Penny suddenly didn’t care about social niceties. All she wanted to do was disappear. She hiked up her dress and ran from the room.
HARRISON TOOK OFF AFTER Penny, his heart in his throat. How embarrassing for her. She ran out the back patio door and down a stone path toward a well-lit garden. He finally caught up to her on a bridge overlooking a small stream. “Are you okay?”
She turned to him, cringing. “Yeah.”
“It’s okay. We’ve all had moments like that.” He put his hand on her shoulder and electricity zinged up his arm. He removed it. A light breeze carried her floral scent as she gazed out at the garden.
Penny was so different from what he was used to. She didn’t care about money. She only cared that people took her seriously. Tripping and falling in front of everyone had to have been devastating for her. His fingers ached to touch her soft skin. He froze. The feelings surging within him were strong. Stronger than he’d felt in years.
But Penny was not his real wife. He couldn’t feel this way toward her. He had to get control of himself. He took a deep breath and exhaled slowly.
Penny covered her cheeks with her hands. “I’m such a screw up.”
She’d said the words so softly he barely heard them, but they stabbed him in the chest all the same. “Stop. You’re not.”
She turned to him, her eyes wide. “On my tenth birthday, we were playing pin the tail on the donkey, and somehow I got way off course and ended up backing up into the coffee table.”
“That doesn’t sound so bad.”
“Yeah, except my cake was on the table, and I sat on it. After that, I was known as Frosting Butt at school.”
Harrison bit the inside of his cheek to keep from laughing. “That could have happened to anyone.”
Her eyebrows pulled together. “I once set up a lemonade stand. Spent all morning making signs, and then setting up the table. Unfortunately it was windy that day and I ended up with lemonade on my lap. You know what that looks like to all the neighborhood kids?”
“That must have been hard for you, but neither one of those is your fault.”
“What about the time I was applying for college and mixed up the applications. I sent them to the wrong colleges. My family still laughs about that one.”
She looked so distraught, he didn’t dare smile. “A simple mistake.”
“I once gave a homeless man a twenty dollar bill. Except he wasn’t homeless, and I got a thirty minute lecture from an attorney on making assumptions.”
Harrison hooked his finger under her chin and forced her to look into his eyes. “You are not a screw up. You are a beautiful woman, with a kind heart. You are intelligent and talented, and anyone would be crazy not to love you.” He tucked her under his chin and hugged her close.
PENNY SWALLOWED. DID he just say he loved her? No. He couldn’t have. She listened to his heart beat and tried to suppress the growing feelings inside her. He wasn’t saying he loved her. He was only trying to make her feel better.
He was a sweet and caring guy. That was it. She couldn’t put anything on him that wasn’t there. She needed to put aside all her foolish romantic notions. What had happened with William proved that.
She pulled away from him. “Thank you.” She took three more steps away. “I’m fine.”
“Are you sure?” Worry filled his face.
“Yep! I’m good.” She tried to plaster a smile on her face, but her cheeks felt wooden.
The sound of heels clicking on the stone path rang through the clearing, and Josephine appeared. “Penny. Come here, sweetie.” She pulled Penny into an embrace. “Are you okay?”
“I’m fine, Josephine. Really.” The more she said it, the more it felt true. She could handle this.
Josephine took her hands in hers. “Don’t feel bad, honey. Just about everyone in there has had something embarrassing happen to them.” She lowered her voice. “And a couple of them had it splashed all over the papers.”
“That would be terrible.”
“The best thing to do is march back in there and smile like nothing happened. Tomorrow you’ll be old news.”
“Wise advice.” She could do that. Maybe.
Josephine grinned at her. “Now, a little birdy told me you have a beautiful singing voice. I always have entertainment at my parties. Come sing us a Christmas song and give everyone a new reason to talk about you.”
Penny stared at Josephine. Who had said she could sing? Was it...? She glanced at Harrison. He nodded his encouragement. “Go ahead.”
