Favorite Coffee, Favorite Crush

by Pinder, Victoria

  His blue eyes had circles underneath. She hoped he’d smile to take those away before he told her, “Penny, if you are in love with him, then you have to tell me.”

  Her father had asked her and Wyatt to not discuss their family with their friends. Tracing Jay’s arm, she moved closer and forced a smile on his face. Part of her wished to forget the past. “I do love him, but I’m not and never will be in love with him. That’s gross. Now drop this conversation, Dimples. We’re running late.”

  He glued his lips together, though a spark entered his eyes. His anger confused her. They were friends. She was allowed to have friends, and for some reason she kept her mouth shut, not telling him about Wyatt. Not when he was upset. Besides, distance kept her safe.

  Pulling back from her touch, he packed a folder with papers. “Are you ready to go to Sandra’s?”

  She hoped they’d go together. His jealousy shouldn’t exist. Pinching her nose, she also let the image of Eva get to her. Sighing, she told him, “Let’s get this over with.”

  Following her out the door, he put her shoes on the kitchen counter. She’d forgotten about them and turned around. He watched her slip her feet in and told her, “I bought a bottle of wine for us to give.”

  Her eyes followed him while he opened the fridge, taking out the bag. She called out, “I’ll put it on the seat next to me.”

  “We’re going together, on my bike.”

  His dark, pensive face broke her. “Tomorrow, fine. We do what you want. But tonight we’re seeing friends, Jay. When we break up, we’re going to be friends with the same people. And for the record, Dimples, you’re not cute at all at this moment.”

  His eyes darkened when the elevator opened. Getting inside the small room forced her to gulp for air. Jay lowered his arms to his side. “I don’t want to fight, Penny. And I was jealous. It won’t happen again.”

  Keeping her eyes locked on the ground made telling him easier. “Wyatt won’t ruin your plans. He’s my brother.”

  His intake of breath made her eyes move up to meet his. “Penny, you should have told me.”

  “You were sulking like a spoiled rich boy. I didn’t like it.”

  The elevator door opened, and his dimples returned. Without touching her, he led her to his bike, and his butt did look great in his jeans. She only half heard him until he stopped to hand her a helmet. “I was jealous. There is a distinction. Now get on, cutie.”

  Now was her chance. She nodded and took the offer while he put the wine under his seat. He helped her sit before he joined her. Broad shoulders made for leaning on, and all she had to do was inch closer. After the party, she’d tell him she wanted him. Waiting had been stupid. Hugging his rock-hard body sent a surge through her while his motor churned so loud she couldn’t say a word. Speed and daring. She needed to be more like him.

  The edge where she did what she wanted meant she’d live her dream.

  After the party, she’d strip him naked. Yes.

  Chapter Twenty One

  They pulled into a spot. A few cars waited near her front door already. Jay stopped the vibrations under her leg, indicating the ride had ended. Inhaling his delicious male scent, Penny let go of his back and tried to control her raging hormones.

  Letting out a small sigh, she let him take her helmet off her head. Her gaze immediately went to his blue eyes, which only increased the fluttering in her heart. Squeezing her hand, he whispered, “Let’s go in.”

  Nodding, she waited for her breath to cool her down. They were at a party. He put her helmet in the holder and retrieved the bottle of wine. When she reached out to take it from his hands, an electrical spark raced through her. His eyes widened before he took her hand in his.

  Walking up the steps with him while her skin stayed hyperaware only made her alert. Hitting the doorbell while hugging him didn’t cool her down at all. However, when the door opened and a smiling, bubbly Sandra came out to hug them both, Penny relaxed.

  Friends. She needed this, too.

  “Jay, the flowers you sent me for my table are beautiful.” Sandra hugged Jay while Penny stood next to them, holding the bottle.

  “Is that for me?” Sandra stepped back from him to greet her.

  Thrusting out her hands, she let go of Jay to offer it. “Yeah. It’s a bottle of wine.”

  “You’re both making me happy. Come in.”

  Penny followed them into the house while Sandra told them, “Remember when I introduced you both, and that mutual eye roll you gave each other? Who knew we’d be here now?”

