Page 59 of Penny & Royce

Morgan gave him a sharp nod. “Have… fun.”

“Thanks, Morgan.”

They got out of the barn and onto the trail without another mishap. The ride wasn’t too long to get to his favorite place to go stargazing, and Penny seemed comfortable enough on the horse she rode. They were halfway to his spot when he realized he should have shared a horse with her to give him an excuse to hold her in his arms.

He’d never get enough of her, no matter how much time they spent together.

After sundown, this place appeared to be in the middle of nowhere. Light pollution was practically nonexistent.

He helped Penny off the horse, her body brushing against his until her feet landed in the grass beneath them. Her hands linked behind his neck, and she smiled up at him.

But then she looked up and gasped.

Penny pulled away from him, and he let her, smiling as she took in the stars.

“I’ve got a blanket so you can lie down.”

She flashed him an excited smile, and he stepped away to get the blanket prepared.

Once they were lying side by side, he finally allowed himself to go over the conversation with his sister. Apparently, that was where Penny’s thoughts had drifted as well.

“Would your dad really disown you?”

He sighed. “I’d like to think he’d draw the line at disowning me, but no one has gone against his wishes to this extent. Honestly, I don’t know.” He rolled his head toward her and stared at her profile. “I’m sorry.”

She turned toward him. “Whatever for?”

“That couldn’t have been an easy conversation for you.”

Penny smiled and brought her hand to his cheek. “It was harder for you than me.”

“Do you think her reaction…” He frowned up at the sky. “It was strange, right?”

“How do you mean?”

He placed his hand over hers to keep it close. He loved her touch. “Why did she ask you if Rose knew? Wouldn’t it make more sense to ask if your uncle knew?”

Penny chewed on her lip for a moment, then faced toward the sky again. “Probably because they’re friends.”

He shot into a seated position. “What?”

She watched him from where she still lay. “Yeah, I’ve seen them hanging out when they’re not with the whole family. I think they’re pretty close.”

What in the world was going on?

How long had this been happening?

Granted, he’d had suspicions that Morgan was hiding something, but this?

Penny must have sensed his growing irritation because she laughed and sat upright. With some careful maneuvering, she climbed into his lap and held his face between both of her hands.

“Don’t be the pot.”

“What?” he asked, distracted by her closeness.

“Or the kettle.” She laughed quietly. “Whichever one it is. Don’t judge her for being friends with a member of the Taylor family when you married one.”

“Yeah, but it’s not the same. She’s friends with the ringleader?—”