Chapter Nineteen

Elle

“ELLE, ARE YOU free for a quick chat?”

I froze in Penn’s arms as Dad’s voice deleted any sexual heat, slamming me back into a girl who had no right, ~none~, to act the way I just did.

“Shit,” I hissed under my breath.

The knob turned beside my hip where Penn still wedged me against the door. His eyes narrowed as he grabbed it, preventing it from unlatching.

“Answer him,” he growled low. “Tell him to leave.”

“Elle? Are you in there?” The knock came again.

My racing heart made it hard to speak. “Yeah, Dad, I am. Just—it’s a bad time. Can you come back later?”

A slight pause followed by a huffed, “This is important. I’d rather we have a quick talk now.”

Every nightmare had come true.

“Uh, okay. Just—”

Penn stepped back, letting my legs slide from his hips to place me on the floor. The moment I was standing, he let me go, hastily tucking his cock into his jeans and yanking up his belt.

He gave me a look so villainous he stole my breath.

“Just give me a minute!” My hands flew to my hips to pull my skirt down, but Penn stopped me with a slight curve in his lips.

His finger smeared something sticky and cool on my inner thigh. His voice didn’t break a murmur.

“You’re about to have a conversation with your father while my cum is drying on your skin.” He smiled ruthlessly. “I think it’s safe to say you’re mine now.”

I couldn’t talk to him about cum or sex. Not with my father only a few feet away. Shoving him back, I wrenched my skirt down, hastily did up my blouse, and dragged my hands through my wild hair.

Eyeing Penn, who’d tucked in his shirt and buttoned his blazer, I didn’t ask if he was ready before jerking the door wide and smiling so fake and big, I was sure I had sex written all over my face.

“Dad! How nice to see you.”

He flinched, looking me up and down in surprise. “That’s quite a welcome, Elle.” His gaze slid past me to Penn standing in the middle of my office, a respectful distance away from me.

“Ah, so Steve wasn’t lying.”

Strolling into my office, my father sniffed. “Can someone please explain to me what is going on? I’ve heard rumors of an engagement?” He turned to me, hurt blazing in his eyes. “Elle?”

~Oh, no.~

I fired harpoons at Penn before striding forward to sit on the couch, needing to get off my feet before my knees gave way.

Sage immediately hopped onto my lap, reprimanding me with her beady little gaze. “It’s not what you think.”

“Not what I think?” Dad strode forward, never taking his attention off Penn. “Wait a minute. I know you.”

Penn cleared his throat, holding his hand out in introduction. “We’ve already met. At the Weeping—”

“Willow, yes. I’m old, but I’m not senile,” Dad grumbled, shaking Penn’s grip before letting go and marching to my desk where he leaned against the edge with his arms crossed.

Just like that, he stole the position of authority, doing his best to manipulate me even though he probably wasn’t aware he’d slipped into parental mode.

All my life, he’d done this. A subtle posture, a minor head tilt.

I loved him, and he loved me—and I knew he’d never do anything to hurt me—but he did control me as much with disappointment as he did with affection.

“I wasn’t saying you were.” Penn straightened his shoulders, his gaze landing on my thigh where beneath my skirt the remnants of his orgasm slicked and coated my legs.

The urge to cringe was strong. I wasn’t used to having such things left on my body after doing something not exactly permitted in an office.

But there was another urge too…slightly bolder than the first. The urge to demand Penn got on ~his~ knees for a change and wipe it off.

The image of him bowed before me knotted my insides, even though I knew it would never happen. He was too in control to ever let me boss him.

“Well, someone had better start talking before I call security.” Dad narrowed his eyes at me. “You hated this guy a few nights ago, Elle. You threw your drink in his face.

“What the hell did I miss that he’s not only permitted into our building, but I hear from Greg and Steve that you’re engaged.” He rubbed at his chest. “I’m hurt that I found out that way.

“I’m even more hurt that my own daughter misled me.”

Panic gathered as I worried about his heart. Why was he rubbing his chest? Should I call a doctor?

I wanted to mollycoddle him but worried that if I changed the subject to health rather than clarify this massive misunderstanding, I’d be in a lot more trouble.

I gathered my hair over my shoulder, twisting it into a rope. “You don’t have any reason to be hurt, Dad. It’s all a big mistake.”

“What do you mean?”

