Free Where You Least Expect It by Tori Carrington Page A

known all her life—entered and took stools at the bar. In fact, she and Aidan were two of the few seated at one of the dozen or so tables.
    She suddenly realized she hadn’t answered Aidan, and laughed nervously. “I’m…fine.”
    “Are you sure? We could always go somewhere else if you’d like.”
    “No!” she said a little too quickly, thinking she would only feel more uncomfortable elsewhere. “I mean, here is fine.”
    In fact, she didn’t know what she was doing there at all. Throughout the day she’d resolved to thank Aidan for the invitation to dinner but politely decline. But as she and Maximus stood outside the front door while she locked up, Aidan’s smile had been so warm, so handsome, so full of kindness,that she hadn’t been able to say anything at all. She’d merely followed when he took her arm and led her across the street to the pub.
    There was a bark of laughter at the bar, and Penelope’s face grew hot. She chanced a glance to find the McCreary brothers eyeing her and Aidan curiously. Oh, God. She’d known this wasn’t a good idea.
    The moment they’d walked in the door, she’d been aware of every eye in the place on her. They were all probably wondering what she was doing there. And with Aidan Kendall, no less. She, the odd girl who lived with her crazy grandmother just outside of town, and Aidan, a respectable schoolteacher who could have any single woman he chose.
    She gazed deep into his brown eyes. Why had he chosen her?
    “Because I wanted to,” he said quietly.
    Had she really said the question aloud?
    Penelope opened her eyes wide and pretended an interest in the menu, though she really didn’t see a word of it.
    “Have you decided?”
    “Hmm?”
    Aidan gestured toward the menu. “Have you decided what you’re going to have yet?”
    “Have? Oh.” Panic collected in her stomach. “I’m sorry. Am I taking too long? I’m taking too long, aren’t I. You probably have things you need to do and I’m holding—”
    The feel of his hand on hers nearly sent her catapulting from her sandals. But the instant she saw his smile, she felt all right again. Almost.
    “No, Penelope, you’re not taking too long. I just wondered if maybe you needed help. A recommendation.”
    Help. Oh, boy, did she ever need help. But she didn’t need it in the form of a dish recommendation. She needed to consult the stars. Mars was hovering overhead, which would explain the chaos swirling inside her. But it was Venus’s bright glow that made her heart pound hard.
    She offered a small smile, then looked back at the menu, feeling silly but unable to stop herself. “Do you feel like everyone’s looking at us?”
    What she meant to say was “me.” But she was glad she hadn’t.
    Aidan nodded toward the door. Penelope turned her head slightly to watch a young man come in. She was surprised to see that every person in the place turned to watch him enter and that there was a heartbeat of a pause before Eddie greeted him and he took a place at the bar.
    Was Aidan pointing out that everyone looked at everyone else?
    If she’d felt silly before, now she felt doubly so.
    As a double Capricorn, she was usually practical about such matters. But the one thing most astrologers didn’t emphasize enough was environment. She knew that the tamest Leo could turn into a deadly Scorpio if his or her environment dictated.
    As a loner, she tended to internalize things too much. Take them too personally.
    And the fact that she may have been doing that all of her life, lending a self-absorbed slant to her usually positive traits, well, surprised and bothered her.
    Aidan leaned closer. “If they are giving you a little extra attention, it’s because you’re beautiful to look at.”
    Penelope’s cheeks flamed for an entirely different reason, but she tried to shrug off the compliment. “Pisces.”
    His brows drew slightly together, then realization dawned and he grinned. “Nope.”
    She sighed heavily and lay