Page 4 of Penny & Royce

The list, now in her back pocket, felt like it had caught fire. Spending time with Aiden would definitely count as spontaneous. Maybe even reckless. But something told her she wouldn’t be able to fall in love with him.

And if that was her only hang-up, maybe she could still…

No.

Penny shook her head and put a little distance between herself and Aiden. “I’m sure you have your eye on someone here. Go woo them for a while. If I get bored, I’ll find you.”

Aiden placed a hand to his chest. “You wound me, Little Klein.”

She rolled her eyes and headed for the bar.

Her anxiety was kicking up a notch, and she needed some ginger ale desperately. Penny moved through the room until she reached the counter where they were serving drinks.

And that was when she saw him.

Down at the other end of the bar was the man in the leather jacket.

Only this time, he wore a black Stetson.

His eyes locked with hers, and he touched the brim of his hat.

A lump formed in her throat. Her heart gave one wild, inconvenient leap.

It took a great deal of effort to turn away from him and pretend he didn’t affect her in any way whatsoever.

“A ginger ale, please,” she requested.

“I’m sorry, what?” the bartender called over the music.

“A ginger?—”

“The lady wants a ginger ale,” a deep voice said beside her. “And you can put it on my tab.”

Penny yelped, nearly jumping out of her skin at the intrusion. She pressed a hand to her chest and turned to find the man from the bar standing close enough to be heard over the music—but not close enough to crowd her.

His eyes flicked over her face, and something like an apology softened his expression.

“Didn’t mean to scare you.”

Penny took one steadying breath, then another. When her drink arrived, she thanked the bartender before looking back at the stranger.

“Thank you,” she said, though her voice came out a little too quiet.

He gave her a small nod.

Penny didn’t wait to find out what else he might say. She slipped into the crowd of dancers, ginger ale in hand, her pulse still far too aware of the man in the black hat.

2

ROYCE

She was even more beautiful up close.

The woman had medium-length blonde hair and hazel eyes that looked green in a certain kind of light. Royce had asked a few people in town about her and managed to get her name.

Penny Klein.

That name had quickly become his favorite.