CHAPTER SEVEN

He watched Hofstader bustle around the kitchenette, trying to look busy, the man couldn't seem to stop staring at the girl every few seconds with a look on his face like she was the holy grail. He shifted his gaze slightly and looked at her himself.

Blonde hair, slightly curly, it was attractive he supposed, though he rather liked it better the other night when it looked messy. Green eyes, most likely the result of a parent from a line of blue eyes and a parent from a line of brown and hazel, not extremely common, but not rare.

Certainly not special. Unless she was had just shot at you, he remembered her eyes as being rather spectacular at that time.

She was certainly pretty, and her figure was all that and more especially in that green suit dress that she had on the other night, today she was wearing a pale pink number, it was rather boring. Long legs, in tan stockings, very proper, and brown shoes. The only thing noteworthy about the shoes was the four inch heels. Definitely not proper shoes.

The juxtaposition made his pulse twitch and he frowned and stared Leonard again.

"Interesting." He said clearly.

"What?" Penny said instantly, looking up from the paper.

"A question I had overlooked till now." He mused. "Did you know the person who clubbed Hofstader?"

"No." She shook her head. "But I do get a lot of weirdos following me around sometimes, it's part of being an actress." She smiled.

"No it isn't." He shook his head. "Stalkers, yes, but not muscle bound men intent on inflicting injury."

"Thank goodness we were there!" Leonard exclaimed.

"Don't be daft. If we hadn't been there, you'd not have got your brains addled. I do believe you have imprinted yourself on Penny like a baby duck does."

"Oh he thinks I'm his mother?" Penny smiled at Hofstader instantly.

Oh lord, she's going to play with him like he's a living doll, he thought, rolling his eyes. "Yes, but you should be warned, he has mother issues, and since you look nothing like his mother, I can only assume he means to have coitus with you."

"Come again?"She was looking at him again, and he smiled slightly.

"Coitus. Intercourse. Fornication. Sex." He said bluntly, watching as she blushed. "Interesting."

"What now?" Hofstader sounded cranky. Well, that was alright, Hofstader had no right getting his hopes up anyways, the girl was obviously out of his league.

"She's blushing, which indicates she is not as comfortable in the role she has cast for herself as she ascertains."

Hofstader frowned. "Role?"

"It doesn't matter." He stood up and walked to the door. "It's five pm, we must leave now for dinner." He turned to Penny who was staring at him. "We eat soup at the Diner on 3rd every Wednesday night, and then retire to the Wolowitz household for a rousing game of whist. Get your coat on."

"You want me to come with you?" She looked puzzled.

"Well I'm certainly not leaving you HERE." He stared at her. "You'd probably snoop, and people.."

"People can't be in your room, I got it." Penny was grabbing her coat from Hofstader and shrugging into it. "So where am I sleeping tonight then?"

"The cot, in the living room. You should be safe there."

"From what?" Hofstader sounded annoyed. Poor man, he really didn't get it, did he?

"From You. Or thugs, she's armed, you're not. Makes no difference."

"What about you!" Hofstader was definitely cranky now.

"Thugs won't bother me, I'm also armed, and a very light sleeper." He checked his watch. "Time to go."