  “I was playing Wyatt on a video game,” Jay recalled. “I didn’t like Penny until she bested me in class with a math problem.”

  His detailed memory made her laugh. “Math makes sense. There is a right and a wrong, with no wiggle room of maybe, Dimples. I wish real life followed more order.”

  Sandra put the wine down, pointing out Michael. “My brother is here, looking to talk to you.”

  “Good. I’ll have another guy to talk too.” Jay smiled, showing off his dimples, waving to Michael. “But first, Sandy, Wyatt called me today.”

  Penny ran her hand through her hair. Why would he throw that out there?

  “He called you?” Sandy’s voice went low and faltered.

  Penny pressed her lips together while she held her elbow with her hand.

  Jay leaned in to his cousin to tell her, “He’s stationed overseas in Saudi Arabia after his deployment. He wanted me to say hi to you.”

  “Kurdistan, actually,” Penny corrected Jay, which only made Sandra’s eyes widen even more. Something had happened there, but Penny had no clue or how to ask.

  Sandra fidgeted with the bottle in her hand before taking a step backward to the kitchen. “I have a few things to do. Please sit down. Enjoy.”

  Reaching out, Penny grabbed Jay’s arm and whispered to ensure her friend didn’t hear. “Wyatt didn’t do anything to you. What happened between them?”

  Jay shrugged. “I don’t know. She gets upset but wishes to know how he is.”

  Her tongue wanted to say something, but she held back as Sandy walked back toward them. “You haven’t moved.”

  Penny let go of him, straightened out her shirt, then said, “I wanted to see if you needed help.”

  Sandra’s smile came back. “Ahh. Well, come and help me in the kitchen.”

  Penny brushed past Jay’s arm and she caught his blue eyes staring at her. Lowering her gaze, she followed Sandra to the kitchen.

  Sandra stopped to fix a fruit tray. “I’m glad you’re here. Eva’s in a mood.”

  Biting her lip, Penny shook her head. “Ohh, I have the papers for her outside. I forgot. Let me run out, get the keys, and bring them for her.”

  Letting out a deep breath, Sandra let her shoulders fall. “Yeah, Jay agreed. Good.”

  Penny nodded, her heart racing now, to ensure her friend stayed calm and happy. She raced back out, almost knocking into Jay on his way into the living room. He put his hand on her waist. His face brushed the top of her head, stealing her every breath. “What’s going on?”

  “Give me the keys for a second.” Her hands went to his stomach, intending to push him back, but her fingers curled into his shirt.

  Winking at her, he reached into his pocket, traced her hand, and slowly removed it off his blue shirt, handing over the keys. Lowering her gaze and a smile growing on her face, she stepped outside to get the contract and be done with that business stuff.

  Outside, she let the warm pink night sky relax her. Tropical heat always calmed her down and allowed her to think. Sighing, she relaxed her shoulders, found the manila envelope, locked up, and stepped back inside. She had all the time in the world.

  When she opened the door, Eva’s loud voice boomed in the air. “You dumped me for Penny. She’s smarter than me on paper, but it’s a low blow coming from you. She’s not in your master-of-the-universe plan, so how do you think that makes me feel?”

  “Master-of-the-universe plan?” Penny c
alled out, refusing to turn into the shrinking violet afraid to speak up. “Are you trash-talking me or Jay?”

  “Me.” Jay ran to her side, putting his hand on her hip. She nodded at him, adding her hand on top of his while he whispered, “You were to give her the contract, letting me avoid her.”

  Penny squinted. That was his explanation? “Why did she say that about you?”

  Eva rolled her eyes. “Please, Jay’s a snob. You must know that about him.”

  Jay’s face contorted. “No, that’s not who I am. Just because I never wanted to sleep with you doesn’t make me the bad guy in your life story. Now leave Penny and me alone.”

  “Are you gay, Jay? Is that what’s going on?” Eva snidely asked while raising her shoulders mockingly.

  His body on hers hadn’t been a lie. Penny let out a fiery breath before yelling back, “It’s hard for you. I get that, but he wanted me over you. Get over it, Eva.” Penny’s hand shook while she handed the folder to Sandra. “I don’t want to talk to anyone anymore. I’m going home.”

