Chapter 17

Penny is on a ten minute break from the boutique and was having some coffee in the pantry when she took out her phone to dial Leonard's number. Leonard answered after a few rings.

L: Hey pretty lady! How are things in the store?

P: It's so great honey. They let me have some of the clothes and shoes here so I could look more sophisticated and fashionable. I'm so glad to have this job honey!

L: Well I'm glad you're having fun.

P: I am. This place is like my closet...only a lot bigger and with better clothes and shoes!

L: That's so great honey. I'm so proud of you!

P: Well tonight...someone might get lucky!

L: Hmmm...I wonder who that someone is?

P: It's me jackass!….my commercial will air tonight!

L: Really!? That's wonderful honey….what time do you think it will air?

P: My agent said sometime between eight to nine.

L: Ok. So we'll order takeout and watch it at my place.

P: Honey this one's on me….I'll bring the food and maybe you will bring the dessert?

L: Ok. Wait, when you say dessert you're talking about pudding or cakes right?

P: Why? Is there any other kind of dessert?

L: Well...you know…

P: Honey, I get what you mean….just relax ok!?

L: Ok. Good. Glad we're on the same page…

P: Great. Listen I have to go. My break is over. I'll call you later.

L: Ok. Bye!

Leonard put his phone down and went back to typing on his computer in his lab. Lunch time came and he went to the cafeteria and found Sheldon, Raj and Howard already seated. He went to the counter to get his food and carried his food tray back to their table. Ever since Penny visited and the incident with Barry Kripke, everyone in the university somehow had a new profound respect for him. Everyone was friendlier to him and whenever he spoke, everyone would pay attention. He realized that Penny has given him more than physical and emotional affection. Penny has given him confidence and a new sense of direction. Just thinking about her would always bring a smile on his face.

"So Howard, care to share your plans for your date with Bernadette?" Leonard asked as he fiddled with his food.

Howard immediately got excited. "I'm gonna take her to a nice restaurant and a movie after that." he smiled.

"That seems romantic huh?" Leonard said.

Raj butted in. "Yeah dude….just don't do your magic thing on her….it's ridiculous."

"Hey...I'm saving that for later…" Howard cut him off.

Sheldon decided to speak. "Leonard, can I ask you a question?"

"Yeah, what is it?" Leonard said.

"Is Penny ok with your situation?" Sheldon asked.

"What do you mean 'my situation' Sheldon?" Leonard turned to him.

"Well you already have a daughter...aren't you worried that Sarah will form some sort of emotional connection with Penny and see her as a mother figure?" Sheldon asked as he spooned some of his food and continued. "and if your relationship with Penny doesn't work out, like it or not, your daughter will surely be affected…" he said as he put the spoon in his mouth.

"Thanks for your concern Sheldon and believe me...not a day goes by that I don't think about it…" Leonard said as he looked at his food thinking about Penny and his daughter.

Later that night, Penny went over to Leonard's place with takeout Chinese food. Sarah ran immediately to her.

"Penny!" the child yelled.

Penny knelt down and hugged her. "Ugh...hi sweetie!...Did you miss me?" she said as she held her. Sarah nodded.

Penny stood up and took the takeout to the coffee table. Leonard gave her a kiss on the cheek to help her unpack and prepare dinner.

"What channel do you think your commercial will be shown on?" he asked her.

"My agent said it's either channel 31, 34 or 35." Penny said as she put the last box on the table.

Leonard took the remote and turned to channel 31. They took their food and began to eat. Leonard helped his daughter with her food box. It took about half an hour for Penny's commercial to be shown. She put her food down and held Leonard's hand. "This is it!" she said excitedly.

The commercial was about a feminine hygiene product and shows Penny riding on a horse implying that she can still enjoy these activities even if it is her 'time of the month'. She delivered her line smiling 'Sittin' pretty!' and the commercial ended.

"Oh my god honey!...I'm so proud of you!" Leonard congratulated her and kissed her hand.

"Thank you honey! I'm so happy!...did you see that sweetie?" she asked Sarah.

"Yeah...that is so cool…" Sarah said. "Weren't you afraid of the horse Penny?" the child asked.

"No sweetie…at first you should take it slow when approaching a horse, or else they will get scared and jump on you...then you slowly let them come to you….that's the time you can ride them." Penny explained to Sarah.

Sarah turned to her father. "Daddy I want to ride a horse too? Please?"

"Honey, I don't know how to ride horses. I'm actually a little scared of them." Leonard told his daughter.

She then turned to Penny. "Penny can you teach me how to ride a horse? Please!? Please!? Please!?" she said.

Leonard tried to calm her down. "Honey, I m sorry but I don't know a place where they give horse-riding lessons to kids." he continued. "And Penny has a new job at the boutique, she's very busy."

"Well, I know a place where they have horses and can teach kids how to ride…" Penny continued. "they even have a lake and some cabins you can rent for the weekend…" she scrolled thru her phone and showed it to him.

"Where is this place?" he asked her as he scrolled on her phone.

