It was easy to justify my reaction to the way Joshua grabbed her. It had triggered bad memories from a dark time in my childhood. But that didn't explain the initial reaction I had to Corsica. What was it about her that turned me upside down?
Sure, she was beautiful. She was gorgeous. A curvy but athletic body tucked tight into a little black dress. Her hair was a cascade of honey-blonde curls that I itched to wind around my fingers. And those eyes that changed hue with her every passing emotion. It was no wonder I was attracted to Corsica. The real puzzle was why my mind couldn't win out and dismiss her.
When I had denounced my family fortune, I had turned my back on an enormous social circle that looked exactly like Corsica and her prep-school ex. Each tattoo I got released me further from the expectations and restrictions of the ultra-rich. I shunned luxury surroundings and camped out for weeks on end. I grew out my beard. I roughened my hands with rock-climbing. And then, I found my fortune in outdoor equipment.
The irony of it still made my mind reel.
"Penny for your thoughts?"
I looked up and had to grab the bar for support. Corsica stood next to me, one hand tugging at a long curl. "You forget something?" I asked.
The corners of her mouth quirked up. "My manners. I forgot to thank you for stepping in earlier." Her eyes widened. "Not that I'm saying Joshua's a bad guy, he's not. It's just I appreciate that you were willing to speak up for a complete stranger."
I nodded. "Where's your friend?"
"Ginny?" Corsica asked. Her smile disappeared. "She went to a bar in Chinatown with her co-workers after I told her I was taking a cab home."
"Allen will be disappointed," I said.
"Allen?" Corsica brightened.
"The bouncer. I think he might be head over heels."
"The giant outside? Oh, Ginny would love him," she said as she glanced at the doors.
I grinned. "I want to be there when you tell him. Big man falls hard."
"Let me just ask the bartender to call me a cab first," Corsica said. "My phone died."
I glanced down the bar and saw Rita sloshing two drinks towards a couple. Then she wiped her hands and fluffed up her hair. If Rita got to Corsica, she'd hang on and flirt with her. It would only take Rita a few minutes to read my reactions and then I would never hear the end of it.
"Actually, I've got a car waiting outside. It's yours if you want." I stood up and offered Corsica my arm.
She smiled and slipped her hand into the crook of my elbow. "So, you really are a white knight?"
I ignored Rita's flailing gestures and headed with Corsica towards the front doors. "I don't like how common courtesy has become as rare as chivalry," I said.
Allen opened the doors for us with an entirely too wide smile. "Good to see you again, m'lady," he said.
"Sounds like her friend has a crush on you," I said to shut him up.
Allen gaped and Corsica laughed as he stammered to her about maybe calling Ginny if she wouldn't mind giving him her number.
I was glad they were both distracted because at that moment Joshua stepped out of a black town car. He sneered at me and looked for an opening to call Corsica over.
I hated to use my influence since I didn't want Corsica to see, but I directed the valets with a nod. They jumped up and directed Joshua's driver to move along. He argued immediately and Allen's team, a pair of off-duty police officers almost the same towering size as him, encouraged Joshua to get back in his vehicle.
Within seconds, Joshua was cleared out and my Maserati slid into place. My driver, a juvenile delinquent that could handle any car better than the best, stepped out and gave me a jaunty salute. I whipped out my phone and texted quickly how he better keep his mouth shut no matter what I said.
"You're letting Tom Thumb drive the Maserati?" Allen asked.
Corsica's mouth dropped open as she saw the silver sports car. Tom whipped open the back door and grinned. "That's your car?" she asked.
"My boss's car," I lied.
"And who's Tom Thumb?" she asked.
"Only the biggest car thief in the Bay Area," Allen muttered.
"He's just a kid," she pointed out.
"A kid with a rap sheet longer than the Golden Gate Bridge," Allen boomed. "And, he better remember that his ass is on the line no matter how nice Penn is to him."
Corsica laughed when Tom blew Allen a kiss.
"He was a car thief," I admitted. "I met him when he stole my, I mean, my boss's car right out from under Allen's post."
"That can't really be his name," Corsica said.
"Street name for a street rat," Allen mumbled.
"Not many people get the drop on Allen," I explained as I led Corsica towards the Maserati.
"It was my pleasure, sir," Tom said with an overly dramatic bow.
"I only employ him because it pisses off my boss." I caught Tom's eyes to make sure he had understood my text message.
He saluted again. "Penn's boss is a real dick. Where to?"
"Take the lady home," I said.
Corsica's eyes widened again. "Oh, sorry, no. I told you I'm from Santa Cruz. I better just have you drop me off where Ginny is over in Chinatown."
"Nonsense," Tom said. "Penn's, ah, boss has a great place over on Telegraph Hill. Plenty of room. Just minutes away."
I shot Tom a warning glance, but he was unrepentant. Then the thought worked on me for a moment more. If Corsica came with me to my father's house, I would have the perfect buffer. She'd be shocked by who he was, and I would be able to use her as a reason to push off our conversation until the morning. I was just not up to hearing what the old man had to say.
"He's right. You're welcome to stay at the house. In fact, there's an entire apartment over the garage. It's private and secure. Ginny's welcome to stay, too," I said.
Corsica frowned. "Your boss won't mind?"
"Not when he gets a load of you," Tom said.
I kicked him in the shin. "My boss will most likely not make an appearance until the morning. He's a very busy man."
She chewed her cheek and considered my offer. "What if I change my mind?"
"Tom here drinks too much caffeine, so you can call him at any time. He knows all the good, reasonable hotels and motels in the city," I said.
I waited and tried not to hold my breath. I knew full well that I didn't look like the type of guy good girls should be going home with in the middle of the night. My rag-tag sidekick did nothing to add respectability to my image, but, then again, I wanted her to take me as I was. Minus the growing fortune.
I didn't want to lie to Corsica, but I didn't want her to know I was loaded. Suddenly, it was more important than anything that Corsica see me for myself, not my money or my family connections.
She took out her phone, then remembered the battery had died.
"I've got a charger for that," Tom said. "In the car. You'll be up and running before we get to the top of the hill."
"Not the way you drive," I muttered.
Corsica smiled. "Well, if you're willing to charge my phone so I can call Ginny, then I guess the least I can do is take a look at the apartment."