Chapter 11
Chapter Eleven
Back at my apartment, we put in an order to Leo’s Pasta. I thought about branching out, but Grant insisted on the authentic Cary Grant movie date night experience.
He sat on a pink swivel stool and looked around my apartment with a contented smile. “It feels very you.”
It was me. From the vintage movie posters to the mint mixer.
“So why were you setting up your mom?” Grant eyed me curiously.
“Last string of guys I dated, things started good, but soon they began belittling my interests, size, or they cheated, so…” I pursed my lips. “I decided playing Cupid was far more fun and safe, but I ran out of single friends.” I shrugged. “Between that and the vision of my mom happy and spoiled…”
Grant spun the chair around so he was facing me. “What made you change your mind?”
I grinned. “Mom.”
He waited for me to continue.
“After the whole Kismet thing, that was part of my forgiveness agreement. I had to say yes to the next person who asked me on a date, and I had to give it an ‘honest try.’” I did air quotes around it .
“Would you have said no to a date with me without your mom’s demands?”
“Yep.” My lips pinched. “Dating feels easier to avoid than finding the right fit. Do you have a specific movie in mind?”
He stood, stepping toward me with a contemplative gaze. “How about whichever you saw first if you have it?” He reached out to me and I placed my hand in his.
“That would be My Favorite Wife .” I nodded. “So why the change in dating for you?” I led him to the couch.
“Honestly, it was your mom for me as well.”
I stopped and turned to face him. “My mom?
“Yeah.” He stepped next to me and brushed his hand along my cheek. “Sounds crazy, but in that moment when she asked what I would do if she was my mom…it kinda shook the crazy possessed hold that work had on me.” He nodded to the couch and we both sat, my legs brushing up against his. “I remembered I hadn’t called my mom in weeks. I remembered part of my plan was to have a better balance with work and life.”
There was a knock on the door, and I went and opened it. Peter was giddy when he saw Grant standing behind me. “I didn’t think this was all for you.” He held up the bags of food. I grabbed the bags and set them on the coffee table. “I even threw in some extra cupcakes.” He leaned toward Grant. “She loves chocolate cupcakes.”
Grant grinned. “I appreciate any help I can get.” Grant chuckled and grabbed some cash from his pocket. He paid the bill and tip before I got the chance.
“I’m happy to pay—at the very least for my portion.”
Grant shook his head. “This one is on me.”
Peter smiled, winked in my direction, and whistled as he left.
I set dishes on the coffee table and laid out napkins. After eating and both of us cleaning up the dishes, we returned to the couch. I pressed play and grabbed a blanket from the corner and sat. Grant sat beside me and slid his arm across the back of the couch.
The classical music filled the room and a hand on the screen began changing cards with the actors’ and actresses’ names on them.
Grant shot me a puzzled look. “You can see the hand of the person changing the cards.”
I chuckled. “Yeah, really high tech.”
“Huh, weird.”
My leg brushed against his, I moved my head onto his chest, and I felt his chest expand in a deep breath. Leaning against him, I could feel him chuckle at the witty lines of the movie. He was watching one of my movies, and he liked it. How was this real life?
I glanced up into his eyes, and Grant must have felt my gaze. His eyes met mine. His gaze dropped to my mouth, and I licked my lips.
One side of his mouth pulled up into a smile as he met my eyes again. “You’re dangerous.”
“How so…” I stared at Grant’s mouth, my throat unable to swallow.
Mom was right. This was way better than playing Cupid, or fantasies about a pretend movie star. This was real, and I didn’t want it to end. I bit into my bottom lip and stared up at him.
I sighed…loud enough that he heard me.
His eyes dropped down to mine and I gasped and covered my mouth with my hand. His dimple was showing in all its glory, begging me to kiss it. I closed my eyes to remove the temptation and counted to three. I desperately needed to get a hold of myself.
We finished My Favorite Wife and then I decided it was only fair for me to watch one of his shows. He picked Iron Man and we started the next movie.
“So, are these chocolate cupcakes really that good?” Grant asked .
I pulled off the wrapper, licking the chocolate frosting from my fingers. “They are terrible. You won’t even like it.” I smiled.
He rolled his eyes. “Maybe just let me have a bite of yours. I don’t want a whole one.”
“Okay, but if you change your mind, then I get a bite of yours.” I made a serious face. I was not getting swindled out of my cupcake by some brown eyes and a gorgeous smile.
I held the unwrapped cupcake toward him. He leaned closer, and I felt the warmth of his breath on my hands. I watched as his mouth closed around a bite of the cupcake. My stomach dropped. He pulled away from the cupcake with a small smudge of chocolate on the left side of his mouth. His forehead creased and he rapidly shook his head.
“Nope.”
“What are you talking about? How could you not love these?” I took a bite of the cupcake, and the silky frosting coated my tongue. “Seriously, so good.”
Grant shivered. “Whoa, way too sweet.” He shook his head. “It’s all yours.” His eyes went down to my mouth. “You got a little…” His thumb brushed across my bottom lip, burning and freezing at the same time. Then his eyes locked on to mine, and I watched him swallow. He didn’t move his hand.
