to her.

  An hour later, he scrubbed his plate from the crumbs of his breakfast, and opened his tablet.

  His mother’s email stood out. Determination ran in the family. He read her warning that he wasn’t prepared for business, then hit delete.

  Next, his secretary had sent him a few papers. First was the advertisement for a planning engineer. His mind wandered to Penny, but she already had a job.

  He nodded to himself then responded, Perfect. Send this out. I’ll get a team together to interview the candidates that meet the qualifications.

  He’d need someone to ensure his building structures were secure before he offered anyone financial backing.

  Next he read the contract for the coffee shop. A vision of Penny with a smile as she sipped a latte and laughed next to him played out in his mind. Unlike everyone else in his life at the moment, with her, he was peaceful.

  He printed the PDF to sign. Last he checked his email from Danvers.

  Looking forward to meeting you in person, Mr. Marshall. Your plans are impressive. I received a report that you’re untrustworthy and unstable. From my impression, this report must be wrong. I am looking forward to meeting you and your girlfriend this weekend.

  Who would report him unstable? His mind steamed while the answer popped up. His mother. He shook his head then smiled to himself before he typed back. Penny was the perfect choice for his date. I don’t have time to be anything but stable. Can’t wait to meet in person this weekend.

  Finished, he stood up and went to his printer. The contract had all the right sections. He picked up the papers, signed, then put everything on his color scanner. With a click of a button, his secretary would receive this, and he’d pack the originals for her. The deal was complete.

  He now owned the place where he’d first laid eyes on Penny. A grin grew on his face. She deserved a good first day.

  Groceries. She’d like eggplant and chicken with pasta. He rubbed his chin and read the note she’d left. Tonight was his turn to cook for her. A smile grew on her face. He’d like to please her. So he found his flip-flops and headed downstairs.

  With a wave to the doorman, he stepped into the hot Miami heat. The store at the corner wasn’t too far. Halfway there his phone rang. After he glanced at the name, a sigh escaped his lips. He fixed his headphones then answered, “Mom.”

  “Son. You cannot intend to stand in the way of your father.”

  “Dad isn’t the issue, Mom. I need you to stand aside.”

  “Fine. We’ll talk about that later. Why are you living with Penelope Knightheart? You know her family.”

  He spotted Penny’s mother inside the store as she spoke to the cashier. He stayed near the window outside. “Mom, leave it. I trust her.”

  “Son, everything I do is for you to be happy.”

  “Everything you do is to ensure your life is how you want it. Every time we talk, I grow more determined to go against you. I’m not a child, though, so it’s time to hang up the phone.”

  Without another word, he followed his words with actions.

  Penny Knightheart equaled fun and innocence in his life again. He’d not involve her with his family. She brought him back to life where he enjoyed the warmness of the beach again.

  Chapter Sixteen

  Jay would be upstairs. Pulling at her hair in the elevator, she couldn’t stop the stress. Student loans. Moving. Eating. At least she had the pizza gig for extra cash. She’d have to find a new full-time job. When the doors opened, she decided to not tell him. Not until she had another job.

  She smelled the air and her mouth watered. Chicken marsala, if her nose proved right. Jay had done too much for her already. She’d gotten this job to be independent, and she’d not ask anyone for anything. She had to prove this.

  “Hey, I made us dinner.”

  She stepped into the living room, tasting the pasta in her memory, though not touching anything. Glancing to her left, she saw the chicken and pasta dish sitting gracefully on the dinner table, complete with napkin settings and dishes. Something worked right. “You rock.”

  “Tell me about your day.”

  “Terrible, but dinner is making it better, Dimples. You’re clean and adorable. Let me go change out of my clothes I sweated half the day in.”

  His eyes beamed with pride, causing her to blush. “Food will be done in about a half an hour. I’ll pick a movie for us.”

  Friends. This was normal for friends. At least, she drilled that in her head while she hoped the blush didn’t go all the way to her toes. “We’re relaxing at home?”

  “Hurry. I want to hear about everything.”

  She’d get a new job first, then tell him. She didn’t need Jay to fix this. She’d studied for far too long to take a handout. Though she couldn’t ask for a hug at the moment either. She might want another kiss, and she had no time now for complication. She lived with the guy. In her room, she dropped the preppy dress on the floor and stepped into the shower. The grease of the pizza pans smeared on her elbows beckoned her to her heavenly shower.

  “Botanical retreat” sounded refreshing, so she hit that setting for her shower. A light shower hit her head, relaxing her. Living here gave her this at least. Penny let out a moan. She’d be good for tonight. Friends. No benefits. Not until she could stand on solid footing, confident in her smarts and work ethic to keep pushing ahead.

  After pulling on a pair of sweatpants and nightshirt, she joined Jay in the dining area. He looked adorable in his jeans and solid-color t-shirt. He had already served the food and opened a bottle of wine. “You are one of the best friends a girl can ask for.”

  Putting his hand on his heart, he fell backward with a smile. “Ouch. The friend zone, cutie.”

  Clearing the air was good. Last night’s kiss burned in her mind again, though she denied it for now. “We are friends. It’s what I need.”

