One Penny: A Marked Heart Novel Read Online Free PDF

a word with him out back. Seth knew when they showed him the makeshift cemetery in their back yard it was for pets, not people. The chances of Penny having dated someone named Senior Jingle Bells were slim but it was the fact that her brothers seemed serious.
    In his mind, all it would have taken was one wrong move and there would have been a Seth marker right next to Senior Bells. And that's how it usually started. One thought that grew in his mind until it took over the rest of his body, leading to an anxiety attack.
    Convincing himself Penny would be too offended by his lurking to be on the balcony with muffins this morning, Seth finally swung the door open and stepped out.
    "Good morning!" Penny's voice cheered at him.
    Once again, in disbelief, he stared at her.
    Titling a large plate towards him, she offered, "Cinnamon roll?"
    ~
    Penny's eyebrows raised as she smiled wide in anticipation. Hoping to at least get another thank you out of him, she wasn't prepared for what happened next.
    He had a look of sheer panic as he reached back for his doorknob. When he missed, he fell against the wall.
    "Are you okay?" Penny asked as he slumped down to the balcony floor.
    Unsure of what to do, she stepped closer trying to get a better look at his face and make sure he was still breathing.
    With her hands full, Penny nudged his side with her foot, "Umm...Seth?"
    Breathing a sigh of relief when he squeezed his eyes shut and groaned, at least he wasn't dead.
    "Can I get you something?"
    Seth frantically shook his head back and forth as he reached his arm back trying to grab the doorknob.
    Doing her best to remain upbeat when it was pretty clear he was trying to get away, Penny asked, "So to go then?"
    Continuing to shake his head, Seth choked out a, "No," before finding the doorknob and making his escape.
    Penny watched as he flung himself back into his apartment and closed the door.
    Standing on the balcony by herself, holding a tray of cinnamon rolls, Penny was about ready to give up. It was one thing for him to be shy, but it was a whole other thing for him freak out and then ninja roll back into his apartment like she was carrying a severed head. It wasn't like she didn't have better things to do then bake goodies for him every morning. She just wanted to be friends. It was getting hard for her not to take his actions personal.
    Deciding to give it one final effort, Penny sat down, leaning against the wall between their apartment doors, she placed the tray of cinnamon rolls on her lap. He had to come out sometime and when he did she would just ask him to be her friend. If he said no then, that would be that.
    ~
    Lying on the floor by his door, Seth couldn't believe how he had just acted. He thought she would be upset, outraged even but no, she was standing there smiling telling him good morning with freshly baked cinnamon rolls. And he just made a huge ass out of himself.
    Picking himself up off of the floor, he knew one of two things was going to happen. One, Penny would not greet him good morning with anything ever again or two, she would still be out there, and he would have to face her. Pulling his cell phone out of the inside pocket of his suit jacket, Seth called his boss.
    It only took two rings for Jackson to pick up.
    "Hey Seth."
    "Jackson, I had something come up this morning. Is it alright if I come in after lunch?"
    "I already told you to take a day or two off. Moving is a pain."
    "Thank you. I'll be in after lunch."
    With a laugh Jackson replied, "Alright then, see you this afternoon," before he hung up.
    After taking a moment to appreciate having a man like Jackson as his boss, Seth stepped out of his apartment.
    Glancing around, he saw Penny sitting against the wall with the tray of cinnamon rolls on her lap. When she didn't automatically look up at him, he took a few steps closer.
    Looking down at his feet, she said, "Oh, you scuffed your shoe."
    Before he knew it she had taken a napkin from out of her pocket, put