what great time I had with Justin? I do know I don’t want him back in my life.” She sipped another mouthful of water. “Anyway, can’t dwell on the past. I have work to do, and it won’t get done sitting here. Time for a shower and get to work.”
* * * *
An hour later buried in boxes, Penny had almost unpacked a new line of clothing. She had managed to secure exclusive distributorship for two clothing lines , a move sure to have stock rocketing off the shelves. The bell on the door sounded the arrival of a customer.
“Sorry, we’re closed today,” she called out. “Seeing you are here, let’s see if...” She came out of the store room and face to face with the biggest bunch of red roses she had ever seen in her life.
Justin’s beaming face appeared over the top of the bouquet. “A humble gift, which pales in its beauty beside the prettiest girl on the planet.”
Penny slid her hair band off her pony tail and combed her fingers through her hair. She hadn’t planned to see anybody today, no customers and certainly not Justin. She ran her hands down the front of her T-shirt in attempt to smooth out the wrinkles and perhaps even disguise its poor condition. She stepped forward, taking the flowers. “Wow. These are amazing. I have never seen such beautiful roses.” She took a large breath. “And such a magnificent perfume.”
“Do you have something to stick them in?”
“Hang on.” She ducked though the back door to the store room before he’d finished speaking and returned, holding a vintage glass oil bottle. “I think this will do nicely.” Penny laid the roses on the sales counter and carefully placed them one by one the makeshift vase. Adjusting the bouquet, she stood back, her heart fluttered as she drank in the moment. Justin moved, wrapping his arms around her. She wiggled into him, delighted with gift and his attention. His scent filled her breathe as he bent his head and kissed her. His lips, warm and slightly salty, caressed hers ever so lightly.
She broke away, looking into his eyes. “Thank you. I’ve never had a man give me flowers before. They are beautiful.” His strength and power radiated through her hands as the rested on the hard muscle of his upper arms.
“Nothing but the best for you.” A broad smile creased his face. “I took the liberty of reserving a table for us. Dinner tonight seven o’clock and I won’t take no for an answer.”
“Yes. Of course.” How could she say no, especially after such a magnificent gift? Two dinner dates in a row! He must like her.
“Excellent. Dress to kill. I have a surprise for you.’
“I’ll look forward to it.”
He turned and left as quickly as he’d come.
Dress to kill? What did he mean exactly? Where were they going? Was it just dinner? A million questions ran through Penny’s mind. How much time do I have to get ready? She glanced at the wall clock. Two o’clock. Shocked by the time, she grabbed her keys and bag and headed toward the door, stopping part of the way there.
“Damn, I have to have those last few boxes emptied for tomorrow. How do I get them unpacked and be ready for seven p.m.?” Sighing, her shoulders slumped, and she headed back to the store room. “I can’t sell stock if people can’t see it. I’ll finish those last few boxes and be home by four.” Taking a deep breath, she got back to work.
* * * *
Justin opened the car door for Penny. Her dress rode up, tantalising, teasing as she slid from the car, revealing the faintest hint of flesh. He liked what he saw. Black suede high heels gave her tanned legs a killer shape. The dress hugged her figure like a second skin. Single shouldered, the black fabric contrasted with the wide yellow stripe which ran across the dress and down, conspiring to draw his attention back to those legs. He lost the battle not to stare.
He took her elbow in his hand and guided her along the sidewalk through the light crowd. “I trust this meets with your
* * * *
An hour later buried in boxes, Penny had almost unpacked a new line of clothing. She had managed to secure exclusive distributorship for two clothing lines , a move sure to have stock rocketing off the shelves. The bell on the door sounded the arrival of a customer.
“Sorry, we’re closed today,” she called out. “Seeing you are here, let’s see if...” She came out of the store room and face to face with the biggest bunch of red roses she had ever seen in her life.
Justin’s beaming face appeared over the top of the bouquet. “A humble gift, which pales in its beauty beside the prettiest girl on the planet.”
Penny slid her hair band off her pony tail and combed her fingers through her hair. She hadn’t planned to see anybody today, no customers and certainly not Justin. She ran her hands down the front of her T-shirt in attempt to smooth out the wrinkles and perhaps even disguise its poor condition. She stepped forward, taking the flowers. “Wow. These are amazing. I have never seen such beautiful roses.” She took a large breath. “And such a magnificent perfume.”
“Do you have something to stick them in?”
“Hang on.” She ducked though the back door to the store room before he’d finished speaking and returned, holding a vintage glass oil bottle. “I think this will do nicely.” Penny laid the roses on the sales counter and carefully placed them one by one the makeshift vase. Adjusting the bouquet, she stood back, her heart fluttered as she drank in the moment. Justin moved, wrapping his arms around her. She wiggled into him, delighted with gift and his attention. His scent filled her breathe as he bent his head and kissed her. His lips, warm and slightly salty, caressed hers ever so lightly.
She broke away, looking into his eyes. “Thank you. I’ve never had a man give me flowers before. They are beautiful.” His strength and power radiated through her hands as the rested on the hard muscle of his upper arms.
“Nothing but the best for you.” A broad smile creased his face. “I took the liberty of reserving a table for us. Dinner tonight seven o’clock and I won’t take no for an answer.”
“Yes. Of course.” How could she say no, especially after such a magnificent gift? Two dinner dates in a row! He must like her.
“Excellent. Dress to kill. I have a surprise for you.’
“I’ll look forward to it.”
He turned and left as quickly as he’d come.
Dress to kill? What did he mean exactly? Where were they going? Was it just dinner? A million questions ran through Penny’s mind. How much time do I have to get ready? She glanced at the wall clock. Two o’clock. Shocked by the time, she grabbed her keys and bag and headed toward the door, stopping part of the way there.
“Damn, I have to have those last few boxes emptied for tomorrow. How do I get them unpacked and be ready for seven p.m.?” Sighing, her shoulders slumped, and she headed back to the store room. “I can’t sell stock if people can’t see it. I’ll finish those last few boxes and be home by four.” Taking a deep breath, she got back to work.
* * * *
Justin opened the car door for Penny. Her dress rode up, tantalising, teasing as she slid from the car, revealing the faintest hint of flesh. He liked what he saw. Black suede high heels gave her tanned legs a killer shape. The dress hugged her figure like a second skin. Single shouldered, the black fabric contrasted with the wide yellow stripe which ran across the dress and down, conspiring to draw his attention back to those legs. He lost the battle not to stare.
He took her elbow in his hand and guided her along the sidewalk through the light crowd. “I trust this meets with your
Similar Books
Shocked and Shattered
Aleya Michelle
The Comeback (BWWM Interracial Romance Book 7)
Elena Brown
The Charnel Prince
Greg Keyes
Playing in SECRET (Corrigan & Co. Book 9)
Crystal Perkins
B00A3OGH1O EBOK
Allen Wong
Unexpected Reality
Kaylee Ryan
When Gods Die
C. S. Harris
Be Near Me
Andrew O’Hagan
A Taste for Malice
Michael J. Malone