Page 146 of Penalty to the Heart

“No,” I say, snuggling into him until my head rests on his chest.

I can feel his smile as he wraps his arms around my body.

“So I can stay?”

“Hmm,” I hum, listening to his heartbeat.

“Good. Cause I really don’t want to leave.”

“I don’t want you to either.”

He pulls my head back and stares at my face, scanning every inch of it as if trying to store it into his memory.

“Do you mean that?” I nod. “So we’re giving this a shot?” he asks hopefully.

“I don’t see that I have another choice.”

His brows furrow at that.

“You always have a choice, Roxie.”

“No… no, I don’t. Not when it comes to you.”

His green eyes grow tender as he continues to stare at me, understanding exactly what I mean by that.

I tried to run from this.

I tried to put a professional barrier between us.

I even tried to deny it was happening.

But all my efforts were in vain.

Not only did Caleb get under my skin, but he managed to wiggle himself into my broken heart and plant a flag with his name on it.

He’s carved himself a home inside me now.

And no matter what I do from this point out, life, as I once knew it, will never be the same.

Be it my ruin or salvation, only time will tell.

Chapter 27

Caleb

“You’re worried about something,” I announce, running my fingers through Roxanne’s hair as she lies her head on my lap, soaking up the sun.

“How do you know that?” she muses with a coy grin on her lips.

“You get this cute little line on your forehead whenever you’re thinking about something too hard,” I tease before leaning down and kissing said line.

“Are you saying that I have worry wrinkles?” she admonishes with a slap on my knee, her amber eyes shimmering with mirth.

“Just one. This cute one right here.” I lean in again and pepper it with kisses.

“Stop.” She giggles. “Someone might see.”

“Not anyone that matters, love.” I shrug, unapologetic. “I say, let them watch.”

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