Page 86 of The Penalty

“No, really. He would have kept hammering at you all through dinner if he didn’t like you. Or at least respect you.”

If that’s what admiration and respect look like to him, I don’t want to know what he does to his enemies.

Chapter 27

Game Misconduct

Cece

If my father doesn’tscare Dev off, he’s unshakable. Even Beau looks more thrown off by our dad than usual tonight, and he’s the clear favorite.

“How did you know about Dev’s family?”

Beau’s question leaves me cold again. Does he suspect? “Oh, I don’t know. You must have told me.”

“I wouldn’t do that.”

“We talked about it at the vet. It was a long night.” Dev is making a habit of saving me when my mouth gets me in trouble.

“Oh, yeah.” He still sounds a bit distant, but I think that’s more a reflection of everything else tonight rather than suspicion.

“Why is spending a single day with them so...” I’m yawning around thelast word.

“Because they’re terrible.”

That wakes me up. Beau knows, but he usually doesn’t talk about it so bluntly. Maybe it was all the talk of going pro. Dad was really driving the nails home on that one.

There’s nothing I want more than to spend the night in Dev’s arms, but I’m not sure how to make that work. Asking him to sneak out of the house in the middle of the night is probably a terrible idea. He’ll set off the alarm and the police will show up or something. I could sneak into his room, but that’s risky.

By the time I get home, I have the perfect solution. Beau drops me at the guest house, and I slip in, checking on my pets. Everyone looks good, although Loki is awake and annoyed that he can’t come out to play. I slip him a couple of extra treats along with his food as an apology.

Then I gather up a few things, stuffing them in a big tote bag before I slip across to the main house. I type in the code, resetting it after I get inside, and slip up the back stairs. The good thing about a house this large is it’s easier to avoid people when you want to.

I tiptoe up the stairs, checking the hall, and then sneak into my old bedroom. No one can get mad at me for sleeping in here. It is my room, after all. It’s only my pets that aren’t welcome in the house.

I shoot Dev a quick text, leave my door unlocked and hit the bathroom to brush my teeth and get changed. Disappointment sinks when he hasn’t replied by the time I’ve finished my routine.

I slide under the thick comforter, sinking into the pillow-top mattress when I hear a soft knock.

The covers go flying when I leap out of bed and over to the door. I pull it open, yanking him through, and shutting the door behind him.

“Did anyone see you?” I ask.

“No. That’s why it took so long. Beau was out in the hall the first time I tried to come. He came in and we chatted for a bit before he went to his own room. Then I waited a bit and tried again. All clear this time.”

“It was a tough night. I needed you.” It makes me realize how much I’ve started relying on him. For comfort. For confessions. When I see something funny, he’s the first one I tell. When I’m feeling upset, he’s the one I want to reassure me. It’s so much more than a fling, but can it really be anything meaningful when we can’t even tell the one person closest to both of us?

“I needed you too, Cupcake.”

He settles beside me on the bed, and I wrap myself up in his arms, inhaling the comforting smell clinging to him.

“I’m glad you’re here,” I mumble into his chest.

“Me too.”

He pulls back the blanket for me to get settled, then slides beside me, dragging the thick blanket over us both and rolling over to pull me tight against him. His lips land on my head.

I snuggle back, content to be in his arms. In this moment I don’t need anything else. Just him.

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