The Phenomenal Woman Chapter Three March 2010
Derek started to spend a lot more time in Penelope's office with her. He grew more and more attracted to her, even though he would have thought he couldn't lust after her any harder than he had in the past. She just got sexier as the days went on.
He had stopped dating because no chick out there could get him feeling the way she could.
One day he reached out and brushed her hair away from her neck. "Red, you got any plans for tonight?"
He didn't want to make a huge deal out of asking her on a date but everyday the urge got stronger to do it and now the words had finally slipped out as he stared lovingly at her while she simply typed away at her computer, not realizing all the feelings bubbling in his chest over her.
"As a matter of fact, my handsome noir knight, mama does have plans. I've got a date."
"Say what?"
She smiled at him. She was sitting in her computer chair and he was leaning his butt against the edge of her desk, looking down at her. Penelope answered "That's right, sug, and he's a real sweetie pie. I met him at my art appreciation class."
"That jewelry making thing you got into?"
"This is something different. We go to galleries and admire paintings, sculptors, experimental art and stuff like that. You should see the gamut this stuff runs, baby. From the beautiful to the bizarre and back again."
"Mmm-hmm. So, Garcia, tell me about your new man."
"Just a new friend really. He likes the experimental art which is just up my alley. Weird," she drug the word out "but in a cool way."
"You do know that guys claim to like stuff just to get in your-"
She laughed. "Yeah, I think I've caught onto that fact by now. Women do too. You think I enjoyed watching that Super Bowl thing with you that one time? Nope. I just wanted a chance to snuggle up with you on a cold winter day. You were too busy screaming at the TV to cuddle me though." She faked a pout. "Remember that?"
"Yeah, sure. That was a while back now."
"Three years. Time is flying, sug!"
"Yep. So this guy. He got a name?"
"Michael," she said with a smile.
He gave her a look that said he wanted the last name.
Penelope went on "Davis. And do not try to run a background check on him. He's a good guy. Harmless."
"It ain't been that long since you broke up with Lynch."
"Long enough for me to have a little fun."
"Oh..um...well, that's good, baby girl. Hope you have a good time. I better get back to my paperwork."
"Aw, you're leaving me, you gorgeous chocolate pudding pop? Just when I was thinking about licking you from head to toe, too."
He chuckled. "You're crazy," he murmured lovingly as he left the room.
For the last few weeks Derek had been getting more and more into the idea of asking Penelope on a date, staring at her across rooms, calling her more than usual, and hanging around her at work as much as he could manage.
Now it looked like he moved too slow, once again, and she had moved on. It answered his question in a big way: Was she at all into him and looking at him to be her man now that Lynch was out of her bed?
Nope. Penelope was over Derek and on with her life now.
Derek was left to watch her blossom into an even more beautiful woman right before his very eyes while she spread her wings and flew even farther away from him. It was a remarkable thing to watch. He loved to see her eyes shining....he just wished that he could be even closer to her. That he could be part of the reason that her life was so good these days.
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He was shocked to hear that she had another date a couple of weeks later with a different guy. "Whoa, baby girl, what happened to Davis?"
"Nothing. He's still in my art class. We had a pretty decent time on our date. We might even do it again but no rush. There wasn't any major sparkage between us, if you know what I mean, sug. Not like me and you. Now that's fire."
He gave her a confused look. "Who's the new guy lucky enough to be taking you out on the town?"
"Danny Parker and- before you ask- no, he is not dangerous. He's nicely normal. A little boring even."
"Where'd you find this one?"
"Male strip club. He's a dancer." She shot him a look to show she was joking, as she made her coffee that morning.
"Garcia," he growled.
"Oh, fine. He lives in my building. He's a fireman. Divorced. Has two little girls that are completely adorable and a dog named Silver. Could he be any more all American? I think not, sug. He's taking me dancing."
Dancing. That was enough to make Derek's stomach hurt. Another guy with his hands all over Penelope. At this point push was rapidly coming to shove. Derek hated feeling jealous and rejected. He either had to make his move or get back out there and date again himself. Get back in the game. Be as happy as Penelope was lately.
Only problem? Nobody but her was gonna make him happy.
He crossed his arms over his chest. "Have you known this guy long?"
"I've seen him around for years. He moved in a couple of summers ago. Believe me, he's a good guy. Nothing to bring out your protective side, cuddle bunny."
"So, in other words, he's been waiting out you and Lynch breaking up so he could get with you? I don't know about this, baby girl. The man sounds down right obsessed. Waiting two years for his chance. What if you don't want him like he obviously wants you. It could get sticky fast."
She rolled her eyes. "He had a girlfriend till last October or so. Its been months since they split so he's not on the rebound and he's not a weirdo, no matter if the profiler in you sees unsubs around every corner." She brushed her hand over his chest. "Mama will be fine, handsome." Then she laughed a little. "I had forgotten how you get when I date. You were never like this about Kevin."
"By the time I found out about you and Lynch you were in love with him. You didn't wanna hear what I had to say about it at that point."
Penelope raised an eyebrow and narrowed her eyes at him.
Derek added "Besides, I sorta knew Lynch already by then and I knew he was a good guy." He gave her a small smile. "Not saying he was good enough for my girl but that was for you to decide."
She cooed at him "Would anyone be good enough for me in your eyes?"
"You got me there. No man is good enough for you. Not even me."
"I beg to disagree with you there. You've earned every nickname I've ever given you. Too bad you have never gotten past the practicing stage of love. Cause we could have been epic, baby. Mama weeps at the thought of all those missed orgasms over the years. Oh well, c'est la vie. Right, sug?"
"Um...yeah...sure, baby girl. Though I would have loved it if you rocked my world way back when, if that would have went down you'd probably hate me by now. This way we're good friends and I do appreciate our friendship. I don't ever wanna feel like you don't want me around anymore."
She smiled sweetly. "Zero chance of that happening, sugar buns. You're my favorite eye candy." Penelope winked at Derek and sashayed off to her bunker to start her work day.
Derek went to his desk to pull up a database and looked up Daniel Parker, who lived in Penelope's building. This guy better pray he was as good and normal as Penelope believed because if not Derek would be going by there to dangle him off his balcony.
