Shit!
“Oh my God!I’m so sorry!” I laughed a few seconds later when the shock wore off. Could this get any worse? My cheeks flamed hot and popcorn landed on my chest. Thankfully, I didn’t spill much.
The tall, handsome man stared at me like he was in shock for a few moments, until finally he laughed. His body relaxed, andmine followed, the once awkward tension now dissolving into a different kind…he was so handsome.
I shook my head to clear my thoughts and laughed some more, relieved he wasn’t mad. It was a total ruckus, a total shit show, and my silly nephew stood there, giggling, one hand over his mouth.
Our eyes met and locked on the other. Something in the air snapped between us, and once again my body froze like an icy lake in the winter. A tingle ran down my spine.No, no, I can’t do this. Not here. Not now.
I scrambled to my feet, brushing popcorn off me with one hand. “I’m so sorry again! Dylan, come on, love. Let’s leave this poor guy alone.”
I sat us back down in our same seats. The theater had assigned seats now, or otherwise I would’ve changed rows. But I didn’t dare look at the handsome man. The one whose lap I literally just fell into.
What a mess.
The rest of the movie went smoothly, the popcorn bucket safely tucked between Dylan and I and not moving. But if someone asked me the plot of the movie, I’d have no clue.
I couldn’t stop thinking about the tall guy. His face, burned into my memory, kept flashing in my mind. Despite the darkness in the theater, I saw his features. His blue eyes and sandy brown hair. Ink covering his bare arms, some peaking up from his t-shirt.
The credits rolled, and Dylan tugged on my sleeve. “Auntie! Can we stop at the arcade?”
“Let me see what time it is, okay? I promised your mommy I’d get you home before dinner. I also want to apologize to the man sitting next to us. We spilled a lot of popcorn on him.” I grinned. Dylan giggled.
But when the lights turned on, I looked over Dylan’s head, and the tall man was gone.
Like he was never there at all.
CHAPTER TWO
Harvey
I boltedfor my car as soon as the movie ended. I needed to get out of there and away from that woman before I did something stupid.
Fuck, I was an idiot. See a beautiful woman, get wrapped up in her, and fall in love way too fast. Only to end up completely heartbroken. I was done. Fed up. I didn’tneedlove. I was perfectly happy without it.
Yet here I was walking back towards the movie theater, entranced by the curvy woman who fell into my lap.Literally.
She smelled of popcorn and looked like all of my hopes and dreams, what I’d always envisioned love to be, a perfect woman for me, but no. I couldn’t.
She’d end up like all the rest. Hating me by the end.
My last ex-girlfriend said I wasn’t exciting enough. I liked to stay home too much for her tastes. She wanted to bar hop, dance at clubs, and drink the night away, while I had no interest in the social scene.
I swore to myself I’d never do love again. And I was sticking to it.
But when I got to my car, I couldn’t open the door.
I couldn’t walk away. Ihadto see this woman again.
Before I could talk myself out of it, I rushed back inside and waited in the lobby, hoping to catch her as she walked out.
Stupid idea, man.
A few minutes passed until she finally rounded the corner with her nephew holding her hand. She walked in my direction, and my stomach flipped upside down.
What was I doing?
Our eyes met. She saw me! I turned my back to her and pretended to read the movie poster on the wall. I couldn’t look like I was waiting for her. But what if she just passes me by?
