What would his mother think if she knew her son was being ogled by their perverted nut job of a neighbor?
Penny dropped her feet to the floor and stood up. “Well, you probably need to rest… Chaz.” She needed to keep him in perspective. There was no way he could be interested in her.
“Night,” she added. “I hope you feel better soon.”
“I will…” She could just barely make out his slow smile in the moonlight. “Penny Pyncher.”
CHAPTER FIVE
Bad Penny
Ever since discoveringKent rutting on top of butt-pillow girl, Penny had struggled to get out of bed first thing in the mornings. Typically, when consciousness struck her, the awareness of what her life had become was enough to rob any enthusiasm she might have had for getting up. It was easier to simply pull the covers up and go back to sleep.
This morning, though, when she opened her eyes, her first thoughts were not of the emptiness in her life, but of a certain blue-eyed sculpted package of scrumptiousness next door. Her normal lethargy must have taken a hiatus, for she was surprisingly motivated to get up and brew a pot of coffee. She felt the tiniest bit lighter. It was as though she actually… anticipated the day? She’d not anticipated anything in what seemed like forever.
Was this change in mood due to the long cry she’d allowed herself in the shower yesterday? The release she’d given herself after the shower? Or did it have something to do with sitting in the darkness flirting?
Despite chastising herself repeatedly, she could no longer think of him as a kid. He’d accomplished more than most men ever would. He was intelligent, educated, a member of an elite unit of the US military, and he had been wounded for his efforts.
As far as life experience went, he’d seen far more than she ever would.
To have accomplished all of this, he had cause to be a little cocky.
Just as she finished adding the rich grounds of coffee to the filter, a chime sounded.
She jumped. The doorbell!
She’d yet to have heard it ring since moving in. Which made sense, since she hadn’t made friends with a single person in town.
And of course, these older homes were not equipped with peepholes.
She could either pretend nobody was home or take her chances on being caught peeping through the drapes in her front room.
Curiosity got the better of her and she pulled the curtain outside.
Chaz’s mother.
Mrs. Wright caught her eye, smiling and waving enthusiastically.
Gulp.
She was feeling, um, perkier today but she hadn’t prepared herself for… this.
After fumbling with the deadbolt, she pulled the door open.
Smile, Penny. Smile. “Good morning,” she managed to say.
“Good morning, dear!” Mrs. Wright’s smile looked so much more natural than Penny’s felt.
At that thought, she began to wonder when she’d become so socially inept.
“It’s so nice to meet you, Penny.” Chaz’s mother knew her name? “It was so neighborly of you to fetch milk for me yesterday. Chaz told me how incredibly helpful you were.” The older woman then stuck her hand out in introduction. “I’m Cindy Wright. My husband Bob and I live next door and of course, you’ve already met Chaz.”
Penny took Mrs. Wright’s hand. She wasn’t quite so old after all. Definitely not a little old lady as Penny had come to think of her. No, she had a firm handshake and something of an athletic build. Now that Penny considered it, Chaz’ father had looked relatively fit as well.
Apparently, the apple didn’t fall far from the tree.
“Nice to meet you, Mrs. Wright.” Realizing she’d been hiding behind the large oak door, Penny pulled it all open further and stepped out. “I was happy to help.” There she was. Social Penny. Nice of her to make an appearance.
