Page 106 of Penny & Royce

That would be the only way this came to an end.

His eyes shifted to her hands, clasped so tight in her lap that her knuckles had gone pale. He reached for the hand closest to him and tucked it between his own.

She slid her eyes toward him, so full of want and yet so void of hope.

Hope.

Faith.

They didn’t mean anything without the courage to fight for what mattered.

Wasn’t there some kind of Bible verse about that?

“Royce,” she started.

He didn’t want to hear the rest.

Not yet.

He leaned in slowly enough for her to stop him, his gaze searching hers before his mouth crashed down on her lips.

Penny let out a soft, broken sound and melted into his touch as he made one last attempt at showing her how well they fit together. This wasn’t just about their chemistry or the fact that they had similar views on the world. This wasn’t about their marriage or even their families.

This was about the part of him that had recognized her before logic ever got a chance to catch up.

There was no going back to the existence he’d had before he met her.

Before he loved her.

Penny kissed him back like she didn’t want the separation either, and that almost made it worse.

Royce groaned against her lips, then pressed his forehead against hers. “What can I do to convince you that we belongtogether? I’ll do anything. Say anything. Just give us a chance to work through this. I know it’s not going to be easy, but anything is possible.” His voice cracked. “Anything feels possible when I have you.”

She exhaled.

It was a resigned sound, and he knew before the words even left her lips that she’d made her decision long before tonight.

Penny wasn’t the kind of person to change her mind once she believed she was protecting someone she loved.

That list she’d made had been a cry for help. It had been her way of trying to mix up her life. She’d wanted to add light to her life—just enough to scare off the shadows that plagued her.

And he’d done that.

“Don’t,” he rasped. “Please don’t say it.”

He pulled back from her, searching her eyes. And all he could see was that same hardened resignation.

Without waiting for her to utter the words, he shot to his feet and rushed from the apartment.

He couldn’t breathe.

He couldn’t think.

This had been his one chance, and he’d gone and messed everything up by trying to recreate the magic from their first date. He’d been foolish because he knew it had been unnecessary. Penny still loved him. He hadn’t needed to make her fall in love with him again.

He should have tried to figure out a way to reassure her they could be together.

Royce reached his truck, opened the door, and settled behind the wheel.