Page 45 of Bonfire and Bliss Bookstore

I lower myself down beside her and turn my head so I’m looking right at her. “I want to. And I remember.”

Penny’s brows lift in surprise. Though I have no idea why; we spent many a night sitting out here just like this, her with her back to the tree, me with my arms wrapped around my knees, relaxed in a way I’ve only ever felt with her.

Being with her now feels like settling in beside the fire, wrapped in my favorite blanket. It’s soft in all the right places and it feels like home.

I blink and shake away the thoughts that Penny is the reason this moment feels like home. Tonight is just another lesson—nostalgia and the woodsy smell of the bonfire are getting to me.

“Do you like coming to these things?” With a dip of my chin, I motion to the crowd up the hill and glance back at her.

“I know it seems weird and my ex never understood it”—I frown at the self-deprecating tone in her voice—“but I do like being up there with everyone. I just…sometimes get overwhelmed, too. And I don’t always have a lot to say.” Her lips twist. “My books are far more interesting than me.”

I bite down on the side of my cheek to stop the rage bubbling inside me from erupting. How could she believe that? How could she not know that she’s the most captivating person in every room? That dick didn’t deserve an iota of her time if he made her feel that way, and yet he got years.

It makes me want to work extra hard to show her how she deserves to be treated.

“I’ll never call you a liar, Penny Darling. But I assure you, you are mistaken.”

Penny’s face softens and I watch as her long, thick lashes flutter open and closed. “It’s a gorgeous night, huh?”

I nod as my attention remains on the most gorgeous thing about it. Even in the darkness, I can see the blush spreading across her cheeks under my gaze.

“So what did you think of your first lesson today?” she continues.

I don’t answer immediately because I have this innate need to drag my fingers across the smooth skin of her cheek, to see if it’s as warm as it looks. The feeling is so overwhelming, I don’t hesitate. My fingers heat the moment I touch her, the action sending a jolt of electricity through me.

Penny sucks in a breath. “What are you doing?”

“Building tension,” I murmur, my body humming as I smooth my thumb back and forth across her beautiful flushed skin.

Her whiskey eyes go round as she watches me watching her. She has no idea the power those eyes hold.

“You’re really good at this faking thing,” she whispers.

Funny thing is, I wasn’t even trying.

Chapter 17

Penny

Sunday morning, I wake to gentle autumn light spilling into my apartment. I forgot to shut the curtain last night—probably because I was too busy replaying every second of yesterday. From the way Monty stayed by my side at the football game, to the warmth of his hand as he pressed it to my cheek under the maple tree.

I’m pretty sure he’s got the tension-building lesson locked in. It’s been less than a week since the beginning of our arrangement and I already ache to kiss him.

I roll onto my back and stare up at the ceiling, forcing my eyes to stay open because I know if I shut them, I’ll picture the way Monty’s jade eyes dilated beneath his glasses as he swiped at the melted marshmallow on my lips. And how he held my gaze as he brought that same thumb to his mouth, using his tongue to suck at the sugary taste.

My core clenches at the thought and I will myself to forget the deep groan that rumbled from his throat, the way he murmured, “Delicious, Xuxuzinho.”

If I don’t forget every single second of that interaction, I’ll do something dumb, like grab the little toy in my nightstand and think all about those slutty glasses and masculine whimpers as I ride an orgasm.

And I am not coming while thinking about Monty. That is—I shake my head—just no. Not happening. Nope. Bad idea.

I jump out of bed, refusing to entertain any more of my wanton thoughts, and rush to my apartment’s front window.

I peer across the street to see if the Open sign is hanging on my sister’s store. Sundays in Hope Harbor are for the farmers market, so Tally normally stays closed and sets up a stall there instead. Part of me wants to get her alone so I can freak out about this whole Monty thing with her, but the other part of me knows I should avoid being alone with her so I don’t go and spill the truth about it being fake.

All it will take is one person finding out for the gossip to grow like a weed in a pumpkin patch, overtaking our whole little plan and ruining everything.

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