When Matthew set out to surprise Penny by showing up before the sun, he did it right. She had to admit that having Matthew wake her by dropping rose petals onto her bare skin was lovely, and the steamy reunion that followed was mind-blowing.
“Good morning, Sexy!” Penny said coming into the bedroom with a cup of coffee in each hand. He was lying on his back, one arm bent over his face. She couldn’t help noticing that the covers had slipped or been pushed down below his waist, revealing his chest and taut stomach. She drank in the scene, the familiar pull of desire reminding her of last night. There was no denying they had good chemistry. A wicked smile played on her lips as she replayed the highlights in her mind.
He didn’t stir at her greeting or when she placed the hot coffee on the side table next to his head. It wasn’t until she leaned over to place her cup on the table opposite that he came alive. “Well, hello there,” he said sleepily. He had repositioned his arm and now peered at her from half-closed eyelids. “Mmmm. What are you wearing?”
She glanced down at the silk robe that had slipped to expose most of her breast. Leaning over afforded a tantalizing view for the sleepy-eyed Matthew. “Oh, this ol’ thing?” she teased, putting one knee on the bed, the robe splitting to show her exposed thigh. “What I want to know is what are you wearing?”
“Hmm. I’m not sure. I’d better check.” He lifted the sheet to peek under it. “Yep, just as I thought. It looks like it’s just me and nothing more. Just little old me.” He waggled his eyebrows comically.
Penny lifted the sheet. “I’d better check for myself,” she said smirking. “Well,” she said, letting it fall back into place. “It is all you and nothing but you, alright, but I don’t see anything little or old under there.”
“You don’t? Are you sure?” He squinted, pretending he didn’t believe her. He was enjoying their little game.
“Nope. I think you’ve been fibbing.” She said crossing her arms and looking smug. Suddenly, he reached out and grabbed her, pulling her onto the bed, making her squeal and laugh. Then, he deftly flipped her onto her back and pounced on top of her.
“You look absolutely delicious this morning. Kissable.” He kissed her breathless. “And did my sleepy eyes deceive me or did I see you bringing coffee in here?”
“I did,” she said sweetly. “Would you like some?”
“It’s been a very enjoyable morning, but also a very early one.” He rolled aside and they reached for the cups on the bedside tables. Propped up, side-by-side in bed, they sipped the freshly brewed coffee feeling very decadent. “I could do this every single morning of my life.”
They spent the morning enjoying rich coffee, a slow brunch they cooked together, and catching up on everything since they last parted.
He told her how much teasing he endured by his brother, about the baby they were expecting, and about his dad’s parting words warning him not to let her slip away. His sister wasn’t there, but it was still a fun visit. Deliberately avoiding her concerns about her dad, Penny shared with him the goings on with the restaurant, funny stories about regular customers, and her efforts to make a five-year plan.
He started to tease her about taking a page from Oprah, but he stopped short. “I think it’s a really good idea to get organized about what you want for your future. Now I’m curious. Are you willing to share what’s on your list?”
“Maybe. Do you really want to hear it?” She was being coy. Of course the list came to mind easily—the big headlines and the side notes. How she was struck by how many of her goals featured Matthew. At that moment, what flashed vividly into her mind was his name with many squares drawn around it. She blushed.
“Are you blushing?” he asked. “Seriously?” He grabbed her hand. “How cute is that?” She frowned, not thinking it cute at all. Maybe now was not the time to so openly share that what she saw for her future was him. Maybe it was too forward. And yet…
“Come on,” he cajoled. “Okay, I’ll share with you some of my five-year plan and then maybe you’ll tell me yours.” She nodded, grateful to shine the light elsewhere. “My plan has this big project finished and funded. I picture adding it to my portfolio and then landing somewhere where I can build my own pieces. Not all big jobs offer a place to stay. In fact, most don’t. I’d like to buy a place and renovate it—you know, set down roots. I really like this town. I would like to have a place with a workshop on site or build an apartment within a workshop. I’m pretty flexible on what it looks like, but that’s my next step. I figure it might take five years to complete alongside building my business.”
“That all sounds nice,” she said. And it wasn’t just words. She liked that he was skilled and sought-after; that he cared about building a reputation. That he had plans rather than just bumbling along. The more he talked about his plans, the surer she felt about hers. She too cared about building her business.
“Of course, that’s not all I want to accomplish in the next five years.” He continued. “When I say I want to put down roots, I want that in every sense of the word. I want to have someone by my side.” He held both of her hands in his. “I want to build something long lasting—something that grows into a lifetime of experiences and memories. You know what I mean?”
The look on his face at that moment was earnest yet vulnerable. Penny was speechless. It wasn’t exactly a proposal, but it was clear he was letting her know his intentions. She examined his handsome face—the lines across his forehead as he looked up at her trying to read her expression. She smiled. “I want to get close to you, Penny,” he said, “in every way.”
“When you say, close, how close exactly?” she asked with a tilt of her head.
“As close as you’ll let me.” Then he kissed her hands and repeated, “As close as you’ll let me, my love.”
They sat at the table in companionable silence, holding hands and watching the water roll down in the creek. Finally, he asked again. “So, what is in your five-year plan? Are you going to tell me?”
She smiled shyly. “A lot of what’s in yours is what’s in mine. Not exactly, of course, but building my business and putting down strong roots.” She bumped his leg. “And building something long lasting with someone special is high on my list too.”
“Really?” he asked in a teasing tone. “Any one in particular?”
“Oh, I might have someone in mind.”
“Tell me about him.”
“He’s wonderful. You might know him. He’s handsome, and kind, and skilled.”
“Skilled? Now I’m intrigued. When you say ‘skilled,’ what exactly do you mean?”
“Oh, you know. Good with his hands.” She smiled wickedly.
“Is that right?” he said, standing.
“You bet,” she said, also standing, jutting her chin in the air.
He scooped her up then, throwing her over his shoulder. She squealed. “Keep talking, woman, tell me all about these skills.”
“He’s hot in the cot.” She said upside down and laughing. “Bet he’s better than you!”
“Ooooooooo! Now you’ve done it. I’m about to teach you a lesson, young lady.” He teased, smacking her playfully on the butt, as he carried her into the bedroom, her laughter filling the air.
