She pulled a long chain that lay hidden under her myriad other necklaces and beads. On it was a slim band of vibrant diamonds surrounding an emerald cut sapphire the color of the midnight sky.
Penn held it in two fingers. "I can't take this, Mother. I know you use all your jewelry for healing."
Xavier snorted. "That one doesn't have many healing qualities. It belonged to your grandmother. My mother."
Alice tossed her dark hair. "I'll have you know this ring has helped me on more than one occasion. Sapphires are known to help restore the wearer's faith, give them spiritual insight, and heal them through hope."
"Then you need it more than me," I squeaked.
"No." Alice smiled. "This is all I need. New love, new beginnings–you two are like the fountain of youth for me."
Penn took the ring and slipped it onto my finger. It fit perfectly, and I couldn't look away from its blue depths. I felt a twinge in my heart and worried that Alice was right. I had buried all my faith and hope long ago, under thick layers of practicality. Ambition had kept me insulated and safe for so long, that faith felt unfamiliar. And frightening.
What was I doing?
"Excuse me." I ran down the hallway with only enough presence of mind to choose Penn's master suite over the guest room where I had been sleeping. I rushed inside, darted around the massive bed, and dove into the bathroom.
There, I took a few choking breaths before swinging around and locking the door behind me. What was I thinking? It wasn't hope I was feeling, just waves of insanity. There was no other explanation for me accepting Penn's proposal than I was losing my mind.
And the worst part was it had felt so right.
"Corsica? Are you all right? Corsica, let me in. Please." Penn tapped on the bathroom door and rattled the door handle.
"Just give me a minute," I yelped.
It was just a ploy, a helpful fantasy that would inspire his mother to pursue the aggressive cancer treatments. I was a complete idiot to have felt anything else, even for a second, and I needed to get myself under control.
I swiped the ridiculous tears off my cheeks and fanned away the redness. Then, I smoothed down my hair and opened the door. "Sorry, I was just so shocked, I didn't think I could pull it off for much longer."
Penn pushed his way into the bathroom and took my hands. "I shocked myself, too. But, now that I think about it, this is the perfect plan. My mother will be happily distracted with wedding planning while she starts her treatments. And my father will have to get off my back."
"I aim to please," I muttered.
"Thank you!" Penn scooped me up in a hug and swung me around the large bathroom. "You're perfect. Like my very own get-out-of-jail-free card. How can I thank you?"
I turned away so he wouldn't see my face. "How about you let me swim in this giant tub?" I joked.
"Done." Penn leaned over and started to run the water for a bath.
When he dumped lavender oil into the water, I cleared my throat. "I know we're engaged and all, but seeing as it's a total sham, how about a little privacy?"
Penn stood up and grinned. "Whatever you say, dear."
He shut the door behind him. I waited until I was sure he was gone before I sunk to the bottom of the bath and finally let my tears flow.
CHAPTER TEN
Corsica - 10
All I could think about was running away. So, I got up early the next morning and tied on my shoes. The dim light of the rising sun had barely touched Penn's Monterey house, but I was dressed and ready to go. I had to get out of there.
After hiding out in the bathtub until I was wrinkled and shivering, I had insisted on going to sleep in the guest room. Penn was worried that I was regretting our little act, but I could also see the golden embers of desire in his eyes. He still thought of me as someone to use and get over. The truth of that thought had kept me up most of the night.
When I stepped out into the hallway, I still couldn't help but glance in his direction. My heart raced every time I thought of Penn.
The memory of his proposal and the feel of his hands clasping mine replayed more often than I wanted to admit. I had said yes because I understood what he was trying to do for his mother, but there was a part of me that had meant what I said.
Penn was awake, the door to his master suite swung wide open. He raised his shaggy head and watched as I turned away and took off down the hallway.
Outside, I couldn't run fast enough to catch the full meaning of any of my thoughts. After an half an hour, I was at least exhausted enough not to have to think. It was all I could do to drag myself back to the mansion and up the front steps. When I did, Penn was there with a glass of water and a worried smile.
"Are you okay?" he asked.
"Been too long. Needed it," I gasped. I took the water, but tried to walk past him to the guest room.
Penn caught my arm gently. "I think I called enough of the shots yesterday. How about you get to plan today?"
I shook my head and groaned as my legs ached. "If I call the shots, then I'm going back to bed."
"Sounds good to me," Penn said with a warm glance.
I shoved him, glad to be back on the solid ground of our teasing banter. "How about we finally use that spa day your mother and father set up for your birthday?"
It was Penn's turn to groan. "I thought you didn't like the idea of being cooped up all day."
"It's a resort. I'm sure they've got gardens and pools. That'll have to be enough outside for you. I want the royal treatment."
I didn't understand why that casual comment made him frown until his driver pulled into the driveway of the resort. A team of four people greeted us at the car in a rush of ingratiating welcomes. Xavier Templeton had made the reservation and any guest of his was getting the full service. It took us ten minutes and eight hundred questions about the smallest preferences before we were able to move through the lobby.
"We have champagne available, if you would like," the manager said with a slight bow.
Penn's lip curled up at the man's sniveling offer. "No, thanks. We just came here to relax."
The manager nodded and then proceeded to introduce Penn and me to every one of the staff. Each staff member was instructed to take extra special care of us.
At first, I loved the attention. I had only gone halfway down the hallway to the women's changing area when I was already gifted a satin robe, a pair of supple leather sandals, and an appointment to have a perfume custom-made.
"So, what first?" Penn asked, literally fighting off the circle of staff all ready to help. He turned his back on them and raised an eyebrow at me.
I ran through the incredibly long menu of services, plus the additional perks Mr. Templeton was offered. It was impossible to find something that would not include a hovering staff. Then, I saw an idea and smiled. Penn might be disgusted with the royal treatment, but I had an idea to make it work for us.
"I like the sound of the hot springs. Maybe at this time of day it won't be too crowded?" I asked.
The manager immediately promised that we would have the hot springs all to ourselves for the next two hours. Penn laughed at the thought of anyone spending two hours in the super-heated water, but he nodded. The flock of staff members scattered and within minutes we were escorted out to the steaming pools and left on our own.