Page 90 of Someone You Deserve

“Why wouldn’t he just drop it off there?”

Think, Astrid. Think.

But before I can spit out an excuse, Hazel chimes in again. “You know what? It doesn’t matter. What does matter is that you’re not supposed to be here.” She grins wickedly and then flings the purple dildo across the room, hitting Penn square in the forehead.

Chaos descends as the entire room erupts into laughter.

“Oh my God! Hazel!” Willow shouts, and Penn starts to retreat toward the door, rubbing his forehead where he was just slapped with a fake dick.

And that’s when all reason goes out the window.

Hazel picks up a cock ring and slingshots it at him.

“What the fuck, Hazel?” Penn exclaims, shielding his face this time, prepared to dodge whatever she finds to launch at him next.

“Get out! No boys allowed!” she yells through her laughter as she sends a pair of edible underwear flying.

“Fine! I’m going!” Penn shouts back, walking toward the door.

“You’d better! Before I get my hands on a flogger!”

“Jesus Christ! You’re deranged!”

She sticks her tongue out at him as he opens the door and I follow after him. “Don’t intrude on girls’ night again!”

“Hazel,” I grit through my teeth as I follow Penn through the door and shut it behind us.

Penn is standing near the edge of the street, rubbing the spot on his forehead where Hazel hit him. “I think I’m going to have a bruise.”

I cover my mouth, stifling my laugh. “I’m so sorry. I don’t know what got into her.”

“She’s obviously hopped up on female empowerment.” We share a laugh and then his eyes soften as he looks at me, staring at me so intensely that my heart starts to flutter. “God, you’re beautiful.” His words come out of left field, but I appreciate the sentiment nonetheless.

“You’re not so bad yourself.”

“I wish I could fucking kiss you right now,” he says, his voice low and husky. “But I know there are far too many witnesses.”

“Yeah. Which leads me to my question—what the hell are you doing here?”

“You weren’t answering your phone and I—” He blows out a breath. “I needed to talk to you.”

“Well, as you can see, I’ve been rather busy.”

“I honestly forgot all about this party.”

I take a step closer to him, wishing I could curl up into his chest and inhale him, drown in his scent and embrace that make me feel content. “So, what did you want to talk to me about?”

He clears his throat and then straightens his spine. “Don’t make any plans for next weekend.”

“Okay…” I draw out. “It happens to be the only weekend I have free in December. But what’s happening?”

“You and I are going to the mountains.”

My mouth falls open. “I’m sorry. What?”

“You heard me. We’re going away, just the two of us. Far away from Carrington Cove and everyone we know.”

“Penn, I can’t just up and leave. I have the bakery and the kids…”

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