Page 109 of On a Fault Line

“Hi, Penny,” he says in a choked but rehearsed deep voice.

I can’t wait to hear what his voice will sound like after I actually choke the air out of his lungs.

And then he creeps closer like a slithering snake to envelop her in an I’m-going-to-detach-his-arms-from-his-body hug. Fucker probably has a boner, the way he is eyeing the girl, who no one knows is mine.

He clears his throat, backs up, and mumbles something in a fake deep voice. Is he trying to prove he hit puberty? Prick better watch himself or I’ll…

I’ll what?

Murder someone at the Hoffman residence?

What has gotten into me?

Penny giggles and says something to him that I can’t make out. Then she moves over to a lounger and wiggles until she seems to be perfectly comfortable.

I can’t keep my eyes off of her either, so I can’t blame others for appreciating her beauty.

But she’s mine to protect.

Mine.

The kid better watch where he puts his eyes if he wants to keep them intact. I tap out a message on my cell to Penny and hit send before I have time to think.

Collins: The kid better not make a move on you.

It takes her a minute to look at her phone, but when she does, I see the corners of her lips curl up. Of course she would find my response to another man sniffing around her humorous.

Penny: Not every guy that I encounter wants something to do with me. Just chill. Quite frankly, it will be refreshing if anyone actually pursues me. Let me enjoy this one-off occurrence!

Collins: I don’t like it.

Penny: You don’t like a lot of things…so it’s hard to take you seriously. You should be more selective so you can have a bigger dramatic effect.

I am trying to figure out what Penny is even talking about when my phone buzzes again. This time she sends me a picture of her damn Labor Day panties that she must have changed into when she went into the house with the girls during cornhole.

Where is she getting all of these spare clothes that I can’t decide if I approve of or not?

I read the caption: “Your Benefits Package.”

There’s an arrow pointing to her entrance.

Penny: Behave today and I’ll let you chew these off of me later.

Fuck.

Why is she trying to torment me?

I resist growling…

Our eyes meet from across the way.

Well, until Ivan steals Penny’s attention back and takes a seat right on the end of her lounger, making her bend her knees up to allow him space.

Fuck.

I’ll be damned if I become a third wheel to their littlemoment.

I’m going to burn those jean shorts when we get back home. If another inch of her thigh gets exposed, I’ll see if I can order a pair of pants and get them delivered here in the next hour. Maybe even a pair that go up to her neck with those adjustable straps.

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