"Thanks, glad to see you made it back safe and sound." She noted, with a dorky smile.
“Really?” He challenged, with a raised brow.
“Yes, really! But for the life of me I don’t know why.” She half teased with a smirk, giving his broad chest a swat with her hand.
“Correction, you won’t admit to why but I’ll leave it at that. Just know that I know.” He smirked right back, tossing her a wink as she took a seat across from him.
“You wish,” she rolled her eyes, but the truth was that she hated when he traveled abroad. She always fretted about him being on planes. She knew flying was supposed to be safer than driving but Penny didn't like it either way. She also didn’t like that knowing look he was giving her.
“Anyways, how was it?” She questioned, diverting her eyes from his to glance around the room. She wasn’t really interested in anything that was happening in the club. She just didn’t want to get into it with him already. He had just gotten back; it was too soon to be diving right back into the same bullshit they always ended up swimming in.
"It was great! I think this movie’s gonna be a blockbuster. The script is good, the cast is great, and I didn’t even wanna punch the director in the face… well most of the time I didn’t, which is pretty damn good, considering. I think you’d dig it, it’s about…,” As soon as Penny’s hand came up Cole halted his words. "Sorry," he apologized, taking a deep breath and letting it out slow. He knew better than to try to talk to her about work. She never wanted to go into any detail when it came to that part of his life. She didn’t even pretend to give a shit about what he was set to star in next, or what big-name director was nipping at his heels. She didn’t want to know about cast parties or awards ceremonies. Name dropping simply wasn’t allowed around her.
"Do you have anything real to tell me?' She questioned, her eyes coming back to lock with his.
He looked a bit tired tonight, knowing him, he probably came here straight from the airport. He never could seem to slow down. With Cole, it was always “go, go, go!” No rest for the wicked she supposed.
"Well… let’s see, this food is real. How about if we start there?" He offered, opening up the Styrofoam containers one at a time. The food inside not only smelled divine but looked amazing as well, the combo had Penny licking her plump red lips as a loud growl ripped out of her tummy.
"Is this from Jazztons?" She questioned, just as Cole laid a napkin out across her lap.
"You know it; only the best for my girl!"
"Well, I know for a fact that they don’t do take out." She countered, smiling over at him as he filled up her glass with water and ice before sliding it her way.
"Yeah well, they do for me, dollface. I had the chef whip it up just for you. Dive in, before it gets cold.” Cole encouraged, handing her a fork.
He watched as she stuffed a huge bite of steak and onions into her mouth before quickly stabbing in for another forkful of potatoes dripping with gravy. He couldn't help but to let out a little laugh at the way she shoveled in her food. Being one of the most graceful women he had ever met, she sure ate like a lumberjack; all elbows on the table and giant bites taken.
"Don’t you judge me!" She mumbled out through her mouth full of food.
"No judgment from me, my love. I’m just glad to see you eating. You've lost at least eight pounds since I last saw you. Don’t think I didn’t notice.” He noted, his smile fading into a stern look that he sent her way.
"You pay way too much attention to my weight. It’s kinda creepy, ya know that right?” She smirked, trying to play it off.
“Well, someone has to. You sure as hell, don’t seem to be.”
“I'm fine, I’ve just been really busy, missed a few meals here and there is all, no big deal." She defended, stuffing another forkful of tasty food between her lips. Truth be told, she had been missing more than a few here and there. The money she got from the club just wasn't as good as it once was, forcing her to cut costs wherever she could.
"And that right there is why I stay on you about it. If I left it up to you you’d melt away to nothing, I swear. A woman's supposed to have curves they give a man something to hold onto late at night." He wagged his brows with a dirty smile on his lips.
"Trust me, I still have plenty of those to go around."
“More is always better, though, my love”
Cole winked, leaning forward in his seat as his hands vanished under the table. Penny could feel his fingertips sliding from her bent knee down to her calf until he finally gripped her ankle and pulled her foot up until it rested on his thigh. Skillfully he unhooked the delicate strap on her hooker heel before gently sliding it off.
