Page 52 of Penny & Royce

It might not have been the smartest move, but he ended up spilling everything to her.

He was married. And to the woman of his dreams.

Thankfully, Quinn was the least judgmental person on the planet. She’d been happy for him, then asked him what he was still doing hanging out with her when he should be spending time with his wife.

He couldn’t have said it better himself.

Gripping his suitcase a little tighter, he headed for the front entrance. Once inside, he headed for the elevators. By the time he reached the fourth floor, he had to remind himself he had nothing to be nervous about. He’d already married the girl. It wasn’t like she wouldn’t let him in.

This was the plan.

Royce got to her door and hesitated. Then he knocked on the wooden surface and waited.

And waited some more.

That was when his own nerves settled in, and he nearly pulled out his phone to call her. But then the door swung open.

Penny looked adorably disheveled. Her hair was in a messy bun atop her head, her face was free of makeup, and she wore an oversized T-shirt that slipped off one shoulder. It was paired with leggings that clung to her form.

She blinked at him, eyes bleary. “Royce? What…”

He frowned and blurted, “You said I should come.”

“Yeah.” She rubbed at one eye. “I said you could let yourself in.”

They continued to stare at each other for long moments, and he chuckled, shaking his head. “Beautiful, if you had told me to let myself in, I can assure you I would have done just that.”

Her lower lip pushed out as she seemed to think back to their conversation while they’d been on the road. “No, I could have sworn?—”

Royce stepped closer, unable to help himself. “We can figure that out later.”

Then he dropped his suitcase at his side and slipped an arm around her waist, pulling her against him as he kissed her like he hadn’t seen her in ages, even though it had only been a day.

“I’ve missed you,” he finally murmured against her hair.

“You saw me yesterday when you dropped me off,” she reminded him, though her breath caught in a way that told him she didn’t mind the sentiment.

“I don’t want to spend another night without you.”

She giggled.

“Mmmm.” He smiled against her temple. “You know what that sound does to me, right?”

Penny pulled back, her eyes shining with mischief. “You’re something else, you know that?”

“Something good?” he murmured, kissing her temple before forcing himself to let her go long enough to gather his things and enter the apartment.

“Definitely something good.”

When he deposited his suitcase and turned to face her, she was folding her arms and leaning against the closed door. He crossed the room, stopping close enough to touch her, but not enough to crowd her.

“I love you,” he said quietly, not willing to let the words sit unused between them.

Her quiet intake of breath was just as enthralling as the way she looked at him with those large eyes of hers.

“You have no idea what you do to me,” he murmured.

“Royce…”