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Hugh bounces onto the bed beside me, his head on the other pillow. He mouths,Who is it?
Franklin’s mother,I mouth back.
Hugh’s eyes round like saucers.
“That doesn’t surprise me.” I hear a sigh in her voice. “I hold a gala ball to fundraise for a charity that is close to my heart every year. My family is involved, and Franklin or Jobe usually do the live auction together. I hear Franklin and you are spending time together, and I would like to invite you to sit at our family table.”
I can’t speak.
“It sounds daunting, but we are not a scary family. You don’t have to give me your answer now. There will be a chair for you, so speak to Franklin. I think you’ll have a fun night.”
“O-okay. I’ll see if I’m free.”
“Please meet me for lunch in a few weeks to talk it over. I’d love to tell you more about it in person.”
“Thank you, Sophia.”
“Have a good day, Penelope.”
“You, too, Sophia. Thank you for the call and invitation.” Holding the cell to my chest, I stare at Hugh. “Holy fuck. Sophia Hendricks just invited me to her gala fundraiser. Franklin doesn’t even know.”
He slaps my shoulder. “Get up. You have just added ballgown shopping to our list of things to do today.”
23
FRANKLIN
Workingseventeen-hour days and sleeping three hours a night for a straight twenty days messes with a man’s mind, especially when I’m distracted by a brunette who is in my house, thousands of miles away.
I wake to more emails, updates, photographs, and invoices from contractors.
The house is unrecognizable, as is my heart. On weekends, I open the security app, hoping Penny is in my home before closing my eyes at night. The weekend I saw a guy in my house, I almost called demanding questions in a state of being majorly pissed off.
I am losing my mind.
Hugh is her friend, and he’s engaged to someone else.
Overtired, I flipped out.
Penny is not mine.
She won’t even talk to me apart from updates on the house. Who knew buying someone a new place would make them run this fast? I overlooked what it represented, but I’m not trying to buy her.
Your ideas for the house are impressive. I’m excited to see it in person when I return.
There’s a knock on my office door.
“Come in.”
Ruby enters and places a coffee on my desk.
I need a damn whiskey, not caffeine.
“Thanks, Ruby.”
“Just a reminder… Mr. Hicks will be here in an hour.”
“Thank you.” The douchebag from PetroDepend won’t budge, but my lawyer will be here in ten minutes, ready to take this idiot down.
