The Heart Grows Fonder

Cara = Dear

Ottimo = Great

Bella = Beautiful

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Dave spent the week picking vegetarian dishes to practice and asked Penelope out for coffee again. Due to her work schedule, coffee wasn't possible and she missed Saturday night as well. Dave knew she regretted it, according to the number of 'frowny faces' accompanying her text.

It sounded like she was, however, going to make it to Dave's house the following Saturday night. And that provided smiles all over his face, he was sure, and on his insides, actually. They had traded texts, innocent pictures of themselves (debonair smile for Dave, puckered lips from Pen) and their surroundings (Mudgi for Dave, flowers from a garden Pen says she was walking) and emojis for two weeks. Two weeks seemed like a lifetime to Dave. He couldn't describe it beyond the fact that whenever he was texting with her, or he thought of her, she brought him joy. Unadulterated joy. She, in fact, was joy personified.

They also found time to talk on the phone briefly earlier in the week and discussed what she wanted to do for their date.

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"Do you want to come over to the house again or would you rather go out to a restaurant? The choice is completely yours, Bella."

That choice was easy for Penelope. She was out in the world 1000% of the time at work… and she didn't need to be where she could run into any more ugliness of the day. Not yet, anyway. Although she was alone in her lair, she lowered her voice.

"Coming to your house is so special, David. I feel like it's a retreat." She smiled to herself. "Is that okay with you?"

"More than okay, sweet Penelope. I love having you in my home," Dave smiled to himself. He felt silly, but added, "And I can't wait to see you again." He loved how it felt to think about her, to be with her… he may as well tell her, right?

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Penelope arrived that Saturday evening and saw David already on his porch. She left her car quickly, practically launching herself into his waiting arms when she got to him. His warmth and his strength welcomed her but she immediately stammered, apologizing for her exuberance. She tried to back up but instead of letting her go, David held her close.

"Never apologize for hugging me like that," he whispered into her hair as his scent mesmerized her. She breathed him in deep and held it as he spoke to her again. "If it is up to me, it won't be two more weeks before I get to see you, Cara."

They proceeded to have another wonderful evening. And however it was possible, it was even better than their first date. David had learned a new vegetarian recipe to prepare - just for her! Eggplant Rollatini. Mmmmm… she tried to keep her sounds inside. Eggplant and tomatoes and garlic and endless spices… and cheeses, oh the cheeses!

"David," Penelope finally moaned audibly around her third or fourth bite. They were seated next to one another at the dining room table. Without thinking she put her hand on David's thigh. His muscles flexed and she forced herself to keep it there. "Oh my goodness, this is so delicious! I can't believe you haven't made this before!"

"'Ottimo!' is how you would say that in the Old Country, Bella," David offered and put a hand over hers, squeezing gently. He raised his glass to Penelope with the other. She giggled and met his glass as well as his smile. "And I don't want to completely misrepresent… I did do a trial run this week and delivered it to my neighbors. They enjoyed it as well," David winked at his stunning dinner companion.

"Well, that just means the world to me. Thank you for doing something so special." Penelope shied away at the end of her gratitude and withdrew her hand. She was suddenly feeling bashful, like she was somehow revealing a secret that she didn't even know for sure. Was it the secret of how much she liked him, the secret of how much she wasn't used to being treated this way? She was the one who went out of her way for others… it didn't usually work the other way around. Especially with men she dated.

David sensed Penelope's wheels turning and wondered aloud. "Penelope? I really can't imagine anyone treating you as anything but the incredibly unique and special creature you are." He turned himself toward her, sideways in his chair, leaning into her and put his arm behind her. He wanted to see her reaction as clearly as he could. "Do you get to feel how special you are every day?"

Penelope minutely shook her head and scoffed at her host. She tsk-tsk'd with her tongue. "No. …I mean, yes. My co-workers are appreciative of what I do for them. I mean, most of the time." She took pause. How to explain. "I know I'm good at my job. That's not a problem. It's just that my team does really important… stuff." She took the chance to look David in the eye as he reached out to take her hand again. "Anyway," she breathed. "It's different than feeling special like this. With you."

Her voice was so small, so soft, at the end. He raised her hand to his lips, softly kissing her fingers. After a final look of admiration for her, he released her and took another bite of his food - seemingly indicating they should finish eating. She didn't know it, but at that moment Dave decided she was always going to feel special if he had anything to say about it.

