CHAPTER TWO
should have kept walking. The thought occurred to me for the tenth time as I watched her toss her golden blonde hair. Corsica stood too close to her ex-boyfriend, her eyes bright with excitement over whatever news he was sharing. I rubbed my chest and cursed myself. When would I learn?
Women like Corsica, prim and perfect, were dangerous. Anyone who spent all their time polishing a perfect facade disgusted me.
Except, disgust was the wrong word for my reaction to her. Attraction wasn't even a strong enough word. I could feel her pumping through my veins and, for the life of me, I couldn't look away.
There was some comfort in the way her sky-blue eyes kept coming back to me, even as her catalog-model boyfriend talked. I winked, and she frowned.
Corsica had already made it clear that I was not her type. I tugged at my beard. My careless clothes and my tattoos were not a disguise, they were me, but I had always been glad my look deterred women like her. One whiff of my bank accounts would turn her into a heartless, husband-hunting machine. Then, she would want to change me, outfit me like her perfect ex-boyfriend, and parade me around town.
I ground my teeth and turned back to the bar.
Corsica's friend, a tiny pixie of a woman, leaned next to me. "They aren't dating anymore, thank god," Ginny said.
"You really don't like him?" I was surprised.
"Oh, Joshua's fine, really. He means well. I just hate how he's got Corsica on this straight and narrow path."
I watched Corsica glance back at the stage. The microphone seemed to call to her. "And that path doesn't lead to singing?"
Ginny snorted. "Joshua has never encouraged Corsica to sing. Even though they met at open mic night at his parents' inn."
"His parents' inn?"
"Yeah. His parents own one of those fancy inns down in Santa Cruz. You know, the ones with the white linen tablecloths and seven-course dinners."
I chuckled. "What's wrong with that?"
"I don't know," she admitted. "It's just that he plans to turn Corsica into the perfect hostess. I don't want to see her stuck in a dress suit and pearls, kissing the ass of every rich couple that walks through the doors."
"And what does she want?" I asked, glancing at Corsica again.
Ginny gave a dark frown. "Doesn't matter. She'd never admit to it. Corsica's too determined to get ahead."
That was it. That was my cue to turn my back and forget about her. I should have kept walking the moment I met Corsica. With self-preservation in mind, I glanced at my phone for a distraction. Unfortunately, the only thing there was a text message from my father. I scowled, thinking how impressed my father would be with Corsica's ex-boyfriend. If anyone appreciated careful presentation and impeccable self-grooming, it was my father.
If there was one thing that Xavier Templeton loved, it was a polished image. My father looked down at the world from his towering command over Silicon Valley. He was every inch the legacy billionaire, from his custom, Italian shoes to his obscenely expensive haircuts. My father was just the man that people like Joshua and Corsica hoped to meet.
I, on the other hand, was pissed off at the idea of seeing him. I'd only come to town because my father's summons seemed so dire. We hadn't spoken in years, so plain curiosity was enough justification for me to come to San Francisco. It was becoming clearer and clearer that coming to the city was a mistake.
I read the text message again. My father was running late and wanted me to meet him at his house. As if that if that multi-level monstrosity of a mansion on Telegraph Hill could be called a house.
It was only minutes away, so I raised my hand to order another drink. Then, I saw Corsica gathering up her purse. She was going to leave with that blond, Polo-shirted asshole. My throat burned, and I decided to skip another drink. Besides, I could piss off my father by getting into his aged Scotch while I waited.
"You're leaving?" Ginny asked.
"Seems like the thing to do," I said. "Nice to meet you. And your friend."
I didn't like the way Ginny studied my face, or the way Corsica glanced over as soon as I stood up. What was I doing letting myself get tangled up? I'd spent my life untangling myself from other people's expectations and going my own way. Why did I care if she left the club with another man? It was stupid to stay another minute.
Still, I took my time making the rounds and saying goodbye to my friends that worked at the club. I was still chatting with the bouncer out front when Corsica appeared with her ex-boyfriend. Ginny trailed after them with a frustrated look.
"Why you giving him the evil eye?" the bouncer Allen asked me.
"Am I?" I shrugged. "There's just something about him I don't like."
"Or something about her that you do like?" Allen elbowed me in the ribs.
Corsica was hesitating, leaning towards going back inside with her friend. Joshua frowned and explained what she should be doing with an arrogant expression.
I felt the acid in my stomach sizzle. "I think he reminds me of my father," I spat.
Allen frowned and checked out Joshua again. "You think he's an alcoholic? Should I stop him from driving?"
I waved away the bad memories and called Allen off. I was overreacting and it was totally out of character. If Corsica was so determined to hitch her wagon to someone like Joshua, who was I to try to change her mind?
"Shame she's not going back in," Allen said. "I heard she has the voice of a sultry angel."
