#penelopepope

[stilettoedits]

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[iheartgracie]

pencole quotes part 4

“Felt as her hand slid against his until they were palm to palm.

She turned her head then, meeting his eyes, smiling shyly as she linked her fingers with his.

He couldn’t look away, even though he knew this small woman could crack his heart in half.

Aw fuck, Sharpe, you are in so much trouble.”

“Cole held out a hand to Penelope, his heart silently begging her not to reject it.

She placed her hand in his.

Placed her trust in him.”

“Cole!”

He turned, saw Penelope racing toward him. It was a full-out run too. Full speed, so that he had to brace himself for impact, supporting her small body as she collided with his.

She threw her arms around his neck and kissed him.”

“I’m all yours”

“She was now 100 percent positive that she couldn’t honor her promise to Cole that she wouldn’t fall in love.

If she told him, she’d lose him.

But if she didn’t tell him…

She’d lose herself.”

“He knew exactly what words he wanted to hear. He wanted to know that she was his. That this was more than a weekends-only fling. That she was falling for him as helplessly as he was falling for her.”

“Yuck, no ketchup,” she said when he went to add it to his hot dog.

“It’s my hot dog,” he said.

“Which I’ll be having a bite of. And I don’t like ketchup on my dogs.”

“What happened to no sharing?”

Penelope blinked up at him. “Are you, or are you not, a gentleman, Cole Sharpe?”

In response, he deliberately added ketchup to his hot dog. More than he usually would.

Then he took a big bite, holding her gaze the entire time as he chewed.”

“This is the one, huh?”

Oh yes. This is the one.”

“You have me, Cole. You may not like that I’m here, but that doesn’t change the fact that I came for you, and that I’d do it all over again.”

“The way he’d looked at her as though she were everything.

The way he’d wanted her just the way she was. The way he’d seen what nobody else had seen.

He’d seen her.

He’d wanted her.

And though the stubborn ass might not be ready to admit it, he cared for her. She was positive.

“Yeah,” she said quietly. “Of course I love him enough to want him back.”

“Hey, Penelope.”

She paused as she unlocked her office door and looked up. “Hmm?”

I miss you. I want you back. I’m so fucking sorry.”

“Let her go, he told himself.

Penelope deserved happiness, and if happiness came in the arms of another man—

“Nope. Not gonna happen.” Cole stood so quickly his chair flipped backward, but he didn’t pause to right it.

He had a woman to win back.”

“And I’d…Shit. Here’s the thing, Tiny. A few months ago, I made you a promise that I wouldn’t fall in love with you.”

She nodded slowly.

He stepped closer. “I’m going to have to break that promise.”

“I’ve fallen in love with you, Penelope. Yes, that scares the shit out of me. And yes, it caused me to freak out. But my head’s out of my ass now, and I just, I want…I’m yours, Penelope. If you want me. Irresistibly yours.”

“Just trying to think of the best way to tell you that I broke my promise a long time ago. You’re really an impossible man not to fall in love with.”

Cole had the strangest urge to pump his fist in triumph, but instead he settled for pulling her closer. “Is that so?”

She smiled and went on her toes as she kissed his chin. “It is. And I love you.”

He bent and kissed her cheekbones. “Say it again.”

“He smiled against her neck. “Let me make this really clear. You’re going to busy all of the nights. Forever. With me.”

“She pulled back. “That sounds to me like commitment, Mr. Sharpe.”

He grinned. “It does, doesn’t it?”

“Okay, but I’m thinking I should get this one in writing. You’re obviously terrible at keeping your promises, and—”

Cole cut her off with a kiss. Penelope didn’t know it yet, but he was pretty damn sure she’d be getting his promise in the form of something shiny and sparkly.

Say, along the lines of a diamond ring…”

“Dang, I wish I were taller. Can I sit on your shoulders?”

“If you think for one second I’m going to hoist you onto my shoulders so that you can ogle another man”

“His hands found her face as his thumbs gently brushed her lips, his expression tender. “Penelope. It’s always been you.”

