At her apartment, she pulled into the lot. Without a private garage like Zach had, she didn’t have much choice but to park her car in the elements. As luxurious as his apartment and amenities were, she couldn’t stay there forever. She had to start thinking about where to put the baby—and considering that her apartment was a compact one-bedroom, one-bath, that meant she would have to consider moving.
Perhaps that was the first order of business.
She stepped from her car and turned for the property manager’s office directly across from her building. As luck would have it, Jenny was heading her way.
“Ms. Brand.” Her cropped blond hair blew in the summer breeze. She wore a fitted pencil skirt and a button-down shirt over a pair of sensible pumps. “Great timing. I was coming to give you this.”
“Oh?” Pen pushed her hair behind her ear and accepted the paper Jenny offered. “What is it?”
“Your lease has been terminated. Congratulations on your engagement!” Jenny squeezed Pen’s upper arm. “I hate to see you go, but I’m thrilled you’ve found love. Zach told me it was a surprise—his wedding gift to you. Ohmygoshisthatthering?” She snatched Pen’s left hand and admired the diamond resting there, before rerouting her hand to her chest. Pen swore the other woman was tearing up. “You have until the end of the month to clear your things. No hurry, but honestly, I wouldn’t hesitate moving in with a man who gives you a rock like this one!”
Before she could respond to...well, any of it, Jenny waved and said something about returning to her desk. Pen watched her go, the paper in her hand blowing and folding in half. She straightened it and read over the words Paid In Full as her temper skyrocketed.
Yes, she’d been contemplating moving from her one-bedroom into a larger place, but she wasn’t planning on moving in with Zach.
She lifted her cell phone and punched in his number. When he answered in his office-y voice, she let him have it.
“I’m homeless.” She wrestled her keys from her bag and marched inside her building.
“You’re far from homeless,” came his easy response.
“I’m not moving into your apartment, Zach.”
“No. You’re not.”
She blinked as she pushed the button on the elevator for her floor. “Pardon?”
“I’m looking at a house right now. There’s not enough room for a baby at my place.” His voice sounded distant when he spoke to someone other than her. “I’ll take it.”
“Zach?”
“Gotta go, gorgeous. I have paperwork to deal with.”
“Zach.”
But one glance at her cell phone and she could see he’d already ended the call.
* * *
Zach tried Pen’s phone number again only to be greeted by voice mail. He tapped the screen on the dashboard to end the call and pulled off the highway, changing direction to drive to her apartment. If she wasn’t there, he’d try her office, and if she wasn’t there, he’d see her at his apartment tonight.
When he’d gone to her place of residence to pick up a few things for her a week ago, he’d nearly had an aneurysm. The apartment building was in need of more than paint and TLC, and the area wasn’t the safest. He’d decided then and there to keep her close by. Safe. Now that she was having his baby, there was no need for her to struggle.
He didn’t want their child growing up worried about his or her safety.
From what he could tell, Pen dumped all her money into her office. He understood why. With a job like hers, working with business and celebrity elite, she needed to look the part.
He drove through the parking lot but there was no sign of Pen’s car. He’d try her office next. He hit the screen on his dashboard to call her cell again, knowing it was futile.
But then her voice surprised him.
“I’m trying to be mad at you.”
He couldn’t help smiling. Not because she was mad at him but because hearing her voice lined with anger meant she was safe. She was okay.
“Where are you?”
“Why? Planning on coming by and buying me out of whatever building I’m in? What if I’m shopping?”