"Oh, my God, yes…," she moaned out as the pads of his thumbs hit her arch and he began to rub firm circles.
Cole had always been able to work miracles with his hands among other things. The man definitely had more than his fair share of hidden talents.
"So, about that,"
"About what?" Penny questioned, not taking her eyes off her food.
"Anyone been holding onto you… late at night that is?" He inquired, digging his thumb into her arch just a bit too hard. She jerked her foot but he wouldn’t allow her to have it back. Instead he smirked with a little shake of his head as he continued on with a bit more ease.
"I think you know the answer to that." She accused in a flat tone, giving him an irritated look. The overly innocent one he gave back had her rolling her eyes.
"So…, I take it you and jackass Johnny aren't seeing eye to eye anymore?" He mused, already knowing the answer.
"No, actually I haven't seen hide nor hair of Johnny since the day before you left out. Weird, huh?" She more accused than informed as she eyed him down.
"That is weird. I thought you two really had something, guess not. That’s a shame too. I really liked that one." He shrugged, not even trying to hide the distaste he had for her most recent bad choice in male suitors.
"But that’s okay though because I just so happen to have a date this weekend. One that seems very promising, if I say so myself." Penny smiled as she snatched up another bite of food.
Cole’s fingers, instantly stilled and his eyes narrowed. He hid his reaction by reaching down and pulling her other foot into his lap. Starting in on that one he leaned back in his chair and tried to act as casual as he could.
"Oh yeah, what's his name?" He questioned, pretending to be only vaguely interested. Penny knew him too well for that though.
"Sal, his name is Sal; and no you can’t have his last name."
"Sal sounds like a car salesman. I bet he's got a nice polyester suit all picked out to wear on your little outing to the… let me guess, bowling alley?" Cole laughed at the image that he had circling around in his head. Sal, pot-bellied, forty something-year-old with a comb-over and a back full of middle aged acne. Penny didn't respond just nibbled her lip, making him roll his eyes. "Oh God, it is another car salesman, isn't it? Why do you even bother, what dealership? Please tell me it's at least high end because I might just throw chunks if you’re going after another ‘buy a wreck’ hawker."
"Shut your mouth, he's not a car salesman, asshole! He's a… mattress salesman." She corrected, sticking her tongue out in a childish manner.
"Oh ya, so much better! What's wrong with the mattress you have now?”
"It's got three springs sticking out and…, hey shut it! That's not why I'm going out with him! He's a nice guy, he's got a steady job and an okay car. And for your information, he’s not taking me bowling.”
“Mini Golf?” Cole snickered.
“No, we're going to a photography exhibit downtown. So huh, in your face!" Penny informed, sounding like they were still on the playground in middle school.
"Oh wow, look at him, big spender taking you to a free showing of crappy pictures, bravo! You scored big time with this douche.” Cole taunted in his overly, dramatic way.
“We shall see.” Penny shrugged.
“What m
attress store does he work at? Is it the one down on 5th or the one over on Elm?" Cole questioned, already taken out his phone, to Google search local mattress stores in the area.
"I'm not telling you, because all you want to do is scare him off like you do with all the guys that try to take me out." She accused as she finally pulled her foot free from his lap.
"That's not true, stop putting that on me. I don’t see how it's my fault that you go after flighty men who end up disappearing right out of the blue. Maybe I just wanna go buy a mattress. Why are you trying to hinder your new man from making a big fat commission? That’s not being very supportive of his career. Maybe that's why you can't keep a man." He offered, giving her back her accusing look.
"You're fishing Cole, but it's not gonna work. I'm not biting this time. You're just gonna have to track him down on your own. I’m done putting bull’s eyes on their backs for you."
Finished with her meal, Penny closed the lid and removed the napkin from her lap, tossing it on the table.