“Great. Now both of the sports editors were going to bust his balls.

Penelope Pope and Cole Sharpe were Oxford magazine’s latest power couple”

“Leave Cole and marry me.”

“Don’t even think about it, Tiny,” Cole said from the doorway as he ambled into Lincoln’s office, eating his own donut—a boring glazed old-fashioned, Lincoln’s sweets-trained eye noted.

“Give up now, Sharpe,” Lincoln said, licking chocolate off his thumb. “I’m irresistible. Right, Pen?”

Her answer was to pull Cole’s head down for a kiss, before nipping a bite of the donut in his hand. She plopped into his chair and blinked at him with huge brown eyes as she chewed. “What now?”

“Never mind.” Cole and Penelope were about as in love as it was possible to be. Had been since the day Cole first laid eyes on her at a Yankees game more than a year ago.”

“Cassidy had eventually decided to split the lone sports editor position into two roles. But not before the sports fanatics had fallen wildly, crazily in love.”

“His tone was teasing, but his eyes were adoring as he gazed at Penelope”

“That’s why she was doing all of this. To find someone who looked at her the way Cole was looking at Penelope, someone to make her smile the way Penelope was smiling right now, as though she was warmed from the inside out.”

“Cole pulled her close, pressing a smiling kiss to her temple. “I adore you.”

[ellidunn]

YEY! another giveaway from @penelopepopart !! tagging my make up lover friends @misjinrio @curlyfries_boo @oxlanggingxo to also follow Penelope Pop and join the giveaway. *** . . 🙋 I have combination to oily skin. . . 🙋 I'm a work-from-home single-momma (Virtual Assistant) and officially enrolled. Studying BSEd-English (College of Education SY2018-19) #howtobebasic #penelopepopgiveaway #penelopepop 🙋 I spray Celeteque face mist twice on my face. Let it set while I do the brows (the face shop) and brown eyeliner (everbilena) on the upper eye water line(??). Puff a bit of Celeteque powder, curl my lashes (groovy eyelash curler) then put mascara (Maybelline). I use Evera liptint and Maybelline lip balm for a day look. switching to Pinkies lipstick depending on my mood. For night out and eat out, I use San San lipbalm (magic lipstick-ish). I put some blush whenever I don't have swelling pimples or peeling from the astringent that I use. P.S. Chapstick (as needed only) . . 🙋 SHEER para mabango ang fresh tingnan ^^ . . 🙋 I used to have a bunch of makeup way way back when I don't have a baby. Tipong bahala late basta naka 3 tone eyeshadow. I still pass on makeups to my sister and friends whenever I feel like I have a lot in my purse na. I might let go of the eyeliner, since I just put it whenever I wanna look extra. (at Ecoland Subdivision)

[iheartgracie]

pencole quotes part 3

“His smile was gentle. “You’re adorable. ”

“It was a graceless, hungry kiss. It had none of his usual finesse, but he needed it. Needed her.”

“It was the right thing to say. She let out a surprised laugh, but he could tell by the warmth in her eyes that she was pleased with the compliment.

Cole just hoped she knew he meant every damn word.”

“She caught Cole’s grin out of the corner of her eye. “A woman who knows her hat size, Bob. Is it any wonder we adore her?”

“His eyes were warm as they locked on hers, and she had a pretty good feeling that if they were alone he would have kissed her.”

“The sweet potato fries had been better by a long shot, but saying so would mean agreeing with Penelope”

“I’ve got things to do.”

“Like hang out with Penelope?”

Cole glanced down at the tiny brunette by his side.

“Yeah,” he heard himself say to his brother. “I’m going to hang out with Penelope.”

“Cole, the fact that you sacrifice your own comfort for your brother’s makes you more attractive. Not less.”

He grabbed her hand and pulled her around to face him. “Is that why you’ve got a crush on me?”

“Ah—” She tilted her head down, her hat hiding her face, and he pulled her closer.

