Convincing

Initial Contact and Impression

“Mama, can we go to market later?” The soft agreement and words said fondly, Penelope was helping him get in the lake before she removed her dress to his eyes pleasure. Not super thin, and filling out her swimsuit, he watched her ass as she jumped into the lake with their son.

Their laughs and happiness making him happy, he whistled softly and told the trained dog, “Release.” And he was free to do as he liked. And as he jumped in the water startling the mother and son in the water he pretended to call out shock, “Oh Pedro! Don’t do that!” The dog barked happily as he swam making his son laugh, “What a good boy you can swim too!?” Diving under the dog and swimming around him, Penelope looked at the huge horse like dog, “What kind of dog is this?”

Romeo smiled a little, “A Great Dane. Sorry about him, he likes the water.” Seeing the dog being gentle with her son as they swam around, she shook her head, “It’s fine.” No it wasn’t, because from a far? Romeo was nice to look at.

Up close? He was dangerous to look at.

Tattoos, on his neck and hands and down his chest to places she couldn’t see because of his shirt, he had a scar. From his collarbone to under his chin. Eyes the color of milk chocolate as his brown hair curled out of his face.

Trying not to stare as his pink mouth asked kindly, “Is it just you and your son?” She answered immediately, “No. We have family here with us.” Romeo not shocked by the lie nodded as he accepted it, “That’s nice, I didn’t believe anyone else would be here this early in the summer.” He looked her over and then at the little boy talking to his dog like it was a person.

“Is this your little brother?” Penelope giggled having gotten that one, “No this is my son.” And the reaction wasn’t expected. Looking her over slow and then saying, “Oh? So...you’re here with your husband then?”

Shaking her head no, but not elaborating, Romeo said nothing else on it and instead was about to ask if he could swim with them. Cool off.

Only for someone to appear and say, “Is this man bothering you Ms. Bellrose?” Looking at the guard, Romeo recognized the profile and looked the clown over. Benjamin Shelby, one of the many guards, scowled at Romeo with his hand at the ready.

While Penelope almost died of embarrassment, “It’s fine Ben, he’s one of the neighbors.”

About to tell her that didn’t give the asshole the right to gawk at her while she was in a bikini, Romeo played it casual. “Hey, I didn’t mean any harm, I’m here for a few weeks and wanted her to know me and my dog weren’t any harm. But I’ll go if I’m causing trouble.”

He whistled once, “Come on Pedro, let’s go.” Pouting Mateo whined, “Oh boo, I like the doggy.” Watching him go and shake himself dry, Romeo smiled at the little boy, “We play fetch in the morning and take walks and stuff, you see him you can speak any time if you’re mama says it’s okay.” Nodding Mateo thanked him and realizing the man’s accent spoke fluently in Italian, “Thank you sir, have a nice day. Bye Pedro!”

Smiling at his son surprised, he complimented, “Very good little man.” Tipping his imaginary hat to him, Mateo laughed as Penelope grinned unintentionally.

Benjamin, feeling weird and like he’d intruded on something, still didn’t walk away until the man had waved a casual bye to Penelope and left. Looking at her and not liking her blush, Benjamin tried to not overstep but said clearly in disapproval, “I don’t know who that is. None of us do and until we do, I don’t think you should speak to him. He looks like trouble.”

Wanting to say having tattoos and scars didn’t make someone trouble, Penelope didn’t. Instead, she looked to her son and asked, “Do you want to go to the market now?” Nodding eagerly, the boy clung to her and they got out of the lake together. Walking up the pier, Penelope ignored the eyes on her, this time knowing who they were from.

Unable to deny they were sexy eyes and she didn't mind them on her as she walked from the lake, it was as Benjamin was shooed off? Romeo inched in closer and closer within the week. Speaking kindly and casually as he walked Pedro. His dog made both Mateo and Penelope melt and while Penelope hesitated due to his size, she was soon adoring him too. Sitting with her on her back patio, the huge dog was relaxed as she rubbed his head as she read and smoked some bud in a joint.

Looking enticing as smoke curled her nose, she looked up when she saw him. “H-Hi.” She looked at his dog and blushed, “Sorry I kidnapped your puppy. He came over and cuddled up and I didn’t have the heart to chase him away.” Smiling he waved her off smoothly, “It’s fine doll, I can see why he traded up. Mind if I join?”

Sitting at a distance to not make her freak, he looked at her books and smiled as he knew two, calling them brilliant.

Smiling liking a well-read man, Penelope could admit, “You’re a surprise Romeo. Though with a name so poetic and well used in literature? I would say you need to be a Shakespearian smooth talker.”

Grinning a little, he pointed out, “Don’t forget I’m Italian and Sicilian, bella. I must be romantic, lyrical, and poetic. My ancestors demand it.” Grinning and finding herself not spiking down the flirting, Penelope was still hard to reach.

Looking at her in a cute sundress, barefoot, and a f*****g dream as her blonde hair fell in luscious waves, he was captivated. “You are very gorgeous.” Words said in French, her blush was so sweet, “Thank you.”

Gentle grabbing her hand he looked at her rings and was gentle asking, “Do you like music?” Nodding, they talked their favorites in music, shows, movies. Talking until Mateo woke up, he could tell her son added to the mix made her clam up and more protective.

So he wadded in slow and left without prompting. Surprised still as she kept waiting for a flag to go up again the man, Romeo was just too smart in knowing how she'd think. Not crossing a line or backing her in, he let her have complete control.

Letting her choose when he was around, it was as he was getting in his cute vintage fiat and going for a drive when Harper called her. Smiling as she greeted her, Penelope was blushing and in a good mood until a surly Harper annoyed grumbled, “Why are you so chirpy? It’s a lot.”

Dimming and feeling embarrassed, Harper realized she sounded like a b***h and said, “Sorry. I didn’t sleep last night and had to open the shop for your mama this morning. I’m being bitchy.”

No s**t, but as Penelope felt the smile was smacked from her, she looked up and saw Romeo again. His wave making her giggle and wave back, he grinned as she blushed. To which Harper almost hearing her smitten said with a raised eyebrow, “Are you reeling one in or something?”

Eyebrow jumping, Penelope said casually, “I was just waving to the neighbor.”

A statement that made Harper laugh, “Yeah right.” Confused and unsure by her barking laugh, Penelope was surprised when Harper insulted in a teasing manner, “You’re probably flirting and batting those eyelashes, but I don’t see why. All you’re going to do is keep him on the line and not let it go anywhere. Might as well release him now.”

The silence on the phone making things awkward, Harper realizing what she said and how it sounded tried to back pedal. But Penelope suddenly turned over her shoulder, “Let’s go Mateo!” Before Harper could speak Penelope was quick, “Me and Mateo are going down to the lake. I’ll talk to you later.” And before Harper could say a word, the call was over.