Page 33 of Penny & Royce

For one reckless second, he’d been tempted to walk into that coffee shop and make his presence known. Not because Penny owed him anything. She didn’t. They’d spent one day together. One perfect, impossible day that had ended with her sleepy smile and his promise to do things right.

So as much as he wanted to go in there, he reminded himself of that promise he had made.

So he stayed outside. He waited.

And before Penny emerged, he saw her pull her hand away from Emerson’s.

It should not have relieved him as much as it did.

His hands rested on her upper arms now, steadying her after she’d nearly collided with him. He let go before he was tempted to keep holding on.

“I’m glad you have friends you can count on,” he said.

There was less bitterness in his voice than he’d expected.

Her mouth dropped open, and her eyes bounced between both of his. “Really?”

Royce chuckled. “Of course, beautiful. You need people you can count on.” He studied her face, wondering if she was willing to be as honest as he was trying to be. “Does Emerson fulfill that role in your life?”

She shrugged. “I don’t know him that well. But to be fair, I don’t feel as though I have many friends. I’m… sort of married… to my job.”

The answer tugged at him more than it should have.

“Well,” he said, his voice softer, “you can count on me too. I’d like to earn that, anyway.”

Surprise returned to Penny’s expression, but it was quickly replaced by a shy grin.

“Would it be okay…” Royce glanced around the street, which was getting busy with the lunch rush. “Would it be okay if we went somewhere quieter? I’d like to spend some time with you. Just us.”

The second she nodded, he reached for her hand, giving her the chance to take it.

She did.

He tugged her gently down the street toward his truck. “Do you have time to go to lunch? When do you have to head back to work?”

“I have an hour or so before I have a session scheduled.”

“Then we’re going to make the most of it.” Royce pulled open the passenger door and motioned for Penny to climb inside. “What kind of food do you want to eat?”

She tilted her head, smiling like she had when they’d gone on their date. “Pizza.”

“A girl after my own heart.”

Their eyes locked for several moments, and he nearly closed the distance to kiss her. He wanted nothing more than to show her just how much he cared for her.

In time.

Soon enough, he’d make his intentions known, and she’d be able to decide what she wanted.

Royce couldn’t takehis eyes off Penny.

The woman in front of him had captured his heart, mind, and soul. Maybe more than was wise. It physically hurt to be separated from her, especially when he knew that she wasn’t in the same place he was.

And he couldn’t ask her to be.

That was the part he had to keep reminding himself.

Penny had mumbled something at the end of their day-long date, half-asleep and sweet enough to wreck him. But he wasn’t going to build his hopes on words she might not even remember saying.