Page 36 of The Cowboy and the Bombshell
Penelope
I was nervous.
There was no denying it.
I had no idea what to expect. I mean, Stone was my boss. This dinner could very well be a prelude to my termination. I couldn’t imagine that the human resources hand book looked too kindly on coworkers sharing illicit, somewhat angry, kisses.
Although, if Toby’s gentle flirtation was any indication, maybe human resources wasn’t as fussy as one might think.
Giving myself one last glance in the mirror, I tried to gauge if my outfit was appropriate. Not that I’d ever been on a date in Las Vegas, but I didn’t imagine we would be going to a burger joint.
Not that this was a date. It wasn’t. It was just dinner. A casual dinner.
With a really, really good-looking guy who got my blood pumping and caused fluttering in my heart…and other places.
Okay, focus.
I left my hair down, and Daphne added some soft curls with a special tool she had with her. I’d never been good at doing my hair; I only kept it long so it was easier to put up and get it out of my way, but I had to admit, the girl was a master. It looked soft and shiny and I wanted to take her home with me so that she could do it like this every day.
My simple black dress fell to just above my knees, flowing gently when I walked. Grabbing my small black purse, I slid into my favorite pink shoes and headed out.
Reaching the top of the stairs, my breath caught in my chest when I spotted Stone standing in the foyer. He was in a pair of lightly worn jeans, their deep indigo color contrasting nicely with the smoke colored button down he paired it with, the sleeves rolled up revealing the tanned and corded muscles of his forearms.
When did forearms become sexy?
His hair was combed, the dark brown locks looking slick, and he had shaved, his face stubble free for the first time in a long time. For the moment he hadn’t seen me, replying to someone on his phone, and I took a few seconds just to look at him, drinking in the rugged masculinity that was Stone. He was so different from the men I interacted with in New York, with their fancy suits and their stock portfolios doing the talking for them. Stone’s strength came from a different place. He was big, yes, with his muscular arms and broad shoulders, but there was an inner strength that I haven’t experienced before. I didn’t know if it was the Texas in him, with the southern ideals and the farm-worked muscles, or if it was the fact that he had always felt like he has to prove himself in order to be a Pennington.
Whatever it was, I got the feeling that Stone’s gruff exterior hid a lot of things that I wouldn’t mind exploring.
Taking a deep breath, I started down the stairs.
Finally catching his attention, Stone turned, his eyes widening as he saw me. I felt the heat of his gaze as he took me in, starting at the top of my head and finishing with my pink shoes, which he smirked at. As I neared the bottom, he held out his hand, helping me down the last few steps.
“Nice shoes, Blondie,” he said quietly, and the word didn’t hold the same connotation it once did, giving me a small thrill at having a nickname from him.
“Nice boots, Cowboy,” I replied, eying the well-loved boots he paired with his jeans.
“I thought at least one of us should be comfortable tonight,” Stone said with a smile. “You look incredible, Penelope.”
I felt the blush creeping over my cheeks as he drew my hand to his elbow. “Thank you,” I replied softly.
“Shall we go?” At my nod, he led me to the garage. I went to climb into the big truck, the vehicle he drove every day, but he surprised me by opening the door to the convertible.
“Oh,” I gasped, staring dumbly at the passenger seat. Stone waited for me, one eyebrow raising as I hesitated, not even sure why I was. Something about him choosing to take the Mustang instead of the pick up truck seemed significant, but I couldn’t stop to analyze it right now. I only knew that this move felt like taking our casual dinner and moving it a step closer to actual date territory.
Putting those thoughts aside, I slid into the seat, tucking my dress beneath me. Stone closed my door then made his way around to the driver’s side and started the car. The engine gave a throaty purr that echoed loudly in the enclosed garage. Turning my head, I glanced at Stone as he drove us forward and out into the late afternoon sunshine. It was March, so the sun still went down relatively early, and here in the desert that made for some spectacular sunsets, many of which I had had the pleasure of watching from the pool deck at the Summerlin house over the last month.
As Stone drove us out of Summerlin and towards the Strip, I thought about how things had changed in the last few days. Stone and I had spent the better part of a month at each others throats for the simple fact that we had both made assumptions about who the other person was. I hoped that after we talked at dinner tonight, we could clear the air about everything, including that kiss.
That kiss that I could not stop thinking about.
It had been more than awkward to have to spend all day Saturday and most of today with Mr. Pennington and Constance, knowing that the had to at least suspect what had happened before I came downstairs Friday night. If he did suspect, Mr. Pennington was gracious enough to at least pretend he had no idea. Constance, on the other hand, shot daggers at me every chance she got. Of course, she shot daggers at me the last time we were in the same room together, as well, so there might be no correlation to the situation with Stone at all.
The whole thing was confusing and overwhelming and I just wanted to clear the air. Hopefully tonight we would do just that.
I watched the city pass by, the warm desert air tossing my curls around as Stone made his way up Las Vegas Boulevard, until he pulled in at the Paris Hotel, winding the Mustang past the replicaArc de Triomphewith its beautiful carved panels and imposing arch catching the last of the sun. I had passed by the Eiffel Tower a few times when I walked up and down the road, but I had never ventured inside the hotel. Now, as we pulled up to the valet and Stone handed over the keys, I found myself getting excited. Las Vegas was the first place I had ever really traveled to, but this was likely going to be the closest I ever got to visiting Paris, so I couldn’t help but feel giddy.
Stone came around to my door and gave me his hand. I took it, letting him guide me inside the main entrance to the casino.
