Page 12 of Penny & Royce

She gathered the files she needed to annotate and stuffed them into her messenger bag. She needed out of her office. Fresh air would help her get back on track. Since there were hardly any appointments scheduled for today due to several cancellations, she’d sent her secretary home early.

All she had to do now was lock up and figure out how to get Royce out from under her skin.

Penny exited the building and turned to lock up when she heard a familiar voice.

“Hey, Pen. Haven’t seen you around lately.”

She glanced up and smiled at Emerson. He’d practically been raised alongside her cousins. They’d known each other for atleast a decade. Whenever her father had brought her to Copper Creek as a child, she’d noticed him, but she’d spent more time with her cousins.

“Hey, Emerson. Yeah, I’ve been busy.”

It was a lie.

Ever since her father passed, she’d retreated from family events. Being at the farm reminded her too much of her dad. And while she adored her cousins, she didn’t quite feel like she fit in. They’d do anything for her, just as she’d do the same for them.

They were simply different breeds.

Guilt sank into her bones. If anything, losing her father should have made her want to spend more time with family. There was no telling how much time she had left with any of them. Life was fragile.

Wasn’t that what her list was about?

“Pen?”

She startled, realizing her key was still in the door and she’d gotten lost in her thoughts again.

What was wrong with her? Sheesh.

Penny turned to Emerson again. “Sorry. I haven’t been myself lately.”

Understanding flooded his expression. Emerson had lost his parents in an accident when he was younger. He’d grown up in the foster system until he ran away and found himself on her cousin’s farm. It might not have been legal, but Penny’s aunt had taken him in and hadn’t reported him. He wasn’t quite an adult, but Aunt Kate hadn’t wanted him put back into the system.

Aunt Kate had been a saint right up until she’d passed away from cancer. She’d been as much a parent to Emerson as she had to the rest of Penny’s cousins.

If anyone understood what Penny was going through, it was him.

“Sorry,” she apologized again. “What were you saying?”

He shuffled his feet and shoved his hands into the pockets of his jeans. “You hungry? I thought maybe you’d like to join me for lunch.”

The sound of a motorcycle caught her attention, and she lifted her head to see one round the corner down the street. It was too far to tell who was driving.

Her heart gave one foolish little kick anyway.

Was that him?

Okay. She’d finally lost it.

Emerson cleared his throat, and she glanced at him, sure color was bleeding beneath her skin.

“Yeah, sure,” Penny said, glancing back to where the motorcycle had disappeared. “That sounds nice.”

Emerson’s whole countenance brightened. “Yeah?”

“Yes, Emerson.” She let loose a quiet laugh. “It’d be nice to catch up, right?”

“Right.” He jerked his chin down the street. “Burgers? Steak?”

She laughed again. “How about something lighter? Jason has some good sandwiches on the menu this week. And he makes his sourdough daily.”