Page 185 of If Our Hearts Collide

Collins sighs. “Luckily I decided to wait here for you, on the off chance you were too mad at me to be reasonable.”

I let out a huff. “I’m always reasonable. I texted you, well, in theory, you brute.”

“How many days do you think you need before you stop being mad at me?”

I shrug, giving it some thought. “Probably eternity.”

35

COLLINS

The worst part about my job assignment is feeling like a fucking traitor every time I’m around the Hoffman family. It doesn’t help that Nic called me into his home today to check in with how things are going with Penny.

She didn’t even know I was there because she and Claire were planning something and needing that girl time.

But that’s what I do. I slither in unnoticed and am there to eliminate as many threats to the welfare of the entire Hoffman family as I can.

After discussing in generic terms Penny’s inability to see danger, Nic and I agreed that putting a couple of extra tracking devices on her wouldn’t be a bad idea. Graham isn’t a huge fan of this idea and has made it clear to just leave him out of these little decisions. He’d much rather keep his sister under lock and key and probably would if he didn’t have his wife’s wrath to consider.

Claire, Angie, and Penny are the definition of “girl power.” And while Penny might not quite understand how loyal the other two are to her, she would just need to attend one family discussion to realize their influence.

While the placement of these trackers won’t be directly discussed with her, based on prior knowledge of her brothers’ capabilities and past methods alone, they shouldn’t surprise her that much. Justifying my behavior to myself makes it feel less of a violation. But if Penny were somehow to find out the extent we would all go for her safety, I have a strong feeling she would take out her anger on me—versus the source giving me the orders.

I can handle her—sassy defiance and all.

And she is defiant as fuck.

I knew Penny walked here, because I got a call from the front door security worker at Sky View. I was already headed out, so I followed her discreetly, several paces behind. Not once did she notice my presence.

Sure, Portland is an overall safe city. However, when it comes to protecting my target, I don’t like to make assumptions. Assumptions get people hurt—or worse, killed.

From the cold shoulder Penny gives me in the elevator, I know she’s not a fan of being escorted back to our apartment complex. At this point, I don’t very much care. Finding Penny at Limit-X has solidified every preliminary thought that she isn’t ready to make healthy choices for herself unaccompanied. Pair that with her trip to see Mark Tanner in prison, and let’s just say there’s no way in hell I think her brothers are overexaggerating their need for my services.

I swallow. But Penny doesn’t need a shadow as much as she needs her ass tanned and the image of my hand print seared firmly into her memory. For a second, I allow the fantasy of her being mine to flitter through my limbs, causing my hands to twitch. If she thinks I’m hardcore and rigid now, then she’d be in for a shock if she had me as a…

Fuck.

A lover?Really, Stone.

“I’m still mad at you,” she mumbles, pulling me from my thoughts.

“I can see that.”

“Did you meet with my brother?”

She’s perceptive. I’ll give her that.

“Yes.”

“Why?”

“Business.”

Penny makes a face, and then follows it up by sticking her tongue out at me. I can’t help but find her disdain for me cute. There’s no part of me that isn’t absolutely enchanted by her courageous passion for trying to piss me off.

Trying.

Because it sure as hell isn’t working. She’s too adorable for me to actually be upset, but she doesn’t need to know the effect she has on me. Revealing a weakness will just get me caught with my pants down, thrusting into her tight…

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