A/N: Okay, so another ONESHOT. Well, for the moment anyway. I think from all the oneshots I've written over the past 2 years, this one has the most potential be get a follow up - nothing guaranteed though! Love to hear your thought about this I have to admit, I am tempted to leave it where it is and just... let the question 'could they, couldn't they, will they/Won't they' run through everyone's mind. LOL

She loved a good surprise. And let's be honest, who didn't? She didn't need them all the time, but occasionally was nice.

When she and Jackson had started dating he seemed to be full of surprises, constantly. She had met Jackson in a coffee shop one day about two years ago. She was running late for work. Stopping for her usual morning coffee on her way in – she was already late anyway, so why not? Who cared whether she was ten minutes late, or fifteen? Late was late. It was her coffee that led to meeting her boyfriend. Their orders somehow got mixed up. He ended up with her coffee – and she with his. She was certain this exact same scenario had been used in plenty of Hollywood productions, but for her it really was how they got together. Numbers were exchanged, a first date was arranged and the rest was - like they always say - history.

As exciting as their first meeting had been, as exciting would be the first few months of their relationship. Jackson had been the kind of guy who loved to surprise her. With all sort of things. Had been was the operative here. The surprises stopped quite a while ago and Penelope couldn't complain – it somehow was to be expected.

Two weeks ago had been her 30th birthday and Jackson had presented her with a 'surprise weekend'. Not on the exact weekend of her birthday though. That's how she ended up in the middle of nowhere – that's how it at least felt – on a rather cold Friday night in the middle of February.

Her surprise weekend brought her to Portland, Oregon. Penelope herself never had any desire of actually travelling to Oregon and now that she was here that hadn't changed. She was a California Girl through and through. She needed her sunshine like a fish needed water. And there wasn't much sun going on in Portland. She didn't want to seem difficult, but sitting on the edge of her bed, she somehow thought a 'surprise weekend' to Hawaii might have been more fun. And maybe also a bit more romantic – but then again their relationship had long lost its romance, or maybe never had much to start with. Some people now might find that weird or reason for concern - but for Penelope it was pretty much how all her relationships had been. That's what she had grown used to by now.

This whole trip already was not looking too well when she received a message from Jackson, telling her he was stuck at some meeting and she should go ahead and catch the flight he had booked for them – he would somehow change his time. When she had checked in at their hotel, he had sent her another message that he was on his way and that she should go ahead and get her room, he would get his on arrival. Yes, it had gotten that far they by now slept in separate rooms – although only when they went some place. Jackson was a classic workaholic who on some night didn't even sleep. As mentioned before, romance never had been really big.

She knew he loved her and she loved him. There was a certain daily routine that managed to get in their relationship and maybe it wasn't the fairytale story book relationship, but Penelope never believed much in them anyway. Sure, there probably were people who had them, but there also were enough people who didn't. And these people were okay with it as well. And it wasn't as if it all was bad. They had their moments – usually during little trips like this one. They might have been in a rather cold state, during one of the coldest winters of the last few years, but Penelope was sure they would heat things up – somehow.

When he had managed to unpack her few things she had packed for this weekend, she received another message from Jackson, telling her he had landed and would be at the hotel in a few moments. Time to get ready then. Time to get things going. Her boyfriend clearly wasn't the only one who had a surprise up his sleeve.

Underwear would do the trick. She certainly wasn't a femme fatale as such, but she knew a move or two. And the one guy that could turn down a girl clad in only skimpy, lacy underwear still had to be born. She knew the room attached to hers was Jackson's. That's how all hotels always did it. Good for her, since it meant she could just throw herself into whatever she wanted and didn't need to actually leave her room to get to his.

When she heard noises coming from the room next to hers she knew it was time to start. Applying last touches to her soft make-up and combing her hand one last time through her hair she was ready. The way she looked right now, she was glad the only door she had to walk through was the connecting door. She certainly wasn't too keen on anyone else seeing her like that than her boyfriend.

"You know, I've been thinking that maybe we can change a few things…" Penelope said to Jackson a few moments later when walking through the connecting door. Instead of some reply there was silence, which at some stage was followed by a low sort of whistle. Looking up she expected Jackson, but was instead looking the most gorgeous hazel eyes. And the rest didn't have any similarities with her dear boyfriend either. It took her a moment to pull her eyes away from a rather mesmerizing and rather exquisitely handsome stranger, but eventually she did and blushed fiercely.

"Oh my…. I am so sorry. I was expecting… someone else," she said and was about to roll her eyes about how stupid that last part was. Of course was she expecting someone else! He probably kinda knew that as well – unless of course he was expecting someone.

Instead of any kind of answer from the handsome stranger there was just … silence. Looking at him again she could see his eyes busily travelling up and down her curves – something that made her flush from head to toe. And made her feel a few things she hadn't felt in quite a while. Especially in areas she had long forgotten about. Crossing her arms in front of her chest and making the first few steps back towards the safety of her own hotel room, Penelope tried to smile apologetic at her room neighbor.

When she saw him all of a sudden get out of his shirt and offered it to her she wasn't sure what to expect. Or say for that matter. She nevertheless took it anyway – if only for a few seconds until she was fully through the door.

"At least we are somehow even now," she heard the most velvet voice say, before that was followed by a soft chuckle.

"For being even you'd have to lose those jeans as well," Penelope replied, widening her eyes at herself. Where on earth did that just come from?

Instead of shock or anything like that she only saw her companion smile at her widely.

"I wouldn't have any real problems with that," came his answer and somehow Penelope had no problems imagining that. Someone who looked that perfect probably used every excuse he could find to show the world what he had on offer. And that was plenty if his well-toned upper body, ripped abs and his impressive biceps were any indication.

But she knew she should go, had to go. She was in a relationship after all. But standing here, looking at probably the most perfect man she had ever seen, it was a bit harder than it should have been.

"I… um… I think I better…" Penelope started, pointed with her hand towards the door that connected her room to the handsome stranger's room.

"Lucky guy," he said softly after a while.

"I'm Sorry?" Penelope asked.

"He is a lucky guy," he simply smiled at the blonde and Penelope felt herself blush and a smile coming up.

"I'm … um… terribly sorry again," Penelope apologized again, while walking slowly back to the door.

"Oh don't be," she saw him smiling at her, his gaze so intense she almost shivered. "I think your little visit just marked the highlight of my otherwise probably rather boring stay. So thank you for that."

For a moment Penelope was tempted to say 'you are welcome' – but she could stop herself and slipped through the door, before closing it tightly behind her.

She had planned on heating things up. This certainly added some heat.

After a moment of gathering her rather stray thoughts she realized she was still wearing his shirt. A shirt she probably should return to its rightful owner. Or she could keep it as a souvenir.

And her boyfriend's actual room number. That was something she should maybe look into as well. But maybe not right away.

*-*-*-*-*-* THE END (?) *-*-*-*-*-*