Page 69 of If Our Hearts Collide

Penny reaches out her hand, wiggling her fingers. “Gimme.”

I hand over her phone, taking a step back.

She is unbelievable. Just when I think I have her all figured out, she turns the dial the opposite way and shows me a different layer. I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t intrigued. Everything about Penny is interesting.

Her phone dings and she looks down at the screen. “Oh no.”

I straighten my spine and check my own phone for notifications, seeing none. “What’s wrong?”

“My momma just messaged me to tell me that there are a few road closures leading into Hillsboro. Apparently a storm blew through and knocked down a bunch of trees and power lines.”

Both of our phones buzz, with what I’m assuming is a weather warning. “It’s heading this way.”

“Oh no. How am I going to get home?”

“You can stay with me at my place,” I say, not really thinking of the logistics. I just know it’s unsafe to be traveling in a storm, and the last thing we need is to be stuck on the road due to a closure.

“Where do you live exactly? Close by?”

“Very close.”

“I can just sleep here.”

“Penny…”

She gives a shrug. “I’m officially renting it after all. It’s not like I’d be squatting.”

“It’s unfurnished.” There’s no way in hell I’d let her sleep on some hardwood floor in a vacant unit. Plus, if the storm is in fact coming this way, I want her close by me.

“My brothers live near here. They have guest rooms.”

“You’re staying with me and that’s final.”

I can tell she is thinking of more alternatives, but what she has yet to fully understand is that I’m stubborn as fuck.

Her teeth grind into a straight line, while she props her hands on her hips. “Fine.”

“Isn’t it fun just to be agreeable to my ideas?” I ask, my tone jovial.

“Oh yes,” she says with fake enthusiasm. “Fun like a carnival.”

I feel my smile getting even bigger, as I can’t contain it from spreading. “Yes. See? You get it.”

Penny’s eyes roll, and if she wasn’t so freaking adorable doing it, I’d call her out on her disrespect.

Just one glance her way has every cell in my body wanting to ignite.

What is this girl doing to me?

“Take me to your cave, Mr. Stone.”

13

PENNY

“Where are we going?” I ask, watching as Collins hits the button for the eleventh floor. “Are you taking me on a tour of this building? It’s going to probably storm, so shouldn’t we vacate and not go on a joy walk?”

“Have some trust in me, Penny.”

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