AN: Thanks so much for the reviews. I know it hasn't been easy to leave them with FF acting up!...


Chapter 7

Penelope showed up at Derek's place exactly on time, presents in tow. She had a huge, heart-shaped box of candy and some flowers for him. It was silly, really, since he wasn't her boyfriend, but she couldn't help herself. It was so sweet of him to want to spend Valentine's with her.

She was dressed the part, too. She was wearing a red sweater with a sweetheart neckline and a cupid on the shoulder, a black pencil skirt, red tights with little hearts embossed on them, and her sturdy, patent leather Mary Jane stilettos. Atop her head was a red marabou headband with two glittery hearts attached on springs jutting upward.

"Well, look at you, Miss Festive," Derek said as he opened the door. He let his eyes wander over her before giving a sad little shake of his head. "I missed all of this today, huh?"

Derek had been at a seminar designed for lead profilers for most of the day. By the time she'd reached the office, he'd already left with Rossi and the Boss Man.

"Yes, you did," she said, stepping inside. She started to slide off her jacket, and as usual, Derek was behind her and his hands were at her shoulders, assisting and making short work of the removal. She felt his hands linger for just a minute, giving a little squeezing massage.

"Teaches me to get my priorities straight," he murmured, and then sneaked in to kiss her cheek softly. "Next time, I'll skip."

A riot of goose pimples broke out on her arms and down her neck at that little contact, and she willed herself not to gasp like a ninny. He'd already released her by the time she felt it was safe to turn.

"For me?" he asked when she finally turned.

She stared at him blankly. Goodness, he was stunning...

He grinned at her and winked. "The flowers you're holding…"

"Oh! Yes!" Knowing she was redder than her sweater, she thrust the rather mangled bouquet with the bumble bee on top.

"Bee mine," he said, reading the little ornament in the center. His smile was devastatingly appealing. "Okay…I'm yours."

She watched him, saw the warmth in his eyes, along with the teasing glint that was always present. Laughing, she said, "Some of this stuff is so corny."

He paused a second and then simply smiled again. "Come on, momma…I got a lot of goodies for you."

As he started to walk away, she found herself staring after him, watching his every move. His dark trousers defined his perfectly sculpted butt, and his heavy white sweater looked so touchable.

Swallowing the embarrassing pool of saliva in her mouth, she quickly started to follow. "I do, too. I have more presents."

"I see that," he said, gesturing to the heart-shaped box with the silky ribbon on top.

"This one seemed fitting," she said, excited to hand him that present.

Derek read the ribbon out loud. "Hot Stuff." Chuckling, he opened the box.

"Notice it's not chocolate," she said with a grin of her own. "Cinnamon red hots for my hot stuff."

He took a couple of the little round candies and popped them into his mouth. "You know what these remind me of?"

"What?"

"Maybelline-Anne Nelson." At her blank look, he continued. "Fifth grade. I was kind of shy back then, but I was bound and determined to kiss my first girl."

Penelope smiled, but her heart ached just a touch, too. Of course a present she got him would remind him of another girl…

"It was before recess, and I was starving, certain that my breath was foul, too," he explained. "So, I popped my mouth full of cinnamon red hots, ran out on the playground, and planted my lips on poor Maybelline-Anne."

She giggled. "That had to surprise her."

"Me, too," he said with a twisted smirk. "I didn't realize that they would make my mouth water, so right after I kissed her, I drooled on the poor girl. We were both covered in red wetness."

Penelope was laughing by the time he was done. "Oh, man, Hot Stuff…that's awful."

"Not always as suave as I am now, was I?" His million watt smile lit up the room, and he stepped closer to her. "Well, I promised myself I would learn from that experience, and if I ever kissed a girl with cinnamon red hots, I'd do it better…"

Before she knew what was happening, he pulled her into his arms and lowered his mouth to hers. It was a safe kiss, the kind you'd give a first date at the doorstep, but that didn't make it any less appealing. She could feel the warmth of his body and taste the sweet and cinnamon flavor of his lips.

Almost as quickly as it started, it ended. "Tell me…Have I improved?"

She looked up at him. "Yes, but you already knew that."

"No, I didn't. I haven't done that with another girl since that first time."

"Why?" she asked as her heart skipped a beat.

"Because I wanted something good attached to that candy that was just as memorable as that first time." He cupped her face in his hands and winked at her. "Thank you, baby, for helping me out."

As she watched him smiling at her, a dull frustration started in her gut. So much so, she wanted to scream. Lately, he'd teased her so much, making her want and wish and dream like she used to, and she knew she was so in love with him. She needed to get out of there before she made a fool of her self. Not tonight. Not on a day filled with love, when he didn't return it the way she wanted him to.

Suddenly, she felt like she was starving, too. She wanted to eat two dozen chocolate donuts, with chocolate frosting and chocolate jimmies. She wanted chocolate ice cream, with chocolate sauce, and chocolate brownies swirled in. She wanted…she wanted…

Before her thoughts concluded, he turned again and started heading toward the kitchen. "Take a seat," he called out once he disappeared from sight. "You can tell which spot is yours…"

On the table was a single red rose, sitting on top of a massive gold box wrapped in a red bow from one of her favorite chocolatiers.

"Ooooh! " she called out, running to the spot excitedly.

She picked up the flower, enjoyed the scent, placed it aside, and then tore into the chocolate box. She could hear Derek clanking around with dishes, and before she could feel too ashamed for giving in to temptation, she popped a chocolate in her mouth. Immediate gratification and pleasure swamped her body as the delicate chocolate melted on her tongue and coated her palate. Two seconds later, she crammed another, and another, into her mouth.

As she scarfed the chocolate, barely tasting the flavors in the pieces, she could feel it helping her. It was helping with her frustration. She wasn't so frustrated. She was getting relief, release. It wouldn't matter if she was alone tonight after this, she'd be okay. She…

Her stomach roiled as she looked down. She'd already eaten six pieces of the decadent treat, and now, she felt rather green. She wasn't used to rich chocolate anymore. In fact…it wasn't pleasing her like she'd hoped it would.

Derek stepped back into the room, carrying two salads with a light dressing on them. "Ah! You found your treat," he said with a grin. "Like it? It's supposed to be the best."

She took her napkin, wiped her mouth, and then said, "Umm...yes. It is the best. Thank you, Derek."

"Good," he said, putting the salad in front of her before taking the seat next to her. "Was it everything you dreamed it would be?"

Penelope wished she could rinse her mouth out. The cloying sweetness of the chocolate wouldn't taste good with the balsamic vinegar and olive oil D had put on the salad. "D…do you have any wine?"

Smiling, he reached for a bottle of pinot noir—her favorite—and then pulled the cork. He poured her a glass. "Here you go, Baby Girl."

Taking a sip of the wine, Penelope smiled to herself. That was much better! "Thank you."

He gave her an odd look. "The chocolate didn't suit you?"

She looked up at him and knew she had a guilty flush. She looked down at her hands, unable to meet his eyes. "Well…not really. I'm just not as hungry for chocolate as I thought I was."

When he didn't respond, she looked up at him and gasped. He was looking at her with such undeniable heat, it took her breath away.

"Really, Baby Girl?" he drawled, pushing his chair away from the table. "Then what are you hungry for?"