Page 17

17

PENNY

“Is that okay, Pops?” Standing back to admire my handiwork, I look over my shoulder to find the Brady patriarch gazing at my work while holding two pumpkin pies that I know he has made from scratch. There were no trips to Wegmans bakery for him. The idea makes me laugh as I know how much pride Pops takes in the food he makes.

“It looks beautiful, hun. Now go out there and make sure those boys of mine aren’t doing anything they shouldn’t and your dad isn’t drinking all my good bourbon without me.”

He winks and ushers me out of the kitchen as I sigh loudly. My excuse for being away from the madness of football and boys in the living room has been snatched away from me and now I have to face all the Bradys, my dad, and my boss.

I haven’t spoken to him about anything but work since my dad invited him. I spent yesterday being shadowed by Dad to make sure I knew everything before his knee surgery. I think he felt bad about bailing on my first day and was trying to make it up to me. But instead of feeling at ease, all it’s done is make me a nervous wreck. Ben hasn’t tried to speak to me about our little ‘spat’. And I’m kind of glad to be honest. I don’t know what I was thinking blurting out how confusing his actions had been. I couldn’t help it though. One minute I was burning up from his flirting and the next I was furious from his scolding and then he was back to all sweetness and smiles. Emotional whiplash is a thing, and I was definitely suffering from it. Still am if I’m being honest. I hate not knowing where I stand, and with this guy, I’m completely unaware.

Pushing the door open and fixing a smile on my face, I step into the living room to noise and laughter. Angie spots me first and winks. Jameson is next and waggles his brows. That’s odd. And then my eyes lock onto dark chocolate ones, and I understand the waggle. He’s wearing a crisp white T-shirt, grey sweats, and sneakers, and looks like a delicious drink of water to a very thirsty woman.

Shit.

He obviously got the memo I emailed him about the Bradys being a dress down, wear stretchy pants kind of family for Thanksgiving. He’s also the only person in the room with a seat available next to him, and I curse every single member of the clan right now as I eye up my options.

I could sit on the floor I suppose, but would that make it obvious that I’m avoiding sitting next to him? Would everyone think I was hiding something? Oh for god's sake, I mentally tear myself a new one. Just sit the fuck down.

My eyes skim to Mama to clarify that she can’t hear mental curse words, and when she just smiles sweetly at me, I breathe a sigh of relief and trudge over to the seat.

Primly sitting down, scooting as close to the arm of the sofa as I can get, I turn my attention to the card game some of them are playing and ignore the game on the TV. It’s not that I don’t enjoy football—you can’t be a member of this family and hate it—but I’m only interested in watching it when the Spartans play. Seeing as the boss and the quarterback are sitting in the same room as me, that’s not today.

I suppose I should be thankful really. Football on TV is better than what we had to do last year. We spent Thanksgiving in a freezing cold stadium watching the Spartans play. The only good thing about it was the drinking game Jameson and Jonathan started. I was the impartial judge and was in charge of not letting them get too drunk. I failed that mission and got told off just as bad as they did from Mama.

As the fond memory shoots through my mind, Mama looks over to me and smiles before turning to talk to my dad about something I can’t make out. My attention snaps back to the presence sitting next to me as Ben shuffles a little closer and widens his legs so his thigh brushes against mine.

My senses are thrown into overdrive. My skin feels like it’s on fire, every nerve in my body attuned to him as my heart starts racing. I can’t move any further away from him, so I’m trapped. The heat from his hard thigh burns through the leggings I’m wearing, forcing a blush to cross my cheeks that I know isn’t missed from Angie and Jameson. I shoot a piercing look their way which they both ignore and continue to grin at me. I hate them both. Maybe I can feign getting a drink and use it to move away from him without causing too much attention.

As soon as I move a fraction of an inch, Angie jumps up, declares she's getting a drink, and asks if anyone wants anything. The bitch. It’s like she could read my mind. After scowling and asking for a coke through gritted teeth, she leaves the room with a swish of her long blonde hair and another wink.

“So Penelope, how have you found working for the Spartans so far? Not too confusing for you?” Ben's voice is low enough for me to hear over the din of the Bradys’, but not loud enough for everyone else.

I catch the humour in his tone and I know he’s referring to my little outburst, but I won’t give him the satisfaction of letting him know I know.

“It’s been fine. Apart from a few oddities occurring at the beginning of the week, it’s been pleasant enough.”

A soft laugh leaves his lips as he casually throws his arm on the back of the sofa and finally moves his thigh from mine as he turns slightly toward me.

“Oddities? Hmmm maybe we should discuss these further. Would now be a good time?”

The amusement dancing in his eyes and the grin toying with his lips makes me want to lean over and smack it or kiss it off. I haven’t decided yet.