I couldn't answer. Joshua grabbed Corsica's elbow so tight I could see the pain on her face. He pulled her towards his car and something in my brain snapped. I had seen my father grab my mother like that, the rest of the memories coated in helpless, black anguish.
The next thing I knew, Allen was pulling me back. He positioned his mountainous body between me and Joshua as the gasping crowd outside the club stepped back.
"What the hell, man? Penn, get a hold of yourself." Allen shoved me back another step.
I stopped pushing and held up my hands. "I'm fine. I got this."
"What you got is that crazy look in your eyes," he said. "You better think about what you're doing, man. Do you really want to butt in?"
"He grabbed her, Allen. I'm not going to just stand here and let him bully her. What's going to happen if she goes home with him?"
I knew my panic was unfounded. I knew nothing about Joshua or Corsica, but my muscles jumped with the desire to shield her. The thought of her getting hurt the way my mother once did was enough to have me stepping forward again.
Allen saw it. He knew. So, he stepped back.
Corsica had wrenched her elbow free and was fighting to keep Joshua from getting another hold. "Just give me a minute to think about it. I came out with Ginny, and we want to celebrate. My resume can wait until morning."
"I don't think you get it," Joshua said. "This is the opportunity of a lifetime, and I'm not going to let you miss it."
He lunged forward to catch her upper arm, but caught my hand, instead. "I know you heard her," I growled.
Joshua took one step back and brushed his pristine Polo shirt as if I had soiled it. "This doesn't concern you. Don't you have tables to clear or trash to take out?"
Allen loomed up behind me. "Watch yourself, pretty boy. Don't you know who he is?"
"I'm no one." I gave my bouncer friend a warning glance and then turned back to Joshua. "But that doesn't mean I'm going to let you manhandle the lady here."
Joshua gave a tight laugh. "I didn't know white knights came in a hipster-trash model."
His surface judgment of me burned, as it always did, but I reminded myself it did not matter what he thought. I knew who I was and that was enough.
"So you admit she needs saving?" I asked.
Joshua rolled his eyes and laughed again. "Please. No one around here is going to think that Corsica needs saving from me. You, on the other hand, you look just like the kind of guy women should steer clear of."
"Stop, Joshua," Corsica snapped. Her blue eyes glittered with irritation, and I was relieved not to see a speck of fear.
Then, she rubbed her sore elbow and my insides boiled again. "One of these days, pretty boy, you're going to learn that your worth has nothing to do with your looks. Or maybe your looks are all you've got."
Joshua took the challenge and stepped towards me. "You really looking to fight me?" He pushed Corsica away when she tried to stop him. "I'll be glad to pound you into the pavement and then bring you up on assault charges. I think we both know who a judge is going to side with."
I thought of all the judges my father regularly golfed with. One phone call and any charge against me would be dropped. Too bad I would never make that call. I would gladly spend time in jail rather than talk to my father.
Allen crossed his tree trunk arms. "No one's fighting on my sidewalk," he boomed.
"She wants a minute to think," I said to Joshua. "Are you telling me you're so insecure you can't even let the lady decide for herself? If she wants to go home with you, it's up to her. If she doesn't, then you're going to leave alone."
"What if she can speak for herself?" Corsica snapped.
I was startled when her glittering blue eyes landed on me. "I'm just trying to help," I said.
"Help?" Corsica asked. "You're no better than him. What are you going to do? Bully him into not bullying me?"
"So, you admit he was bullying you," I pointed out.
She stepped forward and poked a finger into my chest. "The only thing I'll admit is that you are both acting like a couple of jackasses. What century do you think this is? I can and will decide for myself."
Joshua shoved his hands in the pockets. "I'm right here when you're ready," he said.
I looked down at her, furious that she had missed my good intentions. "So, what are you going to do?"
"I'm going to keep my conversations private, thank you very much." Corsica stalked off down the sidewalk and gave a sharp motion for Joshua to follow her. He gave me a superior smile and followed after her.
That should have been the end of it, but I just stood there watching her go. It took every ounce of willpower not to follow them and make sure she really was going to be all right.
"Nice try," Ginny said.
"You're not going with them?" I asked.
The little pixie of a woman shook her hair. "Nah. I think I'm going to go back inside. A few old co-workers of mine are here." She glanced up at me. "Not what you wanted to hear?"
I sighed. "I know I don't know him, but I know his type. He always wants to be in charge, and he's not always going to be nice about it."
Ginny shrugged. "I'm not big on judging a person by their looks, but I think you might have nailed Joshua. You wish I was going with her."
"I just want to know someone is taking care of her," I admitted.
Ginny patted my arm, blew a kiss to the bouncer, and took off after Corsica.
