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There’s an occasional niggle of worry that Penny will discover my alter-ego, but for now, she’s accepted my half-truth that I work in construction. There’s no judgment from her, as if someone my age should be off the tools and managing a company instead. Which is what caused my previous breakup. Tahlia wanted someone with a prestigious job title, not a construction worker who dabbled in writing. My gut told me she wasn’t someone I could disclose the truth to, and I was right.
I’ve been tempted to come clean a few times with Penny, but then I remember what she does for a living. We haven’t known each other long enough to warrant a level of trust that she’ll keep quiet.
"So, the mayor donated this bench seat in honor of Gran and Gramps.” I gesture to the wooden bench overlooking the lake that’s filled with an assortment of water birds. An engraved plaque on the seat bears my grandparents’ names.
“Goodness, it’s a wonder they haven’t renamed Autumn River—McArthurville.” A delightful chuckle spills from Penny’s lips.
“She would hate that.” Sure, Gran is a successful woman in her own right and has experienced a lot in her eighty-five years. To some, she would be considered a pioneer. But she’s also incredibly humble, a trait I aspire to, and she would be so embarrassed by the attention if they named anything for her.
We grab an ice cream each from the ice cream truck parked nearby and stroll around the lake as a few clouds gather overhead. Leaves rustle in the gentle breeze, and laughter from children playing nearby joins with the birdsong in the air. I glance over at Penny and can’t help entertain the thought of how first date-ish this feels. That’s when I know I’m on the verge of a breakthrough.
Pre-writer’s block, my imagination would run away with ideas, and this setting would make an idyllic interlude. A couple strolling around a mirrored lake. Birdsong in the trees. Families picnicking nearby. The male character would lift his hand and gently tuck a flyaway piece of hair from the heroine’s face. They’d pause by the water’s edge. Eyes locked. And time would stand still before…
“Your gran has lived a colorful life,” Penny remarks as we pause on the boardwalk, thankfully pulling me out of my imaginary world where the main character is about to make his move.
“Yes, she has.” I nod and wonder what I’ve done with mine. Does being a best-selling author count if nobody knows who I am? I mean, it’s not like I’m going to change people’s lives or pioneer a new way of doing things by writing romance novels. I appeal to people’s inner desire to feel loved and accepted. I write stories that provide escapism and create an illusion of happily-ever-after. Is this the legacy I want for my life?
Perhaps my writer’s block is a sign that it’s time to call it quits and focus on doing something worthwhile, instead of wasting hours staring at a blank screen. Perhaps I could join one of those charity organizations that build houses for impoverished communities. I’ve got the skills and years of experience. At least I would feel like I’m contributing something worthwhile to the world, instead of wasting time trying to come up with new ideas.
“And what about you, Linc? Do you follow in your grandmother’s footsteps?” Penny glances up at me as her lips twitch into a smile.
Is she a mind-reader? Does she know I’ve just had a mini existential crisis in the time it’s taken to finish our ice creams? “Er…” I clear my throat and turn to face the water, resting my hands on the railing. “Not really. I don’t think anyone can. Gran is one of a kind.”
“I’ve not met anyone like her.” Penny stands next to me. Strands of her hair lift in the breeze and brush against my arm.
“Surely you’ve met some interesting people in your line of work.”
“Oh, I have,” she says with a nod. “Crazy. Conceited. Lost. People searching for the next high. People starving for recognition. People who would do anything for their fifteen minutes of fame. I’ve interviewed them all. But none of them hold a candle to Clarissa’s achievements and her humility.”
Pride bursts in my chest just as the heavens open and rain teems down. In sync, Penny and I tilt our heads skyward in disbelief before we look at each other and burst out laughing. I grab her hand and we run back to the car, our feet sloshing through rapidly growing puddles as we make our way across the grass. I glance across the park to find other people dashing for cover to escape the unexpected downpour. We’re breathless by the time we arrive at my car.
“Well, that was unexpected.” Penny laughs, wiping damp tendrils of hair from her face. Her eyes sparkle with delight as she peers up at me. Her cheeks are flushed from exertion and her skin glistens from the rain.
“Totally.” I swipe a stubborn strand of hair from her cheek and tuck it behind her ear. My fingers linger in a moment of indecisiveness before I slowly drop my hand to my side. A step or two closer and I could easily kiss her. Feel the softness of her lips against mine and breathe in her heavenly scent. But self-control reigns and I step away, opening the passenger door so she can get out of the rain.
I pause with one hand on the roof before closing her door and rounding the car. I huff out a breath to regain my composure before sliding behind the steering wheel. The urge to wrap Penny in my arms and kiss her is strong. She looked so adorable staring up at me in the rain. Her eyes wide and her lips looking so kissable. Reminding myself that she’s here for a purpose, which doesn’t include a romantic interlude with her subject’s grandson, was enough to pull me away from temptation.
“Where did the sun go?” Penny peers through the windshield as water runs down the glass. “One minute it’s ice cream weather, the next, we’re running from a monsoon.”
I chuckle at her description of the inclement weather. Reaching into the back seat, I find a spare shirt and sweatshirt that I’d tossed there some time ago. A brief sniff reveals they’re clean. I hand both to Penny so she can dry off with the shirt and put the sweatshirt on to keep warm.
I start the ignition and crank the heat. “I’m not in the habit of keeping my closet in the car,” I joke.
“I was starting to wonder.” Penny glances across with a grin. Settled against the seat, her hair is pulled off her face in a messy bun. Fresh-faced. Skin luminous. My breath snags in my throat at the sight of her looking so… natural. She’s gorgeous and doesn’t seem to be bothered by the rain, unlike other women I’ve dated who would be distraught at the tiniest drop of water messing up their perfectly styled hair. They would be demanding I take them home, whereas Penny seems to be in no rush to go anywhere.
Curtains of water surround us, luring me into a comfortable cocoon within the warm interior of the car. There’s something primitive and soothing about the rain drumming on the roof. The scent of rain and Penny’s perfume fill the small space, and it feels like the outside world no longer exists.
It’s a scene straight from a romance novel. All I have to do is reach over and swipe the loose tendrils of hair away from her face. Cup my palm to her cheek. And…
“Don’t do it,” I murmur, glancing through the windshield where rivulets of water stream down the glass, obscuring our view.
“Do what?”
I dare a glance at Penny, not realizing I’d spoken out aloud. There’s a slight tilt to her head. Her lips are slightly parted, and that’s all it takes for me to lean forward and press my lips to hers. Softly. Hesitantly. I close my eyes and breathe in her rain-scented skin before slowly pulling away.
“That.” My voice crumbles. I hope I haven’t overstepped a line or freaked her out. I wait for the slap. The verbal retort of disgust. Or for the door to open and slam in my face as she runs off into the deluge.
Instead, a faint smile tugs on her mouth, and she leans closer, meeting me in the middle. One hand brushes my tangled hair away from my forehead. Her gaze traps mine, and I’m drowning in the ocean of blue as our breaths mingle together. And then, as though time stands still, our lips meet in a delicate dance of discovery. She tastes like rain and vanilla, with the allure of a new adventure. The thrill of exploration ignites in my veins as our mouths move in unison. I could easily do this all day.
