Page 5 of Penny & Royce

Earlier in the day, he’d parked out front of her work hoping to catch a glimpse of her. He knew how that sounded. He also knew better than to make a habit of it. But after seeing her around town a few times, always alone, always looking like the weight of the world sat squarely on her shoulders, he’d wanted one more look.

Penny wasn’t the kind of woman who went out often. He’d gathered that much without meaning to. She came and went from work and home. From what he could tell, she didn’t have a boyfriend, and she kept to herself.

He’d nearly stopped her on the street half a dozen times to ask her out, but then the bomb fell.

Penny wasn’t just any girl.

She’d moved here recently, which wasn’t a problem for him. The problem was her family.

Penny was related to the Taylor family.

“If you keep staring at her like that, she might call the cops.”

Royce’s arm rested on the bar top, and with effort, he dragged his eyes over to his friend. Quinn smirked at him. The fact that she could read people so well was why she’d been hired here. She’d worked at the club since it opened and had seen plenty of turnover. Even after all this time, she hadn’t settled down.

“She won’t call the cops,” Royce murmured, more to himself than to his friend.

“Oh yes, she will. That girl? She’s cautious. She doesn’t do things on a whim.”

He wanted to tell Quinn that Penny showing up at the country club tonight proved otherwise. But Quinn didn’t know the full extent of his interest—or his problem. Infatuation sounded too flimsy for it, but he didn’t have another word.

He’d never felt this way about any woman. Not a single girl he’d met had ever captured his attention like this. That was probably why he’d never had a real girlfriend.

“Just do me a favor and don’t scare her while she’s here,” Quinn said. “I don’t want to hear about Shane banning you. I like when you visit me at work.”

Royce grinned at her. “Awww. You like me.”

She rolled her eyes. “I like the tips you give me.”

He threw his head back and laughed. This was how they were. They knew how to push each other’s buttons, but Quinn was also one of the few people he felt he could confide in. He wanted to tell her he had feelings for Penny, but he wasn’t surehow she’d take it. Quinn had seen her fair share of bad men trying to take advantage of unsuspecting women.

And Royce didn’t want to be lumped in with men like that.

He brought his Coke to his lips and took a sip. The ice clinked against the glass as he returned his attention to the dance floor.

Out of nowhere, Bentley materialized. He slapped his palms on the counter and beamed at Quinn. “Okay, I need something good.”

Quinn arched a brow, and Royce bit back a smile. Their family didn’t drink. Alcohol had ruined their grandfather beyond recognition. When Bentley asked for something good, he just didn’t want to sound weird ordering what most people considered a chick drink.

“He wants a Shirley Temple,” Royce tossed over his shoulder.

A few women down the bar giggled, and Bentley scowled at him. “Could you say that a little louder?”

“Sure.” Royce nodded, then took a deep breath.

Bentley’s hand clapped over his mouth before he could do just that.

Quinn snickered and placed the drink in front of Bentley. “Here you go, hot stuff.”

His brother grinned his thanks and brought the straw to his lips. He leaned against the countertop and surveyed the room. “Anyone standing out tonight?”

He must have noticed Royce looking, because immediately his eyes found the object of Royce’s interest.

“Oh, heck no, Royce. You can’t.”

Irritation flared to life within Royce’s chest, and he cut his brother a dark look. “I beg your pardon?”

“That’s Penny?—”