Recap of Chapter 35: After securing permission from her dad, Matthew made every effort to set a romantic scene to propose to Penny during a canoe picnic on the lake. Too bad he was terrible at canoeing. At least he got the answer he hoped for.
Back at the Lucky Penny, Jesse poured champagne while Penny showed off her ring and spread the good news to anyone in the vicinity who gave the tiniest bit of encouragement. Matthew watched her—tilting her head, outstretching her hand to show off the ring. How she told of the proposal was uniquely feminine—every gesture, which he found to be captivating and utterly charming. There was a festive atmosphere rippling through the room, gathering momentum. The pop of a champagne cork, the rise and fall of happy voices, all lent to his happy mood and the smile that never left his face.
“ …Matthew was filled with the urge to kiss her.”
Later, when they went up to Penny’s apartment, Matthew admitted that his shoulders were sore from the paddling. Penny offered to massage them. “You don’t have to ask me twice,” he answered, stripping his shirt off over his head and aiming for the couch. “Not there,” Penny said. “Stretch out on the bed where you can relax.” She took his hand and led him into the bedroom.
Once stretched out, Matthew sunk into the mattress, relaxing all his muscles while Penny rubbed oil into her hands and began massaging. She was by no means a professional, but she knew where to move her hands and how much pressure to use. Matthew moaned and sunk further into the comfort. After a few minutes, Penny said, “It’s no wonder you’re so sore, what with all that professional and vigorous canoeing you did.”
“What’s that?” he asked in a sleepy, muffled voice.
“I said, it’s no wonder you’re sore from your… uh, athletic performance earlier.”
He lifted his head “Are you throwing shade at my canoeing?”
Penny bit her lip. “Well, you were lapped by a muskrat… so, just saying.” She began to giggle.
Matthew bounded upright and tackled her, flipping her flat on her back in an instant with him on top of her. “You didn’t bring up the muskrat just now, did you?” He tickled her sides.
“No! No tickling!” she gasped.
“What’s that? I’m not sure I heard you,” he teased, diving for her neck. She tried to lower her chin to block access, but she was laughing and struggling so hard, it was impossible. Finally, he stopped, giving her a chance to catch her breath. Gazing down at her beautiful face looking up at him from between his arms, Matthew was filled with the urge to kiss her. They exchanged a look. He leaned closer and kissed her lips—tenderly at first, then deeply. Penny embraced him, pulling him close, her hands roaming over his smooth back and under the waistband of his pants, while his fingers were busily unbuttoning her dress, revealing a pink lacy bra. They scrambled to sit up to remove their clothes, each struggling to release themselves quickly between hungry kisses. It took only minutes to go from playful tickling to passionate lovemaking. When finally they broke apart and fell back on the pillows, breathing heavily, Matthew sighed. “Well, at least we know we’re compatible in the bedroom. That was spectacular!” Penny nodded. “Uh-huh.” She rolled to face him. “You are wonderful in every way! You know that, right?”
“I’m glad you think so,” he said, pulling her hand up to kiss. “That’s all that matters.”
Her cellphone buzzed on the nightstand. She rolled over and looked at the screen. “It’s my dad,” she said, and then her eyes grew wide. “Wait! Does he know?”
Matthew knew the answer, but he thought it would be more fun for her to hear it from her dad. “Why don’t you call him back?” he said, rising and stepping into his pants. “I’ll go down and get us something to eat and some wine.” He retrieved her dress from the floor and tossed it to her, covering her face. “Sounds good,” she said, smiling at him. “I love you.”
“You’ll love me even more when I come back with hot food and cool wine.” He didn’t bother asking what she wanted. He watched her create the summer menu and knew what excited her most. Plus, he could check in with his family while he waited. Share the good news. He went straight to the kitchen where he encountered Tessa, Penny’s right-hand helper. “Hey, Tessa—what’s Penny’s favorite thing on the menu these days?” She was arranging honeyed broiled salmon on a plate with a ramekin of scalloped potatoes, and a side of asparagus spears and ringing the bell for the wait staff. “Let’s see,” she said, her eyes searching upward. “I don’t know why you’re asking me. You probably know more than I.”
“Well, that salmon looks good,” he remarked. “Maybe a salad with some of that salmon on top?”
“Are you asking or ordering?” she teased.
“Ordering. Definitely ordering.”
“How about you? What do you want?”
“I’ll have a plate that looks just like the one that just walked out the door. Please and thank you,” he said. “I’m gonna go bug Jesse about some wine.”
Jesse was busy, so Matthew decided to go outside and phone home. His dad picked up just when he was getting ready to give up and disconnect. “Dad, how are you?”
“Well, I’m fine. Question is, how are you? Any news to share? Should I get out the champagne?”
“As a matter of fact, I do have news and, yes, champagne is in order. She said yes, Dad. Penny has agreed to be my wife. I asked her this afternoon.”
“So, you did listen to me when I said not to let her get away! Good job, son!”
Just then, Tessa waved out the door to him, letting him know the food was ready. “Hey, Dad, let everyone know, okay? Our dinner is ready, so I gotta go. Tell everyone I love them.”
He went to the wine cooler and selected a bottle of Australian Chardonnay, letting Tessa know to put it on the tab, grabbed the food, and headed upstairs.
When he entered the apartment, he heard Penny wrapping up the conversation with her dad in the other room. He got silverware and wine glasses and set the small table by the window. “I can’t believe you kept it secret,” Penny said in a teasing tone. “You two are sneaky! Yes, Dad, I do love him. He is a wonderful man. Well, you know. I don’t have to sell his virtues to you,” she giggled. “Oh, I think he’s back. I hear him in the kitchen setting up for dinner.” There was a pause, and then she said, “Thank you, Dad. I am happy. I’m glad you are too. Talk with you soon. Love you.” She came into the kitchen, where Matthew was standing at the refrigerator getting water and ice, and wrapped her arms around him from behind. He put his hand over hers where they rested on his belly. And the thought that sprang into his mind for the umpteenth time since that fateful moment in the canoe sparked his next words: “I’m so glad you said yes.”
