Henry laughs and shakes his head. He’s used to my stubbornness, and he knows when I’m not in the mood to be around anyone. I’m pretty sure his sister is to thank for that.
“The first room on the left is mine. All the bedrooms have a small wreath on the door. Just pick one that doesn’t look occupied.”
I raise a brow and curl my lip. “Am I going to find—”
“Everyone is down in the pool room. Don’t worry.” He gives me a wide, knowing grin.
Let’s just say there was a time I walked in on Jesse, Luke, and a sexy little cowgirl at a Halloween party. If I could burn the images out of my head, I would.
I nod as Henry shoves his hands into his pockets and turns, but I bolt down the stairs and wrap my arms around his neck before he can get too far.
“Whoa, what’s this for?”
I squeeze him until his arms wrap around my middle. “I would’ve really felt alone if I’d stayed back at my dorm. Thank you.”
His arms flex tighter at my words. “Don’t mention it, Pen. I’m glad you’re here.”
I feel his lips against the top of my head before I let go and head up to find a bed and a shower. I pass five bedrooms, eyeing the one at the end of the hallway and hoping one of the boys hasn’t claimed it. I want as much privacy as I can get.
I knock and slowly open the door, releasing a breath of relief when I see the king-size bed is still made and there are no bags or luggage in sight.
The pine headboard and armoire add to the cozy cabin aesthetic along with the cashmere plaid throw blanket and the fluffy duvet. It pains me to turn away from what I know will be a deep slumber, but I will regret going to sleep in my filth if I don’t bathe now.
I squeal to myself when I walk into my very own bathroom. The Jacuzzi tub will have to be a nightly ritual while I’m here with its view of the mountainside and small twinkling lights from town. But tonight, the shower is calling my name.
My head is too busy, trying to restructure the Christmas I thought I was going to have with the one I’m stuck with instead, that I forget to grab my shower supplies from my duffel. Luckily, there’s some body wash, shampoo, and conditioner already in the shower. It’s expensive-looking, so I only use a little dollop of each before I shut the water off and wring my hair out.
Towels, towels. Where are the towels?
I frantically look around as the steam begins to dissipate and my skin puckers with tiny goose bumps.
With no towels in sight, I make my way to the armoire I remember seeing just outside the bathroom, but as soon as I open the door, I’m greeted with a collared black shirt, covering a hard chest.
A cry tears through my throat in surprise. I quickly look up, and my gaze lands on two familiar dark green eyes.
Baylor.
He tilts his head, and strands of brown hair fall across his brow. “What are you doing in my room,Penny?”
2
Find a Penny
Every fiber in my body tells me to cover myself. To hide my soft flesh from him. He doesn’t deserve to see it.
But I don’t flinch. I keep myself steady. Confident. He expects me to squirm underneath his stare, but I won’t give him the satisfaction.
Baylor’s eyes remain on mine rather than running down my naked body, and I think that’s more of an insult than his next words.
“Thehelpstay downstairs, Penny.”
As his nickname for me falls from his mouth again, I do my best not to shake at the feeling it always leaves behind, like tiny insects are crawling on my skin.
Penny.Ugh.
He got the brilliant idea to call me that shortly after Henry began calling me Pen, and it is not as cute or endearing as it sounds.
Pen is short for Aspen. It’s simple. Convenient. Respectful.
