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“While I’m sorry my mother had you rush here as though I was sick, for once, I’m thankful for her interference.” I pick up her hand and kiss her knuckles.
“How are you?” she murmurs.
“Better now you’re here.” I lean closer, take her chin between my thumb and finger, and kiss her again.
Her hands wrap around my neck, and this time, she relaxes into the kiss.Hell, I’ve missed her.Her scent hits me, jolting memories of us lying naked together in my bed. My dick reacts, wanting her now. It seems our time apart has made me want her more and not less, as I had hoped.
I can’t breathe with the need.
Desire hits me hard.
She pulls back. “We need to talk, Franklin.” Her eyes flick over my face. “But not here.”
* * *
After familiarizingPenny with my penthouse, I watch her expressions as she takes it all in.
“It’s a lot for one person.” She comes to join me by the floor-to-ceiling windows—the one feature I demand when buying residences.
All I can think about is her hands pressed against the glass…
“Can I get you something to eat or drink?”
“Water is fine. I ate on the plane.”
Conversation about her flight and the jet is the furthest thing from my mind. We’re past small talk.
“Do you have personal drivers in every city where you work?” Penny is deflecting what’s really on her mind.
“I do, and they are paid well. Though, I did give Quintin the weekend off before I heard about your flight. I have a car here, so I don’t need him for the remainder of your stay.” She eyes the opened bottle of whiskey and turns to me. “Let’s talk about what’s on your mind.”
“Or we could discuss honesty in relationships if this is what this is.” Her eyes hold mine before she downs all the water in the glass. I take it from her, refill it, and pour myself another whiskey. Taking a seat on the couch, I pat the spot beside me. “You heard about the Malibu house.”
“Home,” she says bluntly and lowers herself on the couch with some space between us. “It was your beach home. Wasn’t I hired to remodel around your tastes for a future?”
“Mine or yours, Pen?”
She glares at me.
“To clarify, I loved what you did. I gave you the reins, and you created a beautiful home for a family, though all those ideas are whatyoubelieve in. While I love it, and it is the way for the future, please don’t infer it wasallfor me.”
Her eyes narrow. “You bastard.”
“I said I loved it.”
She attempts to stand, and I gently grab her wrist to stop her. “If you loved it, then why did you list it before spending time there?” she asks. “You didn’t even give it a chance.”
Letting go of her hand, I swirl the whiskey in the glass and stare into the golden liquid. “I didn’t have a choice.”
“Everyone has a choice.” Her expression has hardened. This woman is more pissed than I’d anticipated.
“We do. The reason I’m here is our company is heading to court. My investors could lose thousands, and for some, that’s their pension, their life savings. It has environmental impacts, and you have opened my eyes to more than you realize. While I can’t save many, I can sell something of mine that will help offset costs.”
“You’re not selling to profit?” Her voice is softer—this is the Penny I know.
Taking her hand in mine, I squeeze it again. “No. I figured, in time, you could build a home thatyoulove. It was never going to bemyforever home.”
Her eyes widen.