  Jay’s hand on her back led her away, and she stayed in his embrace.

  “Wait,” Michael called out.

  His voice hadn’t been heard at all. She stopped and turned while she asked, “What?”

  Michael took a deep breath and then went white as a ghost. He must be about to tell the truth. He sighed and told her, “Pen, don’t let Eva get to you. Jay isn’t the snob she claimed, but she did tell the truth on one part. Eva is denying much of recent history and it’s not about you. I’m happy for you both…”

  “You’re rambling and not making sense, Michael.”

  “How would you know my recent history?” Jay homed in on one fact.

  Michael ran his hands through his hair and turned red. “I was sleeping with Eva, two to three times a week, while she dated you.”

  Throwing her hands up, Penny said, “You’re family. What happened to loyalty?”

  Jay retook her hand and she turned to him. Molten-hot anger fumed in her entire body, though he kept her calm when he massaged her back, whispering in her ear, “I’ve got this.”

  She nodded and relaxed.

  Jay turned to his ex. “Eva, not everything in life is about you.” Sighing, he led Penny to the door.

  Her arms ached to offer him a hug, but his body tensed and he made a fist on his side. She stayed next to him, quiet, while he let the steam out of his body. The stifling humidity must have slowed him down too. Living in Miami, the heat expanded the body, forcing it to mellow.

  Penny stayed silent while he handed her a helmet. Putting it on, he fumbled a little before reaching under her chin, telling her, “You stood by me.”

  Smirking, she remembered how his body reacted to her. “We’re friends.”

  “Killing me with the friend zone.” He laughed while putting his helmet on and giving her a hand to climb on the bike. She nestled into him, resting her hands on his legs while he revved the engine. “Getting me all worked up is dangerous, Penny.”

  She coughed out her embarrassment, realizing her hands went on the upper part of his thigh muscles, close to his manhood. Laughing at herself, she slipped her hands higher fast. He was right. They weren’t just friends.

  He backed up his bike, then took off for home.

  Chapter Twenty Two

  Penny awakened with an empty feeling in the pit of her stomach. Jay had promised her that tonight they’d talk and have a good time at his party. She cleared her throat. Her lips were parched for coffee. Normal. She needed it to stop her dry throat. Heading to the closet, she picked out her best interview outfit and turned to look in the mirror. Her pupils were bigger than normal. She bit her lip. She had no time for a cold. She needed a job.

  Turning away, she packed her work clothes into a bag. She crossed her fingers. New job. She needed it. She’d be secure if she did. Her hands only shook a few times as she applied an extra layer of makeup.

  Closing her eyes, she told herself to relax. She’d do great. The forced smile stayed on. After cleaning up her room, she stepped out into the living areas.

  “You look cute today.” Jay’s voice sounded scratchy and raw, sending her insides soaring.

  Tell him. The voice in her head hit her hard, but she couldn’t. Tonight, and this weekend, alone, they’d have forty-eight hours to share. She held her mouth closed, hugged him, holding him tight for a second before she inhaled his mouth-watering, manly smell. She turned away. That was almost better than coffee. “Thanks. Wish me luck.”

  “I’m looking forward to tonight, Pen.”

  She was too. Stepping into the elevator, she gripped the metal bar in the back and jumped. Sighing, she settled down. Soon she’d come clean about her job and have a new one lined up.

  She had heart palpitations while parking. She had to get this job. Three thousand wouldn’t get her far in Miami. The Jeep, rent, loans. Adding it all up, she figured she had six weeks until she suffocated.

  “Stop it,” she told herself out loud before getting out of the car. Worrying never solved anything. Her quivering muscles couldn’t be helped. Sighing, she made her way into the building. After going up the stairs, she stared at the encrusted sign. Penelope Investments.

  She crossed her fingers, hoping it was a good sign. The owner had her name. Yeah. Her racing heart slowed down. After signing in, she stepped into the waiting room, where at least a dozen people sat in chairs. Someone’s body odor caught in her throat, making her wince. She took a seat and told herself to calm down and ignore it. Closing her eyes, she remembered Jay’s sexy man smell.

