“What time will you be done with dinner?” Penn asks once settled into the seat beside me.
“With Josie, it’s hard to say. Why?”
“Just wondering what time I can expect you back over.” He gives me a quick grin as he backs out of the driveway.
“Pretty sure my parents might get a little suspicious if I stay out two nights in a row. My mother may buy the lie that I’m crashing at Josie’s once, but twice... She knows I don’t like staying at other people’s houses.” I quickly correct myself. “Well, most other people’s houses.” Because staying at Penn’s I would definitely do, over and over and over again.
“Pretty sure you’re an adult,” he fires back.
“True. But I need a shower.” I fight a smile. “A real shower.” I continue before he can say anything. “And I need sleep. And a change of clothes. And I have to work in the morning.”
“All I hear are a bunch of excuses.” He smiles, so I know he’s just giving me crap.
“Valid excuses, nonetheless.”
“Fine. What about tomorrow night?”
“Careful, Mr. Kade. I might start to think you’re becoming obsessed with me,” I tease.
“So what if I am?” He reaches across the cab and snags my hand, which I willingly give him. “I’ve waited seven years for this. I won’t apologize for wanting to spend every available moment with you that I can.”
It’s too fast, I want to say, but it doesn’t feel that way. Don’t get me wrong, this is all happening very fast, but with Penn, it doesn’t feel rushed like it might with someone new. No, with Penn, it feels right.
“I can do tomorrow.” I intertwine our fingers, feeling so happy in this moment that I’m at risk of bursting open at the seams.
The smile he gives me in return makes my entire body vibrate with elation.
I always thought I needed dance to make me feel alive. Turns out, what I really needed was sitting in front of me all along and I foolishly gave him away.
A mistake I’m determined to never make again.
CHAPTER NINETEEN
Penn
“You maybe want to explain that?” I turn toward my brother’s voice, having just watched London drive away.
“What the hell are you still doing here?” I ask, a little surprised that anyone is here at this point, given that most, if not all, of our ships should be out on the water.
“I think the better question is, what are you doing?” He gives me a look I’ve seen thousands of times over the years. “You and LV?”
“I don’t think that’s any of your business.” I turn, heading toward the office, Alec fast on my heels.
“Not to rain on your parade, brother, but I’d tread carefully if I were you.”
I stop so abruptly that Alec nearly runs into me as I turn around to face him.
“I do not want, nor need, your advice where London or any woman is concerned. You’re not exactly working with a stellar track record.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
“London is going to meet Josie right now. Wonder what she’ll say about you when she gets there.”
My brother shifts uncomfortably.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“Sure, you don’t.” I roll my eyes.
