Stone had parked the car in the garage, escorted me inside, walked me to my room, placed a sweet kiss on my lips, and wished me good night.
At which point I began to completely freak out.
What the hell was I doing?
There was no world where this situation was a good one, for so many reasons, not the least of which was that Stone Pennington was my boss, in every sense of the word. Not only was it inappropriate from a professional standpoint, but I was here to work, to achieve something specific for myself and my mother. I couldn’t afford to muck it all up, no matter how handsome Stone was, or how incredible his kisses were.
I barely slept, running through every worst-case scenario my over-active brain could possibly concoct. By the time the sun started creeping in the window, I was certain that this whole experience was a one-time thing, and that ignoring it was the best choice. I would simply pretend that the entire thing had never happened and Stone and I would go on as we had for the last month; with thinly veiled contempt.
Except, I didn’t feel contempt towards him anymore. At all.
And that was the scariest part.
I hadn’t dated a ton of guys, and any that I had spent time with had always been of the causal sort. And that was by design. I was not the type of girl who wanted emotions and commitment and feelings.
Feelings were dangerous. Feelings were how you got hurt. Feelings were what happened when you made room for someone in your heart, in your very soul and when they were ripped from your life and you had nothing left to fill the gaping hole that remained.
Feelings were to be avoided at all costs.
So, after I had showered and dressed, I prepared to make my way to work as I had for the last several weeks; in an Uber. Alone.
I was completely unprepared to walk downstairs and find Stone standing in the kitchen, to-go mugs of coffee in his hands, while Daphne, sitting at the granite island, looked on with a sly smile. Silas stood at the far end of the kitchen, eyes on Daphne and a scowl on his face.
That was unlike him. Scowls were usually Stone’s department. But, before I could think on that any farther, Stone stepped forward and handed me one of the coffee mugs.
“One cream, one sugar,” he said, looking decidedly uncomfortable.
“Oh,” I replied, shocked that he knew my coffee preference. “Um, thank you.”
“We should get going,” Stone barked, moving toward the garage.
“Going where?” I asked, thoroughly confused.
He turned seeming just as confused as I was. “To work.”
“Oh,” I repeated dumbly. “I, um, called an Uber.”
Stone froze, his hand on the doorknob, and stared at me, his brows furrowing. “Well,” he said slowly. “Okay, then.” And he turned, opening the door.
Christ, we were bad at this.
“Or,” I shouted, making him pause and turn back. “I can, you know,” I managed to finish at more reasonable volume. “Cancel it.”
“Sure,” he said, eyes darting from me to Daphne at the island, who was failing to hide her laughter. “So…we should get going.”
“Right.”
Following him into the garage where he unlocked the truck, I glanced at the Mustang, remembering how comfortable our drive home was last night. Worlds apart from this fumbling, awkward morning after scene.
Just another reason why pursuing this was a terrible idea.
As Stone guided the truck through the morning traffic I stared straight ahead, trying to find the words to tell him that last night had been a one-time thing. That there was no reason be awkward because I was prepared to forget the whole thing.
And, yes, a part of me wanted to end things with Stone now so that he wouldn’t be the one to end things with me. It was cowardly, but I couldn’t help it. The last thing I wanted was to be stuck for the next three months working with the stern, grouchy, and oh, so hot guy who had pat me on the head and said “thanks, but no thanks”.
That was a level of humiliation I wasn’t prepared to deal with.
I had almost compiled my speech as we pulled into the parking area. I licked my lips, ready to say something as we exited the truck. I opened my mouth, standing near the hot grille, needing to end this before we entered the building, me as the employee, him as my boss.
But as Stone met me at the front of the truck, looking like he just walked out of Western GQ magazine, with his boots, jeans, and suit jacket over a crisp white button up, he did the very last thing I could have expected.
He took my hand.
Like, he reached down, grasped my hand, threaded his fingers through mine, and started walking into the office.
I had absolutely no response to that.
As I trotted along behind him on legs that were practically numb, I wracked my brain for clarity and found none.
We entered the building, moving swiftly to the elevator. I heard a quiet gasp and turned my head, finding us the center of attention as the entire call center team stared at us. Feeling heat rise in my cheeks, I dropped my eyes to our joined hands, once again questioning if this was real life.
The elevator deposited us on the third floor, and Stone moved swiftly toward my office. When we reached it he turned to me, searching my eyes for something, then leaned in and gave me a swift peck on the lips.
“I have a lunch meeting,” he said, like there was nothing unusual about what had just happened. “But I’ll meet you here at five, we can pick up dinner on the way home if you want.”
“Right,” I said, blinking owlishly. “Dinner. Five. Right.”
One side of his mouth quirked up slightly and he released my hand, drawing the back of his knuckles down my cheek. “Have a good day, Penelope.”
Then he turned and was gone. I stood, my mouth open, staring after him for probably a full minute, before someone quietly cleared their throat. Jumping at the sound, I spun quickly to see Moira, a knowing look on her face.
“Good weekend, then?” she asked cheekily.
Remembering myself, I smoothed my skirt and pressed a hand to my bun, making sure all was in place.