The balance of their meal was comfortably quiet. They didn't even really talk when she started to help clean up again. They just moved wordlessly next to and with one another, Penelope washing and him drying and putting away. Again, Dave thought to himself: he loved seeing her in his kitchen. Loved being there together.

"Enough! We're done!" Dave declared and ran hot water in the cooled baking dish, letting it soak. He reached for her, drying her hands with a clean towel. "Come, let's enjoy another glass of wine?" It was phrased like a directive that he somehow turned into a question. She wasn't sure how he did that, but Penelope grinned widely and nodded her acceptance.

He led her to the front sitting room and put the wine and their glasses on the coffee table. He turned around and lowered the needle to vinyl on the record player, the pleasing sounds of Tony Bennett filling the room. Extending his hand to her, connecting and pulling her into an embrace - wrapping his other arm around her waist. Her free arm naturally found it's way to his shoulder and she let herself meld into him.

They swayed to the slow, smooth melodies - one after another after another. He caressed her back, letting his hand wander all over her back and lower than that as much as he dared. He brought their clasped hands between their chests and held her close. She teased the nape of his neck, where his hair met his smooth skin. Reaching up, she placed her cheek to his and whispered in his ear.

"I love being here with you," the words were difficult for her for some reason, fearful she was going to say too much. She hadn't enjoyed someone's company like this for a very long time. She'd been busy with work… and when you cancel on guys because of work once or twice, they tend to loose interest. In her, anyway.

"I hope you keep coming back, Bella," Dave returned. He kissed her cheek and waited. He stayed close, hovering and drinking her in. "Pen?"

"Mhmm," she was lost in the feeling of him so close.

"May I kiss you?"

"Mmm. Absolutely."

Both his hands framed her face, reminiscent of their very first kiss. Her arms made their way around his waist. While they had kissed before, this felt different. The energy behind his lips was reaching for her. Wanting her. She tilted her head and parted her lips the tiniest bit, which he correctly took as an invitation for his tongue. She willingly opened for him. His lips, and his tongue, were soft, gentle and strong - just like the rest of him. Their mouths danced, fully and completely, in and around one another. It was unhurried. It was explorative. It was intimate …and arousing.

Penelope let her hands wonder from David's waist to under his arms, to his chest, shoulders then and all over his back. She used the leverage to draw herself closer to him and felt him draw her closer, too. His hands had somehow made it to the small of her back, resting at the top of her ass. They kissed for so long that she got a little light-headed, having to break away at the same time she continued to lean into him. He tucked her into him, her head resting on his shoulder, her face nestled into his neck.

"Wow," she breathed.

"Agreed on the 'wow'," he murmured for just her.

"You… you. Yuh…," Penelope couldn't form a sentence.

Dave chuckled, holding her tighter. They stood together, where the minutes morphed into one another. "Oh, Bella," and he kissed her hair. He took a deep breath, not knowing if he should brave the next topic he wanted.

"I really should go," Penelope rushed. She backed up a half-step and looked into his eyes. "You make me deliciously crazy… and I love it." Reaching for him again, she kissed him slow and long. She wanted to show him how much she wanted him, but that she wanted to wait a little bit… for more.

"Of course," he sighed. "I'm so glad you came over tonight," smiling, he placed another kiss on her sweet lips. He helped her with her coat and started to walk her to her car. Her hand naturally went to loop his arm and that gave him courage.

"Say, Pen?" He cleared his throat and swallowed. "Could we maybe make Saturday nights - that you don't have to work - our nights?" He risked a look peripherally and saw the corners of her mouth turned upward. "Will you please come back for dinner next week? Or we can always go out, whenever you want."

Her insides instantly started doing flips, cartwheels and jazz hands. She waited until they arrived at her driver's side door, which she opened and threw her purse across to the passenger seat. She turned and smiled brightly at him - she saw him visibly relax.

"You are so beautiful," he revered, raising his hand to caress her cheek.

She reached up and took both of his hands in hers. She was sure her smile was goofy-big. "And you are so perceptive," she giggled. She took a deep breath. "I would love to see you again next Saturday night. …and the next." She winked at him, moved his hands to her waist once more while hers wound around his neck. She reached up to place a not-too-brief kiss on his lips, letting herself linger while she let out a contented sigh. With that, she got in her car and drove.

"I'm in so much trouble," Dave mumbled to himself and watched her drive away.