Baby Girl Note- Mami is a Spanish endearment. Sounds almost like Mommy. Morgan and Garcia Chapter Two July 2000
Penelope's face was flushed and her heart was banging like a drum in her chest as she entered Grant Park for The Taste of Chicago, a food and music fest. She had came there by herself that day but right before she walked across the street, after getting off a bus, she nearly tripped off a curb and would have fallen if not for the hottest man she had ever seen catching her.
Looking up and into his eyes, she had felt mesmerized. Damn, he was hot. He could make her blood boil right in her veins.
Her body reacted to the sight, smell, and feel of him immediately. She felt completely captivated by him. Like he became her whole world in that instant, if only for the few minutes they had flirted.
Jay- her gay hacker friend who invited her to visit him in this weekend- would flip when he heard her story of meeting such a sexy stud. She really should try and get a picture of this stranger for proof.
He escorted her across the street like a gentleman- even if the hot, lust drenched eyes he had on her a moment before was anything but gentlemanly. She didn't mind. If he liked what he saw then, by all means, he should look all he wanted at her body.
It was great to meet a man who appreciated a curvy chick.
As they got across the street she figured they would go there separate ways. Looking at him she smiled sweetly. "Thank you uber much. You're a knight in shining armor in modern times. I didn't think there were still men like you around. Thank you for restoring my faith."
"Girl, you ain't never met a man like me before."
"Is that right? Do tell."
Waggling his head at her "I specialize in making fantasies come true."
She pursed her lips and let out a hissing breath. "Ohhhh, I'm sure you do, sugar buns."
He let out a happy laugh. "Damn right, woman. I ain't all talk."
"Well, you certainly have kicked off my time at this Fest the right way. I better let you get going though."
"You better, huh? I think you better not. I'm right where I wanna be. Though I could use to go grab up an order of ribs. You ever had Chi-town's version?"
"I can't say I have. I was told to get a slice of pizza today. Where I come from its not unusual to have sprouts on pizza but Jay says that's unheard of around here and I haven't tried true pizza till I have Gino's East."
"Who's Jay? That your man?"
"Just a buddy."
"Good cause I got a rule about never messing with a woman who is taken but for you I was just about to break it. Good to know I can stay a saint."
She let out a loud laugh and looked him up and down. "You? A saint? I don't buy it for a second. Everything about you screams sex God who knows it."
"That right? You know what, beautiful? You're very perceptive. I love that in a woman. But its rare. You're gonna make me step up my game, I can tell already, but that's all right cause I'm an overachiever big time. So, what do you say, sexy mama, will you join me for some ribs? Its my treat. I would never let a fine woman like you spend a dime when she's on my arm and you...you need to be on my arm cause I don't plan to let some other man up in here get a chance to put you on his instead."
"Well, handsome, when you put it that way," she purred, those brown eyes twinkling at him and a teasing smile on her lips "I guess I will just have to allow you to sweep me off my feet."
"Watch yourself. I could throw you over my shoulder and take you home with me before you ever get a chance to try Chicago's ribs or pizza, you keep looking at me like that."
"Like what?" she asked, pretending innocence.
Waggling his head and leaning closer to her "Like the biggest temptation that ever crossed my path. Mmmm. I'd love to get you alone and get you out of that dress, girl."
She smirked. "I think I'll take just ribs for right now. Especially since I don't even know your name. You sure do move fast. But with a hot ass like yours I guess who wouldn't? Is it a burden to be the most sexiest man ever born?"
He laughed and wrapped an arm around her back. "Its so tiring but somehow I manage to pull it off effortlessly. Tell me, how do you deal with being so damn sexy that you stop traffic?"
She chuckled. "You're such a flirt! I bet you have ten girlfriends."
"Not today. Today I just have you and I wouldn't want it any other way." He looked down at her, as they kept walking, and their eyes held for a moment, but then he had to look up because the crowds were very thick.
Once they made it to the stand where guests buy tickets to then purchase their meals he turned to her. "Derek Morgan."
"Hello, Derek Morgan, very nice to meet your hard, six pack ab, gorgeous cocoa body today."
"Well, thank you very much for the compliment! I aim to please."
She chuckled.
He grinned at her. "So, what's your name? Or should I just call you Goddess? Cause its obvious you were sent down from God to make Derek Morgan a very happy boy."
