When she glances hopefully at the clock again, I take the hint and retrieve a jacket from the apartment's only closet.
"I think I'll head out."
"You don't have to do that, daddy. At least stay for supper."
"I'll grab something on the way back," I assure her. "Enjoy the evening, sweetie."
It will be better than sitting at a rickety card table as my daughter undresses Kase Cruz with her eyes. She shrugs, giving up after only a few seconds. Though she and I both enjoy seeing each other again, I'm a hiccup in the otherwise smooth operation of her life.
I'm out the door in under a minute and out of the building in three, nodding to security as I pass. The night is still, and it's a rare day without rain. The sounds of the city are a dull buzz in the back of my head, and, as always, when I'm alone for more than a few minutes, my mind drifts back to Penelope.
Brooklyn keeps me updated on what's going on with her, knowing without having to be told that it's of vital interest. Penelope recovered well from the fight, with only one dental surgery to contend with to replace her missing molar. She's taken time off of work and is recovering while Cruz sweeps the rest of the city for the Hellions.
Our ambush wiped out their main fighting force, leaving them at a disadvantage. Bolstered by my men, they shouldn't be too hard to handle any longer. Cruz is having a hard time controlling them, though, which is why my daughter keeps dropping subtle hints I should return. I won't break my promise to Cruz. Penelope is safe. That's all that matters.
In another half-hour, I've gotten Brooklyn's usual and give her a little extra time. I've been a newlywed before, and I don't begrudge her the desire, just her choice of husband. A Cruz. Fuck, fate had a sense of humor.
There's a park nearby that I visit during times like these. It's a quiet, pretty place to pass the time, and almost no one bothers me.
To my surprise, I find someone draped over the bench by the creek, my usual spot to lounge, and waiting with a smoothie in hand. The streetlights don't reach here, so I'm only a few feet away before I can make her out properly. When I do, my breath catches in my throat, and I stop dead, torn by the uncharacteristic desire to bolt and the equally powerful desire to snatch her into my arms and kiss the breath right out of her.
Penelope is breathtaking in a scarlet dress. To my amusement, it's cut in almost the same fashion as the ones I teased her with, though the pastel colors are long gone. Her long golden legs are on display, a pair of heels on her shapely feet. I have a vision of laying her out on the park bench with those heels resting on my shoulders, clamping around my neck when I eat her pussy.
She sits up straighter when she sees me.
"Long time no see, asshole." She tries for nonchalance and fails miserably. I can hear the undercurrent of anger beneath her tone. And, against my better judgment, my lips curl into a smile. God, I missed her.
"Am I supposed to apologize?" I venture. "Because from where I'm standing, I didn't have many options."
"Fuck yes, you're supposed to apologize," she growls, standing. She wobbles on the heels, a sure sign she's not used to wearing them, and they're solely for my benefit. That simple gesture warms me immensely. "For this whole 'leaving you for your own good' bullshit. I'm a big fucking girl, Calamity, I can make my own decisions."
"Vincent," I correct her. "I'm going by Vincent these days. Harder to track."
Her face softens my a few degrees. "Fine. But you're still a dick. I wasn't even close to being through with you. We had something, and you just ran off."
My hands come down on her upper arms, and she steps closer, so we're almost chest-to-chest. It's so good to have her back in my arms. She's chilled, though. She shouldn't have been waiting in only the short, backless dress. How long has she been out here?
I snort. Probably since I left the apartment. Brooklyn can predict me better than I ever dreamed. She's going to push Penelope at me. She's the only woman who I've given a damn about in a long time.
"It won't work, Penelope," I whisper. "You know that it won't. There's too much history. And even if there weren't, I'm still a wanted man."
"Not anymore. Cruz and I convinced Harman to come forward with his testimony and the evidence he had. You're a free man now, Vincent. You can do whatever the hell you want. Be whatever the hell you want to be," she swallows thickly and glances up at me through her long lashes. The smoldering intensity of that gaze makes my cock stir in interest. "You can love, whoever the hell you want to love."
I smile in spite of myself. "Stubborn girl."
"Dick," she repeats, though a good-natured smile has swept in to replace her scowl.
I'm a free man. She's right. I could theoretically do anything. But there's only one future I can see for myself now, difficult as it will be.
"What can I do to thank you?"
She taps her chin thoughtfully, and the smile transforms into something devilish.
"You could take me back to South Hollens and fuck me into Cruz's guest room mattress," she suggests.
A bark of laughter escapes me. Setting the smoothing aside, I bring my hands up to frame her face, kissing her as hard as I dare. Her jaw is bound to be a little tender. She plasters herself to my front, grinding eagerly against my apparent arousal.
"And maybe in the car on the way," I mutter.
