Favorite Coffee, page 4
“Why?”
“He doesn’t let me focus at home.”
Boys with trust funds tended to throw it around to control people. She lowered her eyes and asked, “Were you serious about your money being tied up?”
“My cash flow is tied up in a deal. It’s why I need you on Friday to meet a few of my investors.”
“Why me?”
“One of my biggest investors is conservative, and believes heavily in family values. He believes I might be too much of a carefree Miami guy out to make a fast deal, not caring about long-term.”
“You’re not.”
“‘Long-term’ has always been a goal of mine. On Friday, you would truthfully say you’ve known me a long time, and that I’ve always done what I promised or set out to do.”
She shrugged. “Okay. Easy enough.”
Jay did what he needed to get what he wanted, but he’d also lie if he had something to get, whatever it was he saw. He couldn’t have lost that part, but he did like to win. She wrinkled her brow and tried to figure him out. “Let’s go back to your parents for a second. What happened with your mother?”
“I don’t want to talk about it, Pen.”
“She’s not anything like mine.”
“Penny, I need to be a man and create my own empire, away from my trust fund. She’s having a hard time understanding that I’m doing things without her help now.”
“I don’t want to be anything like my mess of a mother.”
His dimples smiled at her when he shook his head. “You’d never sleep around on anyone, Pen. You’re one of the good girls.”
Fumbling for her words, she settled on letting her heart speak. “You won’t turn into a serial killer if I move in with you, though? I don’t want to live with a crazy person.”
His eyes opened wider. “I won’t. Are you reconsidering?”
A comfortable warmth spread across her face, and she must have blushed. She ignored the heat inside her and nodded. “I have. I need a place for a month. I just can’t stay with my mother.”
“I can’t stay at Michael’s either. He’s a good guy, but between him and Eva, I’m going insane. Tell me you’re not going to go all dramatic on me.”
“No. I have work Monday morning at Mueller Enterprises.”
Pushing out the seat next to him, he pointed for her to sit. She did, then patted his shoulder. “Dimples, I’d love to live in your gorgeous place with you.”
He put his phone on the table while he leapt to his feet, pulling her back up into a hug and twirling her around. Laughter erupted, uncontrollably. “You’re an idiot. I’m getting the good end of this deal.”
He set her down with her feet pointed forward. His adorable smile weakened her, making it harder to steady herself, though he stayed in her personal space. She’d find a way to repay him for taking her in. He told her, “Penny, working at home is going to be so much easier. I can sleep at night without expecting you to break through my firewalls.”
“You’re being paranoid, Dimples.”
Walking away, she swayed her hips a little more, knowing he stared at her. “Pen, wait.”
Looking over her shoulder, she winked while she lifted her arm. “I’m getting my coffee. Be right back.”
Stepping away from Mr. Perfect, she relaxed. For the next month, she’d ignore any of his romantic entanglements. She had headphones, and living with him as a friend was something her mother had never done with any man. Whatever had happened to him, he needed her at the moment, and she could be his friend now and help him out.
Sitting at his table, he packed his bags, and asked, “Do you remember how to get to the place?”
“Sure.” She had grown up in South Miami, before all the construction. “Where are you going?”
“I have an appointment to go round two with Eva in ten minutes. She knows we’re done. She didn’t take it well, but it’s over. I’m going to get whatever box she intends to throw at my head, then let her have the final say. I’ll call the doorman and give him your name so he can give you the key card. You can get in. Can I call you later when this is over? We both have a lot to do right now.”
Putting her hands on his, she squeezed him in support. “Of course. I’ll take measurements.”
She had a roof over her head. Now all she had to do was buy something to sleep in tonight before she met Sandra.
6
Miracle Mile would not be in her price range at all. Jay and his high school friends shopped there. Penny sighed. She missed Gainesville a little. At least there she fit in. Miami had two sides, not three. The rich, and then the rest of the city no one mentioned. She called up Sandra and asked, momentarily thinking she was speaking to her mother and not her rich best friend, “Who has a warehouse membership that we know? I need a mattress.”
“You are running a mile a minute, Penny.”
“Right. Sandra. I’m sorry. I’m overwhelmed and looking for a membership card to one of those stores where we buy everything in bulk. I’m just moving back.”
“Oh. We get gas there sometimes for the car. Stop at my store, take my card, and go.”
Good. Leaving her stuff and only packing two suitcases meant she had no household goods, not even her measly college stuff. But a clean breakup with no hard feelings was worth the one coffee cup she now owned. Asking Sandra for help with a mattress would be out of the question, but she’d tip someone to tie it on the top of the car. When she left all her stuff to Fernando except her clothes, she hadn’t left much. Used furniture inherited from other broke college students wouldn’t last much longer, and now with a full-time position she could start fresh with everything. Penny liked having a plan. If she had to depend on Jay or anyone else when she could do it herself, then she’d miscalculated what she could do.
Most places let you set up a monthly payment plan, so she’d stick to a budget and forge into her life.
Living with Jay, though, pushed her moving date ahead. The wind at her back along with her instincts to stay with the man couldn’t be ignored. He’d changed, and she liked what she had seen so far. Parking her car, she brushed off a little dust in her hair from the earlier ride on his bike.
