Page 51 of Penny & Royce

“I don’t know. Some of the things Lincoln says about her are?—”

“Lincoln doesn’t know what he’s talking about. He’s letting his hate blind him.”

Bentley shrugged. “Either way, we have to fix that fence. You available? Or…” His attention returned to the suitcase, or rather where he’d last seen it.

He was far too observant for his own good. One of these days he was going to catch on to the fact that his big brother had married someone from the family they were all supposed to avoid. And if Bentley got to Lincoln first, Royce would have a lot of explaining to do.

It wasn’t going to go well.

“I already told you, I’m not leaving.”

“Yeah… sure.”

“Sure?” Royce challenged. “Say what you’re thinking, Bentley. By all means.”

He shrugged again. “It’s just that you’ve been a little secretive lately.”

“Secretive,” Royce repeated.

“Yeah. But…” He was looking anywhere but at Royce as he mumbled, “I guess you’re also happier.”

At that, he met Royce’s eyes.

“This wouldn’t have anything to do with…”

Royce waited. He wasn’t going to give anything away. His brother was already too close. Heck, based on that last question, Royce wondered if his brother had already put two and two together. Bentley might already know something was going on between Royce and Penny.

Strike that.

He definitely knew.

Bentley clearing his throat was the only sound that filled the room. Then he shook his head. “Never mind. Just… don’t do something stupid.”

Like marry the woman his family would insist was off-limits?

Too late for that.

Royce chuckled. “Noted.”

He moved forward, patting his brother’s shoulder before slipping out the door. He’d have to be careful when he left tonight. Not because he liked sneaking around, but because one wrong question from Bentley could turn into a full-family interrogation before Royce and Penny had decided how to handle any of it.

Especially if Bentley was the one asking.

They all had to believe, for now, that he was still sleeping under this roof and following all the ridiculous rules his grandfather had instilled in each subsequent generation.

Ridiculous didn’t even begin to cover it.

Blowing out a heavy breath, Royce headed out to the shed. He gathered the materials to repair the fence and put them all in the storage compartment of their four-by-four. Then he started the engine and drove out to Peggy’s favorite place.

Peggy being the four-legged menace Lincoln hated with a passion.

It wasdark when Royce pulled up to Penny’s place. The apartment complex was on the newer side. It had been built near the country club rather than in the middle of town. New structures like this one were better suited where the locals didn’t have to be reminded that their small town wasn’t so small anymore.

Penny lived on the fourth floor. It was the highest level, and the balcony faced the rising sun. He peered up at the place where he’d stargazed with her and watched their first sunrise.

Heat unfolded in his chest, warming him from the inside out with longing and exhilaration. There was a soft glow emanating from her window, and all he wanted was to get upstairs, kiss his wife, and fall asleep with her in his arms.

He’d stopped by the country club to check in with Quinn after being MIA over the weekend, and she’d immediately noticed he was different.