“Where are your good British manners, Mr. Elias? Surely you know it’s rude to discuss work matters on Thanksgiving.”

I tut a little to truly show my disgust and take a little pride in the laugh that falls from those full lips of his. His tongue pokes out to wet them and I can’t look away. This guy makes me go from awkward nerves to wanting to make out in front of everyone in seconds. It drives me mad.

He leans forward a little more, his fingers brushing over my hair, the feeling all too intimate. And something I’m not hating.

“I thought I told you to call me Ben. Breaking the rules already. And I thought you were a good girl.”

His whispered words tickle the shell of my ear, sending a flood of arousal to my panties and a flame of heat through my body. I’m lost for words and have no idea where to look.

Thankfully I’m saved by Angie thrusting a glass in front of me which I snatch and gulp down quickly.

“You looked like you could use a drink. You alright there, hun?” She perches on the arm rest of the sofa and I nod furiously at her, grateful for the reprieve, and a little sad when his arm slips from behind me.

Holy fuck this is a crazy ride.

“I’m stuffed. I couldn’t eat another thing.” Angie leans back in her chair and rests her head on Jenson’s shoulder as he pats his belly.

“I’m ready for dessert,” he declares loudly and the rest of the table groans.

“How is it humanly possible for you to eat anything else? You had twice as much as me but now you want dessert? You’re an animal.” Angie shakes her head as Mama chuckles softly next to her.

“You’ve never complained about me being an animal before. Or about me needing to eat my dessert, Kitten.”

It’s a very rare occasion when I get to see Angie stunned and embarrassed, but this is one of those times. There’s a deathly silence around the table, all eyes on Jenson as he shifts uncomfortably in his chair.

“I didn’t mean… It just slipped out… It was too good an opportunity.” He scrabbles around trying to form sentences, but Angie’s scowl is burning into him as Jameson rolls his lips to hide his smile and my eyes bat between him and Angie.

Ben shifts back a little on his chair and I notice his eyes darting from each person, trying to gauge what will happen next. Mama breaks the tension by scraping her chair back, probably a little harsher than necessary, and silently walking over to the sink. She opens the cupboard under it and digs around for a bit as every member of the Brady family lets out a chuckle.

Everyone but Jenson, anyway. “Mama, please, I didn’t mean it.” Jenson’s apologies fall on deaf ears as Ben looks over to Angie who shrugs her shoulders.

“Now you know the rules. Put. It. On.” Mama stands in front of Jenson, her eyes locked on his, and then produces the pointy, cone-shaped hat, elaborately decorated in orange with Otto stickers and Spartans logos all over it. But the thing that stands out the most is the navy blue D in the middle of it.

“But Mama, I don’t wanna wear the dunce’s hat. I promise I’ll be good from now on,” he whines as everyone at the table laughs openly.

“Don’t do the crime, if you can’t do the time, Son.” Pops claps him on the back as he sighs and places the hat on his head.

“Whatever this is, it’s bloody brilliant.” Ben’s voice is close to my ear, and even though shivers are cascading down my body from it, I turn to him and smile.

“It gets better. Watch.” I quickly grab my phone and hit record just in time to capture the greatest thing known to man.

“Hi, my name is Jenson Brady, and I am a dunce.” He points to the hat as the people around the table giggle as one. “You may know me as a professional football player, but in this house I’m now known as the dunce.” He sighs and lowers his head in defeat as Angie cackles loudly. “My punishments include this little dance.”

He stands and starts to shake his butt and twirl around the kitchen as Ben chokes on his drink and Angie clutches her stomach through the laughter. I lock eyes with Jameson who grins smugly back, both of us knowing what the finale is.

“And I need to apologise to my gorgeous girl for being a dunce. I’m sorry, Kitten.” He grins and then his expression falls into a grimace knowing his punishment is far from over. “For the rest of the afternoon, I will follow all of your commands— Mama, this isn’t fair, now. Normally it’s just you and Pops that we’re servants for. You can’t make me wait on everyone.”

“Yes I can and yes you will. You said what you said in front of everyone, even our guests, so now you’ll pay the price.”

“Guests? Who? All I see is family.” Jenson locks his gaze on Ben briefly before turning it back to Mama to continue their conversation.

With everyone occupied, I glance at Ben quickly and notice the stiffness of his shoulders. I don’t know his backstory, but I know that meant something to him. And I also know how overwhelming it can be becoming a Brady.

I scoot a little closer to him so our thighs are touching once again and it seems to break him out of his thoughts. He pushes back with his thigh, pressing it completely against mine and jumps into the ribbing along with everyone else. I’ll take it.

I quickly hit the send button on my phone and smile knowing Jaxson will get to see his brother’s humiliation when he wakes up.