“What if I promise to only use my murder-y tendencies for good, taking out bad guys and the like?”
I arched a brow. “Wasn’t that a storyline in one of your movies?”
A grin stretched across Boden’s face. I’d seen him smile before, but this was such an honest one, and the authenticity stole my breath.
“I knew you were a fan.”
I barked out a laugh. “I’m pretty sure everyone and their brother saw that movie. I don’t know that my viewing qualifies me as a fan.”
“I still have the damn spandex suit somewhere. I could get it shipped up here, and we could role-play.”
My laughter came harder. “If you think I’m wearing what the heroine did in that movie, you’re delirious.” It had been some skintight, barely-there creation that I had to think made fighting a challenge. At least, without flashing your lady bits to everyone.
“I’m a fan of that outfit…”
I rolled my eyes, but my smile was still in place. “I’m sure you are.”
He shook his head. “Ella bitched and moaned about it every day, but at least it was quick to put on. Mine took hours. And don’t get me started about what happened if I had to pee.”
The mental image of a ruggedly handsome Boden crossing his legs on set filled my mind, and I couldn’t help but laugh again. I’d laughed more in the past ten minutes than I had in weeks. Maybe months. Even as I stood with my back aching and a fiery nerve pain engulfing my legs, Boden made me laugh. That was worth something. “You can be my assistant.”
This time, Boden didn’t grin. He full-outbeamed. It engulfed his face, making him look altogether different. I’d never seen a photo of him where he’d looked like this. Something told me it was because he didn’t show it to many other people.
“I’m at your service, my lady.”
“If you show up to our first session in armor, you’re fired.”
He chuckled. “How about hiking boots instead?”
My lips twitched. “Clothes, too? Or just the hiking boots?”
“I’d be down for some naked hiking. But only if you’re playing, too.”
“You do realize it’s about thirty degrees this week, right? You could lose a ball.”
Boden cupped himself. “Don’t say something like that. It makes them hurt.”
I shook my head. “Come on, we should get back to the trailhead. We’re losing light.” Even in the gray, overcast sky, I saw that the sun was now hanging low. I moved towards my backpack, but Boden took my elbow.
“Let me. You can show me how to load everything up so I don’t break something.”
“Okay.” I pointed out how the camera fit into the specially made backpack, then the tripod, and the rest of my odds and ends.
Boden studied the other contraption on the ground. “Is that a baby carrier?”
I pressed my lips together to keep from laughing. “I have to get Gizmo up here somehow. He doesn’t like being left behind, and his wheels don’t work well on these kinds of trails.”
Boden shook his head and looked balefully at Gizmo. “You’re really gonna make me wear that, aren’t you?”
Gizmo just panted up at him, a smile on his doggy face.
“If you’re not man enough…”
Boden’s hazel eyes shot to mine. “Oh, I’m gonna rock this baby carrier.”
I bent to pick up Gizmo as Boden strapped the thing on. My back cried out as I moved, but I bit the inside of my cheek to keep from making a sound. I lifted Gizmo into the carrier and secured him in place.
Stepping back, I couldn’t help but smile. I slid my phone out from my back pocket and toggled over to the camera. “This is too good a picture to pass up.” I clicked the shot. “How much do you thinkUS Weeklywould pay for something like this?”