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Penelope knew that this was going to be a bad idea, she had told Gen that this would be a bad idea.
Standing in the cold English weather outside a restaurant she had never been to waiting for some unknown person to turn up was not making her regret agreeing to this any easier. She had promised Gen she would go on this blind date but the more she stood waiting for the guy to show up the more the fear crept in. He was supposed to be here 15 minutes ago, where is he? Surely Gen wouldn't set her up with someone who couldn't even bother to show up. She said she knew this guy's brother and he was nice and 'perfect for you'.
Dread and embarrassment were starting to churn in her stomach wondering if she had been stood up for the only date she had been on this year. She wanted to leave, the cold was seeping into her bones and she felt like everyone was staring at her. She could practically hear their thoughts of disdain 'Why even bother coming out looking like that' or 'poor girl being stood up, not that I am surprised' and millions of cruel comments that always vaguely sounded like the voice of her mother. She clenches her fists tight and feels a lump in her throat at the feel of the glances around her. She begins to walk away when she crashes hard into a large imposing figure. She feels herself falling backwards but strong but surprisingly gentle arms grab hers and keep her steady.
"Well, that wasn't very well done of me, was it?" she hears from a deep chuckling voice.
She looks up quickly at the person who stopped her from making a bigger fool of herself than she already was and at her glance upwards the judgmental voices normally at the forefront of her mind falls silent. In front of her was probably the best-looking guy she had ever seen up close. He was tall, very tall in fact. He had dark brown hair that fell forward in lush dark curls and deep dark blue eyes. But it was his smile that shook her. A large mischievous smile along with an adorable pair of dimples to match. She was so lost in staring at him that she didn't hear what he was saying just that his lips were moving.
"Are you alright? I didn't hurt you did I?" He says with deep concern which snaps her out of her reverie.
"Sorry, what?" she replies lamely.
"I asked if you wear alright?" he replies easily eyes filled with concern.
"Oh yeah, sorry I'm fine just a clumsy idiot apparently" Penelope said jokingly trying to brush off her earlier blunder.
"Nah was my fault, I was rushing and I didn't see you" The mystery guy replied
She wasn't surprised really because no one ever really saw her anyway.
"Enjoy your night" She quickly threw at him as she tried to escape the awkwardness.
She steps around him swiftly and goes once again to walk away when she hears his voice again a little more desperate this time.
"Wait, you're name isn't Penelope is it?"
She turns back towards him and looks up at his face which looks hopeful.
"I was supposed to be meeting a rather 'enchanting redhead' as my brother put it for a blind date but I was running late trying to help my brother Gregory out of a very large tree" He tried to explain jokily.
Penelope let out a small laugh at his explanation and he smiled at me in return.
"I am sorry, if I had left him there my mother would have killed me, and trust me I really wanted to leave him there. I mean why was he trying to get a look a the garden next door anyway it is where his friend lives and he has lived there his entire life he knows what it looks like. It's like he knew that I was supposed to be somewhere and…." He looked down at her during his rant and realised he had probably said a little too much.
She slowly smiled at him and let out another laugh and he seemed to lighten up at this.
"Seems you have had quite the evening" she jested at him.
"Yeah, have we missed our reservation?" he asked glancing toward the building.
"I don't know, I haven't been inside yet, I didn't want to go in there alone" she replied lamely.
He nodded in quiet understanding, held his arm out for her and smiled.
"Well then, shall we?"
Penelope smiled back at him and threaded her arm through his. People glanced at them as they walked inside but his strong grip and easy smile made her feel less self-conscious about well everything. Was she mad? She didn't even know this guy and yet somehow he made it feel like she was more sure of herself than she had ever been. When they got to the front of the house he smoothly asked that man if the reservation under the name Bridgerton was still available and apologised for being late. She knew who the Bridgertons were, of course, they were a very influential family even if she only knew Anthony Bridgerton and Ben (thanks to Gen) by name. The man at the desk gave him a simple smile and asked them to follow him. The atmosphere inside was somewhat out of Penelope's comfort zone, well anything other than her pyjamas, her writing and reality TV were mostly out of her comfort zone to be perfectly honest. She was determined to ignore the initial feeling of discomfort and push through for the opportunity to get to know this guy, whose name she needed to learn as soon as possible. The waiter walked to a table in the back corner of the room and placed two menus on the table for them. They both sat down and ordered their drinks quickly, Penelope opting for a glass of red wine to calm her nerves and her date went for a Coke as he was driving.
She watched the waiter walk away towards the bar when she heard that lovely voice of his again.
"I suppose I should introduce myself then" he opted with what seemed to be a common chuckle of his.
"That would be a good start I think"
"Well then Penelope, my name is Colin" he grinned as he held out his hand towards her.
She giggled and grasped the hand he held out to presumably shake his hand but when he had hold of her, he raised her hand to his lips and gave her a small kiss on the back of her hand. Penelope could feel the flush in her face move all the way up to her ears as he did so.
"Well I would say that that is a much better introduction than almost trampling on you" Colin joked at her.
This caused her to let out a surprised laugh and reply "Yeah, much better".
"You know when Ben set me up on a blind date I was a little worried but he didn't mention how enchanting you are" Colin said charmingly.
"Well, I uhh….." Penelope tried to reply feeling the blush come back to her face very quickly.
"Sorry, I didn't mean to come across so forward Pen," he said but he didn't look sorry at all.
"Pen?" She asked.
"Yeah, can I call you that? You just feel like a Pen" Colin asked with a hopeful look on his face.
"That would be okay, Pen. I like it" she answered with a smile.
