AN: Thanks so much for the reviews! I am running so late and behind, please forgive me!...Does a good chapter make up for it? Hee hee...

Chapter 7

Hours later, Derek and the entire crew at the Upward Youth Center were putting the finishing touches up in decorations. There were a few party games set to go, including bobbing for poisoned apples and pin the tail on the werewolf. There were cookie decorating stations for younger revelers and a cotton candy booth that someone from a carnival had donated. Now all that was left was to set up the food that Fran had been working tirelessly at for most of the day.

Penelope was in the kitchen with Fran, melting caramel for sliced apples. The deliciously sticky concoction smelled fantastic; her mouth was watering with the desire to nibble at it.

At the same time, Derek was walking in and out of the kitchen, moving bowls to serving tables two at a time. He hadn't said anything to her for most of the day, but he'd been exceedingly busy with the handyman things around the facility that kept popping up.

"How does it taste?" Fran asked.

"I don't know," Penelope replied. "I haven't tried it yet. I'm trying to save all my snacking for tonight."

Fran scoffed. "You have to sample it. Otherwise, you can't give it your seal of approval."

Penelope giggled. How on earth Fran Morgan stayed so thin was a mystery. She'd been noshing on treats all morning and afternoon, giving it her Momma Morgan stamp.

"Okay, I'll try it," she said. There was no spoon nearby, besides the one she was mixing with, so she removed the mixing spoon and coated the tip of her finger. "Here goes nothing..."

"Wait," Derek said, walking into the kitchen.

Penelope paused and turned to smile at him. "What?"

"I'll try it." He stepped up to her, held her wrist in a gentle grasp, and then drew her finger to his mouth. He lapped her finger with his tongue, taste-testing warily, and then closing his eyes, he drew it into the warmth of his mouth.

Heat and electricity rolled through her from the tip of her finger all the way to the bottom of her feet, and she couldn't control the shudder that ran through her. She closed her eyes and then opened them, finding herself looking into the depths of his deep, caramel macchiato eyes.

Removing her finger, he licked his lips and then smiled at her. "Delicious, sweetheart."

"Thank you," she answered breathlessly.

"You, shoo," Fran said after a few moments, coming over to Derek and shoving him away from Penelope. "We have work to do."

He rumbled with soft laughter. "I got work to do, too, Momma."

Fran placed her hands on her hips. "But you are distracting my co-worker." She shoved at him again. "Shoo."

Still a bit dazed, Penelope smiled at Derek's mom as she corralled her much-larger son out the door. Stinker—and sweets lover—that he was, he grabbed a spider-topped cupcake on the way out.

Fran turned and leveled her gaze at Penelope. "Young lady...what was that I just saw between you and my son?"

Penelope swallowed hard and then blinked. "Am I that obvious?"

"You are both that obvious!" Fran said.

"It's not how it looks," she said hopelessly, trying to convince herself as badly as she was trying to convince Mrs. Morgan.

"I have eyes," she said, obviously unconvinced. "You like my son."

"I do," she answered honestly and then added, "but we're just friends."

Fran shook her head indignantly. "Penelope, I've seen my son twitter-pated before, but when it comes to you, he's on a whole different level. He adores you."

"Of course he does," she replied stubbornly. "We're best friends."

"Best friends make the best lovers," Fran added, arching a brow. "Have you thought about that?"

Penelope groaned internally. Of course she'd thought about it, and it scared her half to death. She wasn't the kind of girl Derek Morgan usually went for. What if he wasn't interested after they finally appeased their curiosity? She couldn't be his passing fancy, and she couldn't go back to being just friends. She loved him too much for that.

"I don't think Derek thinks that way all the time," she said, trying to explain. "We flirt...but...well, look at me." She waved a hand over herself. "I'm not his type."

"You're gorgeous. You're friendly. You're female," Fran replied bluntly. "His type."

A wash of emotion hit Penelope. She wanted so badly to dive into his arms and his bed and never look back, but she was so frightened. There was far more at stake for her than there was for Derek. She'd wanted him for so long, and he'd never made a move. Even after she'd broken up with Kevin, he still hadn't moved. They'd upped their flirting game, but maybe Derek hesitated because he knew she wasn't "the one."

He'd never want to hurt her.

As if sensing her indecision, Fran put an arm around her and gave her a smile and a warm hug. "Penelope... Derek didn't say a word to me, but I see it in his face, the way he lights up around you, and how you light up around him. He thinks the world of you, as far more than a friend. I think the world of you, too."

Penelope eyes filled with tears. "I think the world of both of you, too."

"You make him happy, but I want you both happy. That's all any mom wants for their babies."

"I am happy," she said miserably.

Fran sighed. "I know it is your decision, but don't write off something because of fear. Be the strong, independent woman we know and adore, and give true love a try."

"Miss P?" Willie asked, coming into the kitchen. He was wearing a costume that was hanging by a thread and was mismatched terribly. "Can you help me with this thing? I don't look nothin' like a zombie."

Fran patted Penelope's shoulder. "We'll talk more later."

Penelope swallowed, wiped her eyes, and nodded. She had a lot to think about.

"Come on, Willie," she said. "I have needles and thread in my purse."

Two hours later, she'd found the time to sew four young men's costumes so they looked as cool as they wanted to be. It was rewarding work, even though it was time and labor intensive and her fingers were sore from sticking them so often. Each kid was beyond grateful; they showered her with hugs, which wasn't usual from a group that didn't give trust easily.

Derek had smiled at her and said, "That's because you're so damn easy to love."

She'd chastised him not to swear in front of the kids and then finished sewing yet another costume.

As party time approached, Vonda, James's girlfriend, came up to her. She was a pretty woman with stunning green eyes and lots of dark, curly hair that was piled on her head. She was a cat burglar, which matched James's puppy dog detective costume.

"You look adorable," Penelope said with a warm smile.

"Thank you! What are you wearing for tonight?" Vonda asked.

Penelope blanched. "Oh, sweet Goddess of Halloween, I totally forgot a costume for me."

Vonda gave her a sympathetic look. "Aw, man. Maybe there's something in the costume kit?"

Quickly, Penelope looked through the bag and found a pair of cat's ears and a bow tie. "I have a black outfit at my hotel; I can whip up a kitty costume."

"Sounds great!" Vonda said.

"We can take you back to the hotel," James said. "I'll tell Fran we're leaving."

Penelope heaved a sigh of relief. She didn't want to let the boys down by being costumeless. "Thank you."

A few short moments later, James and Vonda were dropping Penelope off at the entry to her hotel. Penelope hustled down the hallway and opened her door. Kicking off her shoes and removing her glasses and clothes, she entered her bathroom and made her way into the shower to clean herself up before the night's festivities.

When she stepped out of the shower, she dried herself off and went to get her glasses off the table in her room. Sliding them on, she noticed a large box with a bow on her bed.

Pulling a face of curiosity, she opened the box and gasped. It was a beautiful satin ball gown with multiple layers of lace and tulle in a fine, baby blue color, fit for a princess. Just like so many other girls, she'd always dreamed of wearing a dress like that, but had never thought she'd have a chance to do so. She pulled it out of the box and held it up to herself. It looked like a perfect fit.

As she held the dress, a note fell out of the folds. Carefully, she laid the dress down and picked up the card.

To Cinderella, from your Fairy Godmother, with love...