Need You Now
Chapter Three
December 29, 2009
Walking through the airport Derek had his cell pressed to his ear and a big smile on his face. "I'm on the ground, sweetness. We still on for dinner tonight?"
"Wild horses couldn't drag me away from your side tonight."
"Good, good, good. So what are you in the mood for? Chinese? Thai? That Italian joint with the great bread sticks?" He moaned a little. "Remember that spot?"
"I'm in the mood for chocolate."
He laughed and people stared at him. "Be good and maybe I'll let you have a little lick."
An older woman jerked her eyes over and glared at Derek. He mouthed at her "Work thing," and kept walking, with a huge smile on his lips.
"What if I don't want a little lick?" she teased. After a pause she asked "What if I want a big, wet, juicy- "
"Woman, watch yourself!"
"Lick?"
"Mmmmm, stop! You're out of control."
"Do you want to hear out of control? I've been trying to figure out if you like peaches or strawberries better so I can know what to start eating more often so, should you ever get a taste, you like what you taste."
He couldn't respond because he could barely breathe.
Penelope giggled and said "Was that too much information for you to handle, Hot Stuff?"
"Your dirty mind is a thing of beauty, baby girl. Never change."
"I never plan to."
"Figure out where we're going to dinner. I'll call you after I get home and change my clothes."
"Okay. Bye, honey."
"Bye, baby girl." Derek walked out of the airport and couldn't even feel the cold air because he was warmed from the inside out after talking to Penelope.
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A few hours later Derek was at Penelope's door, desperately excited to see her in a way he hadn't been in a very long time. The pain of knowing she had a boyfriend had really tore at his heart but now that was gone and all he knew as she wanted him and her to be close again.
That was a start. And a start was all he needed to have all the hope that had died in him come back to life in an instant.
He rapped on her door and called out "Your chariot has arrived, princess."
When she pulled open the door Derek's breath caught in his throat. She looked damn good in her red dress with green trim. It brought to mind her words about a special Christmas nightie and panty set.
Before he could say anything to her she was taking him into her arms. Derek wrapped his arms around her and squeezed her gently. The moment lingered and filled with emotion.
She whispered "Tell me it will all be okay."
"It will all be okay." He pulled back a little and looked into her eyes. "Hey....I promise you. We're back on track now....you feel it, don't ya?"
She nodded and stepped away from him. Then she did a little spin. "Brand new. Just for you. Em and me hit the after Christmas sales today. This was marked down eighty percent. Can you believe it? I couldn't leave it there all lonely. It just wouldn't have been right."
Looking at her appreciatively Derek agreed. "No, it wouldn't have been right at all."
Penelope flushed around his appraisal and went to get her coat. Derek reminded himself not to be a horn dog over his best friend's hot body. He helped her get her coat on.
Derek asked "So where did you pick for us to chow down?"
"La Bella Vita."
He raised an eyebrow.
She added "The good bread sticks place."
He smiled. "Yum! You know the way to my heart, woman!"
"Now if I only knew the way to get into your pants."
"Hush,"he said with a grin as he opened the door and led her into the hall. She locked the door and then they left.
XXXXXXXXX
Sitting across the table from Penelope, Derek felt completely relaxed. "My Mom sends her love. She says not to come back next time if I don't bring you with."
"She's been saying that for years."
"Yeah, well, I doubt Lynch would have gone for that idea. Look at you, baby girl."
Penelope gave him a raised eyebrow.
Derek went on "No man who had you as his would let you take your gorgeous Goddess body off with another guy." He took a sip of his drink. "But, if you and him don't work things out, then maybe you would consider making my Mom happy and heading up north with me next time I go."
"We're not gonna work things out," Penelope said, harshly.
Derek threw up his hands. "Okay, okay, baby girl. I'm on your side whatever happens."
"I just want to feel like myself again and then I'll worry about getting the soul mate love I so desperately crave. But I know it won't be with Kevin. He's not a bad guy in any way but he's never going to be the one."
"Just as long as you're happy then I'm happy."
"I will be happy if you and I get close again. No pressure though. You don't have to put the pieces of my heart back together again. I just want my friend back."
"Hey, sweetheart, I never went anywhere."
"You kinda did."
"I'm truly sorry if it felt that way."
"This is half my fault, handsome. We let it all get away from us for a while there. I don't know when it started but I looked up and we were sort of just passing by each other but not connecting. What we have is so special....I know some people think its not healthy but I love it and I don't wanna lose it."
"Whoa, who says its unhealthy?"
"That doesn't matter, my love. All that matters is what we think. I'm crazy about what we have as friends. Like I said before, I don't just want us to work on getting close because Kevin is not my boyfriend anymore. I've been trying to find a way to talk to you for months now as I felt the gap between us widening but then I kept talking myself out of it and saying it wasn't real.....but it is real, Derek. We were losing each other and it scared the hell out of me."
"Hey, you can never lose me. I will never push you out of my life or stop needing you. You're stuck with me, Garcia, so get used to the idea."
She smiled widely and said softly "Music to my ears."
XXXXXXXXXXXXX
Derek didn't tell Penelope where they were going after dinner but he headed over to Washington DC. They ended up at The National Gallery of Art Sculpture Garden's ice skating rink.
Penelope fretted when she saw where they were. "Oh, Hot Stuff, I don't know that mama is so good at-"
"You'll do great. And, bonus, you got an excuse to hold my hand so I can keep your sexy self steady. Just once around and then we'll get hot chocolate." Since she was in a dress he was not keeping her outside long.
Derek loved the pink flush that came to Penelope's cheeks after they had made their one lap around the rink. He also loved getting to help her take on and off her skates. After buying her a drink they went back to his truck and cranked up the heat.
He looked at her as she sipped her hot chocolate with whipped cream. Some got on her nose. He brushed it off with his thumb and then licked his finger. "Sweet as my sweet baby girl."
She pouted.
Derek laughed. "What is that face for?"
"You could have let me lick your finger clean."
He laughed again. "No I couldn't because you would never stop at my finger."
"Hmpf," she pretended to be mad and then giggled. "This was fun, Derek. Don't you think so?"
Catching her tone, he said "You say that as if you gotta convince me we have a good time together. I know that. I'm right where I wanna be."
She threw him a smoky look. "Good," she purred and he sat there burning with lust.
Derek turned on the radio and tried to ignore all the thoughts running around his head at that moment. When Penelope started to sing along with the Christmas songs playing on the radio he found her completely adorable in every way. Not only did he lust after her but, on a dime, he was reminded that she was the cutest woman in the world. She made every moment special just by being herself.
"I'm not sure you believe me," he said after a minute.
She was quick to answer "I do-"
"I think we need to go out again tomorrow night so you can get it through your hard head that I like taking my Goddess out on the town."
"Oh." She grinned. "I do have a horribly hard head. I've been told that on several occasions. Maybe you need to really drive the point home."
"Then that is what I'll have to do."
"Okay, if you have to."
"You've left me no choice, baby girl." He kept his voice firm though it was clear they were playing around.
"Maybe one day I'll be convinced but it could take putting in long hours. Are you up for the challenge?"
Making his voice silky and sexy Derek told her "I doubt it will take that long. I know what I'm doing."
"Oh, I have no doubt you do, sug. I have no doubt at all," Penelope cooed back.
