Read Online Magnificent Bastard by Lili Valente - Free Book Online Page B

approved every outfit. I was in there for over an hour.”
    I grunt. “I would have made you try on skirts for an hour. We wouldn’t have even gotten to the dresses, not to mention shoes and accessories.”
    “Oh, well,” she says, falling silent for a moment. “Well, I wasn’t quite that thorough, but I tried on everything in the store that was in my size. And Sheila picked out the accessories and shoes. She was so sweet and helpful.”
    “I bet she was,” I grumble beneath my breath, imagining Sheila gushing over Penny’s “darling figure” and not enjoying the fantasy one little bit. “Did you, at least, take pictures? So I can see what color palette I need to work with when I pack?”
    She laughs. “Are you serious?”
    “Yes, I’m serious,” I say, bristling. “It’s important that we match, but not match too much. There’s a science to this, Penelope.”
    “I’m starting to get that,” she says, her tone still entirely too glib for my liking.
    “I could write you a paper on the psychological impacts of enclothed cognition and the effect it has on power dynamics,” I say, coolly. “But until I get around to that you’ll just have to trust me when I tell you that I need to know what you’re wearing so I can pack accordingly.”
    “I’ll text pictures as soon as I get home,” she says, before adding in a softer voice. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to cause friction. I was just trying to help.”
    I run a hand through my hair, silently cursing myself for making things awkward again. “No, I’m sorry. I’m a control freak.”
    “I know, and that’s part of why you’re so good at what you do,” she says. “I should have realized that you wouldn’t like me messing with your pre-game routine. I promise it won’t happen again. From here on out, you’re calling the shots. I was going to jump online and book a train ticket so you wouldn’t have to drive me all the way out to the Hamptons and back, just in case you decide you want to stay longer, but I’ll—”
    “That’s actually a great idea,” I cut in, my wheels already churning. “If we take the train, I’ll be able to concentrate on quizzing you on our romantic backstory instead of fighting traffic.”
    “Oh.” She sounds surprised and maybe a little nervous. “Well, great. Then I’ll book two tickets when I get home.”
    “No, I’ll book them.” I step out of the alcove, a spring in my step now that a plan is beginning to form. “You’ll need the rest of the afternoon to study. Expect notes to arrive in your inbox in an hour or two. It shouldn’t take me long to whip up the story of how we fell in love. Assuming you trust me to come up with believable material on my own.”
    “Of course,” she says. “I haven’t been home since the summer it all happened. And I haven’t been in contact with my mom much beyond scheduling times for Edna and Francis to visit. All the people in Southampton know is that I’ve been living in the city so they won’t be in possession of any details that might conflict with your story.” She laughs, the sound momentarily eclipsed by the drumming of a jackhammer drilling pavement. She raises her voice to be heard over the din, “I could have been dating the entire Trenton Thunder for all they know.”
    “The Trenton Thunder?” I step out into the crisp spring air in time to hear the same hammering sound on my end of the phone before it abruptly cuts off. I scan the street in both directions, wondering if I might run into Penny after all.
    “Feeder team for the Yankees,” she says. “I had a college boyfriend who was recruited there.”
    “Don’t sell yourself short, beautiful. You’re much too fine for the minor leagues,” I say, spotting Penny’s floppy bun bouncing atop her head on the other side of the street. She’s wearing leggings and a bright red tank top and toting a garment bag, an oversized purse, and three Swanky Boutique bags.
    I’m on my way across the street