Chapter 80
Popcorn Gremlins and Other Surprises
Tessa
When I opened my eyes, my brain came to a stuttering stop. I couldn't believe what I was seeing. Silently, I stared from the passenger seat, taking all of it in.
And then I laughed. "No freaking way." The far end of the barn had been transformed into a massive movie screen that filled the entire wall.
And that wasn't all. I smelled popcorn – movie popcorn, like you'd get at an actual theater. I looked around and spotted it – an old-timey popcorn maker, like you'd find in a theater lobby. It was alive and popping, like the popcorn gremlins had just gotten it going.
I whirled to Ryder and asked, "Is this even real?"
He grinned. "What do you think?"
"I think you should pinch me, because I'm pretty sure I'm dreaming." I held out my arm. "Go ahead. Do it."
But he didn't. Instead, he lifted my palm to his lips and pressed a kiss so feathery light, it felt like the brush of angel wings. As he did, he lifted his amazing blue eyes and gazed at me like I was the only thing in the room.
My breath caught, and my stomach fluttered as his gaze lingered like he was in no hurry to look away.
When he released my hand, I didn't even try to pinch myself. If this was a dream, waking was the last thing I wanted. Breathlessly, I took another look around. "So, what is this? A drive-in theater?"
Ryder smiled. "It is now."
"But how'd you make it happen?" I pointed to the popcorn, still popping merrily away. "And how'd you get that started?"
He shrugged. "Call it good timing."
Yeah, right. He could shrug all he wanted, but I wasn't fooled. The amount of planning that must've gone into this – timing everything right down to the minute – must've taken a ridiculous amount of coordination.
I couldn't stop smiling. "You wanna know what I call it?"
"What?"
"The best date ever."
Looking amused, he replied, "That's a pretty bold claim."
Not the way I saw it. "How do you figure?"
He flicked his head toward the screen. "Maybe I've cued up Rambo."
I lunged toward him and wrapped my arms around the back of his neck. But I didn't kiss him. Instead, I pressed my lips to his ear and whispered, "Surely not."
And his reply? It was exactly what I'd wanted, my favorite Airplane! quote, said with a low chuckle. "Don't call me Shirley."
I laughed against his neck, loving the feel of his body against mine as his muscular arms gathered me close. Softly, I said, "So that's why you laughed, I mean, right before we drove in?"
"That was one reason."
"What was the other?"
"Your smile. It was cute as hell."
Silly was more like it. With a happy sigh, I pulled back to look at him, really look at him. That killer smile was still there, lazy and devastating, paired with those incredible eyes that made it hard for me to look away.
I confessed, "Do you know, I've never been to a drive-in?" But then I paused. "I mean, I've gotten fast food in my car, but those are drive-throughs, not drive-ins. I always wondered what it would be like."
I turned and looked through the pickup's rear window. The barn doors were still open, and by now, it was nearly dark. From the driver's seat, Ryder said, "Hang on. Let me get the doors."
I reached for the passenger's side door. "I'll help."
"Or you could grab the popcorn." He looked in that direction. "There should be a cooler underneath. Grab whatever you want and snag something for me."
I laughed. "Whiskey?"
"Nah," he said. "I had enough of that last night."
It was amazing how quickly things could change. Awestruck, I asked, "Wow, was that only last night?" I paused to lower my voice. "Can I confess something?"
"Anything."
"With you, time has been really funny."
"How so?"
"Well, for one thing, it seems like I've known you a lot longer."
He smiled. "I know the feeling."
"Really?"
His eyes held mine. "Really."
"Huh. I wonder why that is."
Softly, he said, "I've been wondering the same thing."
I looked heavenward, almost wishing I could see the stars instead of the vehicle's roof above. With a sheepish smile, I looked to Ryder and said, "I'm talking way too serious, aren't I?"
"You?" he laughed. "You should've seen me last night."
"Why last night?"
"Because I didn't plan to call you." His voice grew quiet. "And I wasn't happy."
I just had to know. "So why'd you change your mind – about calling me, I mean?"
"Other than the fridge?"
"Yes," I said, feeling my lips twitch at the corners. "You can't blame the appliance."
"Alright. The truth?"
I nodded.
"Because I knew I messed up. And I wanted to make it right."
I glanced around. "Is that why you did this?"
"Nah," he said. "This was for me."
"Oh, yeah?"
"Yup. I love to see you laugh."
As my heart swelled, I turned and looked toward the movie screen. "You know what we should do?"
"What?"
I turned and looked in the opposite direction, toward the rear of the truck. As my idea took hold, I felt that same goofy grin spread across my face. "We should watch from the truck bed."
He looked intrigued. "Yeah?"
I nodded. "I saw it in a movie once, and the couple looked so comfy, cuddled up, watching a drive-in movie under the stars."
He grinned. "So you caught the holes in the barn's roof, huh?"
I blinked. "Actually, I didn't. The roof has holes?"
"Just a few. It'll be getting a new roof next Tuesday."
"How do you know?"
"Because I bought it."
"You mean the barn? Seriously?"
"Yup. It's been sitting empty for years. So I took it off the seller's hands, along with the ten acres surrounding it."
I was thunderstruck. "So you bought it just for this?"
"Not just this."
"What do you mean?"
He gave me a wicked grin. "Next week, we're gonna watch Rambo."