Free The Blogger and the Hunk by Jane Matisse

you that you left your black-laced panties at my place the night you stayed over,” Jack stated matter-of-factly, immediately loving the way Penelope blushed at the statement.
    “Wha— But—”
    “And I kind of want my hoodie and sweatpants back. They were my favorite to go running in,” he teased.
    The blushing increased. If Penelope got any redder she’d look like a stop sign. “I’m sorry. I didn’t want to make the walk of shame in the black dress I wore at the bar. I’ll give it back to you if you’d like,” Penelope responded nervously. She looked like she was about to faint and Jack was only trying to tease her.
    “Hey, hey. Just a joke. Don’t think too much of it.” He held up his hands in defense, trying to calm her down.
    Penelope seemed to visibly relax. “I just wanted to let you know that whatever happened between us is in the past. It was a great experience and all, but now it’s over. The most important thing right now is my sister’s happiness and the wedding coming up,” she replied, looking Jack in the eye.
    He was a little startled at her statement. He hadn’t known what to expect from her. Maybe a little shyness, maybe a little interest in having a repeat performance of the last time they were together. The ego he’d had a few seconds before was now deflated. Now he was unsure what to say. “Well, I’m glad that you’re okay with it then.”
    There was a moment of awkward silence again. “So... what kind of lacy underwear are you wearing tonight? I noticed you’re wearing your sexy red heels,” he said suggestively, looking down at her stilettos appreciatively.
    Penelope gasped in shock then laughed incredulously at the question. But as quick as her laugh came, it went away, a serious look taking over her features. “Look, I don’t know what you might think about me, but I just want to let you know, this whole maid of honor thing is just as it should be. I should have been the one to support my sister every step of the way—”
    “You would have probably found every way to sabotage the wedding,” Jack interrupted. “You couldn’t care less about everything concerning the celebration. Why is that?” Jack asked rhetorically. “Is it because you’re jealous?” Penelope began to scoff, but Jack kept talking. “You’re just bitter that your pretty little sister is getting married before you are. Admit it!”
    Penelope just stared at him, her lips moving like a fish out of water, unable to form words. And before he knew it, she had swung her fist toward him. Luckily for Jack’s face, he caught her fist before it even came near his eye. Both looked shocked for a moment.
    “I-I’m sor—”
    “Don’t make it worse by apologizing. If you’re going to punch someone, don’t take it back. Coward,” Jack murmured, still holding her fist in a strong grip.
    Penelope’s shock turned to embarrassment. She pulled her fist away from Jack’s grip and, to his dismay, had the decency to look mortified. “Look, we’re adults,” she stated calmly. “We can be civilized about this. I accept the fact that I haven’t been very supportive since Celeste got engaged, but you don’t know me. So, don’t start acting like you do just because you’ve been given an important role to play.”
    Jack nodded. “I agree. That said, I would very much appreciate it if you didn’t try to take a swing at me again.”
    “Deal,” Penelope responded quietly. They were suddenly silent again, and of course, Jack did what he always did best: joke.
    “So... there must be a lot of rooms in this building.”
    Penelope looked back at the venue, noticing all the windows, some with the lights reflecting through them, some not. “Yeah, I guess,” she responded, looking a little confused.
    “You don’t think we should, you know, go ahead and look for a vacant room and... you know....” Jack looked down at Penelope, lifting a single eyebrow, trying really hard to keep the creeping smirk off his