Page 15 of Power Plays & Proposals

Scooting to the middle, I gave her a smile. "Hey."

"Charlie's is the best. You're going to love it. They make brownies as big as my head."

"Do they now?"

"And the fudge ice cream is the very best flavor..."

She continued to talk, but I became distracted as Nate got into the driver's seat and pulled on his seat belt. His fingers brushed my hip as he buckled himself in. He handed me my own belt and I felt my cheeks warm as I moved to buckle myself in. I was grateful for Penelope as she kept up her chatter for the entire drive to the restaurant. She didn't seem to notice or mind that I was sitting close enough to her dad to realize that he smelled like amber, musk, and a hint of vanilla cupcakes.

Penelope showed me her professional colored pencils and sketchbook, and the fancy case she could carry them around in.

I was still wondering why he chose to smell like cupcakes when he pulled up outside of a restaurant with a big glowing sign declaring it as Charlie's. There were cars lining up around the block, and photographers treating the entrance like the red carpet.

My jaw dropped, "Is it always this busy during lunch?"

"No. That’s why I like coming here for lunch."

Nate drove us up to the valet, and got out to hand the keys to the attendant. Another attendant opened Penelope's door, and she hurried to put her colored pencils back in their case. Three of them didn’t quite go into their slots and fell to the ground. The attendant bent down to grab them and help her put them away. I wasn’t going to be able to get out on that side anytime soon. Nate reached in for my hand to help me out on the driver's side. I scooted as elegantly as I could while avoiding a knee to the steering wheel.

Nate blocked the cameras as I slid out of the truck. With a steadying hand at my back, Nate guided me past the photographers and into the restaurant. Penelope was already inside and had her artist case with her.

The hostess smiled in greeting. "Mr. Mitchell, it's so good to have you and Miss Penelope with us again so soon. Your usual table?"

"Make it for three."

The hostess smiled at me. "Of course. We have a table by the window if you'd like."

"Perfect," Nate said.

The hostess checked my coat and scarf before leading us through the restaurant to a table covered with a white tablecloth and four table settings. The hostess quickly grabbed one of the place settings to get it out of the way. Penelope took one side of the table and Nate helped me into the chair near the window before taking the remaining seat. A server appeared, filling our glasses with water and asking what else he could get us, before he disappeared with the extra chair.

Penelope pulled out her sketchbook, turned to a new page, and started to draw on it. Completely absorbed in what she was doing, she disregarded everything around her. Nate and I might as well be alone for how much she ignored us. She was completely comfortable in a jersey and jeans despite the fact that everyone else in the room was dressed in their finest. I think I even saw a man in a tux with a woman wearing a dress from Paris Fashion Week.

The ambiance of the place screamed cozy elegance. The lighting was charming but dimmed to give the feeling of coziness. The walls were painted in warm tones while the floor was a dark wood. I fidgeted and felt completely inadequate in my yellow handknit sweater, and pencil skirt.

"Dad, can I have your phone?" Penelope asked. "I want to look up how to draw a fox."

Nate handed over his phone without question and Penelope snatched it like a toddler being offered a cookie. She quickly started searching for the video, ignoring the two of us once more.

"So..." Nate said.

"So...?" I answered.

He smiled at me and I noticed that his gaze had a softness that made him feel approachable. "Do you like doing hair?" he asked.

I picked up my glass of water and took a sip as I thought about what to say. "I like making people feel pretty, but the salon wasn’t my favorite place I’ve worked at."

"Was?"

The server returned with our drinks, saving me from having to answer. He carefully set the lemonade Penelope had ordered in front of her, and placed a little bowl with lemon slices for my water by my glass. After setting down an extra glass of water in front of Nate he pulled out his notepad and asked, "Are you ready to order?"

Penelope practically bounced out of her chair. "I'd like to get the lasagna and a Big Brownie Sundae with chocolate, strawberry, and vanilla ice cream. Extra sprinkles and chocolate sauce."

The server smiled as he wrote it all down, then looked at me. "And for you Miss?"

I looked at my menu, my eyes nearly bulged out of my head at the prices. I could get a week’s worth of groceries for the cost of Penelope's order. I looked for the cheapest thing on there, a regular house salad, and ordered that.

"Any dessert?" he asked.

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