Page 25 of Her Captivated Hero

5

Riya’s eyeswere alight with pleasure, as they wound their way around the motel swimming pool, past the Tiki bar. Gray couldn’t have asked for anything better, except maybe not so many men staring at her. He’d told her to wear something warm since they were going to be outside at night, so she was wearing a pink angora sweater and black jeans. He’d almost swallowed his tongue when he’d gone to pick her up.

“How did you find out about this place? I mean a drive-in movie, sure. But a pool party movie at a sixties-style motel?” She continued to turn her head every which way, trying to take everything in.

Gray sat down first in the double-seated plush papasan chair, then he reached for Riya so he could arrange her close to him.

“Gray, people are actually swimming,” she whispered into his ear.

“Riya, the pool is heated,” he whispered back to her. Damn, she was cute. It was the fourth date he’d taken her on, and he found himself enjoying their time together more and more. The woman had a heart as big as all outdoors. She considered herself an outsider because of her intelligence, but she really wasn’t. If he had to guess, the way she was raised and educated hadn’t allowed her to socialize as much as most people so she struggled a little more. But when she caught onto something, look out.

“You still haven’t told me what movie we’re going to see.”

“It’s a surprise.”

As they’d walked through the motel lobby, he watched as she looked for some kind of indication as to what the movie was. Surprises were not high on his little scientist’s list. She liked to figure everything out. That was part of the reason he’d chosen such a silly movie for them to watch. Okay, maybe not silly, it was one of his favorites after all.

The waiter came over with the drinks and appetizers that he'd pre-ordered.

"Do you need a blanket?" the young man asked.

"I brought one," Gray answered.

"Boy scout," Riya accused with a whisper.

Gray chuckled. "Nope, you got it all wrong. I was an Eagle Scout."

She rolled her eyes. The waiter set the food on the ottoman in front of them. "Oh my God, this looks phenomenal. She eyed the little teriyaki shrimp, and popped one in her mouth. “What kind of drinks are these?" She picked up the coconut with the straw and umbrella.

"They're Mai-Tais."

"I'm going to like this," Riya curled her legs under her, and leaned into him. "This is the life. Just please tell me we aren't watching something scary."

"You don't like scary movies? I would have thought they would be up your alley. You could spend the entire time figuring out who the bad guy is."

"One time Annika was taking care of all of us when my parents went out to dinner. They stayed out really late, and she let us stay up and watch the Exorcist. I had bad dreams for years afterwards."

"How old were you?" Gray frowned.

"I was probably four or five. It was before I started kindergarten. I have never heard my Dad yell like that. He is one of the most easy-going people in the world. He's a surgeon, but people say he has a wonderful bedside manner. Annika was grounded for weeks."

Gray put his arm around her, loving the way she snuggled up close to him. "You have nothing to worry about, even the scary parts are funny."

"Thank you." She took another sip of her Mai-Tai. "How's your beer?"

"Good."

They watched as more people came in and took their places around the pool. He liked seeing how intently Riya observed every little thing around her. Then she frowned, and opened and closed her mouth twice.

"Spit it out, Honey."

"Do you see that couple?" She pointed surreptitiously at a couple who were easily in their mid-seventies sitting in a cabana.

Yeah, like he'd missed that show.

"They have to be my grandparents’ age. And I think he has his hand up her skirt."

"Yep, I think management is going to close the flaps on that cabana pretty soon, or ask them to go up to their room."