Page 69 of Penny & Royce

Good.

“It’s not okay,” she said. “And you know it.”

“I know.” He cleared his throat and dropped his gaze. “I didn’t want you to be alone. No one knows about us, and…”

Bringing her focus back to him, she studied his eyes a bit closer.

That was when she saw it.

The vulnerability.

He was concerned. Not just jealous or reckless or determined to do things his own way. There was something underneath all that. Something almost afraid.

Penny reached for his other hand and held both of them tightly in her grasp. “Hey.”

He tensed. “I’m fine.”

“Are you?”

His gaze flicked away.

He’d been acting strange when she’d brought up the wedding and told him it would be best for him to stay home. He’d insisted he wouldn’t be seen and only wanted to know what all the fuss was about.

But that wasn’t true.

She could see it now.

“What are you so worried about?” she asked.

Royce glanced behind her. He seemed to consider answering, but then he shook his head. “Later.”

Her irritation returned in full force. “Later?” Penny pulled her hands free. “You came all the way out here to the wedding… for what? To check up on me?”

“What? No.” He said it too quickly, and guilt flickered in his piercing eyes.

“Then why, Royce? Were you finally planning on telling everyone what we mean to each other? Because I should be let in on that kind of plan. You keep telling me to trust you and the timeline you want to use, but?—”

“No,” he repeated. “I wasn’t coming here for that.” He tilted his head back in frustration.

A scowl pulled at her features. “Then why? Because I might have been able to understand if you wanted to come clean to everyone. It’s only a matter of time before they find out anyway. I’m tired of hiding. I’m tired of sneaking around and lying to my brothers.”

She blew out a harsh breath.

“I’m just so… tired.”

That seemed to reach him in a way her anger hadn’t.

Royce got off his bike quickly, setting his helmet on the seat before stepping toward her. He didn’t grab her. Didn’t try to kiss away the problem. He simply opened his arms, and for one fragile second, Penny hated how badly she wanted to step into them.

Then she did.

His arms wrapped around her, strong and familiar, and he held her tightly to his chest. One hand moved slowly up and down her back, setting off waves of goosebumps.

No longer could she hear the sound of the music playing for the wedding guests. No longer did the warm summer evening air tug at her senses.

All she could feel was him.

His breath near the hollow of her neck. His heartbeat steady beneath her ear. His familiar scent that grounded her and made everything feel less impossible.