  Tonight started off a fun weekend.

  He’d never face her troubles, but then, he worked for himself. She’d never have the upfront cash to invest in her own Penelope firm, though she’d have that man naked in her bed tonight. A giggle burst out of her mouth while other people scowled at her.

  “Ms. Knightheart, the committee is ready to see you now.”

  Nodding, she stood up, straightened her skirt, and followed the indication of the secretary’s wrist. At the door, Penny fixed her top, rolled her shoulders, then walked inside.

  Two men and a woman sat across the glass table. Modern square vases, black wood moldings—all screamed to her rich but classy. Penny straightened her spine then took the seat in the middle of the firing squad.

  A woman with glasses asked, “Why did you leave Tallahassee to move back to Miami without a job?”

  Her mouth opened with a ready answer. “I moved in faith, believing I had a job waiting for me here. But the company restructured and my position was eliminated shortly after my move. Now I’m seeking a job that uses the skills I acquired at UF.”

  She bit back her smile. She’d sounded like an adult there. The man to the woman’s right fixed his glasses then asked, “You’re a Gator?”

  Nodding, she smiled. “Yes, sir. Though I will work with anyone.”

  The other man added, “The boss is UM. He enjoys the Hurricanes.”

  “So is my roommate.” She smiled, relaxing. “I’m not into sports anyhow, so it won’t be an issue.”

  The woman wrote something down, then glimpsed at Penny’s shoes before telling her, “Your qualifications are impressive. Can you tell us a bit more about how you see the job you’re applying to?”

  She answered the question and about a dozen more before the woman told her, “The final candidate will be chosen on Monday morning. Are you available for a second interview with the CEO that morning?”

  “Absolutely.” Penelope stood up, holding in her excitement.

  “I’ll have our secretary call you when she makes the schedule.”

  Penny didn’t contain the excitement in her smile when she left. She made it past the cattle call outside. The job fit exactly what she needed, and it paid well.

  She couldn’t wait to meet this Penelope woman.

  Her steps had an extra bounce all day, and time flew by. At five, she bolted for the door at the pizza place to fly home and get ready
for tonight’s party.

  On the second light home, she realized she hadn’t bought a dress. Putting her finger in her mouth to bite instead of scream, she jerked the car into a parking spot. There was a department store around the corner. If she ran, she’d get something there.

  She stared at her phone. She had no time to shop. Then it rang.

  “Jay, I’m running late. I don’t have a dress.”

  He laughed at her. “Shopping is a job unto itself. Come home. I’ll have something delivered. I’ll call one of my favorite places. Consider it a perk of tonight’s job.”

  Could she take his money? She let out a breath. “Okay. I’ll pay you back.”

  “Don’t worry about it.”

  Putting her hand on her forehead, she had to bend. “I’m on my way.”

  “Good.”

  Pulling herself up to the steering wheel, she added, “Shoes too. Matching shoes. I have my silver shoes, so tell them whatever you order they must match silver shoes.”

  “Are these shoes in your closet?”

  Turning the key in the ignition, she hesitated. “Yeah.”

  “I’m going in to get the pair.”

  After checking her mirrors, she pulled back on the street. “Okay. Why?”

  “I’ll take a picture to send over.”

  She pulled onto US 1. She’d be home soon. “Ohh. Good idea, Dimples. See you soon.”

  “Don’t forget you’re my girlfriend tonight.”

  She giggled and hung up the phone. Tonight they’d enjoy each other. She needed the release, and somehow he’d be the one. Fate worked out after all.

  She sped home fast. She’d almost ruined his night, forgetting the dress. When she pulled into her assigned spot, a van from Sandra’s bridal boutique sat in visitors’ parking. Aww. She’d been oblivious today. Duh. Her best friend owned a store. Jay invested. She’d never shopped on Miracle Mile for a dress, and didn’t do that addition right.

  Fingers crossed that meant discount.

  Holding her breath, she swiped the elevator. The pulsing in her veins whispered to her to kiss that man, but she’d play it cool.