Some Like it Easy (11 page)

“Boobs,” he said, demonstrating his stellar IQ under the influence.

“What about them?”

He tapped his cheeks. “Boob landing pads. Can you paint them here?”

Rolling her eyes, she nodded. “I can even give you a sign directing the girls.”

“Cool.” He snorted then downed his beer before passing the disposable cup to his buddy. “Get me another?”

“Twenty bucks,” Penny said and held out her hand. Some people she’d paint then charge, but guys as trashed as him? They paid first because the chance of his puking or passing out before she finished was too high. He slapped a fifty-dollar bill in her hand then reached for her ass.

“Keep the change,” he leered.

She caught his thumb and bent it backward. Tears filled his eyes and his mouth opened. Yeah, he wasn’t as drunk as he’d likely thought. “Keep your hands to yourself, buddy. No touching the merchandise.”

When he nodded violently, she released him and reached for her paint. He cradled his wounded hand, but kept it to himself. Not two feet away, Justin stood with his arms folded. His glare at her client could scorch paint off walls.

“That your boyfriend?” Frat Boy asked. Without waiting for her to respond, he added, “Sorry, man. She’s hot.”

Justin’s expression didn’t change and Penny bit back a laugh. Leaning over, she dropped a kiss on Justin’s cheek. “Don’t kill him,
honey
, he just needs a landing pad painted on his face.”

When her bodyguard gave her a bland look in response, she giggled. Painting the dumbass took less than a couple minutes and he was off without his change because he didn’t wait long enough for her to count it out. Adding the fifty to her growing stack, she experienced satisfaction.

“What are you doing?” Mallory appeared at her elbow as a pair of sorority sisters hemmed and hawed over what they wanted Penny to paint.

“Making rent.” So far, the damn profitable party helped her kill two birds with one stone. She’d tried to set George up on a number of dates by sending him to parties while she worked, but he’d canceled most of them at the last minute. In fact, he seemed intent on canceling the luau until she’d traded a shift and mentioned she planned to attend. They’d arrived together, but when she set up her painting booth and sent him off to play, he’d been less than thrilled.

Glancing toward the corner surreptitiously, she found the blonde perched herself on the arm of his chair and leaned toward him so her boobs hung at eye level. If she strained much harder, she’d make a boob landing pad on his face without paint. Could the twit be more obvious?

The sorority sisters, three since their friend joined them, held up a phone with a picture of a winged unicorn.
Wow, so original
. “Can you do this on all three of us?”

“Yes. Twenty each.” They consulted to see if they had enough cash.

“Penny.” Mallory pinched her arm. “I meant, what are you doing with
him
?”

Not pretending to misunderstand what
him
she referred to, Penny shrugged. “Getting him out of the apartment and introduced to college life. Parties. Fun. You know, that thing we used to like to do? And it’s working.” The boob bitch practically humped his leg.

Looking toward George, Mallory frowned. “What? The double D trying to climb into his lap?”

You mean, the skank?
“Yes, see? He’s talking. He’s having fun.” Of course, now she had to draw three flying unicorns and couldn’t keep watching. Not that she minded that part. Encouraging and having a front row seat to him reaping the reward were two entirely different matters.

Mallory hung out through all three paintings and eyed the cash Penny added to the growing wad in her paint box. Another perk to having Justin around, she didn’t worry about anyone roofying her drink while she was preoccupied or taking her cash. Normally, she’d store it in her bikini top, but then it got sweaty. He was much better.

Before the next person could hop into Penny’s chair, Mallory slid into it and folded her arms. “It’s not working.”

“What do you want? Butterfly? Hot guy? Glitter streaks?” She wouldn’t charge her BFF, but she would get her painted quickly, so she could get back to work. Hours remained of the party and, as long as she worked, George would socialize. Her shoulders and arms burned from the work she’d already done, but
rent, man. I almost have the rest of what I need for rent and, at this pace, I can get my rings and still have enough for some new paint supplies.
Speaking of which, she quickly surveyed her kit.

She’d brought henna, too, in case her paints ran out.

“Oh my God, Penny, open your eyes. This is crazy! He’s not paying any attention to Double DDs, he’s watching you.” At Mallory’s warning, Penny stole another look at the corner. George wasn’t looking at her. Relieved, she glared at Mallory.

“This is good for him. He needs to see what’s available. Fun. Entertainment. Freedom.” Not being tied down or needing Penny to make him happy. She wasn’t good at that, more she didn’t want the responsibility. “What am I painting on you?”

