Page 184 of If Our Hearts Collide

But Collins overstepped majorly by blatantly snooping and has earned himself a custom cock cake as a consequence. He can try to cockblock my goals however he wants, but he needs to learn that there are invisible boundaries that should never be crossed.

At least it will be a tasty lesson…

I watch as Nic places his palm under Claire’s chin to guide her gaze back to his. Leaning down, he gently kisses her nose, shakes out a pill into the palm of his hand from the new Nic-approved bottle, and then rests it against her bottom lip. When she opens, he slides the little orange soft gel onto her tongue and then retrieves the oversized canteen of water he conveniently has filled.

I swear every time I see her, the water bottle gets bigger and bigger.

“Sip. More.” He sighs. “More, Claire, so your stomach lining doesn’t peel away.”

“So dramatic. Like that probably only happens to five percent of the population.”

When he is satisfied with Claire’s hydration, he turns back to me. “Penny, are you staying out of trouble?”

“Always.”

“Liar.”

“Well, I’m sure you would get a report if I was breaking any rules, am I right?”

Nic gives me a look. What’s up with all these looks being shot my way? He has to know I know about Collins’s position, and while neither of us had a discussion about it, there’s no way that I can’t know.

I guess since I haven’t run away yet, or at least haven’t been successful at my attempts, he’s happy with the outcome thus far. I’ve been known to ditch my secret guards in the past. Obviously, Collins wouldn’t have shared that I was able to sneak away and get to Limit-X without much fuss.

Standing up from the couch, I stretch my arms over my head.

“I appreciate your help, Claire.”

Her smile is warm. “I’ll text you later with the final sketch and details for your bakery delivery,” Claire says.

Nic gives me a half hug. “Can I give you a ride back to your place?”

I shake my head no. “I’ll just walk.”

“I would prefer you to be escorted back, Penny.”

“Then just message my henchman.”

His mouth opens and then quickly shuts.

“Never mind, I’ll just do it myself.” Pulling out my phone, I pretend to send a text to Collins.

I give one last wave and step into the foyer only to be confronted with my broody bodyguard.

“You scared me,” I half scream, holding my hand on my heart. “What were you doing—just waiting for me all this time?”

“Yes.”

“Why? It sounds boring.”

“It was convenient.” He looks me up and down. “You should have texted me”—he holds his hand up when he sees me about to interrupt—“andthen wait for me to get here.”

“Oh, I pretend texted you and then discovered I didn’t need to wait at all.”

Collins gives me alook.

I am fucking done with these looks.

Everyone can just stop looking at me.

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