Nervousness and excitement shot through her at once. This could be her chance. There were people at this party who could make things happen. She wrung her hands. “Really? You’d let me sing?”
Josephine smiled wide. “I insist.”
Could she do it? She kind of liked the idea of slinking in and staying out of sight until it was time to leave. Could she really get up on a stage after showing everyone her underwear?
Indecision plagued her for a moment as she tried to convince herself it didn’t matter. No one cared about her fall. She was a performer, and the show must go on. Penny took a deep breath and clenched her fists. “I’ll do it.”
Chapter 16
Penny steeled herself for the curious stares she was sure to receive and followed Josephine through the patio door. Ignoring the gawking, she imagined she was alone, walking through the lavishly decorated home. It was almost like a fairy tale, with the twinkling lights and the bright Christmas bows. If she focused on them, maybe she could do this.
Josephine stepped up onto the stage and took the microphone. The band quickly ended their song. Josephine cleared her throat. “Ladies and gentleman, I have an announcement.”
The conversation died down to a hushed level. Penny’s mouth dried out, and she tried not to wipe her sweaty hands on the expensive dress.
“We have a special gift for you this evening. We are going to start off the live entertainment with a song sung by a very talented young woman. She recently debuted in Las Vegas, singing in the Whitney Houston tribute show. Please welcome to our stage, Penny Williams!”
Josephine glided off the stage and gave Penny a little one-armed hug. “Just tell the band which song you’ll sing.”
Penny lifted her skirt a little so she wouldn’t trip on the way up to the stage. Her ankles wobbled and she steadied herself. She was not going to mess this up. She could do this. Show them she was more than a klutz with hot pink underwear.
She whispered to the band and stepped up to the microphone. Her stomach rolled and twisted enough to make itself into a pretzel. She took a deep breath and smiled at the sea of faces staring up at her. A nervous giggle escaped. “I guess I’m your entertainment for the night, although my first act was accidental.”
A smattering of chuckles made its way through the room, giving her confidence.
“Hopefully this will outshine the first.” She glanced back at the band and they started the first strains of O Holy Night.
She didn’t miss her intro, and her voice carried over the speakers, clear and steady. Closing her eyes and letting the music take her away, she sang the song that moved her the most during the Christmas season. She imagined she was in a giant cathedral, the sound echoing up to the vaulted ceiling.
As she approached the crescendo, her spirit soared, and she no longer cared what everyone thought of her. Singing took her to another existence. One where she was all she ever hoped to be, and she didn’t come up short. Nothing tainted her. She was free.
Her voice quieted as the song ended, and she looked out over the audience. Josephine beamed up at her. Harrison’s face was hard to read. Patrice scowled. But the rest of them had awed expressions on their faces. The audience burst into applause.
Josephine was at her side in an instant, and took the microphone. “I think I speak for us all when I say that was phenomenal. You could give Celine Dion a run for her money. Thank you for singing for us. I think we got a real treat tonight.”
&n
bsp; Being compared to Celine made Penny blush. She stumbled off the stage, her heart beating wildly in her chest.
Harrison pulled her close. “That was amazing.” His voice seemed husky.
The rest of the evening went by in a blur. Countless people expressed their awe at her singing talent. She was glad most people had forgotten her embarrassing fall.
When she and Harrison were finally left alone for a moment, she took a deep breath and exhaled.
Harrison tucked her under his arm and whispered, “Are you ready to leave?”
She nodded, grateful once again for his thoughtful nature. They said their goodbyes and Harrison guided her outside. Their car was brought to them and Harrison opened the door for her.
He slid into the driver’s seat and turned to her, his expression serious. “You did fantastic tonight.”
She bit back a laugh. “Yeah, the whole tripping over myself was great.”
A frown crossed his face as he pulled out onto the street. “Why do you always focus on the negative?”
She stared down at her lap. “Sorry. It’s habit.”