Still staring at her, Mallory sighed. “I don’t care, just something.” Then muttered. “I am starting to get why your brother is so thick-headed.”

“What?”

“Nothing,” she said with a smile. Quiet while Penny drew a series of colorful swirls resembling peacock feathers, she looked pleased with the result. Rising, she reached over and gave Penny a quick hug, saying against her ear, “He hasn’t looked at that chick’s boobs, not once. He doesn’t look anyone’s boobs. Not even mine and I’ve walked around in a towel when he’s there. The only woman he looks at is you.” Leaving before Penny could respond, Mallory disappeared into the throng of the party.

Draining her water, Penny went to check out where George had been. His absence had her heart jolting. Not spotting him anymore, worry scored marks on her soul.

“Looking for someone?” The liquid smoothness of George’s voice poured over her and she jumped. He stood behind her, a faint smile curving his lips.

“Not really,” she lied and it wasn’t even a very good one. “What are you up to?”

“Making you take a break. You’ve been painting for hours.”

“Yeah, but I can’t take a break.” She turned and then blinked. “I had a line.” A sign sat in front of her painting kit, which read
closed for fifteen minutes
.

George held out his hand. “Come on. Justin will watch your things.”

Sighing, she dropped her brush into the rinse cup and slid her hand into his. “You’re supposed to be having fun.”

“I am having fun.” He lead her through the noisy throng. At the door, he slipped a long coat over her shoulders, and then guided her out the front to where the party had spilled onto the lawn.

People were definitely drunk, ‘sledding’ in shorts and bikini tops. The cold air sent a hard shiver through her. She’d been sweating inside, but she’d be freezing soon. Wrapping an arm around her shoulder, George led her away from the drunken debauchery and around the corner, away from the wind.

“George, how are you supposed to meet people if you sneak off with me for a little nookie?” Amusement warred with her impatience over his maneuver. They were relatively alone, not freezing to death, and it was quiet enough to hear herself think. Canting her head, she studied his beautiful face. He really was handsome, exceeding all standards of normal with his dark European looks. God knew, he also had a magical mouth.

“I met plenty of others,” he said, but held up his cell phone. “I’m also holding a call from your sister.”

Oh.
Reality crashed down on her. “Right now?”

“Umm-hmm.” He smiled. “But I like your idea better.” His mouth covered hers, and she forgot about the party, thinking, or her sister waiting on the phone. Toe-curling kisses were his specialty, and she panted when he released her. He tasted sweet, but not at all of alcohol or fruit. She couldn’t even detect another woman’s perfume on his clothing, just the wonderful, masculine scent of George.

With reluctance, she took the phone and put it to her ear, but kept her hand on George’s chest. Yes, she should let him go back inside. In fact, she was supposed to be encouraging him to do exactly that. But it was cold, and he was warm. Taking the call off mute, she said, “Yes, sister mine?”

“She lives, breathes and talks. Thank God for George, or I might have had to call the police to check on you.” Though Anna’s tone was teasing, it didn’t disguise a tense note of reprimand.

“I’ve been…”

“Busy. Yes, I know. Spring Break is in ten days. You’ve turned in your senior project, you have vacation time coming and Mallory is going to spend the week with her mom. So, that leaves you free to join us in St. Christos.”

What?
Pushing away from George, she spared him a look. Had he said something to Anna? Mallory had, that much was clear. “I’m not really looking to get out of the city.”

“I know you don’t have the money for a flight. Armand and I will pick you and George up in New York then we’ll fly together.”

Oh, hell no.
“Anna…”

“Penny, I want to see my baby sister. You’re always busy, you always have a new project… I’m not asking, I’m telling you.” A moment of silence while a warm masculine voice said something in the background. Anna laughed. “No, I’ve been giving Penny orders for years. Sometimes, she even listens. But I do want to see you. We didn’t get that much time in St. Moritz and this is just going to be the four of us. Meredith is still finishing up some project, so she and Sebastian aren’t going to be able to get away.”

Dropping her chin, Penny sighed. “Okay. When and where?”

“Next weekend. I’m sure Armand has made all the arrangements. They’ll tell the security details, and you can throw together your suitcase five minutes before you leave. That’s all the notice you usually require—and time you take.” The barb struck home. No matter how often her family planned ahead, Penny dug in her heels and waited it out. A trip like this, however, meant she’d need at least a new bathing suit and something nice to wear for dinner. If she picked up some extra shifts, used the party money on her bills and left her rings in hock, she might be able to afford it.