“Pen.” He kept his voice light, teasing, but he was oddly eager to have her confirm that what she’d told his brother was true.

She tilted her face up to look at him. “You know you’re ridiculously charming.”

He grinned. “You sound grumpy about that.”

“Let’s just say I’m not exactly loving the fact that I seem to find myself on the verge of joining the Cole Sharpe fan club.”

“I’ve got good news for you,” he said. Cole lifted her hand to his lips, and before he realized what he was doing, had pressed a kiss to the back of her hand.

“What’s that?” she asked warily.

“The good news, my dear, is that I happen to like the taste of popcorn, almost as much as I like the taste of you.”

“He tilted his head and kissed her, and then lingered. And tried very hard to ignore the sudden, forbidden thought that he wished every day could be exactly like this one.”

“I don’t know how I let you talk me into this five A.M. wake-up call,” Cole grumbled as he held the door at Starbucks open for her.

She stepped out onto the sidewalk and took a sip of her latte. “You know exactly why we’re doing this. I need to get home in time to shower before work, and someone refused to let me go home last night.”

“What would be so wrong with doing this on a regular basis? The baseball games, followed by chatty family dinners. Followed by sex and cuddling and talking long into the night.

Followed by Starbucks runs and…

Holding hands.

Cole casually reached for her hand as they started their trek across Central Park back toward her place. She glanced up at him and he winked.

She could fall for this man. She could so fall for him.”

“Cole and I were just—we only sometimes—we—”

“Are having rather fantastic sex,” Cole completed for her.

“Cole!”

“What, like they didn’t know?”

“Penelope glanced up to see Cole looking down at her. He wasn’t quite smiling, but his eyes were warm.

Which made her warm.”

“What am I missing that makes it more complicated?”

Oh nothing. Just the itty-bitty, minor fact that I think I’m falling in love with you.”

“Cole appeared in her office doorway.

And call her crazy…but her heart flipped over.

Once. Twice. Okay, fine, her heart flipped over and over and over again for Cole Sharpe.”

“She smiled. “That’s all it takes, huh? A girl who likes bourbon?”

“I’m not shallow, Pen. The girl has to like baseball and bourbon.”

“Well, then, I’m your girl.”

“Yeah, you are,” he said with a quick grin.”

“with Cole, it felt wonderfully simple.”

“Instead he seemed focused only on Penelope.”

“He leaned forward slightly. “You’re not plain, Pope. And in case I haven’t said it before, you have the most amazing eyes I’ve ever seen.”

She blinked at him. “My eyes?”

He gave a smile that verged on embarrassed. “I know it sounds like a line. But, swear to God, those damn big brown eyes get me every time.”

“He twirled a lock of his hair and batted his eyelashes before pitching his voice into a high, feminine squeak. “I was there, Cole, I saw the numbers, and I just want to take this opportunity to tell you that you were right about Adam Bailey being the right cover choice, and you’re so wise and brilliant—”

Penelope gaped. “Wait. Was that supposed to be me?”

He dropped his hand. “Was it not spot-on?”

“By the time they were on their way back to her place, she was just happy-buzzy enough not to freak out about the fact that he was holding her hand. Or that he occasionally bent to kiss the top of her head.

Or that, if they were to apply labels to the evening, romantic was the first word that came to mind.

Romantic and sweet.”

“Do you know that we were standing in this very spot the first time I kissed you?” he said, pulling her around to face him.

She smiled. “Hard to forget a perfect kiss in the gently falling snow.”

“Those damn eyes of yours,” he said roughly. “They undo me.”

[iheartgracie]

pencole quotes part 2

“Cole smiled. “Penelope. Are you physically shaking it off right now?”

“Don’t judge, it helps,” she said.

He lifted his arms and mimicked her motions so they were both flapping like birds. “You’re right. It does.”

“What are you shaking off?” she asked.

Cole shrugged. “Nothing. I’m flawless.”

“Sharpe stole my chair.”

“And you let him?”

