AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Chapter 3
PENELOPE
A couple of days later,Camila, Harley, and I are sitting in comfortable leather chairs with our feet immersed in hot, bubbling foot baths for our bi-monthly pedicure. Taylor is usually with us, but she’s at home moping because Asa, a client of mine who happens to be Taylor’s boyfriend and a famous musician, left a few weeks ago for a tour. I’m relaxed for the first time in two days and it feels heavenly.
A groan forces its way out of me when my pedicurist lifts my foot and begins a deep massage.
“Did you guys hear about Judge Masters?”
I roll my head to the side and look at Harley. Camila is on the other side of her, so Harley’s head moves back and forth to look at us both. I don’t answer because gossip is something I’m not particularly fond of. Camila’s interest is piqued, though she tries to hide it.
“What?” she asks, trying and failing to act nonchalant.
“Supposedly, he was seen in Mahan County coming out of a hotel a couple of days ago,” Harley answers.
Camila looks away and goes back to browsing the hundreds of different nail polishes. “So?”
“That’s not the juicy part.” Harley waits a beat. “Before he left, he was also seen kissing a woman, that’s not his wife, in the doorway.”
I keep my eyes on Camila at this news. It’s barely perceptible, but I notice the slight hitch in her breathing. The question is, is it because she doesn’t like the thought of Brady Masters kissing another woman or because she was the woman?
“Whoever saw him didn’t see who the woman was?” she asks a moment later.
“No. They couldn’t make her out and as soon as Brady stepped back, she went back inside and closed the door. She had dark hair though.”
Camila fidgets in her chair. “Does Addison know?”
Harley shrugs. “No clue. But I would assume she doesn’t or she’d be raising havoc all over town. The woman is crazy when it comes to Brady. It’s only a matter of time before she finds out, and God help whoever the woman is.”
Harley is right. Addison Masters is unhinged when it comes to her husband. She spits nails and throws a fit if any woman comes near him. As a judge and a pillar of Silver Falls, you’d think he would have a better handle on his wife. But maybe he’s into the whole possessive thing. Then again, if that were the case, he wouldn’t be cheating on her, would he?
My thoughts are interrupted when the bell over the door dings and Macy Deluca walks in. In her late thirties, she’s only four years older than me. She got pregnant with Kai when she was sixteen. Michael, her high school sweetheart at the time and Kai’s father, stepped up to take care of her and Kai. Despite Macy’s parents wanting her to have an abortion. The thought of Kai never being born bothers me on a level I refuse to contemplate. When they turned eighteen, they rented the house across from ours. I began babysitting Kai for them when I was sixteen up until I left for college.
Once Macy is checked in by a stylist, she leads her behind the counter. She notices me sitting with my sisters and stops.
“Hey, Penelope,” she greets with a smile.
I offer one in return. “How are you?”
“I’m great.” She holds her hands up and wiggles her fingers. “Here for a fill and color change. How’s Kai doing at the office?”
At the mention of Kai, I feel a flush creep up my cheeks. I fight the urge to look away from Macy, worried she may notice the change in my complexion. Either she doesn’t, or she mistakes it for the heat coming from the foot bath.
I clear my throat, hoping my voice comes out normal. Never have I ever had a man affect me as strongly as Kai does, and that notion angers me.
“He’s doing fine. A great addition to the company,” I admit reluctantly.
I had my reservations about taking Kai on as an intern. I’m very picky with who I employ. But surprisingly, he’s done very well.
Now if I can only get him to keep his hands and mouth to himself, and convince him nothing will ever happen between us, all will truly be well. Unfortunately, I have a suspicion it won’t be so easy. Not only getting him to stop, but also getting my body under control when he’s around. How someone as young as him can make me feel things I’ve never felt before is beyond me.
“That’s great!” Macy exclaims. “I knew he would do well. I know I’ve said it before, but thank you for letting him intern for you. I don’t know where he got the idea from, but Kai’s wanted to work in PR for years.”
I force a smile. “Yes, well, I’m glad it all worked out.”
Her smile is so big it stretches across her whole face.
She leaves a moment later, and I force all thoughts of Kai from my mind. It’s hard to do, but I manage the task. Too bad it won’t last. Kai’s bound to enter my mind again at some point; see he’s back already. I know this because since he started working for me a few weeks ago, he’s taken up way too much of my head space.
