Beauty and the Billionaire

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

Corsica - 15

"I still can't get over how great it went last night. You were fantastic!"

I shook my head. "You have to say that; you're my friend."

"That doesn't mean it's not true," Ginny assured me. "Everyone else was saying it, too. And, your blue dress was absolutely perfect."

"Yeah, I'm glad I didn't return it."

Ginny laughed. "I wouldn't have let you do that, no matter how much Penn annoyed you."

Just the mention of his name was enough to drive a fog over our morning coffee. Standing on stage at the little lounge had felt so good, that I told myself it didn't matter that he hadn't shown up. His friends, Phillip in particular, tried to assure me that Penn had been called away on business. I wanted to believe them, but I had a feeling it was more than that.

"He's got a right to be on edge," I sighed. "His mother's treatments are intensifying, and she's going to be tested this week to see how things are progressing."

"So now you're defending him?" Ginny asked. "That's interesting. You used to just lift your nose in the air if someone snubbed you."

"Penn didn't snub me. He was just busy with other things," I grumbled.

"Well," Ginny laughed and poured us more coffee, "then explain to me why you are not positively bouncing off the walls with excitement? Last night was your big break and, baby, it was huge! I'd be surprised if video of your singing went viral by noon."

I gave my friend a dark look. "And, how exactly would that happen?"

Ginny blinked wide, innocent eyes. "I have no idea. Come on, Corsica! Admit it. Your singing debut was a huge success and you should be celebrating. At least admit that you're happy."

I swirled the coffee in my mug and thought about that. Despite the confusion over Penn's absence and the nagging feelings it had saddled me with, I felt like my blood was still humming the tunes from last night. "You're right. I am happy. Last night felt so great."

"And Joshua wasn't around to ruin any of it with his grand life plans for your life."

I laughed. "He was there if you count seven messages. Wait, looks like I just got another one."

Ginny snatched up my phone. "Ugh. He's reminding you to practice before your interview. He even made a bullet point list of techniques. The man has some real control problems."

I took my phone back and saved Joshua's messages. "He has a point, you know. Singing in some tiny lounge is not going to pay the rent. It might be fun now, but I need to think about the rest of my life."

"No," Ginny said. "You need to live your life. Stop spending all your time thinking and planning, and just live it! Let's get back to the part where you admitted you're happy. It's not just the singing, is it?"

"Monterey is a nice place," I offered.

She jabbed me with a sharp elbow. "There's more going on here in Monterey than just nice scenery and you know it. Spill!"

I laughed and mopped up the coffee I had sloshed on the counter. "I don't have time for this. Joshua's right. I have to go and get ready for my interview."

Ginny blocked my way. "I'll help you prep; I'll even look at that obnoxious list Mr. Uptight sent, but not until you admit there's something else going on with you. With you and a certain man you claim is not your type."

I flopped back onto my kitchen stool. "We already talked about this. Penn is not my type. Not only is he shaggy and tattooed, but he's unmotivated. He's been shirking work for weeks, except when he uses it as an excuse to escape my company. He's got no plan for his future and doesn't seem to care. That's not someone I can picture myself with."

"I'm not asking you to picture yourself with him," Ginny said. "I'm asking you to remember what it was like when you were with him."

My cheeks flooded with color. "I'm not giving you any details!"

"Oh!" Ginny grinned. "Never mind, that blush is telling me everything."

I scowled. "I have to get ready for my interview. We've got to get on the road soon."

"You can't be serious," Ginny groaned. "After the taste you got last night, I was sure you'd wake up and come to your senses. Please, Corsica, think for just a second. Is this interview, this job at the Ritz, really what you want?"