The waiter came back to the table and placed their drinks on the table. Penelope watched Colin thank the waiter and pick up his Coke, she was having a hard time not looking at him. Gen was right, he was nice and charming and seemingly perfect. He looked up at her after lowering his glass and caught her gaze. She looked away quickly embarrassed at being caught staring at him and picked up her drink to hide her third blush of the evening. When she looked back at him she could see a slight smirk on his face and amusement in his eyes.
"So Pen, what do you do for work?" Colin asked her
"Oh, I am an investigative reporter for Danbury Magazine," Penelope said quickly. She loved her job very much. And she knew she was good at it, thriving at not being seen and finding information others didn't want her to know.
"Wow! Smart and beautiful" he laughed "Do you enjoy it?" he asked with interest.
The redness that once again graced her face felt less obvious this time and for that, she was glad otherwise it might become permanent.
"Oh yes, very much so. What about you? What is it that you do Colin?"
"You know, I find I rather like it when you say my name"
And the blush was back in full force. She found herself looking down at the glass in her hand with a flustered smile.
"You're a shameless flirt, has anyone ever told you that" She told him, looking right at him with all the confidence she could muster.
"Only for you, lovely" He easily answered with another flirty smile.
"Hmm, sure" Penelope let out with a giggle.
"Well, since you are so interested I am a travel photographer" he finally answered her question.
"Oooo, where is the best place you have been?" she curiously pondered.
"Tough question, everywhere I have ever been is unique in its beauty. But if I had to choose I would probably say Greece, the first place I even properly travelled on my own. I was completely captivated by everything there, the beaches, the people, the culture. Just everything you know."
She could feel his love for it in the way he spoke. She found herself smiling and becoming captivated by his words.
"Sorry, I should probably take my sibling's advice and not ramble about my travels" he said as he lowered his head with a small frown which made her stomach clench.
"Oh no, you talk with such love for it, made me feel like I was there with you. I'd love to hear more" Penelope replied carefully wanting to see his smile return.
"Really?.." He asked his forlorn face turning hopeful as he once again caught her gaze.
"Absolutely"
She watched a slow genuine smile grace his face and it only made her smile back in return.
They talked about anything and everything as the night went on. The loving and chaotic nature of his family and how they all had a lot of love for each other. How her family barely tolerated her. The pressure that they felt both from work and within their families. What each other's favourite food and colour was. Penelope had never felt so at ease talking to another person in her whole life, other than Gen of course. They kept talking long after they had finished their food, neither one of them seemed to care though. Eventually, the restaurant started to slowly empty and they had to leave. Once they were standing back outside in the cold he offered her his jacket and she felt his fingers brush her arm as he draped his jacket over her, she felt herself tremble and it had nothing to do with the cold.
"Can I give you a ride home?" He asked her as he turned to her again.
"Are you sure you don't mind?" she replied cautiously.
"I would be my pleasure"
His car was pleasantly warm inside but she still didn't want to take off the jacket he had given her. Driving back through the almost barren darkened streets, Penelope could feel the air of tension in the car. They hadn't spoken since they had left and she didn't know what to think. The tell-tale feeling of her self-consciousness was creeping back in when they finally pulled up outside her flat. She took off her seat-belt and turned to him and he was undoing his own.
"I will walk you to your door if that's alright?" he offered to her with hope in his eyes.
"Thank you" she replied with a nod to him.
She got out of the car and walked round to where he was and was surprised when she felt his hand grab hold of her and they both started walking. She looks down at their joined hands and then back up at him to find him already looking at her. She watched a look of panic flick across his face and she could feel him start to let go of her hand so she clung on to him. He smiled quickly and his grip returned. They slowly walked to the front of the building where her flat was and they both turned to each other.
"I had a great time" she blurted out at him quickly.
"So did I, does that mean I get a second date?" he asked with a big grin.
She shouldn't have been surprised as they had had such a great time but she still was anyway.
"Yes, I would love that very much"
She gave him her number which he saved under Pen <3, she could feel his gaze on her again quickly as he pocketed his phone.
"Well then, I should probably go," he said awkwardly scratching the back of his head. He didn't move an inch though, just continued to gaze at her.
"Right, yeah.... of course" Penelope replied shakily. She didn't move either.
Colin took a step towards her instead, brushed a fiery curl away from her face and tucked it behind her ear. She felt his hand run slightly graze her neck and it felt like lightning.
"Pen, can I kiss you?" he asked in the smallest voice she had heard from him all night.
She couldn't find it in herself to form any words so she nodded her head at him. He quietly closed the small distance between them and she once again felt his touch this time each hand touching a side of her head. He leaned down to head and gently pressed his lips to hers. His confidence had clearly returned and the pressure increased as she felt him begin to kiss her deeper. She felt herself start to respond to his kiss, bringing her arms up to his face and running one hand through his dark curls. The touch of his hands had felt like lightning but his kiss was like pure fire. A fire that burned all through her body. When they finally pulled away from each other, she felt him resting his forehead against hers.
"You feel this too right? I'm not losing my mind" he asked breathily.
"Yeah I feel it too" she giggled.
"Oh thank god!"
He quickly captured her lips again which made her giggle. This time he rested his hands at her waist and their difference in height had him lifting her slightly off the ground but she found she didn't care.
They finally broke apart. Penelope had never felt so happy and at ease in her whole life till this moment right here. Their hands were still clasped together and she could feel him rubbing circles on the back of her hand with his thumb.
"I better go," he said still smiling.
"Yeah"
"I will call you for that second date"
"Looking forward to it"
He finally dropped her hand and slowly started walking back to his car. When he got into his car, Penelope turned towards her door with the key. She heard her phone ring quickly in her bag and she fished it out. It was an unknown number.
"Hello" She greeted
"You free tomorrow at 7?" a familiar voice asked.
She spun around and found his car still there with him sitting there smiling at her. She found herself laughing quietly at him.
"Yeah, I am free"
"Perfect"