Penelope shrugged. “Doesn’t bother me where I sit when we argue.”

“Discuss,” Cole said. “We were discussing.”

“Yeah? Who won?” she asked.

“I did. Obviously.”

“The last thing he needed was a romantic entanglement with a co-worker.

Which absolutely did not explain why he was currently standing outside her apartment building feeling decidedly excited to see her.”

“She was looking up at him, her expression unreadable, and he felt a sudden surge of tenderness for this woman he barely knew and yet somehow knew completely.”

“He supposed he should stop being surprised by Penelope Pope’s unabashed honesty, but she continued to catch him off guard with her openness.”

“Cole didn’t need another reason to like Penelope Pope, but she gave him one anyway.”

“The touch merely was.

It said, I’m here, but only if you want me to be.

And, oddly enough, he did want her to be. There was something calming about Penelope Pope.”

“Despite her penchant for sports, there was no game playing with this woman.

He liked her. A lot.”

“Maybe he cared about Penelope Pope. Because, although he barely knew her, somehow here he was, walking her home, not out of duty, but because he wanted to.

Because he liked her.”

“He kissed her.

He kissed Penelope Pope in the snow like his life depended on it.”

“He thought only of her. Of them”

“Lord help her.

Onion rings for Penelope were what roses and chocolate truffles were to other women.

And when she glanced up and caught Cole’s cocky departing wink, she saw that he knew it.

He’d known it all along.”

“She glanced over at Cole, and he was slightly mollified when her smile bloomed wider as she met his eyes.”

“She smiled up at him, and he had an odd sense of triumph that he’d been able to sneak beneath her walls, at least for a moment”

“The thing is, Tiny…When it comes to you, I don’t have to decide. I don’t have to stop and think about if I want to kiss you. I know. I know every damn day when I see you put on mascara in the reflection of your computer monitor because you forgot to do it at home. I know when we go get coffee together and you can recite every single thing that happened on ESPN the night before. I know when I share my French fries with you at lunch and you eat all of them. I know—”

Penelope placed her lips against his.”

“She held up a hand. “Then what are you after?”

He grinned and pulled the folder with their story proofs off her desk as he strolled toward the door. “Isn’t it obvious? I’m out to be an expert on Penelope Pope. Because, despite your efforts to prove otherwise, I don’t believe for one second that you don’t want me.”

“she sounded genuinely glad to see him.

He closed his eyes in gratitude, just for a second.

“Cole? You still there?”

“Yeah,” he said, punching the button once more.

“Well get up here already.”

“Penelope was staring down at the fish with an adoring look on her face, and Cole could have sworn that his heart squeezed.

So much damn affection for a fish.”

“Have you thought about bringing him a friend?”

Her mouth turned downward, her eyes sad. “He had a friend. Lola. She died a couple days after I brought her home.”

Cole nodded solemnly. “May she rest in peace.”

“She’s totally in fish heaven where Finding Nemo plays twenty-four-seven,”

“He didn’t know a single other woman in his acquaintance who’d be so satisfied—so thrilled—to be spending Sunday in front of a potential double no-hitter.

It was pretty fantastic.”

“It wasn’t a sexy moment. Not in the least romantic, her happily chewing pizza while she found his sports team on TV.

I could do this, he thought. I could do this every damn day.”

“He wanted her.

Don’t do it, Sharpe.

He did it.

He sat up and quietly plucked her beer and pizza out of her hand, setting them both on the coffee table.

She looked at him in surprise at the same moment his thumb and forefinger found her chin and tilted her face to his.

And then he kissed her.”

“Kiss me back,” he said against her mouth. “Kiss me back, Penelope. Please.”

“You’re fucking perfect.”

[iheartgracie]

pencole quotes part 1

“Tiny Brunette’s pen stopped its furious scribbling, and her jaw paused in its steady chewing of the hot dog.

Slowly her face lifted to his and Cole had the strangest sensation of the breath catching in his chest as he waited to finally meet this woman’s eyes.