I stroked Sage’s warm fur. “I mean we’re not engag—”

“She means we were going to ask your permission, but unfortunately, sir, my possessive nature came out last night when Greg implied I wasn’t good enough for your daughter.” Penn strode toward me and took the spot beside me on the couch.

Sage stiffened but didn’t try to kill him for being so close.

Smoothly, like he’d rehearsed this very moment, he captured my hand, brought it to his lips, and kissed my knuckles.

“I’m aware Elle and Mr. Robson’s son have been raised together with the understanding of one day marrying, but that is no longer an option.”

Dad’s mouth hung open. “It isn’t? Why?”

Penn gave me a sly smile, dripping with intrigue and falsehoods. “Because, with your blessing, of course, I wish to marry Noelle.”

I groaned, hanging my head. “He doesn’t mean that, Dad. It’s a game—”

Penn silenced me with a quick pinch to my hand. “She isn’t fully aware how I feel about her yet.

“She believes I’m ridiculous to want to marry her when we’ve only just met, but she isn’t an old romantic like we are, is she, sir?” He grinned at my father, baiting him with the tasty hook guaranteed to spark his interest.

Dad snapped it up, bait and sinker. “You believe in love at first sight?”

Penn leaned back into the couch, dragging me with him, imprisoning me with his arm over my shoulders. The move was relaxed, but his body hummed with tension I couldn’t decipher. “Absolutely.

“The moment you mentioned her at the bar, she sounded like my type of woman.” He turned piercing truthless eyes to me.

“And the instant I saw her, the moment she gave me a vodka shower, I knew.” His free hand nudged my chin with sharp knuckles, guiding my lips to his.

Sage leaped off my lap and tore under my desk.

I tried to pull away.

I had no intention of kissing him with Dad present. But just like all the other times, he gave me no choice.

His mouth caressed mine with chaste affection—the perfect recipe of truth and besotted affection to hoodwink my father.

I hated him for that.

I despised the way he lied to my last remaining flesh and blood.

Tearing my lips from his, I tried to stand, to go to my father and explain this was all a big misunderstanding and not to listen to him.

But it was too late.

My father had lost the suspicious glint, his body no longer tight with protection. His heart had flown back to a happier time when he met my mother and fell ass over head at first sight.

His face glowed. “You mean this is real?” He glanced between Penn and me. “This isn’t a prank? All that animosity at the start, Elle, you were just overly passionate?” He chuckled.

“I remember your mother had that tenacious streak. She’d swat me for no reason on lots of occasions.” His voice grew wistful. “I miss that.”

“You’ve got it all wrong. It’s not tru—” I started.

“It’s very real,” Penn murmured. “I’ve fallen for her, and I’ve already claimed her. I hope you don’t mind.”

“Mind?” My father leaped upright, smacking his hands together. “I’m ecstatic. To think Elle finally has a partner to lean on.

“A man who comes with his own success to ensure hers isn’t taken advantage of.”

Temper percolated. He spoke as if I were some damsel who needed protection from big bad ogres rather than a very capable businesswoman.

But I couldn’t fault him for being so enamored with the idea that I would be as happy as he was with Mom. I just wished it were true.

Dad and I were very similar but in matters of sensibility versus dream-world, I had no tolerance for make-believe anymore.

I’d trusted that crazy spark with Nameless. I’d begged my father to help me turn the city upside down and turf out the truth.

I’d cried myself to sleep more times than I could remember, wishing Dad would be more helpful in finding the one man who made me feel so alive, so myself, so true in every sense.

But he’d refused.

Sure, he’d helped at the start. He’d gone with me to the local prisons and stood beside me while I garbled about hoodies and beards and alley-rescue.

But his patience, that normally had no bounds, was tight and short-lived.

I’d finally gotten him to admit his reluctance one night when I’d threatened to sell my shares in Belle Elle and step down if he kept road-blocking me to find Nameless.

All it had taken was two sentences to see how stubborn he was. I still remembered it clear as crystal: ~“I’ve indulged you for long enough, Elle.”~

~“It’s time you forgot about that boy and moved on.” His face had lost its jovial love, slipping into sternness. “He’s a criminal.”~

~“If you think I’d let my company be co-run by someone with a record, you don’t know our code of ethics very well.”~

And that... well, that had been the end of my quest and the moment of me switching childhood for adulthood. I’d seen something pure in Nameless but my father only saw what society called him.

Even if I had found him, I would never have been allowed to bake him blueberry pancakes or let him sleep safe in the guest room. My father, for all his kindness, actually had a flaw.

