I’d known my fears would intensify the closer I came to my destination. I tried desperately to remind myself that Penn wanted me to come. And really, Kate had done a great job glamming me up for the party. I looked older with makeup on, and my skirt-dress gave no indication that it was, in fact, a skirt-dress.
I had almost convinced myself that I wouldn’t be the ridiculous imposter I knew that I was. Almost.
When I saw the actual building – I realized that my first instinct had been much more correct. I did not belong here. Sparkling, delicate lights were shining from the street level entrance, and two men in tuxes were dutifully checking a list and opening a rope for the approved party-goers.
Tower. That’s a fucking tower.
It was actually a hotel of some sort, with the bottom floor being dedicated to parties, weddings, receptions, business conferences, etc. To my horror, I realized there was an actual red carpet laid on the crack-free sidewalk, leading up to the tuxedo twins and their intimidating rope obstacle. Even a few camera people were flashing shots of the guests as they made their way in.
Camera people, as in the fucking paparazzi? What in the actual hell am I doing here? Who is Penn’s family? Why didn’t he tell me his father was this big of a deal?
I crept past the hotel and drove two city blocks down to the wrought-iron gated commuter lot. Once parked, the weight of everything threatened to crash down on me all over again.
I refused to cry, even though I could feel the sobs begging to bubble up out of my chest. I channeled all the emotion I felt into anger. Penn should have told me. I never should have come here. Surely, he had known better than to expect a random small-town girl would know what to do with herself at such an event. This was all a mistake, and it was entirely Penn’s fault.
I would just turn right around and go back. I knew the way at least a little bit better now, and obviously I wasn’t going to set foot in that godforsaken building.
In fact, if I leave now, I’ll be home in time to put Murphy to bed myself and relieve Kate of her baby-sitting duties.
I had just put the truck into reverse when a light tap on the driver’s side window caused me to scream.
He found you. Tim. Found. You.
But it wasn’t Tim – it was Penn. The anger, fear, and adrenaline all came crashing together inside of me, and I flung the truck’s door open like a mini Incredible Hulk.
Penn looked unbelievably handsome. He was also in a tux, and cleaned up like this, he resembled a Hollywood heartthrob at a movie premiere. Somehow, this only made my rage grow.
“This? This is what you call a fancy party? Are you trying to make me look stupid, or do you just not understand how stupid you are to not have warned me? Who in the hell is your father? Tell me right now!”
I would never have spoken to Randall in such a way. He would have killed me. But Penn just stood there looking embarrassed and adorable, grinning despite my outburst.
“I’m sorry, Anne. I should have told you – I know. I just wasn’t sure how, and I was afraid you wouldn’t come if I did,” Penn offered, putting a gentle hand on my bare arm and sending shockwaves through my body.
“You’re right. I wouldn’t have come. I shouldn’t have come!” I growled, but already my upset was diminishing while I stared into his ridiculously beautiful blue eyes.
“But you’re here now. So, c’mon. Come with me. Please?”
5
Penn
If Anne wasn’t so ridiculously tiny and cute, her outburst might have shocked me. She flew out of her truck like a rabid animal (maybe a pissed off gerbil or a really badass bunny), and for a second, I expected a slap. Or a punch. I wasn’t sure, but I knew I deserved it.
I’d been waiting for her at the end of the block, knowing where she’d be parking and wanting to escort her and allay her fears. But when I saw her face as she slowly drove by, I knew I was in trouble. Anne didn’t just look surprised – she looked horrified. Her eyes went Looney Tunes wide, and they probably would have popped out of her head altogether had this been a cartoon.
I knew, regardless of my reasons for doing so, that I’d fucked up big time keeping most of the details about my family to myself. I wasn’t even sure if Anne would actually park or just keep driving. I took off running, following the banged-up truck as closely as possible, and let out a huge sigh of relief when I saw that she was turning into the commuter lot.
It was clear by the time I reached her that she was angry as hell. She just sat there in the truck, staring off into the distance. Tapping on her window had felt a bit like extending your hand to a lioness, and the roar that followed did not disappoint.
But almost as soon as her tirade was over, Anne seemed to realize just how badly – and loudly – she was freaking out. Her cheeks turned bright red, and she slumped back against the side of the truck while I calmly persisted in convincing her to come with me.
“I don’t belong here,” she told me finally, the warm summer breeze playing with her long hair. Giant green eyes that had seconds ago been aflame with indigence were now something else... something sad.
“Of course, you do.” I grinned, putting my hands in my pockets and leaning patiently against the truck beside her.
She put her head back against the window and sighed.
“Anne, I asked you to come. Therefore, you belong. I’m not a rocket scientist, but I think that’s how it works.”
She smiled a little, and I was rewarded with the reappearance of her dimple. But then she looked me dead in the face and her smile vanished.
“Who’s your dad, Penn? This obviously isn’t just a normal party for any random guy.” Her eyes were twinkling now, the streetlamps making them more emerald jewel than green.
I pressed my lips together, flexed my jaw, and decided it was time to tell her the truth. Maybe not all of the truth, but the truth.
“My dad is a writer – he writes novels. He’s kind of famous. Western romance and whatnot. It’s all pretty cheesy if you ask me. But apparently people love cheese. This party is to celebrate his hundredth published novel.” I paused. “Ever heard of Paul Lincoln Hardick?”
Anne looked embarrassed again and shook her head apologetically. “I’m not – where I’m from – Well let’s just say it isn’t exactly the literary capital of the universe.” She gave a weak smile and looked away.
“Where are you from, Anne?” I asked, my curiosity taking over for a moment. She still didn’t look at me, and I was almost convinced that she wasn’t going to answer me either.
But she did. Sort of.
“Out east,” she offered quietly.
“Oh. Cool. Like East Coast?” I didn’t understand why this conversation was making her so somber.
“No. Not exactly. We can talk about it sometime. Maybe.” Anne turned back to me, and I could tell she was doing her very best to keep her face light and carefree. But I didn’t buy it. Clearly, something about “out east” was not a comfortable memory. I suddenly realized I was going to push her away again if I didn’t shut up about it.
“Sure. Yeah. Whenever you want... You ready to go party?” If nothing else, Anne had certainly seemed to recover from her previous explosion. It was now or never.