I turned and saw Allen's goofy smile. "Oh, God. You look like a man in trouble."
Allen popped his mouth shut, but didn't take his eyes off Ginny. "I'd say it takes one to know one."
I groaned. "That's not it. Not at all. I'm just looking for something to take my mind off meeting my father."
"Like taking a feisty singer home and keeping her safe from all harm?"
I cracked a knuckle punching his rock solid arm. "Don't you have a line to lord over?"
"What are you going to do?"
"Me? I'm going back inside and finding a comfy spot at the bar."
Allen frowned. "That's not like you, either. Thought your father scared you off getting drunk for good."
"Well, seeing as I'm in town to meet the old man, I'm going with 'when in Rome.'"
Allen's worried shake of the head stayed with me until I got to the bar. I knew my father had been sober for some years now, but the memories still stuck hard. So, when the bartender came over, I cleared my throat and ordered a tonic water with lime.
An old friend of mine, she nodded and poured the drink. "I can't believe you're in town to see your father," she said.
"Thanks, Rita." I took the drink and spun it slowly on the bar. "I can't believe it, either. In fact, I should cut my losses now and head back to Monterey."
Rita shook her head. "You should stay. We've got some real talent in the karaoke lounge tonight. Did you hear that little blondie sing? I think I'm in love."
I winced. "Yeah, she was amazing."
"Amazing is not quite the word for it," Rita said. She licked her lips and sighed at the memory of Corsica's lush, little body. "We get a lot of raw talent in here, but she was something special. I mean, it was like hearing one of those old-school songstresses."
I fought to remember Corsica's snobby attitude, her determined ambition, and her obvious disgust for me. "You know who would like her? My father. He was always a sucker for those torch singers. A pretty little picture with a big voice standing in front of a small jazz combo." I had to stop because I realized that was my fantasy forming.
"Speaking of your father, why'd he call you into town? I thought you hadn't spoken to him in years?"
I sighed and leaned both elbows on the bar. When I had cut ties with my father and my family fortune, I’d found work as a bar-back. Rita was a cocktail waitress back then and we had worked many, many long nights together. We were both there when Allen was hired, and even though my fortunes had taken off in that last few years, we were all still very tight. They were more than my friends; they were my trusted counsel and my therapists.
"I have no idea, but it didn't sound good," I said.
"You call your mother?"
"A half dozen times, but she was out leading hikes or instructing tourists on vision quests or whatever she's doing now. The one time I caught her on the phone, she was really vague." I worried again about how strange she had been on the phone.
"She's always wanted you to reconcile with your father," Rita pointed out.
"Like that's ever going to happen."
"Well, I'm glad you're around." Rita drifted down the bar towards other customers. "Stick around and cross your fingers. Maybe that pretty singer will get back on stage. I'm telling you, Penn, you're going to love her."
I gripped the tonic water with both hands and tried to ignore the prophetic ring of Rita's words. I knew it was only a matter of time before Allen told her about the scene outside and she'd be right back down the bar to pry all the details out of me. What had possessed me?
It was easy to justify my reaction to the way Joshua grabbed her. It had triggered bad memories from a dark time in my childhood. But that didn't explain the initial reaction I had to Corsica. What was it about her that turned me upside down?
Sure, she was beautiful. She was gorgeous. A curvy but athletic body tucked tight into a little black dress. Her hair was a cascade of honey-blonde curls that I itched to wind around my fingers. And those eyes that changed hue with her every passing emotion. It was no wonder I was attracted to Corsica. The real puzzle was why my mind couldn't win out and dismiss her.
When I had denounced my family fortune, I had turned my back on an enormous social circle that looked exactly like Corsica and her prep-school ex. Each tattoo I got released me further from the expectations and restrictions of the ultra-rich. I shunned luxury surroundings and camped out for weeks on end. I grew out my beard. I roughened my hands with rock-climbing. And then, I found my fortune in outdoor equipment.
The irony of it still made my mind reel.
"Penny for your thoughts?"
I looked up and had to grab the bar for support. Corsica stood next to me, one hand tugging at a long curl. "You forget something?" I asked.
The corners of her mouth quirked up. "My manners. I forgot to thank you for stepping in earlier." Her eyes widened. "Not that I'm saying Joshua's a bad guy, he's not. It's just I appreciate that you were willing to speak up for a complete stranger."
I nodded. "Where's your friend?"
"Ginny?" Corsica asked. Her smile disappeared. "She went to a bar in Chinatown with her co-workers after I told her I was taking a cab home."
"Allen will be disappointed," I said.
"Allen?" Corsica brightened.
"The bouncer. I think he might be head over heels."
"The giant outside? Oh, Ginny would love him," she said as she glanced at the doors.
I grinned. "I want to be there when you tell him. Big man falls hard."
