Page 55 of Lovestrung

“I bet Mama and Dad loved spending time with you.”

“Yeah, it was a good day.”

We both fell silent, but it didn’t feel awkward. In fact, the longer the silence stretched out, the more I realized how much it meant to me that we could still be like this – quiet together – the same way we had been as children.

“So, what’s next for you?” I asked.

A small frown appeared between her eyebrows. “I don’t know that yet.”

I let the words hang in the air for a few seconds. “Maybe you can go back working for your dad for a while.”

Sadness overtook her features as she leaned back in her seat. “I don’t think that’s really what I want to do, Ethan.” A humorless laugh fell from her lips. “Problem is, I don’t know what I want. Except…”

“Except what, Pen?”

“I want to be happy. I want to find my passion, to have goals in life that make me strive to do better in every single aspect of what I do.” She grabbed her wine glass, surprising me when she tipped her head back and swallowed what was left of the wine in large gulps.

“We all want that in our lives, sunshine,” I murmured softly. “You’re smart, driven…you’ll find your feet when you’re ready.”

She stood up, empty glass in hand, and went to the bar to refill it. “You’re on your way to getting what you want, aren’t you?”

It was my turn to look away. “I hope so. Being a vet has always been my dream, and now that my final exams are over and done with, I guess it’s only a matter of time before I find the job I want. Or open up my own practice.”

“I’m really happy for you, but I’m sorry I couldn’t make it home to your graduation.” The quiet joy in her voice made me glance back at her. “You need a dog in your home, by the way. That’s the only thing missing as far as I can tell.”

I flashed her a boyish smile. “Yeah, your mom has said the same thing many times, and I’ve thought of it myself. I guess what it boils down to is timing.” I stood up and stretched. “I haven’t had the time to have a dog, but now...maybe it’s time.”

“Will you go to the animal shelter and pick one?”

“Absolutely.”

There was no doubt in my mind about that and when her eyes turned soft, I knew she understood my wish to pick a dog that someone else had discarded or couldn’t keep anymore for various reasons.

“Want some company when you do? I’m going to get Mom the new dog she’s been begging for for years now.”

“I’d love that, actually.”

My lips tipped up in the corners at the way her eyes shined back at me from across the room.

“So, um, change of subject.” She set her glass aside on the table top and moved back toward me. “Where’s the bathroom?”

I jerked my chin at the other end of the loft. “Go through the small hall at the end and turn right. It’s right next to my bedroom.”

“Gotcha.”

I couldn’t stop myself from staring at her ass as she left the room. The way her hips swayed when she took the steps that would lead her into my bedroom was distracting, to say the least, but as she disappeared from my line of sight, I managed to pull the hazy fog of need away and I started to clear the table. Once everything was put away in the dish washer, I went to the wall next to my front door and turned the switch down until the lights dimmed.

I looked the way she’d gone and frowned. What was taking her so long?

While I poured another glass of wine, I ran a hand through my hair, surprised when I noticed my hand trembling.

I hadn’t been this nervous around a woman in so long, but again, this wasn’t just any girl.

It was Penelope. My girl.

During dinner, it hadn’t been easy to stop myself from touching her, but I’d managed it. I’d focused on making her comfortable, and after a while, it had been effortless.

Being with her had always been a balm to my raging soul, but now…now, the date part of the night was over, and the need to kiss her – to be with her in any way possible – flared up inside me. As I brought my glass over to the table in front of the couch, I felt my dick harden, and I took a few deep breaths as I sat down.