Page 246 of On a Fault Line

I resist smirking. Penny’s a horrible liar. “You’d best stow away all your sass if you don’t want to add kidnapping to my list of faults.” I wiggle my brows. “I’ve been on a roll lately of doing things that piss you off. What’s one more?”

She shakes her head at me. “Why are you doing this?”

“Because I love you.”

“Shut up.”

“I do.”

“Shut up.”

“I love you, Penny.”

She blocks her ears. “Shut. Up. Shut up. Shut up!”

“And I’ll spend the next forever-many years proving just how much.”

“It’s over.”

“It’s not, Princess,” I say with confidence.

She moves her hands back to her hips. “Yes, Collins, it is. And stop calling me that!”

“I got your parents’ approval.”

“I ne—” Her words cut off, and her mouth closes shut. Then after a long pause, she lets out an exasperated exhale. “You are un-be-liev-able.”

I shrug, leaning back in my chair. “I’ve been called worse.”

“I’m not going to be with a man who walked away when he had a chance.”

“I never walked away from you, Penny.”

“Oh, that’s right… My bad. You actuallyranaway.”

“I didn’t do that either. I walked silently beside you the entire time.”

“I wish you would choose silence now.”

Ignoring her, I continue. “And if it takes longer for you to accept the reality of this whole situation, so be it.” I lean back in my chair and bend my arms behind my head. “I have all the time in the world.”

“My brothers will never approve.”

“I’m not living for your brothers’ approval when it’s yours I need most.”

“I’m on a date,” she blurts out.

I look behind her. “That’s cute. Is he invisible?”

She scoffs. “No.”

Well, at least they didn’t share a ride together.

I use my leg to kick out a chair at my table. “By all means, please sit down.”

She doesn’t.

The waitress drops off a bread basket and a dish of olive oil with herbs, and I can’t help but chuckle over Penny’s growling stomach.

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