Page 121 of Penny & Royce

Silence.

It wasn’t the cold, unnerving silence he’d anticipated.

It was more contemplative than anything else. Everyone present glanced around the group. A few turned to look toward his father and his brother.

Then Mathew blew out a heavy breath and slapped his knees with his hands. “Well, that wasn’t expected.”

A few murmurs of agreement rippled among them, but that was quickly followed by small smiles and whispers of congratulations toward Penny—her cousins, mostly.

Bentley eyed him, then Lincoln, warily before he rose to his feet and pulled Royce into a brotherly hug. “I’m proud of you,” his brother murmured quietly. “I just hope you know what you’re doing.”

Royce chuckled. “Not a clue, little brother. Not a clue.”

Pulling back, they smiled at each other.

Bentley glanced toward the house. “Does this mean we’re not getting a dog?”

“Oh, we’re definitely getting a dog. Maybe three.”

Royce and Bentley turned toward Lincoln, who was still standing outside the circle of chairs. His arms were crossed, and he was staring daggers at Rose.

“We have to find some way to keep the vermin off our property seeing as we can’t fight with the source anymore.”

Rose rolled her eyes, then leaned in close and whispered something to Morgan.

Lincoln’s eyes widened as he took in what he would likely describe as treachery. His focus bounced from Rose to Morgan and back. His sister snickered before she got to her feet with Rose at her side. They moved over to where Isabelle stood.

“Can you take me to see the puppies?” Morgan asked. “I want first dibs.”

Lincoln opened his mouth, then snapped it shut and leveled Royce with a dark stare. “You’re seriously going to prevent me from meeting my niece or nephew?”

“If you can’t get along with the Taylors? Yeah. We need to set a good example for the next generation.”

Royce cut a look at his father, who was unusually quiet. Their eyes met, but his father didn’t say anything. His whole body was stiff. His cheeks ruddy. There was a definite struggle going on in his mind.

He had nine months to figure out where he stood.

The line had been drawn, and Royce wasn’t going to allow anyone to move it.

Not even his father.

Lincoln grumbled something.

“What was that?” Royce asked.

“I said, fine. I’ll…” He made a face. “I’m not going to be friends with them.”

“I didn’t say you had to be,” Royce said.

“And I’m not going to be all buddy-buddy at joint family things.”

Royce crossed his arms. “That’s fine.”

His brother blew out a breath. “And I still hate that woman.” He jerked his chin toward Rose’s retreating form.

“As long as you don’t say or do anything in front of my kid that indicates you do, I really couldn’t care less. On the surface, respect. That’s all I ask.”

His brother studied him for a long moment, then finally gave him a curt nod. “Fine.”