Page 10 of Someone You Deserve

God, he’s so tall. Seriously, it never fails to amaze me just how big of a man he is—and strong, dependable, stoic, but not afraid to speak up when it counts.

Jesus, you’re doing it again, Astrid. Stop ogling him in front of your mother, for crying out loud.

My mom chooses that moment to clear her throat. “Hi, Penn. Good to see you.”

“Hey, Melissa. Did you make enchiladas?” Penn sniffs the air dramatically.

My mother chuckles. “I sure did, and there are plenty left over. Help yourself.”

“Awesome. I didn’t eat yet.”

“You know there’s always a spot reserved for you here,” I say because it’s the truth. If there’s one other person on this planet that helps keep my world spinning besides my mom, it’s this man right here.

He’s the rock I never had, and the one I can’t afford to lose.

“Today was crazy, and I didn’t want to be late getting over here.” My mother fixes him a hefty plate as he takes a seat at the table. “Thanks.”

“Bentley, go get ready to get in the shower after your sister,” I say, glancing at the clock. Our game night won’t be a long one tonight since it’s already after seven.

“Fine.” He clears his plate and then scurries down the hall.

“Well, I’m gonna get out of your hair,” my mother declares as Penn scarfs down his food and I start cleaning up the kitchen.

“Thanks, Mom. I’ll see you tomorrow?” Once I get a solid schedule down at the bakery, I probably will only need my mom early in the mornings. Owning a bakery means rising before the sun most days so the baked goods are ready by six as people stop by on their way to work.

“Yup.” She kisses me on the cheek. “Have a good night, sweetie. And you too, Penn.”

Penn waves at her until he finishes chewing. “Thanks for dinner, Melissa.”

She winks at him. “My pleasure.”

After the door shuts behind her, I sigh as I make my way back over to the kitchen, turning the faucet on to wash the sink full of dishes. When my mother cooks, I clean. It’s the least I can do.

“So, busy day?”

Penn nods as he shovels his last bite in his mouth. “Extremely. I had to help Dallas at the restaurant during the lunch rush, and then I headed out to a project I just started working on.”

“What kind of project?” I ask, eyeing him over my shoulder.

He shrugs, avoiding my eyes. “It’s nothing. Just something to pay the bills.”

As I place the last clean dish in the rack on the counter, I say, “Well, I’ve got another project we need to discuss, too.”

Penn grins. “I’m ready.” He wipes the corner of his mouth, brings his plate to the sink, and takes the sponge from my hands, cleaning his own dish before placing it into the rack with the others.

God, he washes his own dishes. Why is that so freaking hot?

Once he’s done, he brushes past me, our arms touching as he walks by, and takes a notepad from the bag that he brought with him, along with a pen. “Oh, but before I forget.” He takes out a brand-new bag of Hershey Kisses, heads over to the glass vase on the small table by the front door, rips open the plastic, and pours in the candy until the vase is full once more.

“Penn…you don’t have to keep doing that,” I say, watching him as he empties the contents, careful not to spill them all over the floor.

“Yes, I do, Astrid.”

“Bentley already knows that you fill it up. Lilly will realize soon too, you know…”

He lifts his head and his eyes meet mine. “Well, until she does, I’m going to keep that smile on her face for as long as I can.”

If I didn’t already have feelings for this man, that would have sealed it right there.

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