All she said, however, was, “Sounds like a plan.”

“I can’t wait. There’s a pool, garden, and a beach. We’re going to sit and talk. Okay?”
Talk?
What had she done now?

“Don’t tell me royal life bored you already? I hear they have pills for that kind of thing.”

George went stock still after her comment, and she spared him a glance. His mouth twitched and a dangerous amount of humor reflected in his eyes.

“Hardly. And, no.” Anna’s voice rose a half-note. “I am
not
telling you all about it.”

“Uh huh.”

“Brat. I’ll see you in a few days.” She didn’t hang up swiftly enough to hide her laughter, and Penny handed the phone back to George.

“Did you know about the invitation?”

He gave her an innocent look.
Too innocent
. “Invitation?”

“To go to St. Christos Island for spring break?”

“I’d love to take you there,” he said, his smile growing.

Crap
. She’s walked right into that one. Smacking his chest lightly, she pulled away. “Don’t think I’m not wise to you.”

“I would never so presume.” But he didn’t stop smiling and followed her right back into the party.

“
I
n Belaria
, protestors took to the streets over recent election results, decrying the ruling party for continued use of intimidation tactics…” The news from Belaria continued to feed the major news outlets. Most regarded the latest protests as merely a symptom of the growing unrest throughout the region. Factionalism always thrived amidst discontent, but moves by the Russian government in the Ukraine fed the dissent in other countries. Restlessness invaded many of the former Soviet Bloc countries—the same kind of restlessness which collapsed the Wall.

Would this pass erect a new Wall?

The news continued to prey on the back of his mind as he let himself into Mallory and Penny’s apartment. The girls never locked it, not after learning no one could take the elevator to their floor or access it from the stairwell without being monitored and intercepted. Beyond a tacit complaint about not being able to host parties, they’d both adapted well. Maybe too well.

His life had always been marked by a cautious schedule, planned in advance, and with very little room for spontaneity. Penny lived in a constant state of spontaneous, so why didn’t she mind his security? Or the changes? Why had she only begun to mind after he’d made a verbal slip of revealing his feelings?

“Hey,” Mallory greeted him as she padded into the living room. “I thought you were Penny.”

“No, she took a second shift at the diner.” Avoiding him as usual, or so it felt. Though she took care to send him messages regularly when she wasn’t going to return as expected. Her increased workload had earned them a second bodyguard, a retired cop out of Boston who had looked after Meredith for many years. O’Connor handled Penny’s jobs, both the diner and the bookstore. Too old to pass for a student, he was still quite capable of doing the job.

Mallory made a face. “Well, I’m packed, I’ll be out tonight and back next Sunday.” She didn’t have any Friday classes, so she could afford to take a little extra time.

“How is your mother?”

“Better,” she said with a shrug and a grin. “We’re going to binge watch a couple of series and do absolutely nothing for the next several days. She’s not up to appearances yet, so we can afford to take it easy.”

“I am very glad to hear it.” He meant it, too. “If you need anything while you’re there…”

“Thank you, but you’ve done enough.” She headed toward the kitchen. “I was going to make some coffee. Want some?”

“I’d love a cup, if you don’t mind. I thought I’d go ahead and pack a few items for Penny before my brother’s plane lands tomorrow evening.” The jet would arrive by seven and they would fly all night, arriving in Greece sometime around lunchtime local time. After that, a private transport would see them to the island. The departure time meant he and Penny needed to be in the car no later than three in the afternoon and, with her second shift, she wouldn’t be home until well after midnight. If history proved correct, she’d sleep until noon, which left her very little time for packing.

“I’ll bring the cup back to you,” Mallory called.

In Penny’s bedroom, George surveyed the chaos. Though it looked like a natural disaster struck the space, he’d learned she had a method to her madness. The laundry basket stored folded, clean clothes. She’d worn the things scattered everywhere on the floor and furniture at least once. Locating two of her favorite tops hanging on a hook behind her door, he took those down and folded them.

Though valets and maids did most of his packing, his father’s valet insisted he know exactly how to present as unwrinkled of an appearance as possible—a requirement for a true gentleman.

He’d located clean panties, bras, and an assortment of tops. The island would be cool at night, but still warmer than New York. Opening her closet, he saw three of his shirts hanging in the front. He’d wondered where they’d gone, one was a button down and the other two were long sleeved pullovers he’d purchased his first week in the city. After he’d blown his entire allowance on the shopping trip, Penny took pity on him and taken him bargain shopping. She demonstrated an almost magical ability to find sales. Where he’d purchased one shirt, she could get him five for the same amount.

