I bury my face in the crook of his neck, losing myself in his scent.
Cologne. Pine soap. Miles.
A stray tear slips down my cheek as a horrible thought settles over me.
This might be the last time I ever feel this wanted. This consumed by someone.
Because no matter how hard Miles and I try to deny it, whatever this thing between us is—it stopped being just sex for a while now.
This is love.
Chapter 27
Miles
Penny and I have been working nonstop since we got back from NYC. The night crew has been incredible, seamlessly finishing whatever the day crew starts—wiring, drywall, painting, you name it. At this point, all that’s left is landscaping once spring fully arrives. The first azaleas are already starting to bloom, so we’re getting close.
And the closer we get to finishing this project, the more unsettled I feel.
The night in New York was fucking magical.
It gave me a taste of something I’ve spent years pretending I didn’t want. A woman to come home to every night. Someone to spoil rotten, laugh with, sleep beside. Someone I could treat like my queen before making her come apart underneath me.
Basically, I want Penny.
Bad.
“Hey, you ready?” Xander asks as he steps into the rink.
I nod and follow him toward the conference room. We’re still waiting for the actual furniture to arrive, but in the meantime, we’ve been making do with folding tables and chairs Mama had in the shed.
“Hello, everyone,” Penny says the moment Xander and I walk in.
I haven’t seen her all day. She's been driving back and forth to Charlotte all week instead of staying at my place like she has all winter.
I haven’t asked about it because I already know what it means.
It’s fine. Totally doesn't feel like someone’s peeling my skin off.
“Miles, do you agree?” Gio asks.
“What?” I scratch my neck. “I’m sorry, I didn’t catch that.”
A grin spreads across Xander’s face. “You’re so pussy-whipped,” he mutters under his breath.
I try to elbow him, but the asshole dodges me easily.
“It’s okay,” Penny says smoothly, slipping into her polished boss voice. “It’s been a long week, and we’re all tired and ready for the weekend.” She glances around the room before continuing. “I was just sharing with Gio and Xander that we’re pretty much done here. This is the last week for the night crew, and since all we have left is cosmetic touch-ups and landscaping, I’m heading back to Charlotte and will come back for inauguration day.”
I feel like I was thrown into Lake Lure with a bag of bricks tied to my ankles.
“Umm…” Brilliant response, Miles.
She’s right. The project’s almost done. We already have all the materials we need, and anything else can be easily bought.
There’s no reason for her to stay.
Still, every selfish part of me wants to tell her that she can’t leave me.
