Page 11 (1/2)

"Morning, Duchess You miss me?"

"You messed with, but not quite She looks away but then takes a breath and looks up at et to Starbucks?"

"Actually, I was going for breakfast"

I reach out and gently stroke her cheek, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear "Didn’t get enough to eat last night?" My insinuation is clear, and her cheeks redden atabout" She looks over her shoulder at Eddie, who’s unloading her car

"Let o to the diner around the corner" I should have offered to make her breakfast, but there’s no food upstairs in the aparto home with me yet

Penelope turns back around and looks in ained a littleover to Eddie, I sign the paperwork and have hione, I walk over to my Duchess and take her hand I lead us to the direction of the diner, and she starts to pull her hand away Feeling her resistance, I turn and look at her, wanting to make this clear

"You ry, but they do

She looks away froround I can barely make out the word as she whispers, "No"

"Then you can holdher hand back, I walk us towards the diner again, and this tiht from her Sheto do everything in my power to make sure it stays that way

I try not to think about hoarto focus on my steps so I don’t fall flat onabout how beautiful she is

We walk into the diner and there are a few old-tiular I’ my coffee, so I expect a few looks when I pull Penelope in behindonce-over and then go back to what they were doing I can’t bla my eyes off her, even if I was seventy years old

We sit down, and old Rick comes over with the o first She looks back at me, and I see some hesitation on her face, but I don’t knohy