  Winking, he asked permission to eat. She picked up her fork to dig in while he told her, “I guess I can use a break from women. I am focusing on work at the moment.”

  She almost knocked her glass to the ground, though she caught herself. Ignoring her idiocy, she met his eyes. “You should, Dimples. You’re doing amazing.”

  His dimples grew. “Thank you. Now tell me about your day.”

  Telling the truth without lying took a lot of thinking. She slowly let out, “I was on my feet a lot, running around. It’s stressful, but I’ll figure it out. I don’t want to talk about it.”

  Shrugging, he took a sip of wine before asking her, “What should we talk about, then?”

  Sex. How it could be fun, and how she spent years of her life planning it between them. Not that he knew that. Taking a sip of her own wine, she winked. “What movie did you pick for us? And when did you learn to cook anything? I’m impressed.”

  Leaning closer, he whispered, “I spent a lot of time with the chef in my mother’s house growing up. She talked a lot, and I found her interesting.”

  Pushing his shoulder back across the table made her laugh. “I didn’t know that about you.”

  As he put his glass to his mouth, she wished she had kissed him. “There is a lot you don’t know about me.”

  Shaking her head, she put her chin up to dare him. “What else? Two more secrets.”

  He stopped moving for a split second before a smile broke
out on his face. “Two more?”

  Sipping her wine, she calmly nodded. “Yeah.”

  He circled the glass with his finger. What would he do to her body with that motion? “Your mom was fired from my dad’s company freshman year because my mom caught them kissing in his office. I befriended you despite being told to stay away from you.”

  Her jaw dropped. Was he serious? “It’s why Mom pushes so hard for you and me, then. She hoped we’d get married since the day I mentioned your name. Wow.”

  “Unlike most women, you’ll make any man the luckiest guy when you become a wife and mother.”

  Huh?

  His cheeks turned red. Was he blushing? “In the distant future… I’m going to stop talking.”

  “No, don’t.” She smiled. “You surprised me, and it’s been a long day, Dimples. Tell me the next secret about you.”

  He leaned closer, like he was about to share the biggest one of all. She followed, letting him come closer when he whispered, “Third secret is that I’m a science-fiction guy. Give me aliens and a space war, and I’ll be at the movie.”

  Move her lips a fraction more and she could kiss him again. The electrical bursts inside her screamed to do it, but she stepped back. Breathing normally, she laughed. “Okay, Dimples, that means we’re watching a sci-fi movie, then. I liked the ones with a princess as the star.”

  His face contorted. “Too girly. Guess again.”

  Smiling around him became easy. She needed this. She’d been drained all day.

  ***

  Putting the last dish in the tray, she hummed while listening to him in the shower. Making her way to the living room, she plopped on the couch, picked up the remote, and waited a split second for the machine to follow commands. Jay’s hand grazed her shoulder, making her look back. No shirt, but a pair of cotton pants. If she didn’t live here, she’d run her hands down his muscles, yanking those right off. Pulling himself next to her, he gave her a fast hug. “Let’s get started.”

  Sighing, she let him adjust in his seat while not peeking at his shoulder. Perfection personified, sitting next to her while the movie roared onto the screen. When the alien appeared, killing the person in the suit, she twisted into that waiting shoulder. Not moving, she rested there, inhaling his fresh, soapy smell.

  Every time someone screamed on the screen, she pushed closer until his hand went around her back. Her mind wasn’t on the movie, but on how tasty dessert would be if he did more than hug her.

  The beep rung in the air, killing her fantasy world. “Who’s calling?” she asked while he picked up his phone to see.

  His eyes grew larger while he read his screen. “My mother’s coming up.”

  Pulling her t-shirt up a little, she asked, “What?”

  His hands went to her waist, pulling her closer while he said, “I don’t have time to explain. Just do this for me.”

  She opened her mouth to ask what, but he claimed her lips, pulling her into his body. Her body softened while his kiss sent her straight out of her known universe. Her entire body rocked closer to his lap while his hands traced down her back.

  “What the hell is this, Jay?” his mother’s imperious voice called out, landing her back in her body, sitting on his lap. “You’re living with the riffraff?”

  She wiggled, but he sent her a pleading look. She stopped, then he kissed her cheek. “Mom, Penelope is my girlfriend. This is my condo. You don’t own any stake in my company or my house, and I expect you to be nice to Penny.”

  Sighing, she rubbed her face to his, recognizing his chin needed a shave. The roughness made her own skin more sensitive and aware, stealing her voice.

  “Jay, she’s not good enough for you. You must see that.” His mother’s nostrils flared.

  “Get out. I didn’t invite you, and you’re being rude.” He kissed Penny’s forehead, again, and her eyes fluttered.

  His mother gave her the coldest stare, numbing her body. She should say something. Eva would have a cutting remark ready to launch. Kate dismissed her, focusing on Jay. “Wait. I came to deliver this from your father.”

  “Put it on the counter, then go,” he told his mother, then he kissed the side of Penny’s mouth. In the background, she heard his mother’s dragon breathing, but with Jay’s arms around her waist and his warm lips on hers, she lost all other thought. She rocked and brushed against his growing erection. At least she wasn’t the only one aroused.

