Page 51 of On a Fault Line

“Seriously,” Penny hisses, eachssounding more like ashhsound. “I’m right here soaking up all your weirdness. Please stop.”

Nic and Graham give me a look and I nod, confirming I’ll see to it that Penny gets back home safely. When they texted earlier, I was relieved that they planned to meet us here, and especially now that I know how strong the margaritas are. Penny’s either a lightweight or they have a heavy-handed bartender. Regardless, she needs to be cut off and given a chance to sober up.

The brothers shake hands with me and thank me for taking care of their women, and I can’t help but feel that raw feeling of betrayal sneak up my throat as I think about how I’ll be taking care of Penny in the bedroom as soon as I can get her home.

That girl has driven me nearly to implosion over her antics today.

Taking my last bite of a taco, I wipe my mouth and push back my chair. “Ready to go?”

“Yesh,” Penny says, but then whines and starts looking underneath napkins and behind drink glasses.

“What’s wrong?”

“I can’t find my phone.”

“The one in your hand?” I point out.

Tossing her head back, Penny lets out a laugh. Yup. Spanking sounds pretty good right now. This drunken princess needs a lesson in overindulging.

Regaining her focus, Penny tries to unlock her phone using weird faces. What the hell is so funny? She won’t stop laughing as her screen rejects her. “My phone doesn’t recognize my tipsy face.”

“That’s probably true,” I say, resisting a laugh. At least she recognizes her state of mind. That’s semi reassuring.

“Bingo! Now I can call a ride thingy,” she says with purpose.

“The hell you will.”

“You not the boss of me, Mr. Boss Man.”

“Why would you call a ride when I’m right here willing to drive you back to my bedroom?”

“Because I’m not even sure you like me after today.”

I growl. “I like you, Penny. But when we get home, I’m going to fuck you like I hate you. You pulled way too many stunts today.”

This girl is going to cause me to lose it in public. I’ve been on the verge all day.

I toss some bills onto the table to cover the tab and tip. “Let’s go.”

Her arms cross in defiance. “Fine.”

I can’t help but smirk at her distaste for giving in to my wishes. I’m all about testing boundaries, but drinking like she did today is irresponsible. What would have happened if I wasn’t here to watch over her?

I watch as Penny struggles to stand up, yet refuses the hand I’m offering to her. “Take my hand, woman.”

“No.”

“Yes.”

“Oh shit,” she snaps, as her handbag contents spill out onto the concrete slab underneath the table. “I made a boo-boo.”

I help her pick up her items and then haphazardly toss the entire handbag into one of the shopping bags. “C’mon,” I say, taking her hand.

Penny doesn’t resist this time as we walk back to my car with her two left feet. It’s a sheer miracle I keep her from face-planting multiple times.

I get her settled into the front passenger seat and then round the back of the car where I have a case of water in the trunk. I grab one, put the shopping bags inside, and then enter the driver’s seat.

“I’m not thirsty,” she says, but takes the bottle anyway when I insist.

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