"Don't panic, Penny girl," she told herself. "You can figure this out." Penny leaned against a tall building, allowing the cool stone to soothe her anxiety. She watched the busy people scurrying by her. Across the street, a brown truck pulled up beside the curb. The driver jumped out, whistling a merry tune. Penny gasped. She knew him!
"Well, well. Thank you, Lord!" she whispered to the sky. Penny jogged slowly across the street, narrowly missing a Volkswagen beetle racing through the intersection.
"Watch out, Miss!"
A combination of running to avoid the insane beetle and also turning to acknowledge the owner of the deep voice was too much for the frazzled runner. She tripped, stumbled and fell face first into the pavement. BONK!
"OW! Oh...." Penny moaned. How embarrassing! And painful.
"Are you OK?" Raoul squatted down beside her. "Miss?"
Penny rolled over and sat up. She turned her skint face up towards the handsome man in brown. "Oh, hi," she said sheepishly.
Raoul studied the bleeding, tangled girl. "Here, let me help you up," he said. He helped Penny limp along to the curb behind his truck. "Sit down. Are you OK? Do you feel OK?"
"Well, it hurts." She tried to smile.
"Looks like you skinned your cheek a little. I think I have a First Aid kit in my truck. Hold on," he said and disappeared around the truck.
Penny touched the wound. "Ouch." She looked at the blood on her fingertips. "Now I am beautiful for sure," she whispered to herself. What is up with the gorgeous man finding her in frazzled situations? Gorgeous Raoul returned and bandaged her cheek.
He studied her face.
"What?" She looked at him incredibly self-conscious.
"You look pretty cute with a band-aid on your cheek," he said with a smile. "Snoopy looks great on you."
"Yeah, I was kinda disappointed you didn't have a Strawberry Shortcake band-aide in there. What's wrong with you, anyway?" Penny said.
"So... You wanna give me your number now?" Raoul asked her.
"Maybe. You did save me and all." Penny giggled.
"Yes, I sure did. That certainly counts for something."
"I wondered if you recognized me," Penny said.
"The minute I saw you... Miss." He winked. She blushed.
"Anyway..." Penny looked away. "I'm lost."
"Lost? It's me. Raoul. The guy who delivered your mom's package? You're lost? What?"
"No. I know." Penny laughed. "I mean, that's not what I meant. I am loooost. Lost in the city," she said. "I went for a jog and, well, kind of got lost."
"Lost, huh? Hummm... Well, good luck finding your way back. Bye," he said and stood up to leave. Penny's face fell. "Just kidding, Penny! I'll take you back home. After all, I am your hero today."
He helped her into the truck and they were off.
"I still have a few more deliveries to make. Mind riding along?" Raoul asked.
Penny tried to hide her smile. "Nope, not at all."
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