Page 153 of The Score

"Anyway." Pen takes a deep breath. "I don't want to meet all those pups and fall in love with one if I can't take it home. What happens then? I'm not the kind to fall out of love very easily, and dogs have a way to get into my heart…"

I gaze at her. "If you fall in love with a pup, then we get the pup."

I wish she loved bears more, not going to lie.

She smiles my way. "If you're going to promise me that, then we definitely have to wait until my dad is better."

"Deal." I kiss her face.

"Is that it?" Saint asks. "Is that all you have left of the bucket list?"

"Of the official one, yes," Pen says.

"Is there an unofficial one?" Dom asks with a mischievous grin.

I didn't tell my friends anything about helping Pen with her sexy list, but they don't need to be told to jump to all sorts of conclusions. Even a broken clock and all that.

"She keeps coming up with random things." I lift an eyebrow, explaining anyway. "So we keep adding to the list."

"At this rate you'll end up being married for… how long?" Dom asks.

"Undecided," I say.

Pen needs extra support for the next little while. I can linger in the crossroads until we're at the other side. They say patience is a virtue. I'll wait and hope her heart ends up considering me for more. I'm happy if it results in making this marriage last way longer than originally planned.

"Mhh. How interesting," Logan says.

Evie hits his arm. Logan raises an eyebrow at her.

"And how's your dad doing?" Evie asks Pen.

"Getting anxious, which is to be expected." Pen seeks my hand. "My mom is doing her best to help, but I'm joining forces with her tomorrow."

"He'll feel better when you're around," I say.

Evie smiles. "And we'll all feel better when he wakes up after surgery."

"It's going to be okay." I kiss her temple. "I'll keep the crew in the loop."

"Is there anything we can do to make your night better?" Nat asks.

"I'd appreciate a distraction," Pen replies.

Ames grins. "We could go back to teasing Dom about Mariana."

We laugh. Pen relaxes next to me, and soon my caress turns to gentle fingertips on her shoulder. It lets me get lost in my mind, half-listening to the banter around me.

My wife wants to be distracted again, and a loose plan starts to take shape in my head.

It's been at least an hour since I brought Pen to cuddle next to me. It's nearing ten at night, the time when she and I agreed we'd leave. I have to get the show started, if I'm hoping to treat her to a little surprise.

I lean to her and speak into her ear. "Ready to go home?"

She nods, but I don't move away.

"Good," I say. "We still have time for a… pit stop, before we leave."

I make sure my breath caresses her skin. My hand is on her back now, and I can feel the shiver that runs down her spine.