"Boy? I was so hoping that you were a grown man because boys wear out so fast once I unleash my inner tigress on them."
"Mmmm, don't you worry. I've got the stamina of a boy and the skill of a very well practiced man."
"Rawr, I do love the sound of that but," her eyes raked him up and down "I would hardly expect less. Just tell me there is no Mrs. Morgan because I've never been religious but I'm a huge believer in karma."
He held up his hand. "No ring. Never has been and won't be for a decade or more. I'm very much into just having some fun with whoever catches my eye. And today...that means you...the hottest woman here. Lucky, lucky, Derek Morgan. My Ma always did say that I was blessed. So bless me with your name, sweetness, and tell me what I'll be screaming later on tonight."
Her cheeks heated up. "Oh don't get ahead of yourself now."
"I got a good feeling and my gut never leads me wrong."
She ran her hand over his shoulder, leaned closer and whispered "Sorry to inform you that you've just hit First Time For Everything Boulevard."
"Or don't say that, mami. You know you're lying."
"I never hook up on the first date and this isn't even a date, sug, so I guess you're gonna have to settle for my lovely company only at this fest. Don't start sobbing now because I hate to see a grown, horny man cry."
"Hush! There are kids around," he said with a big grin.
"You didn't seem to care when you were talking about screaming, cursing, moaning and withering in pleasure a moment ago."
Now his face heated up. He cleared his throat and pulled out his wallet, as the line had advanced so now it was his turn to purchase his meal tickets. "I don't think I said all that, woman."
"It was implied."
He chuckled and bought a hundred dollars worth of tickets. They went fast at the fest and if he had any left over he could pass them off to his kid sister, who planned to come down tomorrow on the Fourth to see the fireworks.
With a big smile on his lips he turned to face her, as they moved way from the booth, "Lets get a drink first cause its hot as all hell out here. I wouldn't want you getting dehydrated, sweetie."
"You are the sweet one around here."
"For you, that's no doubt. So are you gonna tell me what I can call you or do you just love dragging out my torment?"
"And why are you being tortured, handsome? We seem to be doing just fine, if you ask me."
"Well, just in case I do decide I want to bring your sunshine into my life again after today I won't be able to if all I know you as is that super hot blond from the fest."
"Don't call me. I'll call you. There problem solved."
"Woman," he said in a rumbling growl.
They made their way to a stand to buy fruity, icy drinks. "Fine, you dragged it out of me. Penelope Garcia."
"Garcia, huh? You got a little Latin in your blood, do ya?"
"No, afraid not. That's my stepfather's last name. He adopted me when I really young so my mom gave me his name."
"That's cool."
"He was a great man that I admired very much so I'm quite proud to carry his name, even if it does raise eyebrows when people hear my name for the first time."
"Was? I'm sorry. Has he passed?"
They ordered their drinks and Derek paid.
"Yes, sadly. A while back now. Both him and my mother were killed in a car accident."
"Oh, girl, I'm sorry to hear that. That must have been rough. I know the feeling of losing a parent too young. I lost my father when I was in fifth grade. He tried to stop a robbery and the perp shot him."
"Perp? You sound like a cop off NYPD Blue."
He pulled out his wallet and flashed her his badge. "More like the real thing."
"Wow, so impressive. Do you go after hackers?"
"Hackers? No. I'm on the bomb squad."
"Oh, good, then I guess we can stay friends."
"You're some kind of hacker? Like you break into businesses and stuff? Girl, that's gonna get you locked up."
"Its harmless. I make sure to stay on the right side of the law."
He gave her an unconvinced look that was stern and full of warnings. They took their drinks from the vendor. "Well, I like you so I won't run you in this time but watch yourself, sexy."
"Why? When you are doing such a good job watching me all on your own."
"Mmm, damn right I am. I"ve forgotten all about meeting up with my friends cause I don't wanna share your attention. They can get by without me."
"Derek," she said
He loved hearing his name on her lips. There was just something desperately sexy about it.
She went on "Don't let me keep you from your plans. I wouldn't feel right about that."
"Hush! My friends ain't gonna hardly miss me. But if I walked away from you right now that would be a tragedy so no more trying to send me on my way. I'm not leaving your side till I gotta go into work in the morning and, I'm thinking right now, I just may take a sick day."
"Oh, you are so confident," she purred.
"You know it, woman."
She gave him a smile that radiated light. It warmed him and he couldn't help but smile back.