Page 89 of Penny & Royce

“Temper—” Royce shook his head, willing himself to remain calm. Starting a fight wouldn’t do him any good. “Look, I know you think it’s crazy, but I’m in love with her.”

“Love? That’s what you think this is?” Lincoln snapped. “You’re right. I do think that’s crazy.”

“Lincoln,” Lucy murmured. “That’s hardly fair. Let your brother speak.”

To her credit, she didn’t shy away from Lincoln’s hard stare. They all respected her for what she did for their family when his mother passed away. Still, it was hard for the four eldest children to see her as anything more than a replacement for their mother.

Royce could have hugged her, though, for standing up for him.

His father cleared his throat and gave a subtle shake of his head when Lucy looked down at him.

And that was what ultimately triggered Royce.

His hands balled tightly at his sides. “I’m not here to ask for your permission. I’m not here to grovel or beg for forgiveness. And I’m definitely not here so all of you can decide what you think my life should look like.”

Quiet settled in the room.

It was almost like everyone was holding their breath.

Then his father and Lincoln started laughing.

Heat flashed beneath Royce’s skin. There was nothing funny about what he’d said. He’d made his decision, and Lincoln clearly didn’t understand that.

“You?” Lincoln said. “In love? Do you even hear yourself? I can’t remember the last time you had a serious relationship. You’ve never even brought a girl home before.”

“That’s because I never wanted to bring anyone home until her.”

Lincoln sobered. His eyes narrowed even as his stance seemed to stay relaxed. He shoved his hands into his pockets as he strode toward him. “How long has this been going on, Royce?”

There was an undercurrent of accusation in his voice, like he planned to pounce as soon as Royce admitted to going behind his back from the first moment he’d set his eyes on Penny.

Royce stood his ground.

His quiet fury had continued to simmer since the moment he entered the family room. There was little chance his family would understand. The longer Royce stared at Lincoln, the more he could sense just how stubborn his brother would be about this. Nothing he could say or do would change Lincoln’s opinion.

No number of words.

No declaration of love.

No insistence that Royce would stand by Penny would be enough to fix this.

Might as well admit to it all.

It wasn’t like things could get much worse.

He lifted his chin, his voice low and steady. “There’s nothing you can do or say to convince me to break things off with her. Penny is my wife. In the eyes of the state, and in the eyes of God.”

Ripples of gasps from his sisters and mutterings from his brothers ricocheted around him like flying bullets. His father shot out of his seat, rage written all over his face. Lincoln’sstunned reaction shifted to one that mirrored their father’s. Lucy didn’t speak or move a muscle.

But there was something shining in her eyes that threw Royce off balance.

Pride?

Excitement?

Congratulations?

Even if she didn’t want to admit to any of it.