Chapter 26 #2
“I just—” she started, struggling for words.
Of course she knew that. But she also knew it was her existence that had made her father leave, that she was the defining factor in her mom being without a partner.
That feeling was true, too. Just as true as the fact that even as she strived to prove her usefulness, Penny loved Becker Farms and the work she did there.
“This is a lot for the Dairy Festival.”
“I know it is, babe.” RJ looked at her sympathetically. “And I didn’t mean for it to get so deep, though I can’t say I’m sorry it did. But I think there’s a reason it’s coming out now.”
“Because I’m so close to the Honey Festival and maybe everything falling apart?”
RJ shook his head with a gentle laugh. “No, Pen. Not because of the damn Honey Festival or the loan or any of it. Because of a certain Greek god who’s come into town and swept you off your feet.”
“RJ, I told you—”
“You’re not a couple, I get it. But he sees you, for far more than your work and your competence and your ability to, as you say, keep your shit together.
And I think you feel it, and it’s doing something to you, something really good.
All I’m saying is, I think with him you’re safe to—” RJ’s attention snagged on something behind her. “Speak of the devil.”
Zander’s low laugh crawled up Penny’s spine and moved into the space next to her. “I’m an angel now, remember? I’ve hung up my leather jacket to plan wholesome town festivals.”
Nerves still rattling in her stomach, Penny forced a laugh. “You didn’t actually have a leather jacket, did you?”
“Okay, no. But it would have looked really good, right?” His fingers brushed hers. “Hey, can I steal you for a second?”
“I was, um, waiting with RJ.”
RJ pushed Penny out of the line. “Go ahead. You’ll only make fun of how much I order anyway.”
Zander entwined their fingers and tugged her away, going in a wide circle around the food trucks and heading toward a large white barn. Penny concentrated on the warmth of Zander’s hand and the cloudless blue of the sky as she settled from her conversation with RJ.
“What are we—” Penny’s back hit the warm wood as Zander caged her in with both arms, taking over her senses and pushing out the distractions.
Zander didn’t make Penny forget everything, but he expanded her field of vision to include more.
Like the golden glint of sun off his coffee-and-amber eyes, or the press of old wood on her back.
Or the small downturn of his mouth now, the slightest twitch.
“You okay?” he asked. “I developed my plan to steal you with naughty intentions, but then it looked like you and RJ were having an intense conversation.”
“It was…” She swallowed, tipping her face up into the sun. It was all too much to explain, especially when Penny had no idea how or where to start. She would start, eventually. Just not right this minute. “We were just arguing about the price of his pies.”
Zander’s eyes narrowed on her, like he knew it was bullshit. “He should charge more.”
“That’s what I was saying. Now.” She bit her lip and gave him the innocent eyelash flutter she knew drove him wild. Because a driven-wild Zander was just what her spiraling brain needed. “What was that about your naughty intentions?”
Zander’s tongue pushed at his cheek as he studied her, and Penny worried he might call her bluff. But after a moment he stepped into her with a grin and buried his face in her neck, scraping his teeth along her collarbone. “I saw this barn earlier and started having dirty thoughts.”
“Oh yeah?” She slid her hands under his shirt, promising herself she’d find a way to talk. Later. “Like what?”
“Like taking my cute farm girl, sneaking up to the hayloft, and making a mess of her.”
His broad hand grabbed her waist, then snuck around to her ass. Zander groaned as he took a handful, digging in his fingers before slipping his hand into her back pocket. The same pocket with the notice of default.
Penny winced, sucking in a breath and slamming shut her eyes like the ink might infuse its meaning directly into Zander’s fingerprints.
He stepped back, brow furrowed. “You okay? What’s wrong?”
Penny could bat her eyelashes again, drag Zander back to her, and pull them both away from the truth in her pocket.
But as she looked up at him, the final fissures broke open. The act she’d kept up as they planned the festival side by side, spent hours together in bed, walked through fairy lights and looked at gnomes was about to come crashing down.
Because Zander looked at her with absolute care, like he’d move a mountain for her if he could, like she was something worthwhile. Worth keeping. Against all odds, this man had taught himself to love and trust, to care so much, even when he hadn’t always been given that same gift.
He deserved to see all of her, even if it meant he might not look at her like this anymore.
“Can you come home with me?” she asked. “RJ can go back with Quinn and Mallory. I just… Can we go now?”
“Of course.” Zander rubbed a thumb over her trembling lips, watching her closely. “Of course, Penny. Whatever you need.”
Before she could think better of it, Penny threw herself at Zander and pushed her face into his broad chest.
“I need you.”