He’d had more fun with her than the shopping. Reclaiming the two pullovers, he left the button down for her. She looked good in his shirts, far better than he did. Folding the pullovers, he set them on the bed with her other things, then returned to the closet. She had to have a suitcase.

Shoes and boots littered the floor, a variety of hats sat stacked on the upper shelf, and everything from costumes to cocktail dresses hung in the closet. Yet, no suitcase. A second door was hidden in the back and he opened it to find a storage area and two sturdy suitcases in front of stacks of canvases.

Taking the small cases out, he set them aside and reached for a canvas. The work was exquisite and brought to mind Matisse almost immediately. The second was as lovely as the first, but seemed more like the modern artist, Whelan. People. Landscapes. Before he realized it, he’d delved deeper and the canvases seemed to number well over a hundred.

Why the hell had she hidden all of her work away in the closet?

“Oh, you found Narnia. You might want to pack those back inside.” Mallory stood in the doorway between the closet and bedroom with a mug of coffee.

“I didn’t know she painted.” He studied a cityscape, clearly Manhattan, since he recognized the almost ghost-like shadow of the twin towers.

“She doesn’t, not really, not anymore.” She held out the coffee and, with reluctance, he slid the canvases back into the closet.

“Why not?”

Folding her arms, she leaned against the wall. “Not really a conversation you and I should have.”

“Should or can?” Some rules didn’t change no matter what class structure one existed in. Mallory was Penny’s best friend.

“No I probably
could
have it, but I won’t.” Hesitation marked her stance and tone. “George, don’t give up on her. I know she’s crazy, off-the-wall and prone to driving people slowly insane, but she’s…”

“Wonderful.” He didn’t need her to tell him. “Smart. Beautiful. Funny… Talented.” He added the last and glanced down at her paintings. “Why are these hidden away?” The little storage closet hardly seemed the right place to keep so much beauty.

“Ask her.”

“She won’t tell me.”
Or will she?
She’d confided in him about the Sorbonne, then avoided any other discussion of her disappointment afterward.

Mallory shifted and slid her hands into her pockets. “I can’t have this discussion with you.”

“Because you’re
her
friend.” He nodded. Mallory wouldn’t betray the trust.

But Anna was her sister.
Perhaps she could be persuaded
… “You want me to help you pack her stuff?”

“No, I don’t mind doing it.”
Not at all.
Not if it meant they spent a week together—away from her jobs, studio, classes, and Lord help him, the parties. She’d dragged him to three more over the last several days. Each time, she’d found work to do—face painting, bartending, and referee for a wet t-shirt contest. No matter how ridiculous or out of place, she’d done it.

Frustrating woman.

“You know, I can’t talk to you about Penny, but I can tell you about her family.”

After sliding another couple of paintings back into place, he closed the door to her secret stash and raised his eyebrows. “I’ve met most of her family.”

“Meeting isn’t the same as knowing.”

Valid point.
Retrieving the suitcases, he carried them over one at a time and took a long drink of his coffee. “All right.” He would take any assistance he could get.

“Penny’s the youngest. Anna’s ten years older than her, G.W. is older than Anna, then there’s Brand, Shaw and Hank.” Her voice changed a little on the last one. “Brand and Hank are both military. Well, Brand still is. Hank’s out now. G.W.’s a filmographer. He’s been all over the world. Shaw is…Shaw is the Sheriff. Everyone but Shaw left home, Shaw stays. He’s one hundred percent Johnson County. The fact that he even went to Switzerland is worth noting because I don’t think he ever left Kansas before then.”

From their basic biographies, he knew the details, but nodded anyway. “Go on.” He packed Penny’s clothes, half his attention still on the paintings in the closet. Curiosity about them and the desire to pull them all out for the world to see threaded through his veins.

Perching on the edge of Penny’s bed, Mallory sorted through the undergarments he’d chosen and made a face. Without asking him, she removed three from his pile and went to the drawers to get three replacements. “Anyway, Penny’s the youngest. When she was born, G.W. was almost ready to go to high school. Anna was nearly finished with elementary and, by the time we met when we were five, GW and Anna were in high school then off to college. They all knew…what they wanted and how to get there. Admittedly, Anna hit a few bumps in the road.”

