Page 26 of Penny & Royce

Her eyes narrowed. “And?”

“And I’ll get them for you.”

She blinked just like she had in the gallery. “Royce, you don’t have to?—”

“I know I don’t have to.” He held up the phone. “That’s what makes it fun.”

“I can afford my own books.”

“I know that too.” He lowered the phone a little. “You can say no. Or you can let me do something ridiculous and harmless because I want to.”

Penny stared at him for a long moment.

Then she kicked off her heels, shoved her purse at him, and lifted her chin. “Start the clock.”

Royce’s grin spread slowly. “Yes, ma’am.”

He tapped the screen. “Five… four…”

Penny darted around the store, taking corners a little too fast. There were more than a few times that she apologized to the people she nearly bumped into. He chuckled to himself, and when the timer was up, he tracked her down.

Three minutes later, they were both laden down with books—mostly romance, but some were related to her field of study. She eyed him as he helped stack the books on the counter.

“Honestly, you don’t have to?—”

Royce paused and looked at her. “I know.”

She seemed to brace herself for an argument.

He didn’t give her one.

“If it makes you uncomfortable, we’ll put some back,” he said. “But if it’s only hard because you’re not used to someone doing something nice for you, maybe let me.”

Penny’s expression shifted, just enough to tell him he’d hit a nerve.

His voice softened. “It’s not because I think you can’t take care of yourself.”

Her shoulders eased a little.

“I know you can,” he said. “That’s part of what I like about you.”

Her mouth opened, then closed again, and a faint flush touched her cheeks.

“All right,” she said finally. “But I’m buying lunch.”

“Deal.”

Her smile was worth every penny he paid for those books and then some.

Once they’d dropped the books off in his truck, he leaned back against the passenger door and glanced over at her. “Can I ask you something?”

“Okay?”

“Why didn’t you want me to get you books?”

She stiffened beside him. “Because they cost too much, and I’m more than capable?—”

“I know you are.”