Chapter 17
Chapter Seventeen
Briggs wasn’t sure how he should dress, so he just settled on his boots, jeans, and a black polo-style shirt.
But the moment he saw his lovely date, he forgot all about how he may or may not look.
Riley was absolutely stunning. The sundress she wore was almost as cute as she was. Her blonde hair was falling past her shoulders in rippling waves. Her blue eyes sparkled with excitement, curiosity, and just a hint of mischief.
“Wow. You look amazing.”
The smile that appeared somehow made her face even more radiant. “Thank you. Do you want to come in and see my place?”
“Sure.”
He stepped into a very nice but modest home that was right at home in the suburb of Burbank. It seemed a world away from the mansion Athena’s nursery occupied or the other giant houses up in the Hollywood Hills.
“This is it,” she said. “It’s cozy. And paid for. I still can’t believe that. I’ll probably live here until I move out feet-first, if you know what I mean.”
“Whoa. That’s a cheery way to start a date,” Briggs said.
“Haha. Sorry. I just meant… I love it here. It’s perfect for me. All I’ll ever need.”
“You’ve built quite a life for yourself,” Briggs told her, unable to keep the admiration out of his gaze.
“Thanks. Not bad for a rural Arkansas gal, huh?”
“I don’t hear the accent.”
“Yeah. Dialect coaches have worked with me to get rid of it. They said otherwise I’d be typecast in Southern roles.”
“Hey, maybe not. It’s worked out for Reese Witherspoon,” Briggs said.
“True!”
She showed him around the house for a few more minutes and seemed to take extra time in the backyard, at the pool.
“Check it out! I’m going to put a big slide right there.”
“Nice.”
“It’s going to be a swirling one. I’ll invite all my Little friends over for swim parties.”
Her eyes darted to him and she said, “You’re not even looking.”
“Sorry. It’s hard for me to tear my eyes off you.”
Riley giggled. “Are you ready? Where are we going?”
“How do you feel about Mexican?”
“I always feel good about that.”
They walked through the house, went outside, and Briggs held the door of his pickup for her as she climbed in. Thirty minutes later, they were at El Coyote on Beverly Boulevard.
The host led them past the lobby with its framed signed celebrity portraits and to a table in the back. No one seemed to recognize Riley so far, and Briggs wasn’t sure how he felt about that.
He wanted her to get all the recognition she deserved—and more!
But at the same time, being out with a celebrity wasn’t normal for him.
And, when he stopped and thought about it, he wasn’t sure how he’d feel about all that.
Not that he was insecure with her being in the limelight.
It was just that, right now, he wasn’t ready to share her.
Filing that away to ponder later, he made a silent vow to work through all that. Riley was a high-profile person with a big career. He wouldn’t let his shyness or desire to keep her all to himself stand in her way.
Right now though, it didn’t seem to be an issue.
“I could just drink cups and cups of their salsa,” he said after thanking the waiter for bringing chips and salsa.
“I’ve never been here, but I know it’s famous.”
“Hey, I’m glad I can share something new with you,” he said.
“New to me,” she agreed. “But I know this place has been around forever.”
The waiter returned, took their orders and delivered drinks, and then left them to their conversation again.
“That look in your eyes,” Riley said. “You have a question.”
“I have a lot of questions.”
“What do you want to know?”
“Everything.”
With her elbows on the table and her fingers interlaced, she made a bridge with her hands and rested her chin on it with a smile. “I’m an open book.”
“Favorite movie ever?”
“Oh gosh. You’re starting off with the tough ones. Well, I’d probably have to say… You’ve Got Mail. I love a good rom-com and that was the one I’d check out from the library over and over.”
Briggs could tell from the look in her eyes that it was a good memory she was reliving.
“We didn’t have a DVD or Blu-Ray player.
Just my grandpa’s old VCR from the Eighties.
So, it was a VHS and it was always at the library.
I guess no one checked it out besides me.
Anyway, when they finally got rid of all their remaining tapes, the librarian let me keep it.
I still have it. And the VCR.” She looked a little sheepish as she added, “That’s how I still watch the movie.
I’m sure it’s streaming somewhere and I could see it in 4K or something.
But… I dunno… I like that worn-out old tape, the occasional muffled sound and lines dancing down the picture sometimes and everything. ”
When Briggs was finished with the chip he’d eaten, he said, “I’d love to watch it with you sometime.”
“I’d love that, too.”
“Okay, next question.” Briggs dipped another chip in his salsa but paused before bringing it to his mouth until after he asked, “Favorite movie you’ve been in?”
“Now that’s a tough one!” She took her elbows off the table and leaned back, clearly thinking hard. “Buy Me a Rose.”
“Another rom-com.”
“Yeah.” She smirked. “You saw that one?”
“What? You don’t think I’d watch that?”
“Hmm. Were you dating someone who wanted to see it? Or you went with a friend?”
Briggs laughed. “I watched it all by myself. In the theater, I might add.” He shrugged. “What can I say? I have a romantic streak.” He smirked now, too. “And I kind of have a crush on you. So I’ve seen all your movies.”
He was relieved when she seemed pleased by the news. It was the truth, but he’d been a bit hesitant to share that.
“Okay. You’ve managed to surprise me,” she admitted. “I didn’t figure you for the rom-com sort.”
“Well, again, I’m a Riley Hartwell sort.” He winked. “But I also enjoy a good rom-com when the mood strikes me.” He ate some more chips and salsa before asking, “What kind of movies did you peg me for?”
Before she could answer, someone at a table across the room caught his eye. Looking beyond Riley, he saw two men, about his age, who seemed to be enjoying some beers while waiting on their food.
The man who’d been looking their way quickly averted his eyes, going back to conversation with his friend, and Briggs wondered why he’d been staring.
Dude, calm down. It’s because she’s hot. And a movie star. He probably recognized her.
Returning his focus back to Riley, he listened as she said, “Action movies. Definitely.”
“Why action?”
“Because you look like you could star in one. You’re all strong and stuff.”
“Well, I do love action movies. But comedies are a close second.”
“Romantic comedies, huh?”
He smiled wider. “Like I said, I enjoy them. But I’m starting to think living them is way more fun than watching them.”
“Oh?”
Their eyes remained locked until the waiter returned with their entrees a moment later. But even as they started eating, Briggs couldn’t stop staring at the beautiful woman across the table from him.
Damn. How’d he get so lucky?