"It's not that far from here...maybe an hour….you see its a ranch but they have small ponies for children to ride on...see?" she went beside him and pointed at the screen.

"See daddy...Penny's willing to come with us...right Penny?" Sarah said.

"Sure sweetie...I'll come with you if your father wants to." she looked at Leonard.

Leonard sighed. "Fine, but as long as you don't ride the big ones...I don't know what I will do if you fall from one of them!" Leonard told his daughter. "So how do we rent the cabin? Do we call them or email?" he asked Penny.

"Maybe it's better if we do it on your laptop honey." she stood up and motioned for Leonard to follow her.

They sat in front of his desk and opened his computer. They found the Facebook page of the ranch and sent them a message to book one small cabin and horse riding lesson for Sarah. The couple agreed to go on Friday night right after work. Leonard will check the next day if their reservation is confirmed of not. They sat back down on the couch to watch TV.

"There honey, we reserved the horse riding for Saturday. Hopefully they'll confirm by tomorrow." He told his daughter.

Sarah hugged Leonard. "Thank you daddy. I love you!" she said and kissed him on the cheek.

"I love you too honey." he said back, looking over to Penny.

It didn't take long for Sarah to fell asleep. Leonard carried her to her bedroom and tucked her in with her teddy bear. He returned to the living room and sat beside Penny. Penny immediately snuggled up to him while he put his arm over her shoulder. They continued to watch TV.

"Thank you honey." Penny said.

"For what?" he asked her.

"For everything….my commercial...my new job….you." Penny kissed him on the cheek.

"I guess we both have something to be thankful for." Leonard said.

"Like what?" she asked.

"Well, ever since you visited me in the university, I'm like a rock star...like…" he couldn't find the word to use.

"Like the king of nerds?" she smiled at him.

"Yeah….exactly…." he kissed her on the lips. She kissed him back.

"Mmmm….looks like we're having dessert now huh?" she bit her lower lip. "Let's go to my place...I have a surprise for you…" she winked at him.

"Ok, but I have to return afterwards...I don't want to leave my daughter alone…" Leonard whispered to her.

Penny sighed. "Fine." she stood up and pulled on Leonard's hand towards her apartment. They went straight to her bedroom and Penny pushed him on the bed. "I'll go freshen up in the bathroom. You, will take off your clothes and wait for me here." she said then kissed him on the lips.

Penny then went quickly to the bathroom and locked it. Leonard started to get undressed leaving his boxer shorts on, feeling excited and a little nervous. He went to the bedroom door and turned off the lights. He left the lamp beside the bed on. After what seems like a lifetime, the bathroom door slightly opened and Penny called to him. "Are you ready Dr. Hofstadter?" she said playfully. Leonard couldn't breathe and was only able to say "Uh huh." He was worried his inhaler wouldn't be enough.

Penny emerged from the bathroom wearing a sexy lingerie and playfully walked towards him looking at him with desire in her eyes. Leonard almost had a heart attack and was speechless. He couldn't take his eyes off his girlfriend. She lightly touched his chin. "So? What do you think mister?" she winked at him.

"Uhhh….Urrrmm…." was the only sound Leonard could make. Penny smiled and bit her lip.

"Close your eyes." she said as she put her hands on his shoulders. Leonard complied.

Penny then took his hands and placed them on her hips. She gasped as Leonard grabbed a hold of her. Penny then climbed on top of him and began to kiss his lips. Leonard immediately locked his lips to hers. She squirmed as they both got excited and began feeling each other's body. They were locked in each other's embrace as they laid in the bed making love.

"That was amazing…." Leonard said as he took a puff from his inhaler.

Penny had her head on Leonard's shoulder. Her arm was draped across his body. "I'm glad you liked it" she smiled as she looked at him. "that is your reward mister!" she kissed him on his cheek.

"Thank you honey….I had fun…" he kissed her back.

Penny laughed. "Honey, you don't have to thank me every time we have sex." she added as she hugged him tighter. Leonard hugged her back and they stayed silent for a while until Leonard spoke.

"Howard's really excited about his date with Bernadette." he said. "After you guys left, he almost peed his pants." he added.

"That was crazy right?" she turned to her side to face Leonard. "Bernadette's excited too. She thought Howard was cute with his Beatle haircut and tight pants." Penny said.

"Wait till Bernadette finds out about his mother!" he said jokingly.

"What about it?" Penny looked at him.

"Well...Howard still lives with his mom...she still takes him to the dentist...she sometimes packs his lunch…" Leonard said.

"Really? You're kidding right?...why does he still live with his mom?" she asked.

"I wish I was kidding but it's true….his father abandoned them when he was eleven and he is an only child…" he answered her. "Howard thinks of himself as a 'ladies man'...coming up with silly pickup lines and magic tricks to get a girl's attention…" he explained to her.

"Do you think he will use those tricks on Bernie?" Penny asked.

"I don't know. We told him not to do it or else he'll just scare her away." he said.

"Don't worry, I'll give her a heads up…" Penny added. "Now let's get some rest because your surprise is not yet done." Penny kissed him.