Page 24 of Penny & Royce

“Also, those two brothers of mine are very protective,” she told Royce as she tucked her phone away. “They won’t stop until they hunt you down if something were to happen.”

“Noted,” Royce said without a drop of humor. “And for the record, I’m on their side.”

She nodded. “Okay. I’m ready.”

The churning in her stomach started up again, but she focused on her breathing and was able to get past it. Before they exited the building, she stopped and faced Royce.

“I take it you have another mode of transportation? Since you have things for Daytona, you’re not driving your motorcycle?” That had been the source of her panic before.

Royce nodded. “I brought my truck.”

She breathed a sigh of relief. “Good, because there’s no way I’m getting on the back of one of those death traps.”

Royce laughed. “Good to know.”

Penny was floored when she saw everything Royce had purchased for Daytona. He hadn’t been lying when he’d said he got her everything she could possibly need. It was too much. But when she attempted to get him to take some of it back, he told her to keep it, but that he’d keep the receipts handy, just in case.

Which was somehow worse and better at the same time.

Because at this point, Penny had realized that fighting these feelings she had for Royce was going to be difficult.

He was inching his way into her heart, and it hadn’t even been an hour.

6

ROYCE

Royce hadn’t realized just how much he needed this day to go well until he had Penny beside him.

Every time he took her to a new location, he couldn’t help but look at her for her reaction.

Like right now.

The second they stepped over the threshold into the gallery, he knew he’d made the right choice. Penny’s whole face lit up. Her eyes darted from one thing to the next like she couldn’t get enough.

The artist being showcased specialized in what the city folk called “cowboy life.” Not only did she paint, but she was a photographer as well. Some of her work was a combination of the two, which was really fascinating.

Penny’s hand tightened around his as they moved farther into the gallery. While Penny admired the work on the walls, he continued to watch her. There was a pressure in his chest thatwasn’t entirely unpleasant, but it reminded him how much he wanted to get this right.

One day.

Royce had one day to show Penny she could step outside her careful life and still feel safe.

One day to make Penny believe in love. Not only that, but believe she could love him.

Her eyes snagged on him, and she paused for a moment, a curious smile gracing her lovely mouth. “What?” she asked.

“You’re beautiful, you know that?”

Those large eyes of hers expanded. “You can’t keep saying stuff like that.”

“Why not?” He tugged gently on her hand, inviting her a little closer. When she came, he smiled down at her. “It’s true. I’m just letting you know how I feel.”

She continued to stare at him, stunned. Her mouth opened, then closed before she shook her head. “I’m beginning to wonder if you’re crazy.”

“Maybe a little.” His smile tugged higher. “But only about a few things.”

“Should I be worried?”