"Fine by me, you know how much I love the thrill of the hunt.” Cole reminded, cracking his knuckles.
“Indeed I do stalker boy, indeed I do.” She nodded, with a sigh.
“Anyway, so how's T.J. been doing without me?" He changed the subject holding his phone up.
With the speedy moves of a ninja he snapped a picture. He couldn’t help himself. Penny just looked too damn beautiful sitting there with her back held straight, elbows on the table and her chin resting on her fingertips. His phone was filled with images just like the one he had just captured, little stolen moments that he would look back on when he was away.
"Quit it," Penny ordered, trying to block his shot with her hand but it was too late; the satisfied smirk on his face told her that.
"He's been a miserable little shit, same as always.” Penny sighed.
“Lies, Devil woman! That boy of yours is a ray of fantastical sunshine. How dare you soil his good name?” Cole defended in an over the top voice.
“Not lies! He hacked into the school's records system and then proceeded to give everyone in his Spanish class a passing grade.”
“See, always thinking of others.” Cole pointed out.
“Not so much. He told the teacher that it was horseshit that they had to take the class in the first place.”
“I agree with him completely! Fuck that class… wait, what class was it again?”
“Spanish.”
“Quiero Follarte en el culo.” Cole rattled it off like it was his first language, sounding smooth as hell in his delivery.
“Huh?” Penny returned with an odd look, not having a clue what in the heck he had just said.
“Me gustan las tetas en mi boca.”
“I literally have no idea what you’re saying.”
“Puedo tener una mamada?” He continued with a dirty smirk.
“Okay, now I’m pretty convinced that you’re just being a pervert.” She sighed out with the shake of her head.
“Maybe a little,” Cole shrugged, pushing a glass of water her way.
She looked dehydrated to him, he didn’t like it so he kept nudging until the glass was almost all the way off the table. He then smirked when she caught it just in time and pulled it up to her lips for a sip.
“Shocker, anyway,” she said wiping her mouth with the back of her hand before shoving the glass back Cole’s way. “he went on this big rant in the principal's office about this being America and not Mexico,”
“He has a very valid point,” Cole interjected but Penny just ignored him to go on with the story.
“And then he proceeded to jump on the principal’s desk where he started singing the Star Spangled Banner at the top of his lungs." Penny sighed letting out an exasperated breath.
"That sounds like a completely legitimate reaction to the situation, if you ask me." Cole said with a solid nod of his head.
"Yeah, well, no one asked you. What's weirder is that he got away with it. He didn't even get suspended, not even a detention for that matter.”
“See, no big deal.”
“Yes big deal, but for some reason they didn’t even call me.”
“Then how did you find out? It better not have been from that prick gym teacher who’s always giving you the eye. The fat bastard. I still don’t understand how he’s supposed to teach P.E., All they ever do in gym is play freeze tag, what kind of bull shit is that? That school is a joke!” Cole ranted.
“How do you know he’s always giving me the eye? The guys cross-eyed, who the hell knows what he’s looking at for sure?” Penny countered.
“Oh, I know what he’s looking at, trust me. Cole nodded giving her a ‘this ain’t my first rodeo’ look. “But if he didn’t tell you then who did?”
“I didn't find out about it until three days later when one of those God awful soccer moms cornered me at the gas station.” Penny explained.
“Those women are demon spawns, sent straight from hell!” Cole piped up, knowing how much Penny hated them.
“I know, right! She went on and on about my delinquent, or as she called him ‘free-spirited son’ then wouldn't shut up about the school being gifted a bunch of new gym equipment by some anonymous donor.”
“I bet the donor has beautiful teeth.” Cole smiled wide showing his pearly whites. Penny paid him no mind, still distracted by her ‘I hate soccer mom’s’ rant.
“I hate those women, they’re so all over the place. I never know what the hell they’re talking about from one moment to the next," Penny scoffed with the shake of her head.
"Yeah, don’t ya just hate that? Like stay on track, right? Oh, I’ve been meaning to ask; is T.J. allergic to jellyfish?” Cole inquired as he changed the subject.
