But then, the seat shifted, and I felt Ryder's lips brush against my ear. In a low whisper, he said, "I'll know if you peek."
With him so close, I gave a happy little shiver. "How?"
He chuckled. "Because you'll probably admit it."
Damn it.He was probably right, so I didn't confirmordeny.
With a smile in his voice, he said, "Hang on. I'll be right back." The seat shifted again, and I heard his door open, but not shut, as he disappeared to wherever.
He was gone for barely a minute when he returned, shut his door, and fired up the engine. "Are your eyes still closed?"
"Oh, please," I laughed. "You're looking at me right now. I can tell."
"Yeah, so?"
"So youknowthe answer to your own question."
"I can't help it," he said. "You're fun to look at."
"Fun?" I said, pretending to bristle. "I'm not sure that's a compliment."
"It is inmybook." But then his voice softened as he said, "You're beautiful, especially when you're smiling and don't know it."
He was right – not about me being beautiful, but about me smiling. Now that he'd mentioned it, I realized I was wearing a big, goofy grin, like I'd had one drink too many.I probably looked like an idiot.And yet, I couldn't stop myself from contorting my face to make it twice as goofy. "Surely, you don't meanthisgrin."
When he laughed,reallylaughed, I felt my grin grow even wider. Goofy or not, I didn't care. It felt so good to be with him after too much time apart.
But when he kept laughing, I felt my smile falter. "Wait…do you know something I don't?"
"Yup."
"What is it?"
"Give it a minute, and you'll see for yourself."
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 –moviepopcorn, 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 doyouthink?"
"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 eventryto 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?"
