Page 53 of Penny & Royce
“It’s okay.” His voice softened as he sensed her hesitation. “I know I come on strong. How about for tonight, we just spend time together?”
He wasn’t sure if he saw disappointment in her gaze or if that was just his own wishful thinking. Either way, he wanted to make sure she felt comfortable and safe.
Penny fidgeted with the hem of her shirt. “And what would that entail, exactly?”
Royce glanced around the space. “How about a movie and popcorn? Or were you sleeping? I’m sorry I was later than expected. It was hard to get out of the house without drawing attention.”
She was chewing on her lower lip, but she was smiling at him. That was a good sign. “I had fallen asleep while watching a documentary.”
“Well, that explains it, beautiful. Which one were you watching?”
Penny laughed. He’d never get enough of that. “Actually, it’s about a serial killer on the East Coast.”
He nearly choked. “You fell asleep to a documentary about a serial killer?”
She shrugged. “I am a therapist. That sort of thing… the psychology makes sense to me. Shows like that are a comfort to me, in a way.”
“I guess that makes sense?” He grimaced. “I’m not going to wake up one morning tied up and at your mercy, am I?”
Penny gave him a little shove. “Be quiet,” she said playfully. “Come on. I’ll get the popcorn going, and then we can start it over.”
“Start it over?” he stammered, following her into the kitchen. “When I said movie, I meant some rom-com. I’m sure we could find one starring a cowboy. There has to be plenty of them.”
“There are a few cowboy serial killers too, you know. I bet I could find a few documentaries on them,” she said, her tone playful.
He groaned, but it was laced with amusement. “You just keep surprising me, Penny.”
13
PENNY
“Afarmer’s market? Really?” Penny leaned into Royce with a laugh. Their hands were intertwined as they wandered the street in the middle of Colorado Springs. “I would have thought you’d want to do something you’re not familiar with. Isn’t this like an NFL player going to a football game as a spectator?”
Royce shot her a boyish grin. “Just because I work on a farm doesn’t mean I can’t appreciate a farmer’s market. It’s nice to see what other people bring to the table. Besides, at our farm, we don’t work with bees. We don’t have fruit trees. And none of us is any good with baking—not even my sisters. Where else am I supposed to find good sourdough?”
She laughed again.
Every day she spent with this man only made her love him more. He was so genuine it made her wonder frequently if he was even real. How many times had she told herself that at somepoint the glamour would fade and she’d have to face the hard reality that it wouldn’t work out?
Countless.
However, those moments were becoming fewer and farther between.
Royce had worked out several ways to slip out of the house and sleep at her place. Most of the time, it was as simple as not coming home after hanging out with “friends” all night. His brothers didn’t ask as long as he was back for work bright and early. He didn’t have to lie to their faces about where he was going because in his own words, he’d called her his best friend.
When she made a face at that statement, he’d silenced any argument with one of his leg-weakening kisses, then reminded her that he was glad he’d been able to marry his best friend.
Royce was the ultimate romantic.
And he’d taken it upon himself to court her.
It sounded crazy even to Penny herself when she’d let it slip to Shelly that she was married. Her secretary had caught her looking at her wedding ring before hiding it away in her desk and had demanded to know everything.
After swearing her to secrecy, Penny spilled the whole story.
A day later, a delivery guy had arrived and told her she had to sign for something.
Her heart had officially stopped when two men brought in the cowboy painting she’d admired with Royce on their first date together. They were also the men hired to hang it on the wall in her office. She’d called Royce immediately to thank him, but the call had gone to voicemail.