“What… isn’t everyone?" Penny’s brows furrowed at the odd question.
“I’m not really sure.” Cole shrugged. “I’ll get back to you when I find out.”
"Whatever,” it was Penny’s turn to shrug. She had learned a long time ago not to dig too deep into Cole’s off the wall questions or random statements for that matter. Changing the subject was usually for the best. “So, is there anything new going on with you?"
"Hmm… let’s see, well I started a new program at the gym.”
“That sounds productive, tell me more about that,” Penny egged him on, real interest in her tone.
“It’s gonna be for teaching self-defense to underprivileged kids. I'm gonna see if T.J. wants to come help me out with it. He knows all the routines, so I think he could definitely help the other kids grasp it a lot faster, him being their age and all."
"That's awesome; I bet he'll love that!" Penny exclaimed with a big smile.
She loved this side of Cole. The side that was always ready and willing to do things for others. It was the kind of man that he really was, under all that cocky bravado. He was always sponsoring programs for the less fortunate, not to mention donating his time and energy to work them. He stayed trying to better the world, one person at a time. It was one of her favorite things about him. His heart was never ending. Not to mention when he talked about it his eyes would sparkle, the same way they were right now. He was so beautiful in these little moments when he left being an actor at home, and just spoke to her like the amazing human being that he was capable of being.
"Well, I hate to but I better get going, I gotta make a few rounds, do some one on ones before the night's over." She informed, letting out another tired yawn, as she stretched out her arms.
She needed to make her escape. If she stayed looking into those caring green eyes of Cole’s, she might just find herself lost yet again to him. And nothing good would come of that. It never did.
"You do look beat. How about you just call it a night. I'll walk ya out to your car, ya know, make sure it starts for ya this time,” He offered with a smirk.
"Actually, I took a cab, Bertha's broke down again," Penny admitted, wincing because she knew a lecture was coming.
Cole shook his head looking go
od and annoyed, and he was. He hated that damn car, it was always leaving her stranded somewhere or another. That was fine when he was in town and could come grab her up, play a little ‘Superman to the rescue’, but there were times when he wasn’t around. He was always worried that she was gonna end up breaking down somewhere on the bad side of town. The kind of place where car troubles lead to human sex trafficking.
"You should have just taken the Volvo."
“Yucky, Volvo’s are so ugly!”
“You drive a burnt orange Pinto, I really don’t think you have any room to judge the Volvo’s personal appearance. Besides, Volvo’s are one of the top rated vehicles when it comes to safety and performance.”
“I know, I know, I remember seeing that listed on the brochures that you kept leaving all over my apartment, but like I said before it was nice of you to offer but I could never afford to pay you back. Not for something like that."
"I wouldn't have let you."
"And that's why I couldn't accept it. I'll get Bertha fixed when I can. Till then I’ll just cab it like a big girl." She said with a determined smile.
"Alright fine, have it your way but how about, just for tonight, you let me drive you home. Go grab your coat, and tell the girls you’ll see em tomorrow, or never.” He smirked that smile that he knew drove the girls wild. It worked too, just a little. He saw Penny’s lip raise just a bit in a smile. “We could just run away together. I hear anywhere but here is nice this time of year, what do you say?" He offered with all sincerity.
"Tempting, but no. I can't, I really need the extra cash this week. I'll head out when the club closes.”
“You’re killing me!” Cole sighed out, dropping his forehead to the table in his over dramatic way.
“You look dead on your feet Cole. Go home and get some rest, alright?" She instructed, reaching under the table to try to snag her heels.
"Hey, let me," he requested, dropping to his knee.
Penny couldn't help but to smile down at him as he slipped on first one shoe, then the other, with care before gently strapping them into place. He leaned in and landed a feather light kiss on her knee cap as his eyes looked up, locking with hers.
Between a Rock and a Hard Place Page 2
