Page 123 of Penny & Royce

Penny nodded. “I don’t know what we would have done without him.” She chewed on her lower lip. “Have you ever gotten the sense that he’s…”

River glanced at her, pausing in her efforts to put out the plates and cutlery. “What?”

Heaving a sigh, Penny shook her head.

“No, none of that. What is it?”

“I don’t know. I get this feeling he’s hiding something. Every time we bump into each other and I ask him if I can set him up on a date, he changes the subject.”

River’s eyes widened. “You think he’s seeing someone?”

“That’s just it. He’s always been the kind of guy who doesn’t want to settle down. I can’t see anyone convincing him that it’s time.”

They sat in silence for a long moment until footsteps approached.

“Hey, cuz. Rose wanted me to bring the cookies over here. Where do you want them?”

Lily held out a tray of adorable white onesie cookies. Some had pink bows, others had blue ones.

Penny pointed to the end of the table. “Over there is good.”

Lily smiled, then propped her hip against the table. “Mathew said this was a coed baby shower, right?”

River nodded. “Yeah. Royce figured it would be easier that way.”

Lily started to say something, but then the sound died in her throat. Her cheeks burst into color, and she looked away, her fingers fiddling with her red locks. “I’m gonna… I’ll just… I need to see if…”

“Hey, Lils. Fancy seeing you here.”

Penny jumped at Aiden’s voice coming so close behind her. She cut him a dark look. “You really shouldn’t sneak up on a pregnant woman. What if you’re responsible for my water breaking?”

He arched a brow. “Easy, tiger. Besides, who’s the one with the medical background? I’m sure we’d have everything covered.”

His focus drifted away, but only for a second before he shoved a tray of brownies in her direction. “Here. Mathew insisted I bring these.”

She barely had time to get a good hold on the brownies before he darted away.

River laughed.

“What?” Penny demanded, irritation flaring.

“I think we just found the answer to your earlier question.” She jerked her chin toward Aiden, who was now speaking with Mathew, but his eyes were glued to where Lily was speaking to her twin.

Penny gasped. “No.”

“What? You don’t think they’d be good together?” River cocked her head, and a soft smile tugged at her lips.

Penny shook her head and grabbed River’s forearm, turning her away. Some part of her knew that if Mathew was paying attention to his fiancée, then he’d see what River was so interested in, and then Aiden would have it coming.

“Penny! What are you doing?” River laughed, still craning her neck around.

Penny leaned closer and lowered her voice. “Mathew has one rule. He’s normally a very easygoing kind of guy and a supportive brother. But he will not stand for his friends dating his family. That includes sisters and cousins.”

River laughed but soon swallowed it when she realized Penny was being serious. “But Aiden… he’s a decent guy.”

“I know. And honestly, he’s harmless. But Mathew won’t allow it. Weird, but that’s his thing.” Penny glanced over to Aiden, relieved he wasn’t being so obvious now. “I honestly think Mathew wouldn’t care if Aiden wanted to date an ex. But family has always been off-limits.”

She said it more to herself than to River, but she got a response anyway.