Total pages in book: 102
Estimated words: 99766 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 499(@200wpm)___ 399(@250wpm)___ 333(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 99766 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 499(@200wpm)___ 399(@250wpm)___ 333(@300wpm)
Grandma’s house.
Sure, there are lots of good memories here and Grandma has taken care of me like she were my own mother, but there’s a sense of dread that has hung over me like a cloud ever since I woke up from my coma.
The moment I go inside and clean out my shit, I’m officially turning a new chapter in my life. I’m manning up. Letting go of my youth. Starting adulthood…finally.
With a heavy sigh, I exit Cal’s truck I borrowed and trot up to the front door. Before I let myself in, someone pulls in the driveway beside the truck. I look over my shoulder, pleased but surprised to see an orange Jeep.
Penny shuts off the Jeep and climbs out, pulling a bag over her shoulders. “Hey, Smash.”
“Hey, beautiful.”
She walks right up to me, her head tilting up so she can look at me. “Gross.”
A laugh tumbles out of me. “I tell you you’re beautiful and you tell me gross. Learn to take a compliment, mean-ass.”
Her lips quirk on one side. “I meant you, standing there with your cheesy grin and trying to woo me is gross.”
“Then why’re you smiling if it’s so gross?” I tuck an errant strand of hair behind her ear. “I think you secretly like it.”
“You’ll never know.” Her blue eyes twinkle.
“That’s where you’re wrong,” I murmur, dipping my lips to her forehead and pressing a kiss there. “I can read your eyes now. I don’t need your lips to smile for me. Your eyes are the glimpse inside.”
I pull away and she’s frowning again.
“I want to kiss you,” I admit, searching her eyes that communicate so much. “Last time, I scared you off, though.” I rub my thumb along her lip, wishing like hell she would let me do it again.
Her brows furrow harder. “Stop talking, Smash. You know my answer.”
With those words, she stands on her toes, parting her lips for me. I don’t have to be told twice. Gently, I press my lips to hers, needing to taste her more than I need air right now. I groan when her tongue lashes against mine, greedy and ravenous. She gets spooked so easily, so holding her is probably a bad idea, but I need her in my arms. I slide my hand to her back, pulling her against me. A tiny mewl escapes her, sending currents of desire straight to my dick.
She tastes like mint and madness.
A delicious, fresh tease into the unknown.
That’s what it is with her. The unknown. Each second I spend with her is in some subspace I don’t recognize. I understand women, but not Penny. Penny is a mystery that I feel is my duty to unravel.
I will unravel her.
Thread by thread until I reach the very marrow of who she is.
I want her to be mine.
Scary as fuck since I’m not the guy who settles down whatsoever for a chick. Penny’s not some normal chick. She’s everything all the rest weren’t and more. I feel slighted that I’ve been wasting time with women who were only one sliver of what Penny is.
The accident changed me.
For the better.
Opened my fucking eyes.
Perfection has been staring me in the face for years. Probably not appropriate until now—hell, not until April if we’re being precise—but still there. Fate’s got fuckin’ jokes. Teasing you with a future, dangling it right in front of you, but letting you be blind to it until it’s the right time.
“When you’re done trying to get my best friend pregnant, come inside and see what Grandma’s done to your room.” Tierra laughs from behind me. “If I didn’t know better, I’d say she’s been waiting your whole life to get rid of you.”
I hold my middle finger above my head, reluctantly pulling away from my kiss with Penny. Her cheeks are tinged pink and her lips are swollen. Fuck, she’s gorgeous.
“Spooked?” I tease.
“We talking about that crazy eye of yours, because, if so, that’s pretty spooky.”
I give Penny a playful smack to the ass before stepping away. “Keep it up, English. One of these days I’m gonna punish you for all your insults.”
Her blue eyes twinkle and she smiles.
She fucking smiles.
With the sun shining on her golden-blond hair, she looks like a goddamn angel, too. All I can do is stare, because this girl is going to wreck me in the best possible way.
“Bye, Smash.” She bounds off, headed for my cousin. “Roll your tongue back up.”
“They just keep adding up, baby,” I taunt.
“Didn’t know you could count that high with that head injury,” she calls out.
“Stop talking, woman.”
“That’s my line,” she sasses, looking over her shoulder with a smirk.
“And you’re mine. That means I get your lines too.”
Tierra gives me an arched eyebrow, but I shrug. It’s about damn time everyone learns Penny and I are going to happen. It’s only a matter of time.