Chapter 14
Casper
After my shift I’m at my parents’ house for dinner. Chris, of course, is here too. When I walk in, I head straight into the kitchen and see her.
Penny. Wearing jeans and a green sweater, her hair up in a bun, fluffy slippers on her feet.
I bite my tongue, fists clenching at my sides.
The urge to pull her to me and kiss the hell out of those sweet cherry lips hits me like a freight train.
This girl is like a damn drug. The more I have, the more I want.
The memory of her lips on mine last night, soft, hesitant, then turning into fire when I pulled her closer, hits me like a sucker punch. I’ve kissed women before. Hell, more than I should’ve. But none of them ever left me reeling like that. None of them tasted like home.
Penny catches me staring and blushes. I smile, loving the fact I can make her do that.
“Earth to Cas.” Grace startles me, smirking wickedly. “You ok there?”
“Hey, baby sis, don’t you have homework to do?” I shoot back.
“Shut it.” She points a carrot at me like a weapon.
My mom turns from the stove, wiping her hands on a towel. “Oh hi, Cas. Come here, give your mama a hug.” I hug her, then look right back at Penny. “Hey,” I say as I pull her in too, because not touching her isn’t an option.
Her scent, peaches and vanilla, wraps around me and my heart damn near leaps out of my chest.
“Hi,” she says softly, shy.
“The boys are over there.” Grace jerks her thumb toward the living room. “This is a girls-only zone.”
I wink at Penny and head toward the noise.
The living room’s the usual chaos, football blaring, Ethan on his feet yelling, Chris next to him, grinning and throwing in his own commentary, Jude quietly shaking his head like he’s heard it all before, Dex sprawled out with his feet on the coffee table.
“That’s a foul! Are these refs blind?” Ethan shouts, arms flying.
“It’s called good defense,” Jude mutters, not even looking away from the screen.
“Defense my ass!” Chris growls from next to Ethan, shaking his head.
Dex laughs and tosses me a beer. “They’ve been arguing about the same play since last Thanksgiving.”
Dad sits in his chair, beer in hand, smug grin plastered on his face. “Game’s not even close, boys. My team’s winning, as usual.”
“Only ‘cause the refs are on your payroll,” Ethan grumbles.
“Keep crying, son,” Dad says, raising his bottle. “Doesn’t change the scoreboard.”
The room smells like beer and chips, the kind of comfort that never changes. This is tradition, football, food, and my brothers yelling at each other like the world depends on it.
I settle in next to Dex, beer in hand. But then I hear movement behind me, glance up, and there she is. Penny. She’s spreading the tablecloth, leaning over the table, and those jeans hug her ass in a way that makes my mouth water.
“You got some drool there, bro,” Ethan laughs.
I glare at him. “Shut it.”
Doesn’t matter. My eyes go right back to Penny like they’ve got a mind of their own.
“What was that you always say, Dad?” Dex asks, grin wicked.
I groan.
“Hawthorne men fall hard, deep, and fast. That’s the rule.” Dad’s gaze flicks to me, pointed, while my brothers snicker. “It was like that for my grandfather, my own father, my brothers, and of course, me. I’m telling you boys, when you see her, you just know.”
My brothers burst out laughing. I grind my teeth.
“When I met your mama,” he continues over their racket, “I knew she was it. Didn’t need a sign, a test, or a second glance.
Every other woman in the world went bland in comparison.
” His voice softens, eyes warm. “Your mama had fire, heart, and beauty that made everything else fade away. Still does.”
The room quiets for a moment. Dad pats my shoulder with a knowing smile, then turns back to the game like he didn’t just drop a truth bomb.
“So,” Dex leans in, grinning, “how was the date?”
“None of your damned business.” I take a long pull of beer, ignoring their laughter.
“Dinner’s almost ready!” Penny calls, bringing a basket of bread to the table.
“Hey, Penny?” Ethan’s voice turns smooth, flirty. “I like that sweater on you.” He flashes his trademark grin.
I launch a pillow at his head while my brothers howl.
“Yeah, I like those jeans too,” Dex chimes in.
I’m on my feet before I realize it, crossing to her.
Taking the bread from her hands, I set it on the table, keeping my eyes locked on hers.
“They’re right, you know,” I murmur, leaning close, lips brushing her ear.
“But truth is, you could wear a potato sack and you’d still be the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen. ”
Penny’s breath hitches, her cheeks blooming red.
I lower my voice, meant for her alone. “Actually, if you wore nothing but that blush…” My tongue darts over my lips.
“I’d be in heaven.” She swallows hard, then her sassy smile breaks through.
“Only if you promise you’ll wear that cowboy hat.
And nothing else.” Heat slams through me.
I’m speechless. I tuck a strand of hair behind her ear, fingers lingering.
“How about a second date, Sunset?” Her whiskey eyes sparkle. “Sure, cowboy. When?”
“Saturday. Pick you up at noon?”
“It’s a date.” She grins, then turns, leaving me standing there in the middle of the living room like a lovesick fool.