Yes, by walking out on his brother. George would never forget that day, or how broken his brother appeared. When Anna left, she’d taken his brother’s heart with her. He’d become a cold remote bastard—no, he couldn’t focus on that part of the story. Armand demanded George get over resenting Anna or leave. He’d done as ordered; he got over it.

“They are a driven family. Hard-working, generous people.” At least that was a surface assessment.

“Yep. Not a whimsical one in the bunch. All contrary and focused on their goals. Too focused, you might say, at least when it comes to Hank and Brand. They don’t stop to consider others, only what they need to do.” Mallory tapped the suitcase. “Did you pick out shoes for any of these outfits?”

He paused. “No. While I might be packing her clothing and hanging on her every word hoping she’ll notice that I am the man for her, I did not mysteriously become a woman.”

Mallory blinked once, then burst out laughing. “Take the clothes out real quick and let me see what you chose. Are there any formals during this trip?”

Hell, he hoped not, particularly as it would simply be Anna, Armand, Penny and himself. “I packed her black dress.”

“Got it.” She inspected the outfits and headed toward the closet. “Anyway, about her family. They’re all driven, dedicated people who seemed to have been born knowing exactly what career they would have. They had t’s to cross and i’s to dot. That’s a lot to grow up around and, don’t get me wrong, they’re fantastic people.” She sorted shoes while she spoke. “Her parents are ridiculously in love even after all these years. Her brothers are all American and apple pie and Anna’s a princess, for crying out loud. Imagine, if you will, growing up surrounded by perfection.”

“Yes, because growing up the third wheel behind two paragon’s of virtue makes it so difficult to comprehend.” Sardonic wit was not his forte.

“Wow, Penny has rubbed off on you,” she said with a grin while stacking several pairs of shoes together on the bed. “But that’s good. Keep it up. I have faith in you. Want more coffee?”

“Yes, actually. We’re only going for a week. Why does she need so many shoes?”

“A girl likes options.” Then at his blank look, she added, “As you’ve already established, George, you’re not a girl. Just trust me, pack the shoes.” She patted his shoulder and grabbed his empty coffee cup on her way out of the room.

A girl likes options.
In his opinion, Penny had too many options or focused too much on keeping her options open.
In between working and saving every dollar…
Options. Money. The youngest.
Control. She wants control.
He understood the drive better than she might think. She’d spent the last several years carving out a definitive life for herself away from her family. Did they have any idea of her financial situation?

No. If Anna knew, then Armand would.

Scrubbing a hand over his face, he wanted to curse—the simplest, most obvious of solutions. If he removed her grave concerns about finances, she might allow herself the time to slow down. She deserved the support of her family—their family. It was late afternoon in California. “Actually, I have to make a phone call.”

“No problem,” she called back. “Coffee’s on the counter, just take it with you. I’m going to order pizza, if you’re hungry.”

The bag was mostly packed, so he left it open. Penny could add the rest of her things. He left her bedroom, then paused and retraced his steps. Opening her hidden closet, he pulled out a couple of her paintings and took them with him. She struggled with her finances, focused on her education, and doubted her ability. He might not be able to address all of her issues, but some he could fix.

He wanted to fix.

Mallory wasn’t in the living room, so he made it out of the apartment with the pilfered paintings and the coffee. As soon as he was in his place, he called Grady and had him take the paintings for the time being, then he picked up his phone. He and Anna had their differences.

But surely where Penny was concerned, they could find some common ground.

S
t. Christos was
everything George described and more. Thanks to back-to-back double shifts and a paper she’d forgotten was due, she’d barely slept in a week. She’d certainly slept on the plane—a first for her. When she’d woken up and found her head tucked against George’s shoulder, it had been the most natural thing. Too natural. Thankfully, Anna and Armand had taken the other cabin and slept on the flight after their meal.

All things being equal, it had been a fairly uneventful flight. The island, however, was perfect. Balmy breezes, the taste of ocean air perfuming the woodsy scent and fresh cut grass surrounding a gorgeous house and well-manicured lawn. Even the garden, which George told her had taken severe damage the year before, looked beautiful.

“Hey,” Anna found her on the terrace and looped their arms together. “Armand and George are off to talk and they’re taking your bags up to your room. I thought this was a good time for the two of us to escape.”

“I didn’t think you detached from his hip anymore.” She kept the words light and teasing. Arm-in-arm, Anna led her off the terrace and toward a path down the cliffs toward the beach. It was just the two of them—and a half dozen guards, including Justin. Which surprised her, but Penny kept the opinion to herself.