Running into the boutique, she stopped short. The customers wore heels and carried designer bags. Her jeans were threaded and ripping at the bottom near the hem, and her old sneakers had no chance of ever being white again. Pulling her shoulders together, she slowed her run to a friendly stroll to the counter.
Blonde, shorthaired, petite Sandra, with a huge smile for everyone in life, put boxes down and jumped up and down, hugging her when Penny came closer.
The place was white, bridal, and expensive. Sandra bounced up, squealed, then hugged Penny for a second time. Finally, she calmed down and said, “I’ve missed you. How are you?”
Did Sandra inherit the trust fund before she turned twenty-five, like Penny had remembered? Looking at the diamond earring in her friend’s coiffed look, she could see Sandra was doing well. Penny told her, “I’m good. My life is working out. How did you afford a wedding store here? The competition for the socialites must be fierce.”
“You’re speaking to a socialite, or so everyone sees. Business is doing pretty well, and I sold my own design a few weeks ago. I’m so excited.”
“Amazing. I thought your parents were against you designing clothes.”
“They were and still are. I had my inheritance, plus Jay helped me out with financing. I’m in better financial shape than my competition and making money. Soon my own wedding dresses will be the premiere gown sold in my store.”
“Jay helped you out?”
“Yeah. He’s good with finding investors. If you need his help, ask him. He’ll help you, Penelope.”
She never wanted to ask anyone for help. Looking down to the floor, she fidgeted while she admitted, “I’m moving in with him.”
“What?”
Flinching, she hoped Sandra wasn’t thinking anything bad. She eyed the front door to escape before telling her, “Roommates only. He has a girlfriend.”
“Penelope, he’s changed— Wait.” Sandra’s phone beeped. Looking down, she told Penny, “Had. Jay dated Eva, but they broke up. She’s coming over here in less than five minutes.”
No way. This couldn’t be happening right now. She needed to get out of Sandra’s shop fast. Eva equaled drama, and Penny didn’t need to look her in the eye right now. She hadn’t told Jay to break up with her. Sandra picked up her phone to text, and Penny begged, “Please, don’t tell her about me. Let me ease into it, after I get furniture and a good night’s sleep. I don’t want to be a part of this.”
Sandra nodded when Penny’s phone beeped. She glanced down. Meet me at Tiffany’s Treasures. We need to furnish the apartment, and you’ll want some input.
Texting back, she asked him, If they don’t have anything, do you have a warehouse membership?
Yes.
She handed Sandra’s card back to her. “I’ll buy my own membership if I must today. It’s for the best. Thank you, and looking forward to Thursday.”
“Me too.”
She hugged Sandra and went back to her rental car. Tomorrow she’d get a car. At least living with Dimples meant she could use her small savings on an auto lease deposit, getting something that could last. When she worked, she’d take a portion to save up another deposit for when she moved.
Fernando, her ex-boyfriend, had lived off her savings, so not having his bills freed up some cash, too. Jay would never borrow a dime without paying her back, so she’d never have to worry about him.
Driving in the Grove was a trip back to another universe. All tourists ever saw would be this part of town and South Beach. Jay likely visited there every weekend too. Maybe the motorcycle was a new, flashy toy he’d grow tired of in a year, though his scar indicated more. Penny shook her head. She couldn’t dwell on him while she found parking.
While looking at his choices, she’d figure out what sheets she’d buy, and find out how the breakup had gone for him. Eva was an award-winning actress. Jay must have been hit with a shovel of emotions before he walked away. Penny sighed. Jay had been so good to her today,
Finding her sunglasses, she walked into the posh store.
7
Looking at the front of the building, she remembered how her mother had drooled in this store countless times, always hoping the next guy she married had more cash. Geneva hated being poor, and talked about some idyllic childhood that had been stolen from her. Without grandparents to ask, Penny had no reason to be suspicious, but the story had never made much sense.
Lars had kept her mother on a short leash with the finances, much to Mom’s chagrin. Penny smiled knowing how her mother would swoon with delight if she’d been invited to shop for furniture here.
Jay waved to her at the door. When giving her a hug, she bumped into his briefcase. Pulling back, she listened to him. “We need to pick out a couch, stuff for my bedroom and my office, and furnish the rest of the place. For your help in picking this, I’ll buy your bedroom set.”
Her jaw might have fallen to the floor.
“Add a dining room to the list too. I don’t need much, but we will need to eat somewhere.”
“Dimples, you can’t be serious. I’m moving out in a month.”
He ushered her inside the store without batting an eye. “Let’s go.”
“A bed in here will cost a few thousand dollars.”
“I have to work. I called ahead and I have two options.”
What did he want from her? She crossed her arms and narrowed her eyes. “Which are?”
“I’d pay an interior decorator five thousand to do all this. She can be here in an hour.”
She tilted her head, weighing what he said. “Then why would I be here?”
“I’d like your opinion either way, as you’ll be living there. Option two is that I buy your furniture or pay you the money in cash. Doesn’t matter what you choose, but I have a situation at work to deal with.”