And it hurt me more than I could ever say.

Sadness crushed me as Dad rushed over and pumped Penn’s hand. “Congratulations. I’m so happy for both of you.” Tears glistened in his eyes as he dragged me from the couch and bear-hugged me.

“Bell Button, I’m so—I’m—words can’t describe how much this means to me. To know you’ll be cherished and adored and no longer be alone when I’m gone.”

His arms banded so damn tight, my lungs had no space to expand.

I patted his back, torn in pieces about doing the right thing and telling him right away or letting the lie snowball and end up killing him when the truth came out.

I also nursed the three-year hurt that he’d approved Penn just because he came from wealth and success (which I had yet to find out about) and didn’t have a record. He was acceptable.

Nameless was not.

As much as it would kill me to destroy his sudden elation, I couldn’t do it. I couldn’t let him believe I’d chosen the dream he had for me. This was Penn’s fault, not mine.

My father’s pain would come from the asshole who thought he could lie to my father and not be reprimanded.

“Dad, can I talk to you in private?” I shot a glare over my shoulder. “The engagement isn’t what you think. Penn and I aren’t truly getting married.”

“What?” He pulled away, his face falling into ruin. “But I thought—”

“She’s being cautious, sir.” Penn stood and joined our huddle. “She doesn’t believe in love at first sight. She thinks I’m trying to hurt you with lies.” He grinned coldly.

“What she doesn’t understand is a man like me needs assurances before I fully invest myself.

“I need her agreement on marriage in order to fully open myself and reveal everything I have to offer.” He shook his head sadly, completely ignoring me, and continued talking to the hopeless romantic of my father.

“I’m sure you understand. After all, you look like a man who has lived with a broken heart for many years.” His tone softened, but beneath it lurked glittering steel.

“Your daughter has the power to break, not just my heart, but my world. Is it so wrong of me to want her hand in marriage now, so I can be brave enough to show her everything I can?”

I rolled my eyes. “That is a load of utter bull—”

“It makes perfect sense.” My father hugged me close. “Elle, I’m so proud of you and how mature you’re being about all this.

“I’m aware you’re more cynical than I am when it comes to love but seeing you with him—it makes me so, so happy.”

~Only because you believe he’s good for Belle Elle. That he’s unsullied with gossip or misdoings—unlike another.~

I’d had enough. My temper snapped. “I’m not going to marry him, Dad. Both of you stop this charade right now.”

Penn glowered, hiding his glare as my dad laughed. “You say that now.” He tapped my cheek like a child. “I know when there is connection and chemistry. And you two have it in spades.”

He backed toward the door. “In fact, I’m going to leave you in peace, but you have my blessing. Both of you.” He glanced at Penn. “I’m glad we had that chat at the bar.

“I know a bit about you, Mr. Everett, so you’re not a total stranger. However, when you get a chance, how about a round of golf or a beer to patch up any remaining holes in my knowledge?

“Eventually, I’d love to meet your benefactor and any other family you might have.”

“Of course.” Penn bowed his head with old-fashioned respect. “At the soonest opportunity.” He grabbed my hand, holding me tight. “And please, call me Penn.”

What would Dad say when he found out Penn had a son?

What would ~I~ say when I found out what Penn did for a living and why my father valued his success so highly?

What would any of us say when the truth came out, and this was over?

My father opened my office door, beaming so bright I thought he’d swallowed a star. “All right then, Penn.” He chuckled.

“Well, Penn, play your cards right, and soon, I’ll be calling you son-in-law.” Blowing me a kiss, he added, “Welcome to the family, son.”

I waved like a robot as he disappeared and closed the door.

He left.

I lost it.

Whirling on Penn, I hissed, “Get out. ~Right now~.”

He grabbed my cheeks, yanking my face to his. His lips collided hard and brutal, his tongue lashing mine into submission.

I didn’t fall for his seduction this time. Shoving him, I darted around my desk and pressed the intercom to Fleur.

She answered right away as Penn stalked me, coming closer with a shadowed look in his gaze.

“Anything I can get you?” Fleur’s voice helped remind me the world hadn’t stepped into the twilight zone, and I was still the queen of this establishment.

Sage stood proudly on my desk, giving Penn an evil cat-smile, knowing he was in trouble.

Straightening my shoulders and drawing up every ounce of courage, I snipped. “Yes, call security. My ~fiancé~ needs help leaving the building.”