Page 45 of Keeping Penny

Penny nodded.

Pyro forced himself to turn around and head for the door. “Don’t forget to lock this behind me.”

“I will. Have a good day at work.”

He gave her a chin lift and walked out the door. After it closed behind him, he stood there like a stalker, listening for the sound of the dead bolts being thrown. Only after hearing them did he walk down the hall toward the stairs.

Leaving Bowie and Penny felt…wrong. He wanted the right to snuggle in bed with Bowie and read her a story. To watch TV with Penny and talk about their days after Bowie fell asleep.

Their apartment seemed more like a home than the one he’d been living in for years…simply because they were in it.

Pyro should be freaked out at the ever-increasing hold the woman and her child seemed to have on him, especially in such a short time. But instead, he decided to embrace the experience. After his friends fell in love and found themselves in such amazing relationships, he knew it was possible. Being with a military man wasn’t easy, but he’d do whatever it took to ensure that, if she chose to be with him long term, Penny would never regret it.

He’d never lay a hand on Bowie in anger, and just like Penny did, would make sure not a day went by that the little girl didn’t know down to her bones she was loved and appreciated and wanted. And Penny? She deserved the same assurances, and Pyro was more than ready to give them to her. He just needed to take baby steps. They both had baggage they needed to work through. Trust issues when it came to love and family.

But Pyro was more determined than ever to show Penny that he was a man she could count on. Someone who would put her first and respect the decisions she made about her life.

He wanted to shower her with money—he had more than enough—so she could get anything and everything her heart desired. But she was a proud woman, and would no sooner take a handout than he would’ve when he’d aged out of the foster system.

Getting that job she applied for would be the first step in her independence. He’d cheer her on and be there for her and Bowie whenever and however they needed him. He’d take their relationship as slow as necessary in order for her to truly believe he was someone she could open her heart to.

Because he had a feeling winning Penny, and Bowie, was one of the most important and worthwhile things he would do in his life. And Pyro was determined to give her whatever time and space she needed to feel the same way. And to know deep in her bones that she and her daughter were safe with him.

And they were. He’d do anything to keep them both protected. From anyone who dared try to harm them, take advantage of them, or in any other way treat them with anything other than respect.

Yes, he’d become that guy. The one who was overprotective and constantly worrying about the women in his life. And he was one hundred percent all right with that.

CHAPTER TEN

Bowie had been in school for a week, and thankfully, she still loved every second of being with children her age. She was also picking up braille incredibly quickly. Penny spoke with the aide who’d been working with her, and he claimed she was one of the smartest children he’d ever taught.

Penny was proud, but it was more important to her that Bowie was enjoying her new social life. She’d never been able to play with kids her own age, had always hung out with her mom or other adults. So hearing her daughter enthusiastically recount all the fun things she and her classmates had done during the day was enough to make Penny want to cry.

Yes, education was important, but it was just as important to be able to make friends.

Which was what Penny was trying to do as well. She’d been on her own for so long, it was surprisingly difficult to put herself out there and do things that made her uncomfortable.

Like go to Anchor Point with Zita for lunch to celebrate, after learning she’d gotten the virtual health assistant job. Or agreeing to go to the dog park with Mandy, Jen, and Laryn, when they called to see if she and Bowie wanted to come along. It was a new experience for her to have girlfriends, and Penny was both sad that it had taken her thirty-five years to find true friends, and excited that she seemed to have a tribe now.

So when Zita proposed they have a girls’ night in with the others, Penny was nervous but enthusiastically agreed. Bowie was having dinner at Pyro’s apartment, then they were going to make cookies, listen to cartoons, and maybe read a book or two.

Bowie loved Pyro so much, talked about him constantly, and didn’t seem to have any qualms about spending the evening with him without her mom being there too, which was a relief. Penny had been afraid her father’s abusive tendencies might have scarred the little girl, but she learned on the aircraft carrier, after Bowie spent so much time with the Night Stalkers, that it didn’t seem that was the case.

So tonight, her and Zita’s apartment would be full. Laryn, Mandy, and Jen were all coming over, and bringing their dogs as well. Waffles, Rain, and Fred all got along well, which was a relief. All three were fairly mellow, and after greeting each other, they usually just found their own spaces to settle down and nap.

They had beer, wine, tea, coffee, water, and Zita had the ingredients to make a selection of cocktails, including lemon drop martinis, which their guests apparently enjoyed.

Zita also had a ton of fuzzy blankets—seriously, the woman was obsessed with them, and Penny had laughed when she’d unpacked four boxes full the week before. Bowie had already made a couple blanket forts with them, and they both giggled when Zita had brought home a new one from the store just the other day.

Currently, several blankets were folded and scattered around the living area for the women to use. There were pillows as well, and Zita had bought a big bouquet of flowers from the grocery store. Penny couldn’t wait until her first pay day, so she could contribute to the small touches like Zita had done.

As soon as the other women began to arrive, Penny forgot all about her nerves. She clicked with the others as if she’d known them forever and didn’t feel out of place. As much as she loved her daughter, it was nice not to have to be a mom tonight. She’d received a text from Pyro saying they were fine. Bowie had eaten a million and one chicken fingers, and he’d read twenty-seven books so far. He was hilarious, and every text from him made her smile. But knowing her child was in good hands was the best part of the night. She could relax and have fun without worrying about Bowie.

The dogs weren’t left out of the festivities of the evening. Each got their own Kong that Penny had stored in the freezer during the day. She’d seen a few posts on social media about how to fill them with peanut butter, kibble, and treats, then freeze them, and they’d keep dogs busy for a good long time. She’d contacted Laryn, Mandy, and Jen to ask which kibble and dog bones they usually gave their dogs, so nothing she put inside would upset their bellies, and made the special treats for the four-legged fur babies.

Penny had never laughed so much as she and Zita worked on making drinks for everyone. As her roommate predicted, they were making lemon drops, and while they seemed simple, there was a lot of measuring. Not to mention the sugar rims for the glasses.

Laryn was the only one not imbibing, since she was pregnant, but the other four women each had a lemon drop in their hand as they settled into various spots around the living room.