“Fine, thank you,” I said, sounding like I’d just run a marathon. “And yours?”
To that she just smiled. I pressed my lips together and strode to my desk, firing up my lap top and getting to work.
The day passed quickly as I exchanged emails with several vendors regarding the Soft Launch event that was planned. We were going to host an opening week bash, but prior to that, we would be hosting a smaller, more intimate gathering, to get the word out and get people talking. It was going to be by invitation only and consist of some of Ava’s high rollers, as well as industry big shots, other casino owners, and all the right media. Celebrities would be contacted, Instagram feeds would be filled, and hopefully - hopefully - it would drum up even more interest for the Grand Opening Event.
The Soft Launch party was going to be one month earlier than the actual hotel debut, and that put it only eight weeks away. Carson and I had been organizing entertainment, which included Dolly and her girls, as well as some of the Cowboy acrobat troupe, a live show that was made to look like a shoot out at high noon, and even a staged robbery, with masked bandits and such. The ‘robbers’ were going to ‘hold up’ the guests, but any money collected was going to a local charity.
All in all, I felt like we were on the right track for both events. I was starting to feel really good about my role here and I could practically taste the promotion. I could see my office in Manhattan just waiting for me to come and take a seat.
But, while I pictured that office, I couldn’t help but think of the way Stone’s hand felt in mine as we walked together this morning, or the possessive way he fisted my hair when he kissed me.
Shaking off those thoughts, because there was no possible way the Stone and Manhattan would ever go together, I looked at the clock, realizing it was nearly five. I made one last run through my list of projects, ensuring that I had accomplished everything I hoped to d
o today, when a soft knock at my door distracted me. Glancing up, I saw that it was Toby.
“Hi, Penelope,” he said, a gentle smile on his face as he moved to stand in front of my desk. He was always so happy, smiling and interacting with everyone he came across in the most positive ways. I wondered if that was a prerequisite for being a Human Resources manager.
“Hey, Toby. Long time, no see.” With all the hiring that had been going on recently, Toby had been working full speed with interviews, hiring packages, training courses, and benefits packages. We would pass occasionally, but hadn’t really had time to chat in a week or two.
“I know,” he said with a chuckle. “It’s been kind of crazy. But I have all the department managers and their assistant managers hired now, and training for the second wave of workers started today, so it will slow down a little from here on.”
I laughed. “I bet. It’s been crazy here, too.” I leaned back in my chair, rolling my neck from side to side. I hadn’t realized I was so stiff, but sitting at my desk, on the phone and computer all day had taken its toll. Not to mention the constant thoughts of Stone and what was or was not happening between us. It was no wonder I was tense.
“I bet. What is it?” he questioned, stepping farther into my office. “Only a few weeks to the big show?”
“Yeah, crazy, isn’t it?”
“You’ll be out of here in no time,” Toby said, unaware of how his causal statement caused a bolt of unease to shoot through my chest. “I bet you can’t wait to get back to the city.”
“Yeah,” I said, though I wasn’t sure I believed it anymore. But that didn’t make sense. I had dreaded leaving Queens, and I was counting the minutes until I could be home, in my apartment, with my mother. Where I belonged. Wasn’t I?
So why was I so uncomfortable thinking about that now?
“So, listen,” Toby went on, completely unaware of my inner turmoil. “I was wondering if we could get dinner sometime? I know this great Indian place down just a few blocks from here. Really authentic.” He stared at me with hope glittering is his eyes.
Oh, jeez. This was bad. I had a feeling that Toby had been flirting with me, testing the waters so to speak, but I hadn’t expected him to just outright ask me to dinner.
“Toby,” I started. “I appreciate the offer, but I think we should keep things strictly professional.” I tried to be as diplomatic as possible.
“Sure,” he said, playing unaffected. “Of course. That’s probably best.”
“Thank you, Toby. I appreciate -” but I didn’t get to finish.
Without knocking, Stone entered the room, his head bowed over his phone as he typed frantically.
“Penelope, if you’re ready, I ordered take out from that Italian place. I know you prefer the lasagna from there. We can pick it up on the way home and- oh. Hi, Toby,” Stone ground out, his usual formal boss-man tone in his voice. “How’s things in the HR department?”
There was an awkward silence as Toby looked from me to Stone and back again, his gaze full of accusation.
“Things are fine, Mr. Montgomery,” he said, no trace of the casual and friendly Toby who had entered my office only minutes before. “I’ll see you both tomorrow then.” And with one last cold look thrown in my direction, he turned and left.
“What was that about?” Stone asked, taking a seat in the chair facing my desk and sounding like he new exactly what Toby had been talking about. He looked good, because of course he did. He had shaved again this morning, and his chin was just now starting to show the shadow of his beard. I tried not to think about how great that stubble would feel on my skin.
I was unsuccessful.
“Nothing,” I replied, attempting not to look at his warm hazel eyes because they tended to distract me to speechlessness. “Toby was just-” I cut off when my lap top pinged a message at me. Our inter office messaging system had a distinctive chime, and right now mine was chiming all over the place. I glanced at my screen and felt the blood drain from my face.
“No,” I breathed, forgetting for the moment that I was completely distracted by my ridiculously good-looking boss, who was also an amazing kisser. “That’s not possible.”
