Page 264 of On a Fault Line

She is the sunshine my dark life needed.

And I’ll forever be trying to be the man I know she deserves.

I may say I own this girl in the bedroom, but in reality, I’ve been hers way longer than I care to admit.

I’d do anything for her.

I want to take care of her financially, make sure she is fed properly, and assure she attends her therapy sessions regularly.

Penny Hoffman has softened my hard, protective shell and has helped me to see my full potential.

Moving our linked fingers up to my mouth, I kiss each one of hers.

Her skin smells of strawberries. And I’m obsessed.

“Who would have thought Collins Stone could be so romantic?”

I smile down at her. “Shhh…don’t share our secret.”

Penny huffs out a laugh. “I’m pretty sure the entire world knows by now. You are pretty famous.”

She is referring to the World News reporting on the Soulful Mind takedown. Apparently Tanner’s twin brothers have been wanted for years and by many countries for their terrorist behaviors.

Clearly, Graham, Nic, and I did the world a big favor to rid the planet of their lives.

Walking hand in hand toward the back of the shop, I take note of all of our surroundings and the people present, just like I’ll always be conditioned to do.

Penny’s eyes scan the area. Her bottom lip pouts out in the most adorable way. “I don’t see him.”

“He’s over there.” I point with my free hand.

Realization hits her face and then she detaches from me and breaks off into a semi-run. Within seconds, she finds herself scooped up into an embrace by her former roommate, Luke.

Chuckling at their over-the-top reaction, I stalk toward the duo.

“I am so sorry, Luke,” Penny says, her voice muffled as she cries into his shoulder.

I pay close attention to the roommate’s hand placement on my princess’s back and allow for them to enjoy this reunion without me ripping her from his clutches like my initial instinct suggests.

It’s hard to relax in a setting where my girl is in someone else’s arms. But I try.

And not beating the shit out of him is progress toward being “less of a caveman”—which are Penny’s exact words from the pep talk she gave me prior to arriving.

Even an old dog can learn new tricks. Again…her words.

“I was set up by that fucker who used me to get closer to you. I don’t blame you for distrusting me,” Luke says calmly.

Oddly enough, his personality has grown on me. But not enough for me to allow Penny to watch him shake his junk for cash. Nope. That will never happen again. She had her one and done fun.

“I’m still sorry. I was so mad at life and used you as a scapegoat without even trying to hear you out.”

“I’m not upset,” he promises.

Penny sniffles, and I pass her a tissue from a box at a little book table in the corner. “I’m just glad we all lived to tell about it.”

Luke’s eyes catch mine, and then they move back to Penny’s. “Does this mean you are moving back in?”

I let out a half laugh, not because his statement is funny, but because hell will have to freeze over first before I let this girl out of my sight.

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