But an awful, wicked idea enters my head. One that will turn the tables on Penny, and that is guaranteed to get my mother and her minions off my back for the foreseeable future. If I can get rid of my mother and get the better of Penny all in the same day, I will die a happy man. There is nothing quite so satisfying as messing with and one-upping my cantankerous, perpetually grouchy chief technology assistant.
I spread my hands and step next to Penny. "Ladies, I apologize." I wrap an arm around Penny's shoulders, ignoring the frisson of electricity that whips up my arm and the way my body warms when I pull her against my side. "We've been so caught up in our exciting news, we completely lost track of the day."
My mother's eyes narrow suspiciously. "What news?"
Penny stiffens. I squeeze her shoulder, hoping it's enough to get her to play along with me. "Penny and I are engaged."
Take that, laughing emoji.
Joanie swallows a squeak. My mother's mouth drops open, eyes blowing wide and darting between the two of us before narrowing suspiciously.
"Since last night?" Sloane asks, incredulous, shooting daggers at me.
Okay, so maybe I should have thought this through a little better. But Penny is the last person my mother would accept into the family, so it's sure to put me off her social calendar for at least six months. Maybe more, if I can string this out longer.
"Since breakfast, right sweetie?" I say dropping a kiss on the top of Penny's head. Again, the heady, sexual scent of her invades my senses, sending a shock of awareness straight to my balls. Even a sharp elbow to my ribs isn't enough to bank the heat that suddenly flares in my belly. I momentarily lose my train of thought. "It was, err... rather spontaneous, so we... we thought we'd keep it under wraps for a while." I stutter like I'm in junior high asking Margie Wilson to dance. "A-and with our schedule as packed as it's been, we figured we'd wait until things settled down to make an announcement. You know... we didn't want to steal attention."
Her hand comes to mine at her shoulder, and she digs her slate gray fingernails into the skin right above my wrist. There's going to be hell to pay, all right. But I will endure Penny's wrath over my mother's poor attempts at matchmaking any day.
"So you could have your cake and eat it too?" Sloane spits. "You... asshole."
"Language, Sloane," my mother reprimands sharply, not taking her eyes off Penny. She doesn't discriminate when it comes to foul language.
"My family will be hearing about this. Your name will be mud." Sloane turns so fast, her auburn hair swings out behind her as she stomps out.
She may be right, but Tokyo doesn't care about my name in social circles. Neither does Amsterdam or Silicon Valley. And there are a half-dozen companies who would beat down the door for our Kansas City Kings apparel contract if her family cancels out of a sense of loyalty. I feel a little bad about Sloane, but I was upfront that I wasn't interested in a relationship. It's my mother's reaction that has me on pins and needles.
"Do you love him?" she's staring at Penny so hard, I half expect laser beams to come out of her eyes.
Penny squeaks and clears her throat. A flash of panic rips through me. This will be over before it starts if she doesn't play along. I squeeze her shoulder again and dive in for another hit of whatever intoxicating perfume she's wearing. "Say something," I say barely above a whisper, right behind her ear.
I pull back, but not before I see goosebumps rising along the column of her neck.
She clears her throat again with a nod. "Since we first met." Her voice is husky and sweet, with the perfect amount of sincerity. For half a second I wonder if the match I just lit is going to burn down the whole building.
My mother makes a noise in her throat. "Well, I won't deny that you're not remotely suitable for my son. But sometimes Cupid's arrows land in surprising places." Her eyes glitter as she forces a smile. "If this is the life partner you've chosen, so be it. I expect to see you both at the foundation dinner tonight."
Wait... what? That's not how this was supposed to go down. She was supposed to give me an ultimatum the way she did when I was in college. Threaten to disown me. Storm off and moan to her bridge group about what a disappointment I am.
"Seven p.m. sharp." Her gaze sweeps over Penny. "And for the love of all that's holy, tame that carpet on your head." She wheels around without another word. "Come along Joanie."
As soon as the door snicks shut behind them, Penny turns to me, green eyes flashing. "I don't think so."
Chapter Two
Penny
I glare at the man who's been the bane of my existence these last four years. We're not doing this, whatever this is. I'm supposed to be quitting at four. Cashing out. Taking my money and running. Accepting a job offer to come on board as CTO with a Silicon Valley startup that specializes in gamification of hacking, then flying to the Caribbean for a month. My life is finally on track and I will be free of Stockton's million-dollar megawatt smile, the mischievous twinkle in his eye I can't seem to resist, and sweet cajoling tone of voice filled with promise that always gets me to say yes, no matter how pissed-off he makes me.
He doesn't believe I'm quitting, but I am.
I mean it.
Until he looks at me with those hazel eyes fringed with sinfully thick lashes, and utters the one word that always brings me to my knees. "Penny."
I resolve to remain strong. I've given four years of my life to Steele Conglomerate, and I'm happy to have done it. Being here saved my life. Literally. But I'm done working twenty-four-seven for a man who will never see me as more than a delinquent teenager - even when those years are long gone. The fact that he noticed my new tatt this morning? Well that's something. I wonder what he'd say if he saw the rest of them. But whatever he says, no matter how hard he begs, it's not enough to get me to stay. Especially now that I've basically admitted my feelings to his mother. Who hates me. There's only one way this can possibly end, and that's badly. So off I go into the sunset.
"Penny," he repeats, the coaxing note to his voice melting my insides. "It's the only way to get my mother off my back. Don't you want your workday back? She'll finally leave us alone."
I scoff in the back of my throat. "For a genius, you sure are dumb." He pulls back, a look of confusion flashing across his cheekbones. So I spell it out for him. "Look, Sherlock, your mother is lonely. She loves nothing more than meddling. And now, thanks to this little stunt you've pulled, she'll be in here twice a day - with colors, crystal, and cake choices. All because you thought telling her you were getting married would send her back to bridge and yogalates." I poke him in the chest, emphasizing my point.
At least he has the class to look sheepish. "Are you sure?"
I snort, rolling my eyes. Seriously, how can a brilliant man like Stockton be so dumb when it comes to his mother? "Yes. Which is why I'm quitting. At four. I didn't sign up for this shit." I didn't sign up for most of what I do these days, so maybe I'm the dumbass here, but pretending I'm marrying Stockton is my proverbial line in the sand.