“Penelope?” Stone questioned, and I could hear the concern in his voice. “What’s happened? Who messaged you?”
“Ava Carlisle,” I said, my eyes scanning her messages again.
“The Whale Hunter?” Her nickname suited her, but right now, I couldn’t appreciate it.
“Yes,” I said, clicking out of the messaging program and into my office email. “She said that some of her whales have been given different dates for the Soft Launch and the Grand Opening. She’s getting a flurry of calls saying that the dates are changing. Her people are pissed because they’ve made travel arrangements.”
“Have you changed the dates?”
“No, I haven’t.” I scanned the inbox, seeing several messages responding to an email that went out earlier in the day.
An email I hadn’t sent.
“What the hell?” I muttered under my breath. Opening one of the new messages, I saw that it was from the personal assistant of a well-known World Series of Poker champion. He was both a high roller and a celebrity, and therefor, a valued attendee of our Soft Launch. And he was pissed.
“Penelope,” Stone said, having come to stand behind my chair. He rested one hand on the back, one on the desk, and leaned over, scanning the screen. “What’s going on?”
“I don’t know,” I answered honestly. “There are several messages regarding and email I apparently sent that changed the date of the Soft Launch. Moved it up two whole weeks, in fact.”
“Are we moving it up two weeks?” Stone asked, though he knew the answer. There was no way we could achieve being ready two weeks early. I would never have sent this message.
“Not a chance.” Opening the sent folder, I scanned for the original message. Buried in the multitude of messages I had sent out all day was one that I had definitely not sent. “Here it is. But, Stone,” I said, reading the email and then turning to look up at him, likely giving off waves of the panic that was currently coursing through me. I was terrified of that this would be the thing that would cost me my job, never mind the promotion. “I didn’t send this email. I have never seen it before.”
Stone stared at me, his eyes darting back and forth between mine, then his stern face softened slightly, his lips curling up on one side. “I believe you, Blondie.” The relief that washed through me was a physical thing. I huffed out a breath, turning to look at the screen again.
“This says it was sent at 12:47pm. I know for a fact I was in the staff room at that time. I took a fifteen-minute lunch break with Moira. She brought iced coffees. Whoever sent this email did it when I wasn’t in the room.”
Stone looked thoughtful for a moment. He pulled out his phone and fired off a text.
“I’ll have Silas look into it. He can check the cameras, show us exactly who went in your office at that time.” Still leaning over my desk, I could smell is musky cologne, spicy and woodsy, and totally Stone. I took what I hoped was a discreet sniff, enjoying having him so close. “Contact the people who received the bogus email. Offer each of them one thousand dollars in casino credit for the mix up and confirm the correct dates.”
He was so decisive in his decision making, so sure that the mix up wasn’t my fault. I was afraid I would get fired for this, and he never doubted me for a second. That information sent a warm feeling through me and I turned to look up into his face, my eyes widened in surprise.
Stone smiled down at me, his face so handsome my heart clenched. “It’s alright, Penelope.” He raised one hand and griped my chin gently with his thumb and forefinger. “I have faith that you’ll sort this out.” With that, he leaned forward and pressed a gentle kiss to my lips, lingering for a long moment, and scrambling my senses once again.
When he pulled away, his half-lidded gaze filled with something I could only call hunger, he left his finger
s on my skin until the last possible moment. As our connection finally broke, he shook his head slightly, then straightened, reaching again for his phone.
“I’ll call the restaurant, have our order delivered here. You do what you have to do, I’ll make sure you’re fed.” He moved to the office door, turning back once more, his lustful look gone, replaced with one of contemplation. “It’s gonna be alright,” he uttered quietly, but I wondered if he was telling that to me, or himself.
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
Stone
I wanted her.
I couldn’t even pretend it was just a physical thing anymore. Everything about her intrigued me and turned me on. She was amazing at her job, she was kind, caring, selfless, and yes, fucking beautiful. I couldn’t wait to make her mine. It wasn’t even a question of if, but when at this point.
But right now, she was focused on her job. Whatever had happened, we couldn’t afford to lose the high roller clients that Ava was securing, either for the Soft Launch or the Grand Opening events. So I would let her work, and while she did, I would take care of her, make sure she was fed, and then I would take her home.
As my imagination began to draw up all sorts of possibilities for the rest of the evening, Silas knocked on my door. He had been distant since our conversation about Daphne. At the time he said he understood where I was coming from, that he would break off whatever it was they had going on between them, and that we were still cool. But I couldn’t help but feel that I’d broken something in our friendship when I asked him to stay away from my sister.
The worst part was, I didn’t know how to approach him to fix it. Avoidance seemed to be our best bet right now.
“You wanted to see me, Stone.” Cold. Almost rude, but not quite. I would let it lie for now, but I wasn’t sure for how long.
“Yes, if you have time. Someone sent an email from Penelope’s computer. She insists it wasn’t her, that someone must have been in her office when she was away from her desk. Can you pull up the video feeds from today and see who was in her office at 12:45 or so? That’s when the email went out.”
The Cowboy and the Bombshell Page 15