And, wow. What a pair of eyes they were.”

“Cole found himself oddly enchanted. She was so…different.”

“You were partially right,” she admitted, after swallowing.

He glanced at her. “Oh yeah?”

She grinned. “This is my first Yankees game.”

“I knew it,”

“We Chicagoans are a bit more openly friendly than you New Yorkers.”

“I’m friendly,” he countered.

Tiny Brunette laughed. “No. You’re just incredibly charming. And a smidgen good-looking.”

He gave her his best bedroom look. “Am I?”

She smiled. “You know you are.”

“Their eyes held for a moment, and Cole was startled to realize it was the most relaxed—the most himself—he’d felt around a woman in…hell…he didn’t know.”

“He stared at her. The words so closely echoed his own thoughts from just moments before that he wanted to kiss her.

She might just be his dream woman.”

“He glanced over his shoulder and saw that she wasn’t matching his pace. He stopped, marched toward her, and without warning, plucked the coffee out of her hand.

“Hey—”

“Speed up, Tiny,” he said.

“I don’t even know where we’re going.”

“Tiny. You and Cole are at the nickname stage, hmm?” Grace said with raised eyebrows.”

“How about you tell us why Cole Sharpe is helping a woman who’s standing directly in the way of his dream job?”

“She’d looked so damn small. And when she’d blinked up at him with huge brown eyes trying so desperately to hold back tears…

Ah, hell. He’d been a goner.”

“God, those eyes.

They got him every time.”

“Penelope Pope might look sweet as a kitten, but damned if he hadn’t just felt the subtlest scratch of her claws. He admired her for it.”

“I should be asking you for stats.”

“Oh, I’d like that!” Penelope said, seemingly missing his mea culpa altogether. “Perhaps we could grab coffee sometime. I’d love to pick your brain about which players like to talk and which need to be coaxed—”

“But even with all of that, it came as a surprise that the best time Cole had had in a long time was a spontaneous Wednesday afternoon in a mediocre pub, with mediocre beer, mediocre hot wings, and a feisty tomboy.

Penelope Pope continued to surprise him.

She’d surprised him last night at the Yankees game, with her unwavering focus on the field.

She’d surprised him again today with her friendly, no-strings-attached offer of coffee.

And she surprised him now, with how enjoyable she was to be around.”

“Penelope Pope was real.”

“What made Penelope refreshing was that her goodness was honest.

Kind and straightforward”

“Cole choked out a laugh. This had to be the strangest conversation he’d had over drinks with a woman. “I move well?”

“Yeah,” she said. “Your body looks like you know how to use it. You know?”

Her eyes went big, as though she just now realized that her choice of words could be misconstrued. “Oh. God. Not like that—”

Cole couldn’t help himself. He leaned forward with a sly smile. “Not like what?”

Her eyes narrowed. “You’re teasing me.”

Cole laughed. “Actually, I thought I was flirting.”

“Okay, my turn for a question.”

She held out her hands and made a beckoning motion. “Bring it.”

He smiled. He liked her.”

“Okay, I’ll tell you, but you can’t tell anyone else,” she said.

“But what will I talk about at girls’ night?” he asked.

“Ha. Ha.”

“Really? Because if you want to cry…”

She smiled. “I’m not going to cry.”

“You sure? Because I was ready.”

“To what, offer a shoulder?”

Cole reached across the bar and rapidly pulled out a half dozen paper napkins from a beat-up dispenser.”

“You can’t say no,” she chattered on. “Because I’m new to the city and desperate for a friend, and I like you. But that’s where it ends, okay? At like. You don’t have to worry that I’ll get the wrong idea about what this is because I won’t. But in return, you have to promise not to flirt.”

“Cole could only shake his head. “You’re a unique creature, Penelope Pope.”

“What about you? If I get the job, can you handle it? We can still be friends?”

Cole glanced down at their near-empty glasses. “Another round?”

“Sure,” she said slowly, “but you didn’t answer the question.”

