Page 63 of Keeping Penny

“He’s going by Miles Walker, and he’s in Seattle, Washington. He’s rented a condo and it looks like he’s in talks with a hotshot in the bitcoin business.”

Penny’s breath audibly whooshed out. “He’s not here? In Virginia?”

“No. Tex reassured me that he’s definitely not here. And he went further. Reached out to the man.”

“He talked to him?” she asked, astonished.

“Well, no, not personally. He knows a guy who lives in Hawaii, who was more than willing to fly to Seattle with his wife. They did the tourist thing, visited the Space Needle, the fish market, and got a tour of Amazon’s book department, because his wife loves to read. And one afternoon while she was napping, he paid a visit to Colvin, or Miles, or whatever his name is. Asked him point blank if he intended to continue to harass you for the money he claims you owe him. Apparently, Tex’s man made an impression, and Colvin said he had no intention of trying to get the rest of the money from you.”

It took a moment for what Pyro was saying to sink in. She was free of Colvin’s harassment? It was hard to believe, because he’d told her himself that he’d never forgive the debt. That he’d get his money one way or another.

The relief that welled up inside her was overwhelming. Penny burst into tears.

Pyro lifted her and set her across his lap, then rocked her as if she was Bowie’s age and having a meltdown. She supposed she was…having the meltdown, at least.

“It’s really over?” she asked, when she’d sort of gotten herself under control.

“Tex would like to think so, but then again, Colvin is a career criminal. He’s hoping the man will realize that you’re no longer alone, that you have some fairly intimidating people at your back. But he’s going to continue to monitor the man, make sure he wasn’t simply blowing smoke up Baker’s ass—the man who went to speak to him.

“He also reassures me that Baker can be very…persuasive. He knows people. Lots of people. People you and I would never cross paths with, and wouldn’t want to cross paths with. I’m sure he casually let Colvin know that if he does anything to fuck with you, he’ll disappear off the face of the Earth with no trace he’d ever been here to begin with.”

“Um…wow,” Penny said, a little shocked at the venom she heard in Pyro’s voice.

“I’ve got your back, and you’re safe,” he repeated.

Penny had never felt so special in all her life. She’d always been the girl who was overlooked. Who no one wanted. Who’d been left to her own devices as she navigated childhood and adolescence. Even as a woman in her twenties she’d been largely on her own, as John hadn’t really cared much about what she was doing or who might’ve given her any trouble anytime she was outside their home in Gabon.

The lengths Pyro and his friends had gone to just to ensure she was safe from Colvin were hard to believe. “Do you have to go back to work?” she asked.

He shook his head. “No. I told Casper what Tex said, and he told me to get over here to tell you in person. So here I am. I don’t have to go back.”

“We have about an hour before Bowie gets out of school,” Penny said. She fingered the zipper of his flight suit, then slid it down an inch or so.

Pyro wasn’t a stupid man. He caught on immediately. “Yeah?” he asked, slipping his hand under her shirt and caressing the small of her back, skin on skin.

“Uh-huh.”

“You get all your hours in for work today?”

Penny scrunched her nose. “No. I need a couple more.”

“I’ll pick up Bowie today and you can stay here. I’ll take her to the park to play before we head home. That should give you time to get your hours, and then you’ll be free to hang out with Bowie and me before her bedtime.”

This man. How did she get so lucky? “That sounds awesome, thank you.”

“No need to thank me,” he said. “Arms up.”

Surprised, Penny did as he ordered—and it was an order. He had her shirt up and over her head before she could blink.

“But before you log back in, and since we have an hour, I think we should celebrate your freedom from extortion and assholes.”

She smiled at Pyro, and in response, pulled the zipper on his flight suit downward.

What followed was a frenzy of clothes flying, kisses, and a desperation to be closer on both their parts. Pyro took her right there on the floor of the living room. And it was glorious. Penny had never felt so wanted. So needed. So loved.

Even in the midst of their lust, Pyro made sure she was comfortable, with a pillow under her head and a blanket under her ass, so she didn’t get rug burn from his thrusts. As usual, he made sure she came at least twice before he let himself go, which wasn’t difficult, since the second he touched her she was ready to explode.

Penny loved the small sounds of pleasure that escaped his lips as he came deep inside her body. She squeezed him with her inner muscles and was rewarded with another little grunt of satisfaction from him.