“I’ve noticed. But so much went well tonight. Your singing...it was...” Harrison stopped talking and Penny glanced up to see him struggling for words. “You moved people.”
She blinked, unsure what to say. Was he talking about himself? “Thanks.”
“You’re special, Penny. Don’t you ever forget that.”
His words hung in the air and Penny didn’t know how to respond. A lump formed in her throat. The car began to seem impossibly small. They pulled into his stepmother’s driveway, and she practically leapt out as soon as they stopped.
She had to get away from Harrison. Away from those handsome blue eyes. Away from the way he was making her feel. She ran up to the house, but instead of escaping, she found the door locked. Great. She waited while Harrison got out of the car and made his way up the walk.
“You okay?” His eyebrow raised curiously.
“Yes.” She tried to sound bright and cheery. “Sorry. I’m just dying to get out of this dress.”
He smiled and stepped closer to unlock the door. “No sleeping in it tonight?”
Arg. Was he flirting with her? Surely he wasn’t. But then why was her stomach full of butterflies? And why did she feel this incredible urge to flirt back? She shook her head and entered the house. “Nope. I’m taking this dress off right now.”
Penny didn’t realize how that sounded until it came out of her mouth. She turned to see Harrison’s smile widen. Heat seared her cheeks. “I mean, I’m going to go change. Into something. Comfortable. Yes, that’s it. I’m putting on clothes.”
He chuckled. “Okay. Go right ahead.” He motioned to the grand staircase.
She didn’t need a written invitation. She darted up the steps and locked herself in Harrison’s bathroom. Oh, dear. Why did she feel this way toward him? No, this wasn’t good. She could not fall for him. Not when her head was so confused.
Splashing cold water on her face, she held her breath, trying to calm down. This was all just a mistake. Harrison wasn’t flirting. And she wasn’t falling for him.
An idea popped into her head as she dried off with a soft towel. She must be on the rebound from William breaking her heart. Of course. That was all. Her heart was latching onto the first male she’d seen after her break up.
She almost giggled as she slipped into her pajamas. A rebound crush. It really was ridiculous when she thought about it. Harrison Williams the Third, heir to a multibillion dollar corporation...and her?
A laugh escaped as she exited the bathroom. No way. Not likely.
Harrison glanced up from his laptop, his body stretched out on the recliner. “What’s so funny?” He’d changed out of his suit and was now sporting a white t-shirt and lounge pants.
“Oh, nothing.” She imagined what it would be like to marry him, and then stopped short. She had married him. In a Las Vegas quickie church! With her father in his purple polyester suit. A snicker escaped and she clamped her lips together.
He shot her a look and it reminded her of the day she met him, standing at the altar, and how she’d thought he was just grumpy because he didn’t like crowds. The absurdity of the situation got to her and she laughed out loud.
Harrison moved the laptop to the end table. “Come on. Now you have to tell me.”
She sat down on the bed and tried to calm her giggles, but the image of him staring distastefully at her orange Pacer made her laughter uncontrollable. Tears blurred her vision and she wiped at her eyes, her sides hurting.
“Is it something I did?”
His words made her laugh even more, and she rolled over on the bed. Harrison must have gotten frustrated with her because the springs squeaked as he sat next to her. “What?”
She knew she had to say something, so between gulps of air she managed to say, “We’re married!”
A scowl crossed his face. “Yeah. I know.” When her giggles didn’t subside, his eyebrows knit together. “You think that’s funny?”
She swallowed another laugh and pointed at him. “You...” A fit of giggles came out. “You thought...I...was a rich girl!”
That got him, and Harrison let out a belly laugh. “You’re right, that is funny.”
“Your face...when you found out. It was...so hilarious!” She hiccupped and both of them dissolved into laughter.
Penny was out of breath when they finally settled down. She and Harrison were both on their backs, staring up at the ceiling. When her breathing slowed, she chanced a glance at him. He looked contemplative. “What are you thinking?”
