A Penny for Your Thoughts by Bess McBride Page B

“Yes, it is. Are your grandparents staying near here, Kevin?”
    “My grandparents?” She couldn’t make out his expression in the dim light. “Oh, yeah. They are staying near here...in that building down there.” Kevin pointed in the general area of another condominium.
    “Oh,” Penny murmured. 
    “So, Penny, I never did get a chance to talk to you as much as I wanted today. Tell me about yourself.” He turned his face, and the distant glow of the lights behind them revealed a bright smile.
    “Oh dear. Not much to tell really. I’m a mental health therapist in Michigan. I have a son who’s in college in California. That’s about it.”
    “I’m sure there’s much more to you than that, Penny, but I’ll let you keep your secrets...for now.” She didn’t miss the daredevil tilt of his grin.
    Penny shook her head with a wry smile. He definitely seemed intent on flirting. She couldn’t help but be flattered.
    “No secrets,” she murmured as she stuck a toe in the sand. She looked up and flashed him a crooked grin. “What about you? What secrets are you hiding?” 
    He laughed and opened his arms wide in an expansive gesture. “No secrets here. I’m an open book.”
    Penny chuckled. “How long are you staying here in Gulf Shores?”
    “I don’t know. It all depends on how long my grandparents need me.”
    Penny fell silent, having exhausted most of her conversation openers.
    “A penny for your thoughts.”
    Penny turned to Kevin and laughed. “If I could have a penny for every time I’ve heard that...”
    “Pretty corny, huh?” His easy chuckle suggested no hurt feelings.
    “It’s not easy having a name like Penny.”
    “Is that short for anything?”
    “Penelope.”
    “Penelope,” he repeated. “Listen, would you like to grab a cup of coffee or a drink somewhere?”
    Penny’s eyes shot open. What?
    “I-I...”
    “That’s okay if you’re not comfortable with the idea, Penny. You don’t know me. I’m just a stranger. It’s always wise to be cautious.”
    “Oh, I’m not worried about you, Kevin. You seem harmless enough.” Penny glanced over her shoulder at her building. “It’s just...well, I could make some coffee upstairs. If you don’t mind home brewed, that is.”
    “Mind? That sounds great! Sure.”
    Penny swallowed hard. Well, talk about acting on a whim. Now what? She took a deep breath.
    “It’s just coffee, right, Kevin? I mean...I’m not looking--”
    “Just coffee, Penny,” Kevin said in a quiet voice. He touched her shoulder lightly with a friendly gesture. “Just coffee.”
    Penny’s half smile wavered, and she turned toward her condominium. “I’m in this building right here.”
    Kevin followed her across the sand and along the path which came around to the front of the building. They climbed the steps in silence while Penny remembered she’d left the uneaten dinner on the table.
    She opened the door to her apartment, silently cursing that she’d forgotten to lock it again. Whoever broke into her car had her address. Kevin stepped inside behind her.
    “Why don’t you go out onto the balcony? I’ll just clear these dishes away. I should have picked them up before I went out for the walk.” She hurried to clear the table. Kevin wandered toward the sliding glass door and pushed it open.
    “It looks like you had company. You did say you’re staying here alone, right?”
    Penny glanced at him quickly. He paused by the door with a raised brow.
    “Yes, it’s just me. I-I did have company for dinner.” She busied herself removing the dishes and storing the remaining food in the refrigerator. “We had lots of food left over, I’m afraid. Are you hungry?” She paused for a moment. He still waited by the open door, studying the table.
    He grinned and shook his head. “No, thanks. I’m fine. I’ll just wait for the coffee.”
    “I’m making some right now. Go ahead out and relax.”
    Kevin stepped outside and shut the door quietly behind him,