But damn if they aren’t right. I’m falling Hard. Deep. Fast. And there’s no pulling back
???
Penelope
Summer leans back, smirking knowingly as Cas slips to the bar near his brothers. I want to roll my eyes, but my stomach’s already doing somersaults. He tips his hat ever so slightly in my direction, that signature grin tugging at his lips. It’s impossible not to stare.
“So…” Summer says slyly, making me jump. She laughs, dipping a fry in ketchup.“You and Sheriff Tall, Dark, and Handsome dating already?”
I almost choke on my beer.“What? No!”
Summer raises a brow, her grin pure mischief.“The way he looked at you just now? Girl, if looks could strip a dress…”
“Summer!” I laugh, my cheeks are on fire.
She just grins knowingly.“He’s smitten. You’d have to be blind not to see it.” She nods toward Cas, still watching me across the room. The heat of his gaze lingers like a touch.
Why do I feel so completely exposed?
I take a shaky sip of beer, trying not to think about the way his voice sounded when he called meSunset,like it was ours alone.“I don’t know,” I admit softly.
“You’re scared,” Summer says, her teasing fading to something gentler.
“Can you blame me?” I laugh, though it comes out half-nervous, half-defensive.
“No, I get it,” she nods, taking another fry.“But then again… how much are you going to let Mark steal from you?”
Her words hit hard. Mark stole so much, my safety, my trust, my sense of control, my photography.My life.
I shake my head, voice low.“I don’t want him to have this power over me anymore. But I’ve known Cas for just three weeks… what will people say? Isn’t that too soon?”
Summer’s hand finds mine across the table.“Penny… love doesn’t have a time stamp. Just because you’ve known someone a short time doesn’t mean it can’t be right.” She gives me a small, knowing smile.“Trust me, I know. Kevin and I were high school sweethearts, knew each other since kindergarten, and look where that got us.”
Summer’s expression softens, thoughtful.“Knowing someone for twenty years doesn’t make them right for you.”
I squeeze her hand.“I’m sorry you had to go through that.”
She shrugs, offering a faint smile.“I’m sorry you had a bastard ex too. But he’s already stolen so much from you, Penny. Don’t let him take this away from you too.”
Hope and fear both stir in my chest.“What if he ends up being a mistake?”
“What if he doesn’t?” Summer smiles softly.“People talk, I’ve learned that much at the coffee shop. But Cas is a good man. Everyone respects him. Give him a chance. If it doesn’t work out, at least you tried… and you took your power back.”
I nod slowly. Summer leans back, a mischievous grin tugging at her lips.“It’s time to live, Penny.”
Before I can say anything, a country song kicks up and Summer squeals.“That’s my song! Come on!”
She grabs my hand, pulling me onto the dance floor before I can protest. Everyone’s line dancing, boots stomping in rhythm. I stumble through the first few steps, but Summer’s patient, exaggerating her stomps and claps until I’m laughing too hard to care.
I feel light, weightless.
Men whistle and cheer as we dance. One leans in to tell me I have the prettiest smile in the room; another asks for my number. I shake them off politely, but I canfeelCas’s gaze across the floor, hot, steady, unblinking. My pulse races, every nerve in my body is aware of him.
Then the music slows. The lights dim slightly. A deeper, sensual tune fills the air, the kind that wraps around you and doesn’t let go.
Cas moves through the crowd with the quiet confidence of a predator, every step measured, every glance deliberate. He reaches me without ever breaking eye contact, and my chest tightens.
“Can I have this dance, Sunset?”