He lifted his hand to get the bartender’s attention. “We can absolutely be friends,” he told her.”

“Penelope: Your precious Yankees aren’t looking so hot.

Cole: You watch your filthy Chicago mouth.

Penelope: Hmm, maybe I need glasses, because I keep looking at my TV, and I’m seeing Chicago White Sox: 6, New York Yankees: 2…What are you seeing?

Cole: The Yanks will come back. They always do.

Penelope: Has anyone told you how cute your delusions are?

Cole: Not recently. Want to come over and tell me to my face?

Penelope: Nice try, Sharpe. I’m quite comfortable on my own couch, thank you very much.

Cole: Fair enough…What are you wearing?

Penelope: Goodbye, Cole.”

“Oh no,” Cole said.

She glanced at him. “What?”

“That smile,” he said, taking another bite of apple. “It’s dangerous.”

“How can a smile possibly be dangerous?”

He shook his head. “You’re so cute and clueless.”

[iheartgracie]

penelope pope soft quotes part 3

“Will you sign my cast?” Bobby asked. “My doctor says I have to wear it for weeks but that I can have everyone sign it if they want to.”

“I’d love to.”

“Okay,” Bobby said happily. “You can sign it after Carly. And after Cole.”

“Uh-huh, I see where I rank,” she teased.”

“Thanks for telling me. I don’t know why that fool thinks he has to keep secrets….”

Penelope smiled gently. “Right. Because you’re an open book, hmm?”

“Oh my gosh. Oh my gosh, it’s him.” Penelope thumped her fist against Cole’s biceps in excitement. “Do I look okay? Do you have any lipstick?”

Cole stared at her. “Are you kidding me right now with this?”

“Dang, I wish I were taller. Can I sit on your shoulders?”

“His office door opened a crack, and the familiar face of his petite brunette coworker appeared with big brown eyes and a wide smile. Penelope Pope was always smiling.”

“The woman couldn’t have been more than five feet tall, but what she lacked in stature she made up for in personality. Bubbly, friendly, and unabashed”

“So sue me. I don’t watch ESPN.”

“Or turn on the news, or watch the Super Bowl . . . ”

“Guys only say a woman has a great smile when they’re super not attracted to her or they’re secretly in love with her.”

“. . . you let me put a picture of the two of us on Twitter saying that we’re bros.”

Jackson stared at the other man. “You want to take a selfie together?”

“It’s better than having you sign my bra,” Cole said.

“Oh, you can sign my bra!” Penelope said. “For the record, I’m a way bigger fan than Cole, so I want in on this selfie.”

“Penelope was a friendly, zero-filter tomboy who was equal parts sweet and hilarious.”

“The friendly, pint-size brunette was one of Lincoln’s favorite people, even more so at this very moment as she placed a plate in front of him bearing a chocolate donut with rainbow sprinkles.

“I love you,” Lincoln said around a large bite. “Leave Cole and marry me.”

“Lincoln, you’re very good-looking and everything, even in that ugly T-shirt, but can you please put my godbaby on the screen?”

“Lincoln cleared his throat. “You know that we’re the parents, right?”

“I do,” Penelope said, still gazing at the infant. “But there’s an army outside waiting their turn, so I’m soaking up my moment with the babies for as long as I can, and you just keep that ever-babbling trap shut, Lincoln.”

“Even as he said it, Penelope was easing toward the door, Christian in hands.

“Tiny,” Cole said indulgently to his wife.

“Right,” she said with a sigh, coming back to the bed, and handing Lincoln’s son over to him”

“Penelope went on her toes and pecked his cheek. “You’re my favorite. And I’m so happy for you.”

“Spunky, guileless, and utterly likable”

“Cassidy took pity on them. “Okay, everyone out. Even you,” he said to Penelope. “Actually, especially you. You have that look on your face.”

“What look?” Penelope said, standing and pushing in her chair.

“The one where you want everyone to be as grossly in love as you and Cole.”

“When does the dancing start?” Penelope asked impatiently.