"Let me just ask the bartender to call me a cab first," Corsica said. "My phone died."
I glanced down the bar and saw Rita sloshing two drinks towards a couple. Then she wiped her hands and fluffed up her hair. If Rita got to Corsica, she'd hang on and flirt with her. It would only take Rita a few minutes to read my reactions and then I would never hear the end of it.
"Actually, I've got a car waiting outside. It's yours if you want." I stood up and offered Corsica my arm.
She smiled and slipped her hand into the crook of my elbow. "So, you really are a white knight?"
I ignored Rita's flailing gestures and headed with Corsica towards the front doors. "I don't like how common courtesy has become as rare as chivalry," I said.
Allen opened the doors for us with an entirely too wide smile. "Good to see you again, m'lady," he said.
"Sounds like her friend has a crush on you," I said to shut him up.
Allen gaped and Corsica laughed as he stammered to her about maybe calling Ginny if she wouldn't mind giving him her number.
I was glad they were both distracted because at that moment Joshua stepped out of a black town car. He sneered at me and looked for an opening to call Corsica over.
I hated to use my influence since I didn't want Corsica to see, but I directed the valets with a nod. They jumped up and directed Joshua's driver to move along. He argued immediately and Allen's team, a pair of off-duty police officers almost the same towering size as him, encouraged Joshua to get back in his vehicle.
Within seconds, Joshua was cleared out and my Maserati slid into place. My driver, a juvenile delinquent that could handle any car better than the best, stepped out and gave me a jaunty salute. I whipped out my phone and texted quickly how he better keep his mouth shut no matter what I said.
"You're letting Tom Thumb drive the Maserati?" Allen asked.
Corsica's mouth dropped open as she saw the silver sports car. Tom whipped open the back door and grinned. "That's your car?" she asked.
"My boss's car," I lied.
"And who's Tom Thumb?" she asked.
"Only the biggest car thief in the Bay Area," Allen muttered.
"He's just a kid," she pointed out.
"A kid with a rap sheet longer than the Golden Gate Bridge," Allen boomed. "And, he better remember that his ass is on the line no matter how nice Penn is to him."
Corsica laughed when Tom blew Allen a kiss.
"He was a car thief," I admitted. "I met him when he stole my, I mean, my boss's car right out from under Allen's post."
"That can't really be his name," Corsica said.
"Street name for a street rat," Allen mumbled.
"Not many people get the drop on Allen," I explained as I led Corsica towards the Maserati.
"It was my pleasure, sir," Tom said with an overly dramatic bow.
"I only employ him because it pisses off my boss." I caught Tom's eyes to make sure he had understood my text message.
He saluted again. "Penn's boss is a real dick. Where to?"
"Take the lady home," I said.
Corsica's eyes widened again. "Oh, sorry, no. I told you I'm from Santa Cruz. I better just have you drop me off where Ginny is over in Chinatown."
"Nonsense," Tom said. "Penn's, ah, boss has a great place over on Telegraph Hill. Plenty of room. Just minutes away."
I shot Tom a warning glance, but he was unrepentant. Then the thought worked on me for a moment more. If Corsica came with me to my father's house, I would have the perfect buffer. She'd be shocked by who he was, and I would be able to use her as a reason to push off our conversation until the morning. I was just not up to hearing what the old man had to say.
"He's right. You're welcome to stay at the house. In fact, there's an entire apartment over the garage. It's private and secure. Ginny's welcome to stay, too," I said.
Corsica frowned. "Your boss won't mind?"
"Not when he gets a load of you," Tom said.
I kicked him in the shin. "My boss will most likely not make an appearance until the morning. He's a very busy man."
She chewed her cheek and considered my offer. "What if I change my mind?"
"Tom here drinks too much caffeine, so you can call him at any time. He knows all the good, reasonable hotels and motels in the city," I said.
I waited and tried not to hold my breath. I knew full well that I didn't look like the type of guy good girls should be going home with in the middle of the night. My rag-tag sidekick did nothing to add respectability to my image, but, then again, I wanted her to take me as I was. Minus the growing fortune.
I didn't want to lie to Corsica, but I didn't want her to know I was loaded. Suddenly, it was more important than anything that Corsica see me for myself, not my money or my family connections.
She took out her phone, then remembered the battery had died.
"I've got a charger for that," Tom said. "In the car. You'll be up and running before we get to the top of the hill."
"Not the way you drive," I muttered.
Corsica smiled. "Well, if you're willing to charge my phone so I can call Ginny, then I guess the least I can do is take a look at the apartment."
She slipped into the car, and Tom slammed the door with a flourish. "I like her," he announced. "I don't think you need to lie to her."
I scowled as I shooed him around to the driver's door. "I like her, too, and I probably will until she finds out who I am."