"It's okay. I've got to jump online and revamp my resume, get everything ready to apply to this big job. I really shouldn't be dragging my feet like this."
Penn scowled, but it was at his ringing phone instead of me. "Please, just don't rush off. I have to take this. There's a laptop in that drawer if you want to work over breakfast."
The relief I felt at hearing his words bowled me over. He wanted me to stay.
I took my coffee cup, careful not to slosh any, and sat down in one of the high stools on the other side of the kitchen island. Penn answered his phone and handed me the laptop with his free hand.
"Yes, I'm still here. No, it's not a good time."
I opened up my email, found my old resume, and pretended to pore over it as Penn talked. It was clearly his boss, but I still didn't understand the sharp, opposing tone he took every time they talked directly. I wondered if maybe Penn was a prodigy that Xavier Templeton had saved from some free-range, survivalist life.
"Maybe next time you won't cancel at the last minute and still expect me to show up," Penn snapped. He hung up the phone and slid it away across the granite kitchen island.
"Um, I think your computer needs an update. I can't download my resume," I said.
His dark eyebrows furrowed together. "Sure, go ahead. Do whatever you need to."
"You don't want to do it?"
He shook his head and devoured his omelet while casting irritated glances out the window at the mansion. "I'm glad you stayed for breakfast," he said.
I studied him from under my lashes as I ran the updates software on his laptop. Clearly, Penn was no technology prodigy. The administrative password had been 1234. What on earth did he do for Xavier Templeton?
"Are you really in such a hurry to get a job at a hotel?" Penn asked.
I jumped and had to gather my thoughts. "No. I mean, yes. It's not just any hotel—it's the Ritz-Carlton. It's a huge opportunity that could set the whole trajectory for my career."
"And, you have to start right away?" Penn studied me over the edge of his coffee cup.
"Well, the job doesn't actually start until September and the applications deadline is open until the end of this month."
"So, your friend was right? You could take the summer off?" Penn set down his cup and leaned on the kitchen island. "Why not spend the summer doing something you love before you settle for the practical choice?"
The probing warmth of his dark-brown eyes made me squirm in my seat. "Why do you care what I do with my summer?"
He stood up with a baffled laugh. "I don't know. I like this. I like you."
"You think I'm a silly college graduate who's chasing pretty, shiny things and knows nothing about the real world or regrets," I snapped.
"Is that what you think people see when they look at you?"
Tears stung my eyes. "I know about regrets."
Penn caught my hand and kissed the back of it. "I'm an ass. I went about this all wrong. All I was trying to say is that, if you want, you can have this apartment rent-free for the summer. You can stay and try out singing; do whatever you want."
"I couldn't do that." I shook my head and then jumped as a figure appeared in the apartment door.
Xavier Templeton met my surprised gaze with a quiet look. "I think you owe it to that voice I heard last night to take Penn up on his offer."
I tipped my chin up. "I can make my own way. I pay my rent."
"Never turn down the right generosity," Xavier said. "It almost always becomes a regret. And, again, I agree with Penn. Why not spend the summer making sure you don't have any regrets?"
My chin slipped. When he phrased it that way, the whole thing made more sense. I would be able to concentrate more fully on my career once I had spent a little time clearing my head.
"It's too generous." I gestured to the view of the Golden Gate Bridge. "I can't stay here."
"I tried," Xavier said. He sauntered into the living room and took a seat on the longer, leather couch. "The rest is up to you, son."
"Don't call me that," Penn snapped. "Excuse me."
I pretended not to listen as I texted my dilemma to Ginny. There were strange undercurrents in the room, but I wanted to take the rent-free deal at face value. Ginny always knew if something was crazy good or just plain crazy.
Penn stalked across the room to confront his employer. "I told you that now wasn't a good time."
"There is never going to be a good time for this," Xavier said. "How about we let Corsica make a few phone calls while we get this out of the way?"
Penn looked at me and I saw his meaning clear as day. Save me, he mouthed.
I set down my phone and stood just as the screen lit up. Ginny's answer was easy to read: Yes, yes, yes!
I didn't stop to think, I just trotted across the room and threw myself into Penn's arms. His dark eyes went wide, but he caught me with a surprised smile.
"Thank you!" I squealed and kissed him full on the mouth.
Once I was there, suspended in his arms with my lips pressed against his, I lingered longer than needed. Xavier was hiding a smile as he politely appreciated the view out the windows. Penn, on the other hand, regarded me with a lax-mouthed look of shock.
"I knew under that cynical bachelor exterior, you were really a knight in shining armor. This is the most romantic thing anyone's ever done for me, Penn." I winked theatrically at him, and his mouth popped shut.
A gleam warmed Penn's eyes as he dragged me back against him. "I'm still feeling pretty cynical. Could you do that again?" he asked.
My eyes shifted nervously to Xavier Templeton, but it was too late. Penn erased my worried frown with a melting kiss. I gasped against his mouth as my knees wobbled and I had to cling to his rock hard arms. His dark eyes fluttered open then closed as he deepened the kiss.
When he pulled back, I was limp in his arms. "There might be something to this romance thing, after all," Penn said with a smile.
That grin was enough to get me back on my feet with a sharp stomp to the arch of his foot. "Stop being rude to Mr. Templeton," I hissed.
Xavier cleared his throat. "As encouraging as I'm finding all of this, I'd really like to tell you some important news."
Penn caught me and tucked me under his arm where I had no choice but to contour to the side of his hard body. My mind was still reeling from the memory of his kiss while my body almost purred at the pleasure of being against him. I didn't hear Penn's smart-ass comments, but I felt Xavier's news like an earthquake.
"Your mother is very ill. Stage-three breast cancer. She did not want me to burden you with this, but, as she is now refusing traditional treatment, I need you to talk to her about it."
Penn's weight shifted against me, and I wrapped my arms around his waist for support. His beard brushed my cheek as his jaw worked, but no sound came out. Xavier stood up and moved towards us, but Penn reeled back. I steadied him as best I could and squeezed him tight.
He brushed a shaken hand down my bare arm. "You're lying. Why didn't she tell me? How long have you known?"
I felt the emotions raging through him. He was angry and directed it at his employer. Somewhere in there, a bond of trust had been broken. Then, Penn was hit by hurt and betrayal. His mother had not trusted him enough to tell him.