Chapter 4 #2
Settling themselves a couple rows from the top in the recently converted theater, Chris checked out his surroundings.
The complex had been switched to the popular stadium seating only a year ago.
The seats were wide and cushiony, and the arm rests in between each seat lifted.
If he allowed his thoughts to go in the direction he wanted, those lifting arm rests would’ve given him all sorts of ideas.
They would’ve definitely made it easier to get closer to Jane.
But he wouldn’t go there. They were just friends, or whatever.
Hell, he didn’t know what to call them.
Chris stashed the giant soda in the arm rest between them so they could share it. He hadn’t even asked if she minded sharing, which was presumptuous of him, but she didn’t complain so he didn’t bring it up. He offered her the popcorn and she took it, an embarrassed smile on her face.
Pulling the candy box out of his pocket, he set it on his lap, then shrugged out of the jacket, laying it on the folded chair next to him. When he caught Jane watching him, her eyes went wide, the expression on her face guilty. She looked away.
“What’s wrong?” He tore open the box of candy and popped a couple of Milk Duds. The chocolaty sweetness exploded in his mouth and caramel stuck to his teeth when he chewed—not the best date night candy, he realized.
Man. Why was he thinking like that? It wasn’t a date. She said so herself. It was a simple night of friends going to the movies. No biggie.
“I’m not used to seeing you in anything but your uniform,” she finally admitted, her voice small.
“Oh.” He glanced down. He wore jeans and a navy blue thermal Henley shirt. Nothing too impressive, but he didn’t look like a slob, either. “Do I measure up?”
She blinked once, twice, a little smile curving those luscious lips. “Do I even have to answer that?”
“If you don’t want my ego destroyed, then yes, absolutely.” They were most definitely flirting, which surprised him.
Her smile grew and she nodded, the waves that framed her face bouncing a little with the movement. “Oh, you measure up.”
“Do I now? Hmm.” He scratched his chin, pretended to contemplate her, which wasn’t far off the mark, because he was most definitely checking her out.
And he liked what he saw.
Leaning in closer, he positioned his mouth right at her ear, catching sight of her earring.
It was round, carved like a flower, and was a bright, ruby red.
Sexy. He’d never thought earrings were sexy before.
She mystified him. There was a fleeting sadness in her eyes that made him yearn—yearn to make her happy, make her smile and forget all her troubles.
“Well, I think you look amazing,” he finally murmured, breathing deep. The smell of her shampoo and whatever other hair products she used filled his senses. A heady scent that made him close his eyes and savor it.
She didn’t answer, didn’t even look at him as the lights dimmed, giving her the perfect excuse to focus on something else. The previews started and Chris figured they were in for a long haul so he focused his attention on her instead.
He didn’t stare, just watched her out of the corner of his eye.
Her eyes widened as she stared up at the screen, taking it all in.
She brought her hand to her mouth, dropped a few pieces of popcorn in.
He caught the subtle swipe of her tongue across her lips once she’d finished chewing and he held in the groan that wanted to spill.
Sexy—and she didn’t even know it. The way she subconsciously tucked her dark hair behind her ear, how she smoothed her fingers over that little red earring, then slid them down to mess with the neck of her sweater…
Damn but he wanted to get his hands beneath that sweater. Was it wrong of him to think like that? Especially since he knew he had no chance?
“You want some popcorn?” She offered him the bucket, her mouth in a tempting little pout.
The popcorn didn’t tempt him whatsoever.
“All right.” He reached over and scooped out a small handful, shoved it into his mouth. Chewed thoughtfully as she resumed her position, the popcorn bucket in her lap, her gaze locked on the giant screen.
Reaching over again, he grabbed another handful, his arm brushing hers, invading her space. She invaded his head, his thoughts, and he found it only natural to return the favor as much as possible.
Chris had always been about returning favors. He liked to give as much as he received.
“You’re staring,” Jane finally whispered to Chris, after enduring almost an hour of one of the worst movies she’d ever seen.
It didn’t help that the man sitting next to her distracted her so much she could hardly breathe, let alone think. His close proximity, the warmth from his body seeping into hers was almost too much to bear. He smelled so good, like spicy pine and clean, strong man.
“Sorry.” He offered an apologetic smile but didn’t look away, which made her nervous. She had a feeling he wasn’t sorry at all. That he enjoyed setting her on edge.
Every time he reached into that bucket of popcorn, she couldn’t help but notice his arms, his hands.
He’d pushed up the sleeves of his dark blue thermal, revealing strong forearms. His skin was tanned, smooth, with a faint covering of black hair and the occasional vein that stood out in stark relief against his flesh.
The urge to feel those arms around her was strong, but she tried to deny it. She tried to deny the buzz of electricity that seemed to surround them whenever they were together, the way his gaze lingered on her mouth when she spoke. As if he might want to kiss her.
Jane wanted to kiss him back.
Just once, just to know what it felt like to have his firm yet sensual lips pressed to hers. She’d kissed her fair share of guys when she was younger—she hadn’t grown up a sheltered nun—but no man’s mouth had captured her imagination as much as Chris’s did.
