“You might not even have anything from what you’ve told me,” she sniffs, and we both laugh.
Her laughter is still harboring some niggling doubts, I can tell.
Mine is because I’m so glad to finally have her.
Through good times and bad…
Jesus. Must be something about this room.
I’m getting all clucky.
“I’ve got you.” I remind her. “And whatever happens, Penelope. We’ve got each other. Okay?”
She nods instantly, and before she can say she’s sorry for running herself down with negative thoughts I kiss her.
I kiss her like I want to for the rest of the day, but I know we have things to do first.
“Tonight,” I promise her, letting a hand ride up her skirt, making her jump and purr.
“Tonight, I’ll be smelling like old laundry unless I get a change of clothes,” she quips.
Her words remind me we never did get to go shopping for those ‘few things’ I needed.
All of them were gonna be for her.
“I totally forgot,” I admit, clenching my hands and chewing at my lip.
“I just need to swing by my place,” she says, but I stop her with a shake of my head.
“Do you really need anything from there?” I ask.
Not because we’re pressed for time, I just can’t stand to see her in that place.
It would kill me inside if I had to see her there again.
“There’s a mall right next door. It’s part of the hotel.” I bargain with her as she groans. “You’re eventually gonna have to get used to having everything you want.”
“And not everything costs a million dollars there in case you were wondering,” I add. Knowing how spendthrift she is.
She twists her mouth, thinking but I can tell she’s really trying not to smile.
Her arms hooked around my neck as she kisses me, whispering, “Thank you” in my ear and sealing her fate.
Nothing is too good or too far, too expensive or too short notice for my woman.
And she’s all woman now.
I haven’t told her yet, but she’s not a girlish intern anymore.
I’ve claimed her flower as my own.
She’s blossomed into someone more beautiful, stronger, and smarter than even I imagined in such a short time.
“But then we have to get to the newspaper,” she says firmly, checking her phone.
My brow is furrowed in question but I shrug okay. We can get her some new things later.
I prefer my girl without any clothes anyway.
“It’s just Karlee. She’s set up a meeting with Sebastian Hawke,” she tells me.
I’m impressed.
“The owner of pretty much everything Sebastian Hawke?” I ask.
I’m not sure when he acquired the newspaper, but it must’ve been after I sued them for a truckload of settlement cash years ago.
It was enough to retire on then but I was young and still determined to prove something.
“The very same,” Penelope says, adding that it’s his lawyer we’re chasing. “The best in town,” Penelope says proudly, giving a little nod.
“And just exactly how are you planning to catch these guys out anyway?” she asks me, a tone of suspicion in her voice.
“That’s where you come in,” I tell her, cocking a brow.
“Those waitressing skills won’t be wasted, I can assure you,” I say, noticing her look of slight disappointment but I promise her all will be revealed soon.
“You’re the most important part of my plan.”
In more ways than she knows too.
Before, during, and especially after all this is over.
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
Penelope
My soon-to-be ex-boss, Karlee, is almost hungrier for a Jett Masters scoop than I am for the man himself.
And I might just have to hold off on breaking the news that she’s losing her best intern as well as the most eligible bachelor of the century for later.
Once I explain that Jett needs her help, that he needs Sebastian Hawke’s help. Well, it kicks things up a notch.
Karlee’s a witch really, but she’s also a closet Jett Masters fan, maybe even a bigger fan than I was before he showed me just how a woman can scream his name properly.
I don’t give her all the details of his situation though. I’ll leave that to Jett.
But will she set up a meeting with Sebastian Hawke? Can she set up a meeting with him on such short notice?
“Of course, I can,” she snaps gruffly at me before purring a little. “How’d you think I got to be editor in chief of his paper in the first place?” she asks cryptically.
Not a mental image I enjoy, and unfortunately not one I can unsee either once I join the dots.
“Really?” Is the best I can manage, but hey, if it floats your boat, why not.
Might explain why he’s been in the building a bit lately too.
I’ve never seen Jett impressed by anything or anyone.
Okay, maybe by me a little. But I still can’t even figure that one out.
But when we reach Karlee’s office with the man himself sitting by her desk, Jett isn’t shy with his own regards for the man.