Page 165 of If Our Hearts Collide

“I never thought I would see the day.”

“Just get on with it, you fucker.”

“You have no freaking clue how to control her. Your entire adult life you have learned to read people, study them, and anticipate their actions. Except her… She is the free-spirited woman who is going to drive you insane. And it’s all because she is unpredictable.”

His tone is laced with amusement. He is enjoying himself, and I am planning out how I am going to recover after I pummel his ass into the ground.

“Just go back to your car.”

“Aye, aye, Redeye.”

I roll my eyes and watch him walk along the shadowy border of the parking lot back to his vehicle. And he’s fucking humming, having way too much fun.

Reaching for my door, I feel the car shake and see the flash of blonde hair whisking through the air, moving toward the front of the mansion.

“Dammit, Penny!”

31

COLLINS

I take off running after Penny, just as Chris jumps out of the shadows and stops her from going any farther.

At least he didn’t fumble this play.

“Everything okay, Redeye?”

My eyes dart between Penny, who is struggling to stay still, and Chris. “It will be.”

Reaching out, I grab Penny under her arm—firmly but not enough to hurt her—and escort her back to my car.

“Don’t you think this is a bit overkill?”

“You best be glad that my desire to protect you right now is eclipsing the fact that I’m raging inside at you.”

I open up the backseat and gently guide her inside. At least now I can hit the childproof lock on my key fob and keep her secure. I shut the door and watch as she tries the handle, smacking her hand on the window.

Taking a couple of deep breaths, I brace myself for the ride back to Sky View Apartments.

Because it’s going to be a long one.

When I get behind the wheel, Penny is climbing over the back of the seats to get to the passenger side.

“Really? This is necessary?”

“Yup,” she says with a giggle. “I was lonely back there.”

I think I would prefer anything over Angry Penny, so I welcome the sudden change.

Sprawling herself out like a lazy octopus, her smaller frame manages to take up the majority of the space. In my periphery, I watch as she hikes up her leg and rests her foot along the seat near her ass.

“You can’t sit like that.”

“Why not?” She scrunches up her nose. “It feels naturally comfortable.”

“You can’t, Penny.” My words come out stuttered, which is an unconscious sign that I’m anxious.

She spreads her legs wider, and I know because now I can’t stop staring. “Is it un-la-dy-like?”

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