Alec was almost through the system Penelope had given him to hack when she came through the door. He knew she was mad the moment she walked in when the first thing she did was fling her purse onto the couch.
"What's wrong?" he turned his chair, abandoning the project for his girl.
Penelope sent him a glare that shut Alec up real quick. "Not a word from you." She kicked her shoes off and went to the kitchen. She poured a strong drink and threw it back. "What is with you men," she spit the word like a curse. "You think a woman, a Lady should drop her skirt-"
"What did that asshole do to you?" He was out of his chair, already making his way towards her. Alec started looking over her body, checked her neck and arms, looked at her wrist. "If someone..." he trailed off looking at Penelope. "What the hell is funny woman?"
Penelope cupped his cheek, "you are." She patted him once before stepping around him. "At least I know there is still one good man in this animalistic world." Alec warmed at the words. "Break that code yet?" She rinsed her glass and put away the bottle.
Alec was torn between finding out about Penelope's date and showing off how far he had gotten. Gloating won out, and more so Penelope wasn't going to talk about it if she didn't want to. And Alec knew the woman; if she didn't want to talk she wasn't going to.
"Almost." He sat down in his chair and kicked the other out for Penelope. "I swear, girl, you are making these easier, you've got to be." He turned to her, "I've got this in the bag. You watch and learn."
Penelope smirked and leaned back, fingers laced behind her head. He noted her hair didn't look any more mussed than it had when she left. Alec gave himself a little shake; Penelope was headstrong, not stupid. She wouldn't hide anything from him. "C'mon then," she challenged, "show me what you've got."
Alec ran back through and started from the beginning, having just as much fun the second time. He was nearly back to where he had been when Penelope leaned forward and rested her head on his shoulder. Alec didn't stumbled and he was thankful for that; if anything he felt just a bit calmer and found a different hole this time through that he had missed on his first journey.
When he broke open the code and let out a small victory holler Penelope's eyes crinkled with a smile. "Learn something new everyday. I wrote the thing and didn't know about that one. Have to fix that," she mumbled off, eyes bright with focus. Standing up she kissed his temple.
Alec followed her to the kitchen, leaning against the counter he finally asked. "What happen tonight Penelope?" he crossed his arms and tried like hell to keep himself relaxed.
Penelope sighed and set the glass of water she poured down. "Nothing sinister, if that's what you've been thinking."
He rolled his eyes, "obviously, but something did happen." Alec arched one eyebrow, daring her to say otherwise.
She shrugged her shoulders lazily, "typical male behavior. They think just because a girl likes to flirt means she's going to sleep with him." Penelope tilted her chin up a fraction, "I'm not easy."
Alec chuckled shaking his head, "any man that thinks that is a damned fool." Penelope grinned. He reached out and wrapped his hand around her wrist; yanking gently he pulled her into his arms. "I'll treat you right," he said softly. "If you'll let me, I'll treat you..." he kissed her crown.
Penelope looked up at him, her eyes shinning, "what?"
He swallowed against the lump in his throat. "If you'll have me, I'll treat you like a princess." Alec was proud at how strong and sure he sounded.
She laughed but it was small and more a puff of air passing her lips. "Alec...what are you..?" Penelope looked torn between almost hopeful and very doubtful. Alec ran with the almost hopeful and leaned down to capture her lips with his.
The kiss was slow and chaste and barely a movement of skin against skin but Alec's heart soared. The way Penelope reached up to grasp at him, one hand around his bicep and the other at the back of his neck encouraged him farther. He slipped his arm around her back and pulled her closer to him, but he didn't deepen the kiss. When they pulled away from each other Alec could only wish the stupid grin on his face would go away.
"I love you, Penelope," Alec's voice shook and he didn't care.
"Oh, Alec," she wrapped her arms around him tighter, "oh, I love you, too." She cupped his face and looked him in the eye, "we are so stupid." Alec laughed and nodded his head vigorously in agreement.