Page 27 of Penny & Royce

That stopped her.

He tipped his head, studying her. “Would you say it’s out of character for you to let someone take care of you a little?”

The way she stilled made it more than clear that he’d hit the nail on the head, and he couldn’t help the grin that tugged at his mouth.

“I suppose that means we’ve crossed something else off that list of yours.”

Penny’s narrowed gaze stirred another chuckle from his chest.

“I told you I’d help you cross things off that list,” he said. “From my count, we’re three out of five.”

She snorted. “Try two. Doing something out of character and getting a cat.” She held up two fingers. “Dos.”

He glanced down the sidewalk, where music drifted from a nearby restaurant. Then he looked back at her and held out his hand. “Dance with me.”

Penny’s eyes widened. “Here?”

“Here.”

“This isn’t a dance floor.”

“No,” he said, stepping closer when she placed her hand in his. “But if we wait much longer, we’ll hardly be a strangers.”

Amusement flickered in her eyes. “I could almost make the argument that you weren’t a stranger the moment I learned your name.”

Royce placed one hand lightly at her waist and took her other hand in his. “Ah, but you don’t know my last name.” He smiled down at her. “Tell me, Penny Klein. Who am I?”

Royce loved watching the way Penny could say so much with just a single look. So many emotions flitted across her features that he couldn’t keep track of them even if he tried.

In the end, her amusement mirrored his own.

Then she lifted three fingers. “Fine. Tres.”

He swayed with her in the middle of the sidewalk, reveling in the scent of her sweet perfume and the way she fit against him without either of them having to try too hard.

“Royce,” she whispered, breathless, “what are we doing?”

“Crossing off number three,” he murmured.

She softened against him. “This is ridiculous.”

“Probably.”

“And people are looking.”

“Are they?”

Her laugh was quiet and close. “You know they are.”

“Then we’d better make it worth their time.”

She shook her head, but she didn’t pull away.

After their dance, he took her to a restaurant she’d never visited, and then they spent the rest of the day trying to find unique places in the city. At one point, they tracked down a geocache.

There was no doubt about it, time slipped away when he was with her.

Eventually, they made their way back to Copper Creek and sat out on the balcony of her apartment. First to stargaze, then to watch the sunrise. She let her legs dangle through the bars, barefooted and with her head resting on his shoulder.