The silence weighed heavy on her while she waited for him to answer. He took a breath. “I can’t tell you.”
She whacked him on the arm. “Why not?”
“Because I shouldn’t be thinking it.” He stood and left the room, leaving Penny to stare after him in confusion.
Chapter 17
Harrison glanced around the small apartment’s living room / dining room / mini kitchen and tried not to frown. It was newly renovated, which was nice, but the size...well, he and Penny would be quite cozy. “How much a month?”
“Eleven hundred.” The realtor rubbed her hands together. “A real bargain, considering the location, and it includes parking.” She grinned at him and for some reason he imagined a shark’s head coming out of her tailored pant suit.
He glanced at Penny and lowered his voice. “What do you think?”
She chewed her bottom lip. “That seems like a lot.” Her gaze traveled over the room. “Maybe we shouldn’t move out.”
His heart sank. She didn’t like it. Of course not. Compared to his stepmother’s mansion, this was more appropriate for a hamster. “I know it’s not much...”
“Oh, that’s not it.” She shook her head and grabbed his hand. “It’s just, I don’t know if we can afford it. Without...you know.”
That was sweet. She didn’t want to say, ‘your allowance’ in front of the realtor. How had he allowed that situation to materialize anyway? He should have insisted on the firm paying him a salary and stayed away from Patrice’s manipulations. “Don’t worry. I’ll take care of the finances. Do you like the apartment?”
A small smile crept over her face. “It’s perfect.”
He turned to the realtor. “We’ll take it.”
PENNY FOLLOWED HARRISON out to the car and climbed in. She couldn’t wipe the smile off her face. They were moving out! Not right away. They couldn’t occupy the apartment until the first of January, but Harrison had signed a lease. Fake married life was going to be much more awesome away from Ms. Frosty Cold Pants.
She didn’t care about the pool or any of the other fancy stuff. She’d lived her whole life without all that. Not important. Just being with Harrison was enough.
Wait.
Penny shook her head. What was she thinking? She gripped the leather seat and closed her eyes. She had to stop. Harrison was working with his lawyers right now to get his tr
ust fund, and she could be off finding her own place soon. Thinking about that future somehow didn’t seem as appealing to her. She turned up the radio and tried not to dwell on the depressing fact that she had no job and no home.
Harrison parked the car in his stepmother’s driveway, and they entered the house. “We’d better start packing. Our flight is in the morning.”
Excitement shot through her. Christmas with her family. Trimming the tree and driving around to look at the lights. Singing carols with her sister. Her heart warmed until she realized she’d have to spend the whole time calling Harrison ‘William’ and pretending she hadn’t made the biggest blunder of her life.
A sinking feeling swept over her.
Harrison raised an eyebrow. “I thought you were excited to go see your family.”
Penny drew in a deep breath. “I am. It’s just...” She waved a hand between them. “All this.”
Harrison’s expression turned unreadable, and he slowly nodded. “I see.”
“But like you said, we’d better start packing.” She headed for the stairs, but Harrison didn’t move. What was up with him? She had no idea, so she climbed the stairs anyway.
As she threw things together, Harrison walked in and sat on the bed. “Patrice has agreed to celebrate Christmas a little early since we’re going to your parents’ house. We’ll be exchanging gifts tonight.”
Penny froze. What? Gifts? She hadn’t gone shopping. She had no money. What would she get her? The look on her face must have given away her thoughts because Harrison said, “Don’t worry. I bought her tickets to a charity gala event. They’ll be from both of us.”
“Oh good.” Penny let out a breath she’d been holding. “I suddenly panicked.”
He laughed. “I could tell. Don’t stress. I got something for Trent and Candy too.”
As she folded a sweater, she wondered what else they did here for Christmas celebration. She couldn’t see Patrice in the kitchen making cookies, and the decorations were most likely put up by the staff. “What other traditions do you have?”
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