“I think we’re supposed to wait for the toasts and the first dance and cake-cutting,” Brit pointed out.

“Ooooh, cake,” Penelope mused, looking around as though to figure out when that part would be happening.”

“Cole pulled her close, pressing a smiling kiss to her temple. “I adore you.”

“Obviously,” Penelope said. “I’m fantastic.”

[iheartgracie]

penelope pope soft quotes part 2

“Penelope felt a blast of misty water hit her cheek and turned around to see Cole holding a blue squirt bottle. “What are you doing? That’s for misting my plants!”

“Really?” Cole interrupted. “Damn, when I first saw you, I thought eighteen.”

“That’s the lack of boobs,” she said unabashedly.”

“Fuck no, I’m worried about her,” Cole said, pointing at Penelope.

She couldn’t help it. A laugh bubbled up then, and Cole gave her an incredulous look.

“Sorry,” she said, trying to keep her face straight, and failing. “It’s just…you look a lot like my dad right now.”

Cole’s mouth dropped open just as Jake let out a muffled laugh and Lincoln put a fist in front of his mouth, blue eyes twinkling in amusement.

“Your dad?” Cole said, sounding horrified”

“You know what I think?” he asked.

“I don’t know what you think, but I do know that I don’t want to hear it,” she replied.”

“He told her anyway. “I think that despite all your I’m just a simple girl next door charm, you’ve got walls.”

“Oh boy,” she said, dunking another ring in the sauce. “This should be good.”

“This is good stuff, Cole. Do you accept credit cards, or should I write you a check?”

“Lord help her.

Onion rings for Penelope were what roses and chocolate truffles were to other women.”

“Edgar,” she said, gesturing at the fishbowl. “My fish. I thought he was dead, because he didn’t eat his breakfast, and was just sort of floating there, but maybe he was only resting, because now he’s moving again.”

“She’s totally in fish heaven where Finding Nemo plays twenty-four-seven,”

“He didn’t know a single other woman in his acquaintance who’d be so satisfied—so thrilled—to be spending Sunday in front of a potential double no-hitter.

“wait, aren’t you a Yankees fan?”

“I am, but—”

“I’m a Mets fan,” Bobby said proudly.

Penelope nodded at this, taking a bite of her neglected hot dog. “A split family. I love that kind of drama.”

“She caught Cole’s grin out of the corner of her eye. “A woman who knows her hat size, Bob. Is it any wonder we adore her?”

She tilted her face up to look at him. “You know you’re ridiculously charming.”

He grinned. “You sound grumpy about that.”

“Let’s just say I’m not exactly loving the fact that I seem to find myself on the verge of joining the Cole Sharpe fan club.”

“I don’t know how I let you talk me into this five A.M. wake-up call,” Cole grumbled as he held the door at Starbucks open for her.

She stepped out onto the sidewalk and took a sip of her latte. “You know exactly why we’re doing this. I need to get home in time to shower before work, and someone refused to let me go home last night.”

“Careful, Pen. She wants to interrogate you about how massive my dick is,” Cole said.

Penelope met Julie’s eyes and wiggled her eyebrows. “Are you free later today? Lots to talk about.”

“What am I missing that makes it more complicated?”

Oh nothing. Just the itty-bitty, minor fact that I think I’m falling in love with you.”

Penelope leaned forward with a smile. “It wouldn’t happen that somebody planted that idea in your head, now, would it? Because this seems to be very similar to a plan I hatched with Julie just this afternoon.”

“Well, considering I’ve never twirled my hair in my life, don’t know how to bat my eyelashes, and surely my voice doesn’t sound like a cartoon mouse—”

“If she brings sushi, I’ll have to unfriend her,”

“You’re eating all of that?”

She snorted. “What, you thought I’d share? Get your own food, Sharpe.”

“That’s all I wanted, Cole. One bite.”

“Fair enough,” he said. “So you won’t mind giving Jake one of your nachos in return, right?”

