When Penn glanced up at Cole, she expected to see terror on his face, but instead she saw an expression that was all too rare.
Happiness.
It lit up his entire face. His cheeks flushed, and she knew if he didn’t have his sunglasses on, his eyes would be sparkling in the sunlight.
“I’m…your aunt’s friend.”
Friend. Not coworker?
Andy’s shyness didn’t last long. The moment Sara touched Cole, Andy raced over. “Do you like Legos? I like to play with Legos. Maybe we can build a castle or a fortress.”
Penn smiled, unable to contain her own joy. Despite unleashing the crazy that was the Foster clan, she had inadvertently made him happy. And in the end, that’s all she’d ever wanted for him. He deserved happiness in his life. Something that, over the last three years, she’d watched him struggle to find but never quite keep.
Cole was the most negative person she’d ever encountered. Considering his upbringing in the foster care system, it was warranted, but for the last three years she’d been trying her damnedest to get him out of this life-long funk, this cloud of pessimism she’d bet he’d had since childhood.
If the Boys and Girls Club didn’t work out, he’d be devastated. Which was why she was going
to do everything in her power to make it a success. As the marketing and publicity director for the Madewood Empire, it was her job. As Cole’s friend, it was her duty.
But on a big picture level, it was necessary.
A spot on the board of directors for the Vivian Madewood Foundation was now vacant, and it was the perfect opportunity to take her career to the next level. Cole’s late foster mother’s best friend, Gloria, had relinquished her position, and Penn was the perfect replacement. She had every intention of rocking the Madewood boys’ socks off and lobbying for it once the club was up and running.
Cole looked down at Sara with a warm smile. Penn’s heart clenched in happiness at the soft expression. “I came to help your Aunt Pennie win the cup.”
She sneered at the use of her nickname. She wished he’d never heard it.
“Oh no you don’t, mister. You can’t play,” Cathy scolded with a wag of her finger.
“Hell, no.” Beth was a little more adamant, but they were both right. “Only significant others.” Beth pursed her lips in an I-told-you-so gesture.
Her sisters-in-law were right. But maybe she could get her father to change the rules. For once, give her a chance to win.
“Are you significant others?” Christine grinned from the sidelines, her pregnant belly just becoming noticeable under her clothing.
Hey, ground. This would be the perfect time for you to open up and swallow me whole.
Before she had time to look over at Cole and gauge his reaction to that question, Ian changed the subject.
“We’re due to meet our parents on the beach.” He pushed forward. “You know the Sergeant will want to weigh in on your…” He raised an eyebrow. “Friend.”
The Sergeant was the nickname her brothers had given their father when they were kids. He knew nothing about it, of course.
Ian herded the family away, and they followed behind, a twinge of revenge settling in Penn’s stomach. Oh, yeah. She’d seen Cole in action many times: hockey, baseball, his smoking body on a treadmill. She knew he’d wipe them all off the map. And since he was already here and willing, she had to do whatever it took to get him on her team.
“Are you sure about this?” She looked up, biting her bottom lip. “What about the club?”
He shrugged. “It won’t fall apart in a week.”
Her heart leaped. If there was one thing Cole Murphy was not, it was blasé. But this man walking beside her had somehow shown up when she’d least expected it, but needed him the most.
She pulled him to a stop and hugged him. He was stiff at first, and she should have known better than to show any sign of affection, but she just couldn’t help herself. He might have just sealed the deal for her to win her first Foster Cup.
The longer she held him tight, the more relaxed his body became. He even swept his arms up and wrapped them around her before settling at her lower back.
Without releasing her grip, she tipped her head back and looked up at him.
He gazed down at her with a serious expression and said, “Pennie? Really?”