Page 37 of If Our Hearts Collide

“Aren’t you going to be eating brunch with the girls? I imagine that?—”

“I need to bring something to contribute. I also need a coffee but don’t want to blatantly show up with caffeine in front of Claire. So, I’ll need to loiter a bit until I finish it.”

Oh yeah, Claire. Nic wouldn’t be too happy if anyone made her hostile.

Helping with hiring the perfect female entourage to keep Claire safe was no easy task. And to think she was my most difficult client…

I nod as I pull in front of the shop, and then lean my arm over Penny’s seat to look behind me as I park.

“You are good at that,” she mumbles.

“At what? Hiding my true feelings?”

She pauses and then bursts out laughing, making me join in. I can’t even remember the last time I laughed this much around anyone. It feels so foreign, and yet the past couple of times we’ve been together, I can’t keep it contained.

“I was referring to your driving. Although your self-awareness is on par.”

I hum, just because I’m not sure what to say.

“I’m nearly positive I would have hit the curb and then that convertible that basically came out of nowhere.”

I kill the engine and turn to study her. Is she joking or being serious? “The parked one?”

“Oh.” She sucks her bottom lip back into her mouth, and then looks back at the immobile car. “Huh. I thought I saw it move. Anyway, do you want anything?”

“I’ll escort you in.”

“No, sir. You stay here and practice restraint. I can escort myself. So what’ll it be?”

“Latte with extra shot of espresso.” I reach into my pants pocket to pull out my wallet, hoping I even have cash on me. If I’m going to be hanging around Penny more, I’ll need to figure out her routine and be prepared. This rare feeling of not knowing what to expect has me off-kilter, and I hate all parts of it.

“It’s on me.”

“No, here.” I hold out the fifty-dollar bill, coaxing her to take it.

“You’re my unwanted bodyguard, not my much-needed pimp.”

Before I can argue or dissect what she just muttered, she’s out of the car. I didn’t even get a chance to open her door or help her out. My eyes bulge out as I see way more of her thighs than she probably intended.

Fuck.

Can her skirt be any shorter? How did I not notice that before now?

Just the other day I was graced with her perfectly curved body in a bikini, but there is something utterly sexy about a girl in a skirt. Perhaps it’s the accessibility or the idea that it’sintentionally casual. Regardless, she can wear cardboard and look enchanting.

Penny is one of those girls who has natural beauty.

Now, what is she doing? I stretch upward as I watch Penny double over. Shit. Is she hurt?

I grab my door handle and leap out of the driver’s seat, walking briskly toward the sidewalk.

“Penny? Are you sick? What’s wrong?”

She straightens her posture, turning to me with her palm opened to the sky. “It’s good luck.”

I stare into her hand and see the shiny copper penny glimmering in the sunshine. “Oh.” I sure hope it’s good luck. I also hope that I’m on the receiving end of some of it. I watch with awe as her lips curl into the biggest smile.

“You keep this one,” she says sweetly, which is in direct contradiction to how she was feeling just moments ago in the SUV. “I love finding them in the wild, just waiting to be claimed. Each one I find is my little reminder to make a wish.”

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