Chapter 2 #2
“I know.” He dipped his chin. “Sorry about that.”
That seemed to surprise her.
Good.
Maybe he had one useful brain cell left after all.
“Well,” she said, folding her arms. “I’m here. What do you have to say?”
Cocking his head to the side, he shoved his hands into his back pockets. “You felt it too, didn’t you?”
“Felt what?” This time there was an almost indiscernible tremor in the words she spoke.
“This pull between us. Earlier today. Then back at the bar. And now.” He took one small step closer, watching her face carefully. “Or maybe I’m the only one losing my mind over it.”
Her lips parted in surprise, and for a second, she didn’t answer.
Royce kept his hands to himself, though it took more restraint than he cared to admit. “I’m not trying to make you uncomfortable.”
“You’re doing a surprisingly good job of making me unsure whether I should be uncomfortable.”
He laughed under his breath. “Fair enough.”
A tiny smile tugged at her mouth before she seemed to remember she didn’t know him. “Are you always this direct?”
“Usually, I’m worse.”
“That’s not comforting.”
“I’ve been told I’m a work in progress.”
Her gaze dropped to his boots, then lifted back to his face. “And what exactly are you progressing toward?”
He shrugged. “Depends on the day. Today? Becoming the kind of man who can talk to a woman without making a fool of himself.”
Penny blinked at him, and something in her expression softened before she shook her head. “Okay… and on the other days?”
“Usually something with a higher risk of bodily injury.”
“I could see that.”
He grinned. “I’ve been skydiving, rock climbing without special gear, drag racing—”
She held up a hand. “You have a death wish. I get it.”
He chuckled, the sound lower than usual. Penny sucked in a quiet breath, and he had to work not to grin like an idiot.
So he wasn’t the only one feeling this.
“One day,” he said, “I’m going to talk you into something just a little reckless.”
“Is that right?”
“Within reason.” He lifted both hands. “No rock climbing without gear. I’ll wear it when I’m with you.”
“That’s good to know.”
“I thought it might be.”
A smile broke through, quick and reluctant, and it hit him harder than it should have.
She shook her head and dug in her purse for her keys. When she retrieved them, a slip of paper fell to the asphalt at her feet.
Royce bent and picked it up before thinking better of it. His eyes caught the list before he could stop himself.
Go out and have fun on my own.
Dance with a stranger.
Do something out of character.
Get a puppy? Or maybe a cat would be better…
Be reckless.
Fall in love.
His chest gave a strange, hopeful tug.
The woman before him craved more.
Penny snatched the paper from his hands, her face flaming red.
“Sorry,” he said quickly. “I shouldn’t have read that.”
“No, you shouldn’t have.”
He nodded once, accepting the hit. “You’re right.”
That seemed to disarm her more than if he’d argued. She looked down at the list, then tucked it into her purse like it had betrayed her.
Royce rubbed the back of his neck. “For what it’s worth, it’s a good list.”
Her eyes lifted to his. “You think so?”
“I do.”
She studied him, still wary, still curious. “What part?”
“All of it.” Then he caught himself and gave a small grin.
“Well, not the pet. I don’t know if I’m qualified to help with that one.
I’ve been responsible for several horses, one mean rooster, and a barn cat who hated everyone, so maybe I’m overqualified.
But I think I could help you with that list.”
A laugh escaped her before she could stop it.
Royce felt that laugh all the way to his ribs.
Penny made a small, disgruntled sound and looked away. “You can’t guarantee all of it.”
“No,” he said gently. “I can’t.”
Her gaze returned to him.
“But I could help with some of it. One day. No pressure. No cliff-diving. No shark cages unless you suddenly decide you’re braver than both of us.” He nodded toward the country club. “Dancing with a stranger seems like an easy place to start.”
She watched him carefully, and Royce could see the war taking place behind her eyes. She was going to retreat into her own head, and he was going to lose his chance.
He opened his mouth, ready to tell her she could forget he’d said anything, when she did the unimaginable.
Penny nodded. “Yeah, okay.”
“O… kay?” He cocked his head.
“Yeah.” She glanced toward the country club doors, then back at him. “What do I have to lose?”
Royce’s smile broke across his face before he could stop it. “Hopefully nothing.”
She gave him a look. “That wasn’t reassuring.”
“Then I’ll try again.” He held her gaze. “You get to pick the pace. If you want one dance and nothing else, that’s what we’ll leave it at.”
Her expression shifted, almost like she hadn’t expected him to say that.
“Okay,” she said, softer this time.
“It’s a deal.” Royce backed away, giving her space even though everything in him wanted to stay right where he was.
“Wait,” she called after him. “Don’t you need my number or something?”
He stopped and turned, then grinned. “Yeah. That would probably be the normal thing to do.”
Penny laughed under her breath, and he pulled his phone from his pocket.
She gave him her number, and he typed it in with more care than he’d ever entered anything in his life.
When he finished, he looked up at her. “I’m Royce, by the way.”
“Royce,” she repeated.
He liked the way his name sounded in her voice. Far too much.
“Penny,” he said.
Her brow lifted. “I didn’t tell you that.”
Caught.
He could have lied. He didn’t.
“I asked around.” Then he grimaced. “Which sounded less terrible in my head.”
“It didn’t sound great out loud.”
“I know.” He slipped his phone into his pocket. “I’m sorry. I couldn’t help myself.”
She shook her head, but the corner of her mouth curved.
Royce backed toward his motorcycle, still smiling like a fool. “Good night, Penny.”
“Good night, Royce.”
He turned away before he could say something reckless enough to ruin it.
For the first time in a long time, Royce Meyers wanted something he couldn’t win by pushing harder.
He’d have to earn this.
And somehow, that made him want it more.