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I don t think she s seen us. Has she? he asked his brother.
I just noticed her as she went up to the counter, Alex said. So I
don t think she knows we re here.
I wonder what s happened to upset her? Josh asked.
I don t know. Wow, she must be thirsty, Alex said.
Two large cups of grape punch, yeah, she must be. Or maybe
she s expecting someone to join her and that s what s got her ticked,
Josh said.
Yeah, that must be it because she s getting two bowls of the
Pasta Marinara special. Alex turned to give him a quick look. I ll
tell you one thing. We re going to have to do better at reading her
expressions& you know, if she s The One.
Josh knew exactly what Alex meant. I hear you. Like the way the
dads always know when Mom needs some extra care and attention,
he said.
Or when she wants to be just left alone, Alex agreed.
His fathers had once explained to him that every woman had
tells, just like every poker player. The smart man learned his
woman s tells and what they meant. Josh s gaze didn t stray from
Penelope. He watched as she carried her tray containing the two large
take-out cups and two medium Styrofoam bowls to the cashier. She
Love Under Two Honchos 143
hadn t even taken a moment to fit the cups with lids and straws. She
hadn t bothered with dinner rolls, either, or cutlery.
Joshua believed there was no such thing as too much knowledge.
He knew Penelope was detail-oriented. One look at that lovely table
she d set for them the other night had told him that. Now, he focused
on what he could see of Penelope s face, cataloguing her exact
expression. If he had to name the emotion running hot their woman
was nothing if not hot through her at the moment, he didn t think
the word anger quite fit. Not even fury, because there, right there, her
chin quivered as if she was trying very hard not to cry.
Looking at the pain on her face makes my stomach hurt, Alex
said. No one s pain, not even yours, has ever made my stomach hurt.
I think that s a significant sign, don t you?
Yeah, I do, because I m having the same reaction. Someone has
hurt her, badly, Josh said. If I get my hands on the bastard, he ll be
one sorry son of a bitch.
We ll toss a coin to see which one of us gets to beat on him first.
Okay, she s paying for the food. Let s get her attention and Alex
stopped speaking.
Penelope had picked up her tray, turned, and was headed straight
for them.
Joshua met her gaze, and he got another bad feeling. He didn t
like the way her eyes had gone all cold, as if she was trying hard not
to let him see her thoughts.
Actually, she was doing a hell of a good job of that.
Gentlemen.
She set the tray on the edge of their table. I was concerned that
the pasta would be too hot. So I bought the ice-cold grape punch,
too.
Josh took his eyes off her for just a second, to exchange a quick,
questioning look with Alex.
144 Cara Covington
Utter shock held him immobile as warm, gooey pasta slithered
down his face from the top of his head, the scent of tomato and
oregano strong and appetizing, even under the circumstances.
The grape punch followed.
He looked at Alex, wearing a similar lunch, and felt the bottom
drop out of his world.
Penelope leaned down toward them. What was I, just the side
piece? Good enough to fuck and keep the edge off while you looked
for some paragon of a woman to marry? You dirty, rotten, sons of
bitches.
Her voice trembled with her emotions, the British accent growing
thicker with every word.
We can explain! Alex said.
No, sweetheart, you ve got it all Josh spoke at the same time
his brother did, but Penelope was beyond listening.
Shut up! Just shut up, the two of you! I read the damn file. You
left it right out on your desk! I know all about not being good enough,
you bastards. That s been the story of my life, but do you know what?
You might believe I m not good enough for you to marry. But I ve
just discovered, the two of you aren t good enough for me. And I was
stupid, stupid to fall in love with you!
Her voice broke, and when Josh focused on her eyes, he saw the
tears gathering.
Before his brain could function to form another sentence, she
turned and ran out of the café. Josh jumped to his feet, determined to
chase after her.
Another lump of sodden pasta slithered off the top of his head to
land with a wet plop on the table.
He turned to look at Alex, who d also stood. If the situation
wasn t so horrible, he d laugh at the picture his brother made.
Oh, shit, we ve really fucked up this time, Alex said.
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