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Last night, something changed between us. I felt it deep in my gut. I was out of sorts for part of the night, the whiskey and drugs partly to blame. Thoughts of Penny overwhelmed me. Either I drive people I care about away, or they get hurt. I ruin lives. It’s accepted in my line of work, yet it’s crossed over into my personal life now.
Lifting a finger to my cheek, the pain still stings.
Yesterday began as a disaster.
I certainly made a lasting impression—not my finest moment. I’m throwing everything I got to win Penny over. All because she doesn’t need me. Penny doesn’t need anyone.
My wealth means nothing to her and her family, and I’ve never found myself in this position, having to prove my worth in other ways.
At dawn, I walk through the house, checking the contractors’ notes to make sure everything was properly signed off. Penny has exceeded my expectations. A ball of regret grows in my chest at the thought of eventually having to sell the property after all her hard work.
Her personal touch.
There are pieces of Penny everywhere I look.
Thoughtfulness.
The artwork she sourced locally, the reclaimed wood, the gardens, the light and constant airflow through the house—it all gives it the comfortable feeling of ahome.
But it’s notmy home.
I never intended it to be, and now it’s somewherewecould callhome.
I go to stretch my back, jerk, and moan with the pain.
Penny sits up and wipes her eyes with a finger. “Hey, you’re awake. How are you feeling?”
“I’ve seen better days.”
“Come here. Let me check your cuts,” she says, and I sit on the bed beside her. “I feel so bad,” she whispers.
“My stupidity isn’t your fault.” I close my eyes, savoring the touch of her fingers trailing over my skin.
“These appear okay.” She presses a gentle hand to my face. “Look at me.” She assesses my cheek, her brow tight, her expression serious. “I’m worried about this one.”
She touches it, and I pull away. “Still freaking sore.” I stand up. “I’ll get it checked out.”
She presses her cell screen for the time. “I better get up. I’ll message Hugh and tell him I’m going to be a little late as I have to get an Uber from here.”
“I can drive you.” The words slip out of my mouth before my brain catches up.
“I thought you had to fly back to New York.”
My gut is being weird. It’s doing the whole trying-to-talk-to-me bullshit. Gut instinct. And it has my chest hurting right along with it.
I rub a fist over my stomach. “Call in sick.”
“What?” She gasps.
“Call in sick. I’ll change my flight. Let’s stay here all day and just be together.”
It’s official. I’ve lost my fucking mind.
The way she smiles at me sparks a small fire of desire that flows to every cell in my body. If this is insanity, I really like it.
I want Penny.
More than anything else.
