Chapter 11 #2
“Great. Because the place I’m bringing you to this morning is awesome. You’ll roll out of there.”
Zita grinned. “Because that’s something every girl wants to do.”
Obi-Wan headed for the door, grabbed her purse off the counter on his way. “Damn, this thing is heavy!” he said, surprised. He held it out to her.
She took it with a grin. “A girl’s gotta have her things.”
“Things meaning your medical equipment, just in case, right?”
“Exactly.”
The trip to the diner was smooth, as there wasn’t much traffic out yet, but Obi-Wan knew the place he was taking her to would be packed, as it usually was on weekday mornings. It didn’t look like anything special from the outside, but the food was top-notch and filling. And a local favorite.
There was a relatively short wait before they were escorted to a booth toward the back of the restaurant. Obi-Wan was tempted to sit next to Zita instead of across from her, but didn’t want to scare her off this early in their relationship.
Could he call what they had a relationship? He thought so, but he had no idea what the woman across from him thought.
“Did you go back to sleep after I left?” he asked, after they’d ordered coffee. She’d woken up when he’d attempted to slip out from under her earlier that morning.
“Not really. I mean, I dozed, but as comfortable as your chair is, it’s not as comfy without you in it with me.”
And just like that, his cock was hard again, damn it. But her words made Obi-Wan feel good. Really good. And hopefully answered his earlier question about whether they were in a relationship or not.
“Not sure that chair will ever be the same for me again either,” he told her.
“So…what’s good here?”
Recognizing her attempt at lightening the conversation, Obi-Wan obliged. “Everything. Seriously, you can’t go wrong with whatever you order. The waffles, the eggs, the omelets, it’s all amazing.”
After they ordered, Obi-Wan leaned his elbows on the table as he held his mug of coffee in his hands. “So…what can I expect from this next stage in the film? What’s it like on location?”
Zita had no problem telling him all about what to expect and how things would go.
They would have long days out in the woods, the director would be grumpy as hell, the camera operators, sound department, wardrobe, hair and makeup, grip department, lighting, and everyone else would be doing their best to stay out of the way, and yet still be immediately available for whatever was needed.
It sounded like it would be chaotic as hell, an environment Obi-Wan thrived on.
“But there will also be some down time. And it’ll be boring at times, because while there are other actors out there besides Logan, like the ones portraying the soldiers looking for him, most of the scenes are centered around the star. A lot of shots will just be him in the woods.”
Obi-Wan nodded. He understood that. This film was different in general, in that the majority of the scenes were just Logan’s character and what he goes through alone in the wilderness. He’d seen the script, had gone over it with a fine-tooth comb.
What he was looking forward to most were the scenes with the choppers…naturally.
Their food arrived, and as he’d told Zita, everything looked delicious. She’d ordered strawberry waffles with a side of bacon and a bowl of fruit, and he’d gotten the meat lover’s omelet, which was absolutely huge.
As they ate, Obi-Wan’s thoughts turned to the film’s other star. “Carmen won’t be there, right?” he asked, wanting to make sure.
“No, thank goodness. She and Logan have a few more scenes to film, but they have to wait for when he gets home and regains his muscle and weight, because they’re scenes from the beginning of the movie, before he’s on the run in the woods.”
“That’s good news.”
“Absolutely,” she agreed. “But I do have some news that isn’t as good.”
Obi-Wan braced. “What’s that?”
“Her bodyguard? Silas? He’s taking over for Logan’s bodyguard. The guy he brought with him from California. I guess his wife was in an accident, and he had to fly back home.”
“Well, shit,” Obi-Wan said, the food that tasted so good a moment ago suddenly sitting like a lump in his stomach.
“Yeah. But maybe without Carmen around, he’ll be less of an asshole.”
Obi-Wan merely lifted a brow in response.
Zita sighed. “I know. I said maybe.”
Making a mental vow to keep his eye on Zita even more, Obi-Wan said, “We can hope.”
They finished up their breakfast and as they were leaving, Zita said, “You were right, I feel as if I’m rolling out of here.”
They both laughed. Obi-Wan couldn’t remember laughing so much around a woman in the past. Zita pulled out protective instincts he didn’t realize he had, even as she made him feel…
lighter. His entire life had been focused toward his job.
On being alert for people acting strange, on watching his teammates’ backs.
He now felt as if he had a different focus.
Zita.
If he hadn’t seen both Casper and Buck morph into the men they were today around their girlfriends, he probably would’ve been a little more concerned about the unfamiliar feelings he had toward Zita.
But since he looked up to and admired his friends, he didn’t feel as if he was less of a man for suddenly wanting to do everything in his power to make this woman happy. To hear her laugh.
As he drove toward her motel, he felt a little sad that their time together that morning went by so quickly. He couldn’t wait to see her again.
“Want to do this again tonight? The movie thing, I mean?” he blurted.
She smiled shyly. “Yes.”
Relief swept over Obi-Wan.
He pulled into the parking lot of the motel and into the spot in front of her room. “I know you’re an adult and can look after yourself, but I have to say it. If you need anything, I’m only a call or text away. Okay?”
“Thanks. And yes, I can take care of myself, but it’s always nice to know I’ve got some backup if I need it.”
“You definitely have it.”
They stared at each other for a moment, then they both moved at the same time, leaning toward each other eagerly.
Their kiss wasn’t long, and therefore not nearly as satisfying as Obi-Wan preferred.
But he did like the anticipation their kisses made him feel.
They were on a path toward being more intimate, he knew that, and he hoped her kisses were an indication she did too.
But he was enjoying the journey. The fact that neither were looking to jump into bed simply to scratch an itch.
“I’ll be in touch later this afternoon about tonight. About what time you want me to pick you up.”
“Okay.”
“Thanks for not getting pissed about me falling asleep on you. Or under you, as the case may be.”
“Of course. Thanks for being a man I could trust.”
“Thanks for staying the night.”
“Thanks for the Italian and the tea.”
Obi-Wan grinned. They were being ridiculous. Prolonging the inevitable goodbye.
He reached out and put his hand on the back of her neck and pulled her toward him, kissing her again. She came willingly, and the feel of her hand on his shoulder, her fingernails digging in as she kissed him, was a huge turn-on. Proof that she wanted him as much as he wanted her.
He pulled back reluctantly. “Have a good day,” he said softly, running a thumb over her swollen and glistening lips.
“You too,” she said.
He dropped his hand, and she reached for the handle of the Jeep.
He watched as she got out, shut the door, and walked to her motel room.
He didn’t budge until she’d unlocked the door and turned to wave at him.
He gave her a chin lift, wanting nothing more than to join her on the other side of that door.
Forcing himself to look behind him, Obi-Wan backed out of the parking space and headed toward base.
It was going to be a long day. A long week. But his reward at the end of it was Zita.
Tonight, and next week when they would be spending almost all day together on set. He’d never looked forward to spending hours in the woods so much in his life.