baby — because of your stupid pride. I know you care for me, Dillon
because I care for you in the same way. Do you think I wanted to fall in love
with you? Hell no. You were the last person on the planet I wanted to feel
anything for but sometimes fate has different plans and you and I, for whatever
reasons, feels right. Admit it. When you’re with me, you feel different, more
alive.”
He scowled, hating
that she was right. He stared her down. “Don’t you get it? I don’t love you!
You were a means to an end. I wanted to hurt my brothers and you were an easy
way to accomplish that goal. I’m not cut out to play house and I’m not about to
start trying when I know for a fact, I would fail miserably at it.”
“I don’t believe
you, you stubborn jerk,” she said hotly, rising from her seat. “You’re just a
coward who’s too afraid to admit that for the first time in his life, he wants
something that he’s too afraid to grab with both hands. All your money doesn’t
mean crap if you’re too stupid to realize when you have something within your
reach that could be really amazing!” She stomped out of the room and slammed
the bedroom door, causing him to follow quickly, if only to set the record
straight once and for all.
He kicked the door
open and it splintered the jam, startling Penny as she gasped in shock at his
aggression. “What the hell did you just do to my door, you jerk? You’re paying
for that, by the way,” she said with a dark glower as she pulled her night
shirt from her body, exposing all of those lovely curves. “Now, get out. I need
to shower — this booty call just ended.”
“You’re not a
booty call,” he said with a low growl. Why ‘d she have to take her shirt off?
How was he supposed to remain focused when all he saw were those gorgeous
breasts? Her eyes flashed with knowing yet she looked away, still angry. He
stalked her into the bathroom and she gasped in irritation that he’d followed
her. “Get this straight, I don’t think of you like that. Okay?”
“Make up your
mind. Just five minutes ago you claimed the only reason you showed up here was
because you were horny. I’d say by definition, that is a booty call.”
“What do you want
from me?” Dillon asked, his gaze devouring her lovely body. He itched to cup her
full breasts and bring them to his mouth but somehow, by the grace of God, he
kept his hands to himself. He lowered his voice, suddenly losing the will to
put up a front. “Penny, you deserve far better than me.”
“Such as your
brothers?”
“No.” He nearly
growled. He couldn’t stand the thought of Penny being with his brothers…or
anyone else for that matter. Damn it all! He claimed her mouth in a sudden
movement that shocked them both. His tongue sought out hers and they tangled
together in a sensual dance that immediately plumped his cock. He pulled away
reluctantly to stare down at her. Her eyelids fluttered open and she regarded
him with quiet grace. Why was she so beautiful? So perfect? He’d never find
another woman like her and he knew it but what was he willing to offer her?
“I’m a mess,” he admitted softly. “I don’t know how to deal with everything
I’ve learned in the past twenty-four hours. I want to kill my brothers for
keeping such a huge secret from me, but a part of me is tired of fighting with
them.”
“So stop fighting
with them,” she advised him as if it were that simple. “Dillon, my Papa used to
tell me that we make our own choices. You can choose to forgive. You can choose
to change the parts of your life that aren’t working any longer. You used anger
to drive you but you don’t need it any longer. You’re successful in your own
right; you don’t need your father’s money any longer and honestly, your
brothers are good men that if you’d give them half a chance, maybe you could
repair what was torn apart so many years ago.”
“You don’t know
what it’s like to be a Buchanan. Forgiveness