The brunette turned away from me to hand the cashier her credit card, and it felt like all the warmth left the store. Like nothing would be the same again without her deep, dark eyes on me. Like everything in my life would always be less than if she wasn’t with me.
I had to know her name. Had to kiss those lips. Had to wrap my arms around her, hold her close.
After she paid, she spun around and gazed up at me. “Well, Cole. It was nice to meet you.”
“You didn’t tell me your name.”
“Penelope.” She blushed again. “My friends call me Penny.”
Penny.
My lucky Penny.
“Sir, can I help you?” the cashier asked.
Keeping my eyes on Penny, I said, “Can I have three loaves of sesame bread, please?”
“Sorry, sir. We’re all out.”
Penny’s head whipped around. “But I just bought some.”
“You took the last of it. We’re closing in twenty minutes.”
Penny looked down at her white shopping bag and back up at me. “You can have one of my loaves. One’s better than none.”
Sorry, Mom.
I shook my head. “No, no. Don’t worry about it. You bought it, fair and square.”
Her cheeks pushed up as she smiled, and I vowed right then and there to keep that smile on her face.
“Penny, would you like to have dinner with me?”
Her lips parted, and I had to hold myself back from claiming them as my own.
“It doesn’t have to be tonight, if you’re busy. Maybe tomorrow? Or Saturday? Whenever you’re free.”
She tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. “I’m free tomorrow night.”
Tomorrow.
My spirits soared.
From that moment on, my life was never the same.
That was the moment I let a woman steal my bread—and my heart.
Five
Callie
“Happy Fourth of July!”
“Happy Fourth of July, Miles.” I place my bowl of homemade potato salad on Josie’s patio table.
“Callie, you have to watch my flip! I’ve been practicing.”
“I can’t wait. Let me see if your mom needs help first. I’ll be back out in a few, and then I’m all yours.”
“Okay! Hey, Paul, want to watch me?”
Paul slides his sunglasses on and rubs the palms of his hands together. “Let’s see this flip I’ve been hearing about.”
I grin as I make my way inside.
“Oh, thank God you’re here.” Josie shoves Serenity at me when I step into the kitchen. “Take her. I still have to cut the vegetables, clean the chicken, mix the dip, and Lucas literally just shit up his entire back.”
I choke out a laugh. “Go. We’ll handle the kitchen. Isn’t that right, my sweet Serenity?”
Josie scurries into the hallway, holding Lucas out in front of her at arm’s length.
I spin in a circle, and Serenity giggles, flinging her arms around my neck.
“You look so beautiful in that dress. Are you going to stay up for the fireworks later?”
She nods emphatically. “Fire go boom.”
“Yes, it does. Now, let’s see. Where does Mommy keep her cutting board?”
“Cabinet to your left.”
I gasp, my head snapping in the direction of the deep voice.
“God. How long have you been lurking in the corner?”
Cole shrugs. “Since you walked in.”
“You scared me.”
“Like I told you, you’re jumpy.”
I roll my eyes and rummage through the tall, white cabinets for the cutting board. When I stand, Cole is at my side, invading the space I’m standing in. He gives me a gentle nudge with his elbow, and it’s not in the domineering way I’m accustomed to.
“I’ll chop. You can make the dip.”
I blink up at him, curiosity piquing my interest. He isn’t wearing his hat today, so his face is on full display. Hard lines and sharp angles, his chiseled jaw flexes like he’s thinking about something that’s pissing him off. His eyebrows slant downward, pinched together in the middle. Thick, chestnut hair sits in an overgrown, messy pile on his head.
Though he smells like fabric softener, his fitted gray T-shirt is wrinkly. He’s dirt-free, but he’s still unshaven, still rough around the edges. It’s a half-assed attempt to look presentable for the party, yet he’s incredibly handsome.
Makes me wonder how good he’d look if he put in a full-assed effort.
Cole tilts his head, and the full weight of his steel gaze bears down on me. “What?”
“You look clean today.”
Oh my God. Did I really just say that out loud?
“I mean nice. You look nice.” I clear my throat. “Gray is a good color on you.”
“Had to clean up.” His eyes narrow. “Heard the princess was coming.”
My top lip curls at the nickname he keeps tossing at me as an insult.
Jerk.
Plopping Serenity on the counter, I pour the packet of onion mix into a bowl with sour cream and stir. Her little hand wraps around the top of the spoon to help me. She observes Cole over my shoulder, leery eyes watching to see what he does, like she doesn’t trust him.
Smart kid.
Josie saunters back into the kitchen with a clean Lucas attached to her hip. “Need a damn hazmat suit every time I change this kid’s diaper.”
I chuckle. “Not surprising with how much he eats.”
The loud melody of the doorbell echoes in the room.
“Party!” Lucas shouts.
Josie carries him into the foyer, and I’m relieved that guests are starting to arrive. The awkward tension between me and Cole is palpable, to say the least.
Josie returns with a couple who she first introduces to her brother. They shake hands, and then it’s my turn.
“Callie, this is Dan’s co-worker, Jeff, and this is his wife, Brenda.”
“It’s nice to meet you.” I extend my hand to Brenda, and she shakes it with a bright smile.
With bleach-blond hair and a fit body, she’s much younger than Jeff, which is a common thing here in Orange County.
Jeff hoists their baby carrier onto the counter with a grunt. “Gonna pull my back out one of these days. This thing weighs a ton.”
I peer inside at the sleeping infant who’s mostly covered by a blue blanket. “Oh, my goodness. He is absolutely precious.”
“That’s just ‘cause he’s sleeping.” Jeff chuckles. “Don’t let him fool you. The kid can scream his head off.”
Brenda nods, running her pink acrylic fingernails through her loose waves. “We barely got any sleep last night. Our nanny had the night off for the holiday, and I could not get him to stop crying.”
“She’s talking about me, not Braxton.” Jeff’s round belly shakes as he cracks himself up.
“Josie, I don’t know how you do it without a nanny.” Brenda turns to me. “Do you have one?”
I shake my head, my stomach twisting as I prepare for the inevitable next question.
“How many children do you have?”
“None.” I offer her a smile and return to stirring the dip.