Page 50 of Miss Trust

Tory

My eyes opened suddenly, and I noted the sunlight pouring in through the bedroom window. It was my first clue I had overslept. Glancing at the time on my phone confirmed it. Eight a.m. I was shocked. Apparently, after last night’s unexpected activity, I’d slept soundly. At the memory, my entire body heated, but I refused to dwell on what had happened. I’d meant what I said about it being a one-time deal.

I swung my legs out of my bed and pattered into Penelope’s room—only to find it empty. She had to be in the bathroom, then. But a quick peek confirmed she wasn’t there either. My heartbeat went from slightly elevated to completely out of control. She never got up without waking me. She never left her room on her own. But then again, this was a new situation for her, sleeping in a separate room from me. Maybe she’d tried to wake me, and I’d been too knocked out to respond.

Visions of the pool, the nearby road, and every sharp object in the place had me sprinting from the room. I didn’t stop to think about what I was wearing. I went directly for the pool and was relieved to find it undisturbed. Next I dashed into the kitchen, hoping the sound of running water meant Penelope was there, washing her hands or something. The sight of her sitting on a stool at the kitchen counter and eating pancakes stopped me in my tracks. My hand involuntarily went to my chest in an attempt to quell the panic which had built up.

“Mommy. You’re up. I’m eating pancakes. Chance and, um, what’s your name again?” she asked, pulling my attention to the beautiful brunette standing close to Chance at the sink. She looked straight out of a fashion magazine.

She smiled. “It’s Kelsey, sweetheart.”

Penelope beamed. “Yep, Kelsey and Chance made me pancakes.”

My eyes narrowed on the woman before moving to Chance. Had he invited her over after I’d left him last night? The way she stood so at ease next to him clued me in to a familiarity between them.

His gaze held mine before traveling to my chest. My very braless chest. Frack.

I crossed my arms over my breasts. “Um, yes. Good.” Dammit, my face was heating. “Penny, can you come with me while I get dressed? Then we can finish breakfast in a few minutes.”

Chance spoke up. “She’s fine in here if you need a few minutes.”

I hesitated. I’d already overslept, leaving my boss and his friend to tend to Penelope. But what choice did I have?

“I can keep her company,” the pretty brunette offered, glancing over at Chance.

Penelope was already saying yes and shoving her face full of pancakes.

I was standing there, high beams on, bright red in the face, the clear intruder on the domestic breakfast scene. “Thanks. I’ll only be a couple minutes.”

I spun on my heel, practically running out of the kitchen and ignoring the sound of my name being called.

“Victoria, wait,” came Chance’s voice, getting closer as I hit the living room.

“What? I’m busy,” I muttered, not desiring a conversation with him in the least.

“Just wait.”

I turned, not at all in the best frame of mind for an interaction with the man who’d been inside of me less than eight hours ago. “What?”

I hated the way his eyes searched my face. He looked as though he could read my every emotion.

“I didn’t realize how worried you’d be about Penelope getting up on her own. But I assure you my sister is terrific with kids.”

“Your sister?” My voice took on an unnatural high pitch.

“Yes. Kelsey is my half sister. I should’ve made introductions. She’s in town visiting and came by this morning.”

My relief at learning she was his sister was annoying at best. I shouldn’t have cared.

His eyes went wide. “You were jealous.”

It wasn’t a question. “I certainly was not. I don’t care who you spend your time with, but I do care who Penelope is around.” Yet this was on me. “But this is my fault. I shouldn’t have overslept. It won’t happen again.”

“You needed the sleep. Especially after—”

I interrupted. “Don’t. You promised you wouldn’t bring up last night.”

He smirked, stepping closer to me. With my back now against the wall, his body was mere inches from mine. “If you had let me finish, you would’ve heard me say given all the nights you’ve been up with Penny in the hospital, you needed a good sleep.”