Page 44 of Keeping Penny

“Yeah, it’s a huge relief. I’ll be able to start helping with rent sooner than I thought, which is important to me. Zita’s been more than generous, letting me and Bowie live here, but I want to pay my way.”

Pyro understood that. He figured it was just who she was, but also because as foster kids, they’d had to rely on others for their basic needs for most of their childhoods. Were often made to feel as if every dime spent on them was a burden.

He looked down the hall, heard Bowie singing to herself in the bathroom, so he knew she’d be occupied for another couple of minutes. He held out an arm to Penny. “Come here,” he said softly.

Without hesitation, she walked into his embrace, wrapping her arms around him.

Pyro returned the hug and said, “Today’s been a good day.”

“It sure has. Knowing Bowie is happy is a huge relief.”

“I bet.”

She looked up at him. “How was your day?” she asked softly.

Pyro shrugged. “Good. We had a flight check this morning that went well. Meetings all day. Skipped lunch because we were all too focused on the intel we were analyzing.”

“No wonder you ate almost an entire pizza by yourself,” she said with a grin.

“Casper will help work off the calories tomorrow morning at PT,” he told her. He brought a hand up and smoothed a lock of hair behind her ear. “Your hair is so soft. It’s like silk.”

“Thanks,” she whispered. “Pyro?”

“Yeah?”

“Are you going to kiss me again?”

He nearly sighed in relief that she seemed to feel the same connection between them that he did. “Didn’t want to overstep,” he told her honestly.

“You aren’t. Overstepping, that is,” she said. Then she snuggled closer, tilting her chin up.

Pyro didn’t hesitate, meeting her partway and tightening his hold around her, even as she did the same. The kiss was just as powerful and intense as it had been that morning. They were more comfortable with each other now, each learning what the other liked, and the kiss went from sweet to passionate in seconds.

Pyro felt like a changed man. His life had gone from being all about his job and flying, to being consumed by the woman in his arms and a little girl who had wrapped herself around his heart. He’d worried about them both all day, constantly checking his phone during his breaks. It was strange to have someone else occupying so much of his thoughts, but a good strange.

Bowie’s singing stopped, and Pyro pulled back. Instinctively, he knew it was too soon to share their deepening feelings toward each other with Penny’s daughter. It was a reminder that if things didn’t work out between them, Bowie would be collateral damage. And the last thing he wanted was to hurt her.

“Mommy!” Bowie called out from the hallway. “I need help picking a book for tonight!”

Penny smiled up at Pyro. “I gotta go. I always read to her before she goes to sleep.”

Pyro nodded. “Okay. I’ll talk to you tomorrow. You and Bowie want to come over to my place for dinner? I can pick you up when I get off work.”

“We’d like that. Thank you.”

Looking at the hall, and not seeing Bowie, Pyro leaned down and kissed Penny once more. It was a fast kiss, but no less intimate.

Reluctantly, he stepped back and smiled at her.

“Mom!” Bowie called out.

“I’m coming,” Penny told her, then rolled her eyes.

Pyro chuckled. “Have a good night. As usual, let me know if you need anything.”

“I don’t know what I’d need, but I will.”

“Good. See you tomorrow evening. Tell Bowie to have a great day at school tomorrow.”