Page 124 of Penny & Royce

“Hmm.”

Penny cut River a look. “What? What are you thinking?”

River shrugged, a twinkle in her eye. “I don’t know. I think I’m in the mood to play matchmaker.”

Penny palmed her forehead. “No. And definitely not Lily with Aiden. They couldn’t be more different. She’s a romantic. And he…” She shook her head. “He’d never settle down.”

“What would you say to making a wager?”

Penny opened her mouth, but before she could shut River down, a pair of arms wrapped around her middle.

“What’s this about a wager?” Royce mused beside her ear, setting off a slew of goosebumps.

She groaned, leaning into his strong frame. “It’s nothing.”

“Yeah,” River nodded. “Just wondering if we can get Aiden to finally settle down.”

Royce glanced in Aiden’s direction, and his smile turned a little too pleased.

Penny turned in his arms and held up both hands. “No. Nope. Neither of you are going to do this. Promise me.”

Her friend and her husband exchanged glances.

Then Royce winked and pulled away.

“Royce!”

“Don’t worry, sweetheart. I know better than to get on your bad side. I wouldn’t dream of interfering with my brother-in-law’s best friend.”

Sarcasm dripped from his voice, but he was too far from her now.

Penny groaned, her head falling back.

“Sooo…” River drawled.

A sigh burst from Penny’s lips. “Yeah, okay. But you can’t tell Mathew.”

“Deal.”

River hurried off before Penny could change her mind, leaving Penny standing beside the dessert table with one hand on her belly and the other pressed to her forehead.

She was going to regret this.

Probably.

A warm hand settled at the small of her back, and she didn’t have to turn around to know who it belonged to. Her body knew Royce before her mind caught up. It always had.

“You all right, dream girl?” he murmured.

Penny let herself lean back against him. Across the yard, River was already watching Aiden and Lily with far too much interest. Mathew, thankfully, remained oblivious.

“For now,” Penny said. “Though I probably shouldn’t have just agreed to let River meddle in someone else’s love life.”

Royce chuckled and slid his hand around to rest against her belly. “You never know. Look what happened with us.”

“You are not allowed to encourage this.”

“Okay, okay. I’ll leave it be.” His grin softened as he rubbed a gentle circle over her belly. Then his gaze dropped to where their baby rested between them. “Can’t wait to meet this little one.”

Penny covered his hand with hers, her heart full in a way she still wasn’t used to. “Me neither.”

Royce kissed her temple. “Looks like we’re getting our happily-ever-after.”

She smiled and leaned into him. “And I’m not taking a second of it for granted.”