Page 100 of Positively, Penelope

His palm went to his chest. Yes, Grandfather saw it too. The joy and effervescence of his grandmother glowed in the person of Penelope Edgewood. The same beautiful soul. The same faith in people and dreams and... the impossible? “Quite fitting, luv.”

The endearment emerged, every time, without premeditation. It simply fit her.

“You look wonderfully handsome in tails, Mr.Gray.” She stepped back and studied him from head to toe, then her gaze stopped on his face. “Even with a crooked mask.”

“A crooked—”

She reached up to straighten his simple black mask and her shoe hit his, sending her a little off-kilter. He steadied her with a palm to her elbow, but the movement kept her close. His palm slid up her arm, her skin cool and soft beneath his touch.

“All fixed,” she breathed out, and her tone made him wonder. Ifthe mask hadn’t cloaked her full expression, would he have been able to see her attraction?

In a previous life, he’d have been more demonstrative, more certain. But after Deirdre and with the uncertainty of Penelope’s interest, not to mention willingness to commit to a long-distance relationship, he doubted himself at all turns.

“Penelope!” someone called, their voice distant.

Penelope blinked up at him and then turned.

Grandfather marched forward with a small entourage of five people trailing behind, rather prestigious-looking folks too. “Dear girl, I have some local businessmen and artisans here who’d like a word with you about your marketing strategies.” He waved toward his group. “May I pull you away for a moment?”

She glanced back at Matt as if waiting for him to respond.

What to say?

“Promise me a dance, won’t you?” A lifetime of them, even?

Her smile quivered wide. “I would love that.”

***

She shouldn’t be disappointed about not dancing very much. Truly. The ball served a strategic business purpose: bringing together people who loved The Darling House, and not only showing appreciation but allowing these people to converse and deepen the bonds of community. Because communities worked together. And working together was what it would take to keep The Darling House existing as a for-profit theater for a very long time.

The masquerade had seemed like such a great idea until Penelope realized she wouldn’t be able to make out Matthias’s expression when he saw her for the first time. Of course, it was every girl’s dream to leave a man speechless. Not forever, but a good ten seconds of gathering his wits after looking at her as if she’dstepped from a dream. That Cinderella moment or the Hallmark-princess moment.

She internally sighed. But he had told her she looked stunning, and he may have offered more if they hadn’t been interrupted. When he’d caught her in her stumble and his palm trailed up her arm, all she wanted to do was lean in and give him full access to her lips for, like, at least five minutes. A vision of him in his tux flashed back to mind. Okay, maybe ten.

He probably kissed wonderfully well.

She fanned her hand in front of her face as she moved from one introduction to another, her internal temperature taking an uphill climb into dazzling proportions. What would Matthias do ifshekissedhim? Just to break the ice? After all, he’d been the one to have his heart betrayed and smashed. He might need a little encouragement in the kissing direction.

Grandpa Gray took her around the room, introducing her to various people, showering her with praise for her work. He’d even shared how he’d been in touch with JMC, after doing his own search for The Ashby Theater, and JMC and Grandpa Gray had engaged in a Penelope lovefest.

She glanced around the beautiful room, taking it all in. This life of magic and theater and parties was part of her future. She was doing exactly what she was meant to do.

Then why did she feel the teeniest bit of sadness?

She knew.

On the stage, the heroine got the family and the home and the dream too. But real life didn’t always work that way. One happy ending sometimes had to bow to another. One had to become more important than the other. Her heart pinched. And her choice gave her two of the three. The dream job and home. Her eyes fluttered closed. But oh, how she wanted the knight.

“Are you up for a dance, princess?”

She looked around to find Alec standing before her, every bit the heart-stopping Chris Pine look-alike she’d fantasized about from the time she was fourteen. Tux trimmed to perfection. Hair in perfect waves. Smile, faultless.

But her heart failed to pitter-patter even once.

Funny how dreams changed when the heart finally knew what it wanted—andneeded—most.

“I thought you said you didn’t dance.”

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