  She had opened her mouth to say something to his mother when Jay swooped down, claiming her lips in another kiss. She wrapped her arms around his waist, forgetting everything else, while he deepened their kiss, pushing her down on the couch.

  Slowly she came to her senses. “Your mom.”

  Jay stepped back and turned around. “She must have left.”

  Her entire body had no control, because he came back to kiss her. She traced his face and stared into his eyes. Breathing heavily, he whispered, “We should go to bed now.”

  Moaning, she took one more hard stare his body. His need pushed into her, and if they took their clothes off, had he propositioned her?

  “Our own rooms.” He still hadn’t caught his breath, and his lips were so close to hers. “I’m sorry, I had no warning earlier.”

  Her own body exerted too much heat. All she could do was nod.

  Pulling away took all his energy, just as sitting up and not touching him took all of hers. Sighing, she stepped away without analyzing anything. All she could do was sway her hips to her room and close the door behind her.

  Running her hand in her hair before she traced her finger down her mouth, reliving tonight, she hoped one of the channels in her bathroom spa could cool off her spiking temperature. She’d have stripped his clothes off if he hadn’t sent her away. Her body quivered at her door, aching to run to him.

  She didn’t. She let her moans of almost-pleasure float out of her mouth before she made her way to bed.

  Tonight, in dream world, he’d finish what he started.

  Chapter Seventeen

  When she woke up the next morning, her mouth watered for coffee. On her budget, she should cut the brew, but not today. Dragging herself out of bed, she stared at his fancy coffee maker, but couldn’t shake her cravings. So she found her flip-flops then snuck out of the condo with a pair of jeans and a t-shirt in her backpack to change in her car. Not telling Jay about her plight had to be for the best. Ugh. She’d think about him later.

  Stopping at the coffee shop, she decided to change there. Stuffing her nice clothes in her bag and drinking her morning cup woke her up.

  Today she’d found a new job, or at least started the journey. Whatever happened didn’t matter, including Jay not wanting her sexually last night.

  Looking in the mirror, she told herself firmly to not think about him. Then she started the SUV. As she drove to work, she focused on the earthy aroma in the drink. The drive was hypnotic and fast, but after she entered the parking lot, she felt calmer. She was almost herself. As she found a spot and turned off the engine, she checked that her tablet was still in her bag.

  Everything was in order, so she skipped into her job with more blood rushing in her veins. With a nod to her coworkers, she clocked in and put her apron on. Serving pizza was temporary, and at least the place catered to the nine-to-five crowd. Going back to part-time work had to be temporary, and she couldn’t let herself be comfortable.

  Nothing happened for most of the day, but on her break, she went outside, used the free Wi-Fi, and emailed dozens of résumés. Nothing important was in her inbox. With a sigh, she went back inside. Fingers crossed she’d get a break.

  Work made her not stress or wonder when someone would call. Or think about how her lips still had a small taste of Jay’s kiss whenever she sucked in her bottom lip. At five o’clock her shift ended.

  As she walked to her car to go home, she took our her tablet one more time to check the job postings. A flashy title caught her eye. Seeking Mechanical Engineer to be responsible for
overseeing capital projects. She could do that. Clicking, she realized the address provided was two doors down from the pizza place. Perfect job. Perfect location. She leaned against her car, sucked in her cheeks, fixed up her cover letter, and sent it.

  Then she hopped in her car and drove home, but on the ride she gazed down at her jeans. Jay could not know she’d lost her job. She had to pretend. What would happen tonight? Did they pretend nothing happened? No. She’d figure out something while staring at him. She’d never been shy in her life. Near the park, she parked her Jeep, then pulled out her bag, wiggled on the skirt, and changed out of her jeans. The button-down shirt appeared wrinkled, but she leaned down to pull her t-shirt off to put it back on. Tomorrow, she would change back into her dress at work, then slip out the door before heading home. Before getting out, she closed her eyes for strength.

  Why had he kissed her? She needed to know the score between Jay and his mother. Last night, the kiss, the deception, the fake dating—he had to have a reason, and there was more to it than business. Why her? Was it her mother?

  Taking the elevator up, she paced. When the doors opened, he wasn’t in the common areas. Going to her room and putting her stuff away, she found perfume. She’d need it. Spraying herself reinvigorated her questions. She stayed in her business clothes for strength, then marched to his side of the condo. She knocked on the door, but the vibration sounded weaker than she would like.

  “Come in, Pen.”

  “Right.” Peeking her head in the door, she saw him sitting on his black leather chair at his fancy desk, looking out the window.

  He put his finger up, pointing to his ear, before he said, “Those figures sound good. Finish getting the proposal in order and email it to me before you go home.” He smiled at her while listening to someone. “Great. Thanks. Talk later.”

  She almost took the seat across from him but he bounded up from his chair. “Penny, what can I do for you? How was work?”

  Meeting the directness of his gaze, she let out a breath before telling him in a straight voice, “I need to talk about what happened last night. I let you talk me into pretending for business, but I need more details.”