I don’t want to talk with him, but I don’t want to be without the few belongings I brought with me either. It all suddenly feels like it’s too much, but Steve’s huge hand suddenly covering mine calms me instantly.
“It’s gonna work out fine, Penny. You’ll see,” he says reassuringly.
“I don’t know how,” he adds honestly, “but it’ll all work out fine in the end, I just know it will.”
Coming from anyone else, it wouldn’t mean much. But from Steve, I feel like the weight of the world has been lifted off my shoulders and I feel myself relaxing again, leaning into him, finally giggling a little as I remember what we just did on that plane.
Steve looks a little confused.
“I mean it, Penny. Everything’s gonna be alright,” he says firmly.
“I know it will,” I reassure him, craning my neck slightly to peck his cheek. “I was just thinking about…”
Pushing everything to the back of my mind, something that isn’t hard to do when Steve’s holding me, I rest my eyes until Steve shifts a little in his seat.
“Looks like we’re here,” he murmurs, not wanting to unlock our embrace any more than I do but the car finally stops and the door opens to the entrance of a palatial looking five star hotel.
“Good afternoon, Mr. Bennet,” The doorman announces. We shift a little uneasily into the foyer, where there’s a number of waiting staff ushering us to our suite.
Fortunately, none of them look me in the eye and I wonder if old Buford called ahead and warned them.
“You have some luggage being sent on,” the concierge tells us, unlocking the door and handing Steve the key card. “Enjoy your stay, please let us know if you need anything.”
And with that, we’re alone again.
It’s a corner suite that overlooks a stunning view of the city and harbor in the distance. I’ve never been in a five star anything before, but the view is breathtaking, as well as the company.
“It’s just beautiful!” I exclaim, and turning to Steve, I can see he’s been studying my ass the whole time instead of the view.
“It sure is,” he drawls, sauntering over to me and hooking his arm around my waist, nibbling my neck until I squeal.
Steve spins me slowly until we both notice the giant bouquet and other items in what looks like the main bedroom of the suite.
A large bottle of champagne, huge flower arrangement and a shiny wooden plinth with a plaque engraved on it.
“For the trophy,” Steve observes, looking bashful when I meet his gaze and then shrugging before hefting a huge champagne bottle up to feel its weight and screwing up his nose.
“Glad this wasn’t at the podium. I hate this stuff,” he observes.
“Do they always send stuff like this?” I ask, “And where’s the-”
At that moment, the door chimes and Steve crosses the carpeted floor in three huge strides to answer it.
A couple of porters have a trolley with a massive trophy on it, but most important to me, I see my bag is there too.
“Sorry to disturb you, Mr. Bennett. Compliments of Mr. Billings, along with the suite. He usually stays with us but has other business to attend and let us know you’re our guest in his place,” one says.
Steve stands unimpressed and is happy to close and lock the door once they leave.
I’m happy to have my clothes and something familiar but I can’t help thinking of dad and fish for my phone, hoping it’s in there. Relieved when I find it, fully charged as well.
“You don’t like the attention, or the interruptions?” I ask Steve, trying to make light of things but I can see Steve’s deep in thought and not looking like he’s made up his mind where the team’s concerned.
“I want you, Penny, not all this so much, that’s all,” he says finally.
The silence between us is only broken by him coming over to me and holding me close again. I want to look at my phone, but also don’t want to look at it.
“Your dad?” Steve asks, making me wince.
“I’m not sure yet,” I tell him.
“We have to face it sooner or later,” he says, almost as much to himself as he does to me.
“I might change first,” I tell him, knowing that I’m stalling but I don’t want my dad to ruin our time together when he’s not even here, “and grab a shower. I feel like I need one,” I add.
Steve smiles, kissing my nose.
“How ‘bout a bath?” he asks with a hint of mischief in his voice, “That is tubs big enough for the both of us, even with my size,” he adds and I clutch him tight.
“I think that’s a great idea,” I tell him, noticing the double digit missed calls and messages on my phone.
All from my dad.
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
Steve
It was a crazy race and a spectacular finish, but next to Penny… Nothing even comes close.
Buford, the team owner… he’s an odd one but I’ve yet to meet someone as wealthy who isn’t a little bit unusual.
There’s just something in his interest in Penny which I’m not sure about. I put it down to my being so overprotective of her and try to enjoy the prospect of a bath and some fresh clothes, which Buford sent along with the trophy. Penny’s bag arrived and there’s a familiar, beat up travel case I recognize as my own.
In all the excitement after the race, getting whisked off courtesy of Buford, and of course claiming Penny; I forgot everything else including my phone.
I notice it has a ton of missed calls as I wait for the tub to fill up.
Mostly from Mike, Penny's dad and my best friend.
Best friend?
I swallow down hard on the feeling rising up inside me.
I’m here for you Mike, like always. But me and Penny… that’s my business now.
I could watch Penny all day, it doesn’t matter what she does. I just get lost in looking at her, which I find out makes her a
