Page 21 of Too Good for Words (Silverberry Seduction Seasoned Romance)

Penta dashed into the house, down the hall, and out the front door, snatching up her purse on the way. Cash had brought her to the party, and in his current state he might forget all about her. Not that she would blame him. She couldn’t imagine how he was feeling.

She had the sneaking suspicion he had overreacted to seeing his daughter being embraced. But the boy appeared unhurt, only embarrassed. Cash needed to know that she, if no one else, was willing to listen to his side of the story.

His dark blue pickup was parked a few houses away. The rear lights flashed as the engine started and she scurried down the street, panting from her unaccustomed sprint. Reaching the driver’s side door, she knocked on the window to catch his attention.

His head turned slowly, as if his muscles weren’t under his control. Though he appeared to meet her eyes, she wasn’t sure he was seeing anything other than the disaster he’d left behind.

“Stay right there.” Not waiting for a reply, she hustled around the hood, scrambled into the cab, and sank onto the seat.

Her command to remain parked didn’t appear to have been necessary. Though the truck was running, he made no move toward the gear shift.

After several moments of silence, during which she struggled to find something to say that wouldn’t sound condemning or condescending, Cash spoke.

“Are you sure you want to be seen with me?” His tone was so bitter she was surprised frost didn’t appear on the windshield. “I’m the guy that attacks children, after all.”

“I’ll grant you may have been a bit rough and probably terrified the kid, but you didn’t hurt him.” The urge to shield him—from himself, if necessary—was almost as strong as the familiar urge to shield her children when they did stupid things. “You were protecting Elle.”

Despair leeched from every cell in his body. “From her boyfriend. I’m a fool. Elle is never going to talk to me again.”

She wouldn’t give him false hope. “You haven’t helped matters at all, no. But are you going to give up after one mistake?”

His glance was heavy with shame. “It was a pretty big mistake.”

“Wait until things calm down and then reach out to Elle. Apologize, grovel, do whatever it takes to fix it.” She huffed a short laugh. “If anyone had told me how many mistakes I’d make as a parent, I would never have believed them. But children are resilient, both in mind and body. Elle wants to love you. She’ll forgive you.” Then, because she had to be honest, added, “In the end.”

His beard twitched as the corner of his mouth quirked. “In the end.” Some of the tension eased from his shoulders. “I imagine you won’t want Cyril near me after seeing that. He doesn’t have to come anymore. And if you want out of our agreement”—he wriggled his shoulders in a rolling motion that revealed his internal discomfort more than any words could— “I’ll understand. I don’t think you signed on for this.”

“Maybe not, but I don’t want out. And Cyril owes you every hour. If you were going to be a danger to him, it would have been the night you caught him, not now.” Cash’s hand clenched on his thigh, the bones stark and white beneath the skin. Giving into impulse, she reached out and squirmed her fingers into his tight fist. He resisted a moment before intertwining their hands, holding on so hard her knuckles ground together. She didn’t protest. “I don’t want to be all gushy and sentimental, but you’re my friend, Cash. I’m not giving up on you. And I won’t let you give up on yourself.”

CASH COULDN’T UNDERSTAND Penta. He’d used brute force against a teenager, for fuck’s sake. She should be going all Momma Bear and threatening retribution if he went near her or her kids ever again.

Yet, here she was, declaring that he was her friend. And holding his hand. He’d never imagined how such a simple connection could be so affirming, so consoling.

So arousing.

How inappropriate could his body be? His stones should be shrivelled from humiliation, not drawing up tight with desire. He scolded his stiffening cock into submission.

Squeezing her hand gently in a gesture he hoped she’d interpret as thanks, he released her, put the truck in gear, and rolled out onto the street.

A few minutes later, he parked on the street in front of Penta’s house. Cyril and a young man who looked enough like him to assume he was Penta’s other son were playing one-on-one in the driveway, shooting a worn basketball into a freestanding hoop with a tattered net. The older youth snatched the ball from Cyril’s grip and then stood still, tossing it back and forth between his hands while staring at Cash, eyes narrowed.

Penta made no move to escape the cab. “That’s Felix. My eldest.”

“I don’t think he likes me.” He could respect the boy’s instincts, even as he wished for a different response.

“Don’t take it personally.” She scrubbed her palms on her thighs. “He’s been protective of me since his dad and I split up.”

On the driveway, Cyril batted the ball away from his brother and the game resumed, though Felix managed to throw wary glances in Cash’s direction with disturbing frequency.

“Want to come and meet them and the girls? They should be home too.”

He could read nothing but calm welcome in Penta’s question. Twisting slightly in his seat, he faced her. “You really mean to go on with this? After everything that just happened?”

Her nose wrinkled as she pressed her lips together before answering. “I do. You haven’t done anything to help my street cred yet.”

He didn’t laugh at her use of the ridiculous phrase this time, but appreciated her attempt to lighten the mood. “If you’re sure...”

“I am.” She opened the door and shot a challenging look over her shoulder. “Coming?”

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