Page 163 of If Our Hearts Collide

“Nope. Not interested.”

“I wasn’t asking.”

“I’m still not accepting.”

“Let me give you a ride,” I try again.

Turning, she shoots me a disgusted look. “I don’t take rides from strangers.”

“Except you do, literally every fucking time you need a ride.”

“I thought I knew enough about you, but it’s all been some deluded construction of false details I construed in my own head.”

Her words sting. It’s true that there’s a lot about each other neither of us know, but if she thinks I’m going to let her walk home, then she doesn’t know me at all.

“Penny, be reasonable.”

Rounding her shoulders, she stands tall. “It’s a beautiful evening for a walk.”

She can’t be serious. She’s testing me. There’s no other logical explanation as to why she thinks walking right now is appropriate. “It’s fifteen miles. At least.”

“I’m in the mood for some exercise.”

“Then I’ll drive you to the gym. Oh, and what do you know? We have one at our apartment building.”

“Oh, and some peace and quiet that the dark night can offer me.”

She is pushing against my patience, seeing how far she can take me before I lose it.

I reach for her arm, at the exact time her body whips around. Her eyes hold all her secrets, and right now, she’s not being shy about how angry she is at me. I get it. Neither of us expected to find the other here tonight. I’m still in a bit of shock. And I’m sure—once I’ve had time to process everything—I’ll be a bit embarrassed that she caught me in a compromising position…with her new friend, nonetheless.

It’s one thing being confident in yourself. But it’s another thing allowing people who are present in your life to witness those insights—especially when it’s of the sexual nature.

Her hands grip the hem of her halter top, tugging it down to conceal some of her abdomen, and the only thing it does is give me a better view of her perfect breasts. I hate how exposed she is and am thankful that we seem to be the only ones out here.

I’m sure Chris is lurking somewhere. He’s three times her size, and he couldn’t stop her from beating him up? The first sign of tension, and he folded like a first-timer gambling in Vegas.

I shouldn’t be surprised. Penny has a long running history of ditching her guards and causing chaos, and I’m starting to wonder if she would do this reckless behavior with anyone that wasn’t me.

Because pulling these stunts with me won’t fare well for her… And maybe deep down, she knows it.

“You’re going to get blisters walking anymore in those deathtrap shoes.” I gesture to her feet. Her ankles look so small and feminine. “And your outfit is?—”

“Slutty. Just say it,” she calls to me, her words slurring a bit. “No need to sugarcoat your feelings now.”

“I wasn’t going to say that, Pen.”

“But you sure were thinking it.”

Feeling like my patience is dwindling, I try again. “Come, I’ll give you a lift.”

Turning, she continues to walk away from me, making her way to the edge of the parking lot near the access point to the road. Her hips sway, as she takes long strides, stumbling a bit as she tries to separate herself from me.

Sassy little thing she is.

Dammit.

She has some nerve thinking she can openly defy me.

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