Penelope clutched their food tray to her chest and gave Jake a warning glare. “Don’t you dare.”

[iheartgracie]

penelope pope soft quotes part 1

“Damn she was cute.”

“We Chicagoans are a bit more openly friendly than you New Yorkers.”

“I’m friendly,” he countered.

Tiny Brunette laughed. “No. You’re just incredibly charming. And a smidgen good-looking.”

He gave her his best bedroom look. “Am I?”

She smiled. “You know you are.”

“That explains the hot dog,” he said.

“What?”

He nodded his chin at the last bite of hot dog, ignored in her left hand. “The hot dog. You’re in a luxury suite in Yankee Stadium with a whole buffet of gourmet foods, and yet you went and fetched the most basic hot dog you could find.”

She grinned. “Guilty.”

“I suppose I should have been more thorough when I introduced myself,” she said sweetly. “Penelope Pope. Sports editor.”

“He glanced over his shoulder and saw that she wasn’t matching his pace. He stopped, marched toward her, and without warning, plucked the coffee out of her hand.

“Hey—”

“Speed up, Tiny,” he said.

“I don’t even know where we’re going.”

“Penelope could only shake her head at the curious women. “Honestly? I have no freaking idea.”

“You didn’t ruin anything. I’m not worried about this interruption making me look bad.”

“Penelope groaned and threw herself onto her right side. “Could I be any more pathetic?”

She rolled onto her back, pulling one of her throw pillows against her chest.

Maybe she should think about getting a dog.

Or even a fish.

Yes, a fish would be better. Less poop.”

“Penelope let a dopey smile crawl over her face as the loneliness eased—just slightly.”

“The day: Wednesday. The occasion: receiving an apology for intruding on your interview.

She grinned. Well, I DO like beer and apologies.”

“Penelope hopped to her feet in excitement, and then did an unabashed happy dance.”

Penelope Pope continued to surprise him.

She’d surprised him last night at the Yankees game, with her unwavering focus on the field.

She’d surprised him again today with her friendly, no-strings-attached offer of coffee.

And she surprised him now, with how enjoyable she was to be around.”

“What made Penelope refreshing was that her goodness was honest.

Kind and straightforward”

Your body looks like you know how to use it. You know?”

Her eyes went big, as though she just now realized that her choice of words could be misconstrued. “Oh. God. Not like that—”

“I mean, where would I even start? About how I was born on a snowy day in November? Favorite movie? First time I broke my nose? Or how about the first time I broke my sister’s nose—”

“And your broken nose?”

“Sixth grade. Elbow to the face during a basketball game.”

“Tiny. You played basketball?”

She smiled. “Let’s just say it wasn’t my glory sport.”

“Okay, I’ll tell you, but you can’t tell anyone else,” she said.

“But what will I talk about at girls’ night?” he asked.

“Ha. Ha.”

“But you’re still not feeling the pull, huh?”

Penelope took a sip of beer. “Are you?”

He blinked in surprise. “What?”

She shifted in her barstool to face him. “Take it all in. Are you feeling light-headed? Dazzled by my feminine charms?”

“Cole could only shake his head. “You’re a unique creature, Penelope Pope.”

“Her desk. She had a desk.

It was such a simple thing—a simple joy, really, having one’s own office to decorate however one wanted, although she hadn’t quite gotten to that, having been here all of three days.

But it was still her desk. Her office.

The happy grin spread across her face before she could stop it.”

“But tell me honestly, Pope. How badly do you wish you were wearing a tennis shoe right now?”

She sighed and dropped into her own guest chair. “So badly.”

He smiled knowingly.

[iheartgracie]

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“I never kiss and tell,” she said, surprising herself by the saucy, confident note in her voice.”

“If there’s something to say, you can say it now,” Penelope interrupted Evan in a quiet, firm voice.”

“Evan’s smile faltered. “It’s, um…I was hoping we could talk, just the two of us.”

Penelope shrugged. “You lost that right when you used me to get ahead in your career.”