Page 93 of Positively, Penelope

He laughed and her smile spread wide again. Stunning.

“Anyway.” She clapped her hands together like Iris when excited. “Guess what?”

“You finally taught the White Witch how to perform an evil laugh?”

“Not yet, but sheisimproving.”

“What, then? You’re nearly quivering from excitement.”

With a little squeal, she grabbed the front of his jacket and tugged him down toward her so she could reach his ear, then she whispered, “We gotThe Sound of Music.”

“What?” The word burst from him.

“The theater for one of the touring companies’ stops flooded, so they had to cancel that performance, which places them very near us and without a venue.”

“We gotThe Sound of Music?” he whispered down to her, her face so close, her scent wrapping around him with such a hold he nearly lost complete control of his admirable intentions.

She nodded and he wrapped her in his arms and swung her around.

“Whoa, whoa.” She laughed and pushed him back. “Now people are going to be curious, so the secret will be out foreveryoneto know.”

“You’ll have to get it out as soon as possible anyway.”

“True.” She released a sigh so large her shoulders bent. “This week has been the most remarkable of my life, I think! And this win will look great for my new job.”

His grin froze on his face. “Your... your new job?”

“Yes, the founding director of The Ashby Theater asked me to come on as executive director.” Her smile faded a little. “It’s... it’s unheard of for someone my age to get such a position, and I guess she sees my potential and already knows what I can do.”

“Of course.” He nodded, keeping a threadbare hold on his smile. “You’re brilliant. Who wouldn’t want you as part of their team?”

The news shouldn’t hit him like a blow to the stomach, but it did. It meant time was running out. That she’d already chosen there over here. Another place over him. The old wounds tempted to resurrect, but he trained his expression and held her gaze. She was watching him as intently as he was her. Weighing his response. Waiting.

His heart ached in his chest, but those eyes, that smile, had become too precious to focus on himself. And he realized that he loved her. Truly and wholly, and he wanted the bestfor her. The spotlight on her own stage. Maybe he’d be a part of the production of her life, and maybe not, but first and foremost, he wanted her to shine.

“It is wonderful news, Penelope.”

She lowered her gaze and reached up to pat the front of his jacket. “It is. Amazing.”

“And you’ll make miracles happen there like you have here.”

Her attention shot back to his face. “I can come visit, you know? I have to return to see howCinderellagoes in the spring. It’s one of my all-time favorite musicals.”

His breath lodged in his throat, pressing down his words. “I’d like that.”

Her brow creased as she watched him, almost as if she were trying to sort out something. “Me too.”

Was she starting to care for him? Would she act on those feelings? How he wanted to sweep her into his arms and taste that smile. But this choice had to be hers. Not his. He came with a ready-made family and a life thousands of miles away from her home.

He needed her to choose him and for that to be enough for her, no matter where their futures took them.

“I think we should embrace what time we have left with you in Skymar.” The words squeezed through his throat. “Not waste a day.”

She searched his face. “Not one.”

“So what if we start with dinner at the house tonight?” He offered a shrug. “I would try to cook something, but Da’s cook is much better at it than me. We could ride together after work.”

“That sounds great.”

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