Page 116 of Penny & Royce

Time had officially run out.

She’d allowed herself twenty-four hours to come to terms with the idea of being a mother, and now it was Royce’s turn.

Sucking in a shaky breath, she reached for her phone again.

Just as she sent off the message, something pounded against her door.

Penny jumped, and Daytona scrambled off the couch and darted into her bedroom. She glanced in that direction, wondering briefly if she should have gotten a dog instead. Then she shook her head and got to her feet.

Chills skittered up her spine when the person at the door knocked again.

Then her heart stopped when she heard his voice.

“Penny. Please open the door.”

With trembling fingers, she unlocked the front door and pulled it open.

Royce stood there, chest heaving, eyes bright with emotion. He drank her in like a man dying of thirst in the desert. His gaze moved over her face, her form, lingered briefly on her stomach, then lifted to her face once more.

He knew.

Oh, no.

Royce knew.

The only way that could have happened was if Morgan had told him. She hadn’t given Penny the time she’d promised.

“Royce?” Her voice broke. “I can explain.”

It wasn’t that she was scared for her safety. She knew Royce wouldn’t do anything to hurt her. He was a good man with a good heart.

And yet, she was trembling before him.

A muscle in his cheek bounced, and his jaw flexed. Those eyes. They carried so much pain she could hardly stand to look at him.

She braced herself for the onslaught.

He had every right to be hurt. Every right to blame her for the new mess they found themselves in.

Her throat seemed to close up, and her voice came out ragged as she forced herself to speak. “Royce, I—we?—”

His face crumpled.

That was all the warning she got before he stepped forward and wrapped his strong arms around her.

Penny folded into him before she could think better of it. His arms locked around her as if he’d been holding himself together by sheer will, and this was the moment all of it finally gave way. He buried his face against her hair, his shoulders shaking.

Royce was crying.

Then so was she.

“I’m so sorry,” she choked out. “I was going to tell you. I promise I was going to tell you.”

He took a deep breath before pulling back enough for her to see his face. His eyes were red-rimmed, and yet there was a new kind of clarity within their depths. Royce brushed the loose hair from around her face, his touch a soft caress. His calloused fingers were unusually gentle as he swiped at her tears.

“I’m going to be a father,” he rasped.

She blinked several times, releasing more tears. “Yeah.”