“You’re no better.” I shifted closer and brushed the chocolate from the corner of his mouth, and then I licked it off my thumb. After all, I wouldn’t waste chocolate.
His eyes burned as he gazed at my mouth. “Emma.” It came out between a growl and a whisper. “I’ve kept myself from kissing you several times today, but if you lick frosting off your fingers like that…” He closed his eyes and took a deep, steadying breath.
I raised a brow and grinned. “Like what? Like this?” I put a bit of frosting on the tip of my index finger before I slowly brought it to my mouth.
Grant stared at my lips. “I wouldn’t.” His lips parted as his eyes focused on my mouth .
“Wouldn’t what?” I raised the finger to my lips. “This?” I batted my eyelashes as I licked off the frosting.
He made a guttural sound deep in his throat as he leaned toward me, and I had to remind myself to breathe. I didn’t think anyone had looked at me quite like that. “I’m going to kiss you now, unless you tell me otherwise.” With such a gentlemanly warning, I placed my cupcake down without breaking eye contact and he put his large hands on my waist and pulled me closer. I stared into his eyes, our faces so close that our noses brushed. He put his hand on the back of my neck and the other one brushed along my cheek. His eyes devoured mine. Then he paused, giving me a second to stop if I wanted to, but I definitely didn’t.
I reached and ran my hand down his scratchy jaw line, savoring the rough texture. Grant leaned closer to my mouth. I was still too far away, I needed to reach his face better. I kneeled on the couch and ran one hand through his hair, the soft brown strands flowing through my fingers. I placed the other hand on the back of his neck. He was so close, I could feel each rapid inhale of his chest and I watched his eyes desperately studying mine. The smell of chocolate mingling with his scent of earth and leather wrapped itself tighter around me.
His lips inched closer and parted a breath away from mine.
Then he grabbed my hips, pulling me onto his lap. My lips fell into his and the warmth of his arms circled me. His chest was hard as it pressed against mine, trying to pull me even closer to him.
Grant nipped at my bottom lip, and I gasped before I returned the gesture. The tip of his tongue traced the edge of my bottom lip and I savored the taste of him.
The energy changed and his lips were on my neck trailing down to my collar bone leaving a burning trail in their wake. I couldn’t get enough of him. I brought his mouth back to mine and the kiss softened. Our foreheads rested against each other. I stared into his brown eyes as he rubbed my back.
“Emma, you’re so beautiful.” It came out as a rough whisper .
I slid my hands over his jawline. He closed his eyes and leaned into my touch.
“There’s a reason we call you Mr. Muscles.” I traced a finger along his arm with a smile, feeling the strength beneath. “You know you’re gorgeous, right? I still don’t get why you’re here with me.” I leaned back, remembering how this would one day end. One day hurt.
His eyebrows dipped down and he eyes locked with mine. “What are you talking about?”
Ugh! I was totally ruining this moment.
“Grant, you are basically a Greek god. Any woman would melt in your arms.” I looked down at myself sitting on his lap. “I’m not every man’s cup of tea.” I shrugged.
“First off, tea’s gross. It’s basically drinking watered-down grass.” He brushed his fingers along my chin until I looked up at him. “Secondly, why?”
I huffed. “I don’t know.” I glanced at the ceiling. “Maybe because I’m eccentric, weird, and curvy? The guys I dated—they hated my movie taste, they started liking me, but then I think they wanted me to be more…normal?”
He ran his hands down the curves of my sides, and I fought the urge to suck in. “You’re wrong.” He growled against my throat. “I think you’ve spent too much time with insecure little boys.” He kissed my throat.
I tipped my head to the side, giving him better access to the curve of my neck.
“You are beautiful. I love that you know who you are and what you like. It’s sexy. And personally…” He raised his brows and gave me a wicked grin. “I really enjoy your curves.”
I chuckled.
He held my face in his strong hands and looked into my eyes. “So, let’s try again.” He paused and looked me in the eyes. “Emma, you are beautiful.”
I couldn’t stop my smile and his hungry eyes shot to my lips again. “Thanks!” I giggled and pulled him to my mouth so I could kiss him. “You’re not so bad yourself.” I whispered into his ear.
“Mr. Muscles?” He shook his head. “Really?”
“Do you prefer Greek god?”
He rolled his eyes. “That’s just ridiculous.”
Several kisses later, I heard an explosion coming from the movie behind me. “I think you’re right,” I whispered into his ear.
“About what?” His nose was pressed against my throat, smelling my skin.
“This might be my new favorite movie.” I nudged my nose against his.
Grant growled and nipped at my ear. “Okay, now you actually have to watch it.”
I giggled as I slid off his lap, and he wrapped his arms around me as we refocused on watching the movie.
I tilted my head up and kissed him on his dimple. “Fine, I’ll stop kissing you and actually watch.”
His eyes dropped to my kiss-swollen lips. “Doubt it.”