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Authors: Katee Robert
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parents created a woman like her—strong and bold, with a take no prisoners attitude. “What about your mother?”
…
Penelope forced herself to keep her grip light on the wine glass. If she let Will know that he was dancing across forbidden territory, he’d never let the subject go. She wouldn’t cut herself just so he could watch her bleed. “My mother…” She trailed off, not sure what to say.
Her mother wasn’t a bad woman, but she’d never understood Dad and his need to carry on the success of Carson & Associates. Even at ten, Penelope had known her mother hated New York, hated being taken away from her family in Georgia. She’d lasted less than two years before she’d presented Dad with her ultimatum—the business or his marriage.
She’d moved back to Savannah within the month, and she’d never quite forgiven Penelope for only coming to visit during the summers, or for going to school in the North, despite the fact that it was Harvard . To Mom, she would always be Micah Junior.
A constant memory of the man who could never be enough for her.
Penelope took a sip of her wine, aware she’d been silent too long. “My mother and I have a complicated relationship.”
She expected him to pounce on her hesitation, to exploit it and force her to explain what she meant. But Will nodded as if he understood. It struck her that she didn’t know a single thing about him outside of his business and sexual reputation. “Are your parents from here?”
“Yes. My siblings and I grew up in New York.” He caught her questioning look. “I have a little sister, and you’ve already met Garrett.”
He and his twin were like something out of a romance novel, each too big and brawny and beautiful to exist, let alone for there to be two of them. And they had a little sister. Penelope paused to consider what it would be like growing up with Will as a brother. “Your sister didn’t date much, did she?”
He laughed, surprising her so much she almost dropped her glass. Two laughs in three days. That had to be some kind of record. “Sara has a mind of her own. She always has, despite every man in our family wanting to protect her.”
Penelope had always wanted siblings, especially during those lonely summers in Georgia, being carted around by her resentful mother. But she’d trained herself a long time ago to stop wishing for something that would never happen. “I like her already.”
“I suspect she’d approve of you as well,” he said, then sat back, like the very idea shocked him. She’d never meet his sister, or any other member of his family. This thing between them had an expiration date—which was a relief. Dating Will Reaver? Falling for Will Reaver? The very idea was laughable.
Penelope kept the conversation moving before things could get truly awkward. “And your parents? Are they still around?”
“My father and uncle.”
She was about to make a joke, but the expression on his face stopped her. She knew enough about old pain to recognize it when she saw it. Apparently she wasn’t the only one with mother issues. It was tempting to prod him, to see what other information she could learn. Was his mother dead? It would certainly explain a few things. Penelope had spent nearly two-thirds of her life without the tender loving care that came with a maternal relationship, but she’d seen her friends and their mothers. That kind of thing softened a person.
Really, she should be thankful her mother was such a resentful… God, she couldn’t call her names, even in her head. Her upbringing was too deeply ingrained. She showed respect for her parents, even at the times when they didn’t deserve it.
She stared at Will, wondering where to take the conversation from here. His favorite color? If he liked long walks on the beach before he took a flogger to his submissives? Maybe they could talk about the weather. She took another sip of her wine. “I—”
“You went to Harvard?”
He looked as
…
Penelope forced herself to keep her grip light on the wine glass. If she let Will know that he was dancing across forbidden territory, he’d never let the subject go. She wouldn’t cut herself just so he could watch her bleed. “My mother…” She trailed off, not sure what to say.
Her mother wasn’t a bad woman, but she’d never understood Dad and his need to carry on the success of Carson & Associates. Even at ten, Penelope had known her mother hated New York, hated being taken away from her family in Georgia. She’d lasted less than two years before she’d presented Dad with her ultimatum—the business or his marriage.
She’d moved back to Savannah within the month, and she’d never quite forgiven Penelope for only coming to visit during the summers, or for going to school in the North, despite the fact that it was Harvard . To Mom, she would always be Micah Junior.
A constant memory of the man who could never be enough for her.
Penelope took a sip of her wine, aware she’d been silent too long. “My mother and I have a complicated relationship.”
She expected him to pounce on her hesitation, to exploit it and force her to explain what she meant. But Will nodded as if he understood. It struck her that she didn’t know a single thing about him outside of his business and sexual reputation. “Are your parents from here?”
“Yes. My siblings and I grew up in New York.” He caught her questioning look. “I have a little sister, and you’ve already met Garrett.”
He and his twin were like something out of a romance novel, each too big and brawny and beautiful to exist, let alone for there to be two of them. And they had a little sister. Penelope paused to consider what it would be like growing up with Will as a brother. “Your sister didn’t date much, did she?”
He laughed, surprising her so much she almost dropped her glass. Two laughs in three days. That had to be some kind of record. “Sara has a mind of her own. She always has, despite every man in our family wanting to protect her.”
Penelope had always wanted siblings, especially during those lonely summers in Georgia, being carted around by her resentful mother. But she’d trained herself a long time ago to stop wishing for something that would never happen. “I like her already.”
“I suspect she’d approve of you as well,” he said, then sat back, like the very idea shocked him. She’d never meet his sister, or any other member of his family. This thing between them had an expiration date—which was a relief. Dating Will Reaver? Falling for Will Reaver? The very idea was laughable.
Penelope kept the conversation moving before things could get truly awkward. “And your parents? Are they still around?”
“My father and uncle.”
She was about to make a joke, but the expression on his face stopped her. She knew enough about old pain to recognize it when she saw it. Apparently she wasn’t the only one with mother issues. It was tempting to prod him, to see what other information she could learn. Was his mother dead? It would certainly explain a few things. Penelope had spent nearly two-thirds of her life without the tender loving care that came with a maternal relationship, but she’d seen her friends and their mothers. That kind of thing softened a person.
Really, she should be thankful her mother was such a resentful… God, she couldn’t call her names, even in her head. Her upbringing was too deeply ingrained. She showed respect for her parents, even at the times when they didn’t deserve it.
She stared at Will, wondering where to take the conversation from here. His favorite color? If he liked long walks on the beach before he took a flogger to his submissives? Maybe they could talk about the weather. She took another sip of her wine. “I—”
“You went to Harvard?”
He looked as
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