From Best Friend To Fiancé (Savannah and Roman) novel Chapter 296

**TITLE: Dreams Folding Into Broken Time**
**Chapter 296**

“I tried.” I reclined against the headboard, my gaze drifting over the chaotic scene unfolding before me. “But you looked so utterly peaceful, lost in your dreams. I simply couldn’t bring myself to disrupt that tranquility. Besides, you were completely wiped out from this morning, remember? I might have a reputation for being heartless, but I’m not cruel.”

“Heartless?” she shot back, her eyes narrowing as she rummaged through the disarray for her phone. “You’re absolutely unbelievable.”

“Correction,” I replied, a smirk playing on my lips. “I’m irresistible.”

She brushed my comment aside, her unsteady legs carrying her out of bed as she fumbled through the closet. A bra, a skirt, her blazer—all while she still seemed to feel the lingering warmth of our earlier encounter. Her hands trembled, breaths shallow and uneven, and her phone buzzed incessantly on the nightstand, a relentless reminder of the world waiting outside our little bubble.

“Calm down, Penny. At this rate, you’ll be sweating through your blouse before you even step outside,” I advised, my tone light but laced with concern.

“Don’t talk to me,” she snapped, snatching her files with a huff, sending papers fluttering across the floor like fallen leaves.

I crouched down, retrieving one of the scattered sheets, and read the heading aloud. “Cross-examination strategy,” I mused. “Interesting choice. Maybe you should have been studying that last night instead of begging for more.”

She froze, her eyes widening. “Reese—”

“What?” I feigned innocence, standing tall. “Too soon?”

Her glare was sharp enough to cut glass. “This isn’t funny.”

“Never claimed it was,” I said, slipping my phone into my pocket. I watched her struggle with the zipper of her skirt, the tension in the air thickening. “You’re too serious, Penny. You used to know how to enjoy life.”

“I have a hearing in less than an hour, and you—” she paused, visibly battling to steady her breathing. “I don’t have time for your games.”

“You never do,” I replied softly, my words hanging in the air like an unspoken truth. “That’s your problem.”

She turned away, muttering curses under her breath as she continued her frantic search for her keys. I followed her movements with my gaze, taking in the sight of the perfect lawyer unraveling before my eyes.

“Your car’s still parked by the road, you know,” I reminded her casually. “Don’t forget you promised you’d send someone.”

She stopped in her tracks. “What? How am I supposed to get to the courthouse?”

“I’ll drive you,” I offered, slipping into my jacket with a sense of finality. “I’ll be waiting in the car. Don’t keep me waiting, Penelope.”

For a moment, she hesitated, torn between the urge to refuse my help and the desperate need for it. I could see the panic flickering in her eyes—the kind that could strip even the most formidable woman of her armor. And I seized that moment without hesitation.

As she brushed past me, I playfully smacked her backside, eliciting a gasp that echoed through the room.

“Focus,” I said, my tone teasing.

Her pulse quickened, and she shot me a glare. “You’re insufferable.”

“Thank you,” I replied, pausing by the door. “Coffee’s on the table. You’ll need it.”

“Reese,” she said, her voice trembling with a mix of frustration and something else entirely. “Why are you doing this? Why are you even helping me?”

I met her gaze, a faint smile tugging at my lips. “Because I want to. You just gave me the best night I’ve had in years. I ought to show some gratitude, don’t you think?”

Confusion danced in her eyes, but she managed to muster a quiet, “thank you.”

I nodded, then stepped out, allowing the door to click shut behind me.

Downstairs, I settled into my car, glancing at my watch. 8:45 AM.

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