“You want some popcorn?” he offered. “Maybe to soak up some of that alcohol?”
She slid her arm around his. “Nah, I wouldn’t want to risk throwing it up on you.”
He stopped so suddenly she nearly stumbled. “Hang on. Are you feeling sick?”
Maybe she was taking it too far. Giving him a gentle smile, she shook her head. “Teasing. I promise not to get sick. I’m fine.”
He still looked a little uncertain as he led her into the movie theater.
The seats he picked were near the back in an empty row, and she settled down next to him. They reclined a little and were just cushioned enough to make a yawn rise in her throat.
She smothered it quickly and gave him a bright smile. “So excited for this.”
He glanced down at her, and his lips twitched. “Yeah. Me, too. What’s your favorite movie ever?”
“Die Hard,” she replied without thinking.
“Really?” He arched a brow. “Isn’t that a lot of gratuitous violence that you can’t stand?”
Busted.She felt color rise to her cheeks. “Well, I mean, it’s exciting and a holiday movie, so I make an exception.”
“Of course, and why wouldn’t you?” He didn’t look away, and his gaze turned amused.
She snapped her attention back to the screen and cleared her throat. “What’s your favorite movie?”
“The Notebook.”
A laugh barked from her throat. “Okay, I’m calling bullshit.”
He gave a low, sexy laugh. “Currently, it’s Deadpool.”
That really was a good movie, so she couldn’t fault him for that. She glanced at him again. “So, you have a thing for superheroes? Or maybe you just want to be one.”
His smile faded, and his brows lowered. “I’m not a superhero.”
“Well, you’re a paramedic, it’s kind of the same thing, right?” She couldn’t resist teasing.
“No.”
There was a cold flatness in his voice now that had her flinching.
Not quite sure how to reply—or what to say, even—she was relieved to see the lights dim and the previews come on.
As the screen flashed with another romantic comedy coming out in the summer, she tried to think how what she’d said could have offended him.
The first preview had just ended when his hand closed around hers.
She stiffened but didn’t pull away. He didn’t say anything, just squeezed her hand slightly. It wasn’t an explanation—there were no words—but she knew it was his way of apologizing for getting all icy on her a second ago.
And once that realization settled, she became aware of how large and slightly rough his hands were. How tiny her hand felt in his. And how when he stroked his thumb over the top of her knuckles, a shiver ran through her body.
The next preview came on, and then a slew of others. When the opening credits started on their movie, she was both groggy from the alcohol and half-aroused.
By the time the sexy hero walked onscreen, her lids were half-mast.
Oh yeah, time for that nap…
*