Page 65 of Positively, Penelope

A knock at the door pulled her attention away. What was wrong with her? You’d think she’d never been hugged, complimented, or touched before.

She drew in a deep breath, shook her head, and rounded Matthias to go to the door. “That’s... that’s probably Alec.”

Before she even reached the door, Alec burst in. Wearing a sleek black suit and silver tie, his goldish-brown waves set to perfection, he looked like something out of a magazine. Broad shoulders, perfect tan, soft hazel eyes.

His white grin flashed wide as he glanced over her. “My, my, aren’t you lovely.”

“Thank you,” she said, basking in the appreciation. “You look very—”

“Do I smell cookies?” Alec swept past her and walked toward the kitchen. “Matt, did you bake cookies here?”

Penelope turned to find Matthias with the cookie container in hand, attempting to fasten the lid. “Penelope made some for Iris.”

“Isn’t Penelope the most wonderful girl? Bakes, sings, creates beautiful websites.” Alec reached into the container and snagged twocookies, sending a wink to Penelope over his shoulder. “To tide me over until dinner.”

The change was so abrupt, she stood in the doorway trying to catch up with the sudden shift from adoring dinner date to cookie thief. And something about the way he listed her “attributes” fell flat. There was quite a bit more to her than baking, singing, and creating websites.

Her attention moved from Alec to Matthias, whose eyebrows had taken a massive downturn. “I need to get home.” Matthias pushed the lid down on the container, sending Alec a warning look as he reached for another cookie. “Thank you for this, Penelope.” He gestured toward the container as he passed, looking between her and his brother. She wanted to reach out and touch his arm, reconnect to whatever she’d felt with him only a few moments ago, but he slipped to the door. “Enjoy your evening.” His gaze roamed her face for a brief moment and then something in his expression hardened. “Good night.”

Was Matthias so upset with the cookie thievery? No, that reason didn’t seem right.

“Don’t wait up, Matt.” Alec slipped his arm around Penelope’s waist, sending a little wink in her direction. “I have a magical night planned for our best darling of The Darling House.”

Alec laughed at his phrasing, but Matt didn’t reciprocate the humor. Was Alec baiting Matthias? But why? With a small step to the side, Penelope slid from Alec’s touch. She wasn’t a temptation for Matthias Gray at all. Too young. Probably too fairy-tale-ish. Definitely too emotional. And without a doubt, she sang too much for his taste.

But the self-admission didn’t sit too well with her.

“I’m certain she’ll enjoy anything magical.” Matthias’s gaze moved back to her and then, with a dip of his head, he stepped over the threshold to the porch and left.

Alec kept speaking about the cookies, but Penelope’s attentionfollowed Matthias’s retreat until he disappeared up the drive, wondering the whole time why she felt like she’d done something wrong without even knowing it.

As Alec opened the car door for her, she blinked out of her thoughts. Date or not, she was living a dream come true and planned to enjoy every moment. A dashing companion. A castle. Possibly a walk along a moonlit beach a good distance from the actual water?

A fairy-tale evening.

Her attention flitted back to the direction in which Matthias had disappeared.

Then why did it feel like she’d just stepped into the wrong scene of her own story?

Chapter13

In preparation for the upcoming festival, twinkle lights hung along Mountcaster’s streets, adding a sprinkle of extra magic to the historic town’s usual ambience. Penelope adored this city, yet she still longed for home. What a strange dichotomy of feelings, to truly appreciate and find joy in one place but ache for the other. Could the time come when she’d long for another place more than the home she’d always known? Where the love of the “other” became larger and more necessary?

Alec steered through the city, pointing out a few sites and restaurants along the way. He wore handsome effortlessly, like some of her favorite fairy-tale heroes, and his profile? Well, if anyone could possess a perfect nose, it was him. Strong, straight, but not too large. She’d never heard him sing, but as a theater kid, he probably had the perfect voice too.

He must have caught her staring and sent a crooked grin her way. “Like what you see, princess?”

Heat flooded into her face and she looked away. “I was just thinking about how your nose is perfect.”

His laugh burst out. “My nose? You are a curious one, aren’t you?” He spoke more to himself than her, then his attention came back, one eyebrow raised. “There’s much more to come than just my perfect nose, my dear,” he crooned. “I’ll show you a night that your little fairy-tale heart will not soon forget.”

His words should be music to her ears. But her heart didn’t seem to agree. Maybe it was just because his aftershave took up more room in the car than... the car itself. And the scent was nice, of course. All ocean breeze and spice. And it would wear off in a while. She just needed to take shallower breaths until then.

“Do you dine at the castle often?” What a remarkable question to actually voice!

“Often enough to get us good seats.” He shrugged one of his very impressive shoulders. “It’s a great place for entertaining and impressing clients.”

“What sort of clients? Donors, you mean?”

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