She had a feeling he would be an expert kisser, that he would know just what to do, just how to coax a delicious response from her. Would he taste sweet like the chocolate he’d been snacking on?
Dread filled her and she breathed deeply, desperate to focus on the movie, on anything but the man beside her. The date had been a mistake. She wasn’t ready for anything like this yet.
But then when would she get her chance? She was still young.
Most twenty-eight-year-old women were having successful careers, single and dating or just married.
They certainly weren’t a mother of three, with a dead husband and a multitude of scars that made it impossible to even imagine what it would be like to get naked in front of a man again.
Jane’s cheeks burned at the thought of getting naked in front of another man that wasn’t her husband. Getting naked in front of Chris.
The mere idea of it was frightening.
Chris leaned in, his mouth close to her ear yet again, and she swore she felt the brush of his lips against her flesh. “The movie’s terrible, don’t you think?”
Her cheeks warmed at his closeness and she hoped he wouldn’t notice in the dark theater. “It is pretty terrible,” she admitted. He pulled away from her, flashing a quick smile.
That smile sent a zing all the way through her body right down to her toes. Goodness, would she ever get used to seeing him, looking at his gorgeous face?
“A few people have already ditched this movie—not that I can blame them. Should we?”
Jane glanced around the theater, noticing that they were practically the only ones left. An older man sat at least ten rows below them and two teenagers were in the front row on the floor, their necks craned to stare up at the giant screen.
That was it.
“What else would we do? It’s probably too late to see another movie. I need to get back to Mindy’s and pick up the kids.” Disappointment filled her that their date was ending early. She’d hoped for at least a couple of hours with Chris, away from the children.
“We could grab a coffee before I take you home,” Chris suggested, and she wondered if he wasn’t willing to end their time together just yet, either.
“I’ll be up all night if I drink caffeine.” Dammit, why did she phrase it like that? The look he shot her said that maybe he wouldn’t mind if she’d be up all night. Not the message she’d meant to send him. She was the one who’d wanted to be just friends. She knew that was the right course to take.
The attraction between them, though, was undeniable. With the heated glances they exchanged, how she shivered when he touched her, the subtle flirtation…
“They do have decaf, you know,” he teased, dipping his head close to hers for what felt like the millionth time. Again, that stray lock of hair fell across his forehead, giving him a little-boy look that she found sweetly endearing.
And smoking hot.
“Yeah, but if I’m going to a coffee shop, I don’t want to skimp and get decaf. I want full-tilt,” she teased back. It was easy with him, talking and joking. She liked it. He made her feel normal and carefree, like she used to be.
And that’s what she needed to focus on. The talking stuff, the friendly stuff. Not the intense, sexy stuff that made her skin prickle and her belly heat.
“Are you saying decaf is for wimps?” He cocked a dark brow, a lopsided smile tilting his mouth, and all of a sudden, she couldn’t resist. Jane reached out and, with tentative fingers, pushed the hair off his forehead.
And just as she’d imagined, it was silky soft, sifting across her fingertips to fall back where it belonged.
Their eyes met, locked, and she was held captive, her hand frozen for the briefest second. He grabbed her by the wrist, pulled her hand to his mouth, and pressed a fleeting kiss to her knuckles.
Oh, God. Shock kept her in place and she knew she should pull away, brush it off as nothing. But she couldn’t ignore the heat that coursed through her at the mere touch of his lips, and she swallowed hard, blinked slowly. Anything to try and bring back the normal, everyday emotions she lived with.
But they were gone, wiped clean by the touch of Chris’s fingers, the brush of his mouth.
“Jane.” He whispered her name, his voice achingly gentle, and her lips parted to answer him but nothing came out. The intensity of his gaze, the way he watched her left her paralyzed, speechless.
He let go of her hand and it dropped into her lap, her fingers tingling from his touch. He took things a step further by reaching out to cup her left cheek, his work-roughened fingers caressing her skin, and she drew in a sharp breath. She didn’t want him to feel her scars.
But he wouldn’t let her move away.
“Don’t be afraid,” he whispered. “I won’t hurt you.”
Her eyes went wide as she stared up at him.
His face hovered above hers, his hand tightening on her cheek as he drew her closer.
Oh, he was going to kiss her, just as she’d imagined only moments before.
Panic set in. Her breathing accelerated, her chest heaved with the effort, and she licked her lips in preparation.
This earned a quiet groan from Chris. Feminine power sparked within her. Who knew she had such an effect on him?
“I probably shouldn’t do this. But…you’re so beautiful.
” His words made her heart flutter and she wanted to deny it, wanted to tell him how much better looking she’d been before the accident.
When her skin had been clear and not covered with scars and she hadn’t been as skinny.
When she could move with ease and dance and sing and have fun.
Her hair had been longer, past her shoulders, wavy and so thick.
She was a mere shadow of her former self. She didn’t know if she’d ever be able to get that old Jane back.
“Chris, I—” she started, but he didn’t let her finish. His head swooped and his mouth captured hers, silencing her, swallowing her words.
She forgot what she wanted to say. Her mind had been wiped clean by the touch of Chris’s mouth upon hers.
And she never wanted this kiss to end.