Cruel Money (Cruel 1)

“Penn, it’s so…so soon.”

“I know. I’ve never done anything like this before in my life. But for you, Nat, it’s real. Move in with me. Stay in New York. Let’s work this out together. Here.”

“No,” she said softly.

“What?”

“I’m sorry, but…no.”

“No?” I asked, dumbfounded. My jaw hung open in shock. I’d never thought that she would say that. Not in a million years.

“It’s too soon for us to move in together. We’ve only just begun. I need to go home. To go back to Charleston and figure out my next move. I can’t stay here and do that. But…I don’t want this to be the end for us.” She took my hand in hers again. “I know it won’t be easy, but we’ll figure it out.”

“You really won’t stay?” I asked, still in shock.

“No, I won’t.”

Natalie

37

I’d said no.

I still couldn’t believe that I’d actually said the words.

I’d been shocked. Penn Kensington asking me to move in with him. It had been a dream. And I’d wanted to say yes so bad. So, so bad. But…I couldn’t. Not with my entire life hanging in the balance.

And I didn’t know how I was going to say good-bye.

Penn pulled his Audi into the drop-off lane at JFK International Airport. My flight home left in two hours, but I liked to be early, to Penn’s dismay.

He put the car in park, hopped out, and went to get my suitcases out of the trunk.

I kissed Totle’s head and then hugged him to me. “I promise, promise, promise that I will come back and visit you, cutie. You’re my little man, you know? Have to take care of Penn while I’m back home. But don’t let him skimp on treats. Be good.” I kissed him again. Tears welled in my eyes. I hated leaving him so much. “I love you.”

Then I moved him back into the passenger seat and closed the door. I heard his whimper as I walked away and faltered. Ugh! Leaving him was almost harder than Penn. Totle, who had no idea why I was leaving. Who wouldn’t understand about long distance and trips to visit. He was just this cute, defenseless, little puppy that I’d come to adore. And I just wanted to take him with me.

“Are you sure I can’t steal your puppy?” I asked Penn from the curb next to my first suitcase.

“I am certain you cannot steal Aristotle.” He dropped the second suitcase next to the first. “What other leverage do I have to get you to come back?”

I laughed. “I can think of a thing or two.”

“Can you?” he asked, tugging me in close and kissing me until I was breathless.

“Well, with that kind of send-off, I most certainly can.”

“I wish you didn’t have to go.”

“Me too,” I murmured.

“You could stay.”

“I know, but I can’t.”

He nodded. “Yeah, I know. You’d think, if you were going to change your mind, you already would have. Now, I’m stuck going to this party solo.”

“I can’t even believe you’re going to your mother’s party. After what she did to you and how she tried to blackmail you.”

He sighed and then lifted one shoulder. “It’s the one party every other year that I’m expected to attend. It would be worse for me if I didn’t show up.”

“Well, I hope the house is beautiful. Send me pictures of it all decorated for the event. I was looking forward to that much.”

“I’ll be sure to do that.”

“Just…drink lots of booze and try to ignore your mother.”

“It’ll be hard, being there without you. I can’t imagine looking at that house and not seeing you in every corner, on every surface.”

“Are you picturing me naked now?” I asked, trying to lighten the mood.

“Always.” He kissed me again. “I’m going to miss you.”

“I know. I’m going to miss you, too.” I tried to pull away, but he just held on harder, kissing me so long that I was sure someone was going to make us leave.

Finally, he reluctantly released me, tucking my silvery-white hair behind my ear. “Text me when you get there.”

“You too.”

He smiled that charming smile that had won me over time and time again, but I saw the sadness in it. I grabbed my bags and left before I changed my mind. Because if I had to look at that smile one more time, I might stay.

We’d had our ups and downs. We had our differences. We came from different worlds. But at the end of the day…we fit together.

And I loved that about us.

With my heart in my throat, I strode into the airport. I waited in the outrageously long line to check my bags in and made it past the security check. Then I maneuvered around the large airport until I found my gate. I checked the time and groaned.

One hour and nineteen minutes until takeoff.