Page 57 of This Thing of Ours

She rolled her eyes. “Whatever.”

They reached the car, and he opened the passenger door for her, but after she got in, instead of going around to the driver’s side, Marco squatted so he was eye level with her. He tucked a lock of her hair behind her ear then left his hand cradling her neck.

He stared at her a moment, his eyes serious when he finally said, “I can’t seem to get this date thing right. Did I ruin the evening?”

She smiled and shook her head. “No.”

“Do you want to give dinner a shot?”

She laughed outright. “No.”

He chuckled. “Home and pizza delivery?”

“Sounds good.”

He kissed her lightly on the forehead before standing, closing her door, and going around to his side.

They were on the road for a few minutes before he said, “I’m sorry you missed the movie, I know you were excited to see it.”

She waved a hand. “Don’t worry about it. Although, I am bummed I missed seeing Liam Ryder in spandex.”

Marco’s eyes darted her way before turning back to the road. “Come again?”

“Liam Ryder. He’s a blond, Australian hottie. I was looking forward to seeing him in his tight superhero costume.” She wiggled her eyebrows when Marco’s eyes darted her way again.

She had his profile as he stared at the road, and she saw his jaw flex. “I don’t share.”

Okay, she could understand that. She didn’t want to share Marco either. But drooling over movie stars was different. It was almost as if they weren’t even real people.

“It’s looking not dating.”

“I. Don’t. Share. Not even your fantasies.”

Her eyeballs saw black they rolled so high in her head. “Do you know how ridiculous that is? Are you trying to tell me, with all the nightclubs you go to, you don’t look?”

“I may look, but I don’tsee. I don’t see anyone but you.”

God, he meant that.

Staring at his profile, she said, “And all I see is you.”

She saw his shoulders relax, and a small smile curve his lips, and she couldn’t stop herself from adding, “And Liam Ryder.”

Turned out, Marcocould hold a grudge. He also hadn’t thought her joke funny. She discovered this when they got home. They came in through the sliding door, as usual, but what was unusual was Marco closed it right after Fred darted out.

Confused, she asked, “Why’d you lock him outside?”

“I don’t want to be disturbed.”

He grabbed her waist and walked her backward until they reached the foot of the stairs.

“I’d like to talk about this Liam Ryder guy.”

She laughed. “You’ve got to be joking. You can’t still be upset about that.”

That got her a growl as he hiked her up, tossing her over his shoulder.

The air left her in a whoosh, so she couldn’t manage a proper girly shriek. Though, she did accomplish one in her head.

---