Five thousand dollars. Her mother would say take the money, but she would never. If she picked out a set that matched the rest of it, she could leave it at his place. He’d have bought it anyhow. Nodding her head, she met his eyes and relaxed her shoulders. “I’ll hang every picture, Dimples. I like being busy.”
His face relaxed, and his blue eyes almost gleamed with happiness now. Whatever had happened to him earlier today had stolen some of his energy. “Thank you, Pen. I need to sit with my computer and not be bothered.”
“Funny seeing you serious about something.” He walked her into the store as a sales associate opened the door for her. “Makes you sexy.”
He stopped moving. She waved him in. It took him a few seconds to recover. Odd. Strolling to the living-room section, which was first, she scanned the showroom. Jay’s hand went to her back when the saleslady came up to ask them, “May I help you?”
“We need to furnish our new place. I hope you have a few hours.”
“You were both smart to come in here. Is there a budget I’m working with or is the sky the limit?”
“Penny will keep me honest. She’s making the decisions. Would you mind shopping while I connect to the Wi-Fi to work?”
“You have something important.” She nodded her understanding and hugged him, then told the saleslady, “Let’s get started.”
Jay found a seat near the door and opened his tablet, staring intently. What business did the man have? Investors and a financial company made sense, but something else was driving him to be that focused. She’d never asked, but for a place to live while she settled into her new life, she’d shop. Sleeping on a bed for a month from Tiff’s would be heavenly.
The salesclerk pointed out hand-carved foreign chairs that would not be comfortable to sit on. Penny preferred a level of comfort, and Jay needed a place to relax. She found a light tan leather living-room set with one of those chaise lounges she’d seen in magazines all her life. She peeked at the price tag—for this place, the number sounded normal. Jay didn’t operate in her limited world, but it was far from the most expensive item.
For the dining, she went more modern, streamlined, keeping that under what she expected as well. The saleswoman pointed out strange table designs complete with hammered-in monkey arms holding up a glass table, but Jay would prefer simple. For his office furniture, she remembered the three times she’d ever been to his bedroom in high school to collect a book or something for him. Even then he had used a dash of purple, knowing it was royal. She picked out teak, but found a deep purple desk set that he’d like.
She glanced over at him. He didn’t blink at anything going past him except his tablet.
Following along, they reached the bedroom section. In bedroom furniture, she saw something she loved. She’d be the princess in any fairytale in that set. For him, she picked out something more boxy and masculine.
When they finished, they returned to Jay. He stared, engrossed in a spreadsheet. “Dimples, we’re ready for you.”
His eyes stared up but his mouth fell open. “You finished shopping already, Pen?”
“Of course.” She nodded then told him the news. “Issue is they cannot deliver until tomorrow, and you’re paying.”
He took her hand to help stand up before he let go. In his future life Jay would make any socialite a perfect husband. He let her make all the house decisions, and she’d be there for only a month. While waiting for the salesgirl to put the receipt together, Penny told him, “I’m surprised you’re not engaged to one of the Miracle Mile women. Your mother must have pushed you on the yacht club at some point.”
“I’m a member. We’re going with those people on Friday, remember.”
Fun. He handed over the card. “I don’t want to go back to my mother’s.”
“Don’t. Stay.”
She laughed. “Are we camping without furniture for the night, then?”
“I suppose.” Moving would be a long process. “I do have camping bags.”
“Won’t Michael miss you?” He lived with Sandra’s brother, though that combination made no sense in her head. Michael generally despised everything he saw, looking down his nose at the world.
“He’ll be relieved I’m not coming back. Is there anything else we need to buy?”
She rolled her eyes. Furniture hardly made a house a home. “I still need to buy sheets, pots, pans, lights, bathroom hangers, etc.”
“I have an idea.”
“Another one?” The racing of her heart told her she wouldn’t be offended.
“We’ll stay at the place. Tonight will be bonding. Too bad we don’t have marshmallows to roast on an open fire.”
Biting her second finger in her hand for a second, she asked a question, with a lilt in her voice. “Does the camp gear have an air mattress?”
“Yes.”
Smiling, she joked, “You’re not a nature/hunter type like we went to school with.”
“That was Wyatt.” He signed the receipt and took his card back. Glancing over, she saw she’d spent more than she thought. Looking at him, she asked, “Where did the extra four thousand come in?”
“Delivery and setup,” the salesclerk told her. “You won’t lift a finger. Everything will be perfect, and if you need any furnishings, we’re associated with Christina’s Collectibles. I can call ahead to ensure someone is ready to help you with everything you two might need.”
“That’s across the street,” Jay said. “Can you handle shopping there while I finish with my report? Then we can go out to eat and relax. It’s been a long day.”
Helping him made her happy and lifted the guilt that she’d be sleeping at his place. She nodded. “I’ll be like that my first day on Monday. Walk with me.” He opened the front door of the place. “Did you like your sheets at your parents’ house?”
“I’ll like whatever you pick.”
She raised her eyebrows to joke. “I could pick pink flowered bedsheets.”
“You won’t fail me like that, cutie, and get your stuff too. Consider the sheets part of the set. You’re taking care of the details.”
