Page 54 of Cash

“That’s right baby girl, just like that,” he said shaking his head with a small chuckle.

They both got out and he helped her up into the bed of his truck. As they were settling in a worker came by and dropped off two drinks and a big bucket of popcorn.

"I can't believe you took me to a drive-in," she said looking around. "I didn't even know places like this still existed."

"I've been here a couple times. I'm kind of a horror movie connoisseur and the end of the double feature is usually a monster movie."

"What's playing tonight?" she asked as she settled back into him.

He put his arm around her shoulder and pulled her into him. He pulled his phone back out to check, "It looks like we are watching Father of the Bride and then Bride of Frankenstein. Seems appropriate," he said with a small chuckle.

"Great, more weddings..."

Oh crap. He should have checked the movies before he brought her here. He knew she was stressed out with her sister's wedding, maybe she didn’t want the reminder. He pulled her a little closer to him, the softness of her pressing into him filling him with desire, but if she didn't want to watch those movies...

"We can go if you're not into it," he said, trying not to sound as insecure as he suddenly felt.

She shifted and looked up at him, "No, this is wonderful. Thank you for bringing me here. I love it," she cuddled back into him, and his heart soared.

He really wasn't used to feeling like this about anyone. He was usually so confident in what he wanted, and what he wanted was usually just a good time, but he found neither of those things applied to Evie. There was a part of him that didn't think he had what it took to keep someone like her happy. They were from completely different worlds, but the more he got to know her, the more he found himself hoping that this would turn into something real.

"So, what's the deal with your sister's wedding?"

"What do you mean?" she said, turning her head looking up at him, and he fought the urge to kiss her, but he knew if he did that, he wouldn’t be able to stop himself from going further.

"I know family basics and I know I'm going golfing with your family, but I'm gonna need more information. Especially where golfing is concerned."

She bit her lip and looked away. "I know I'm still sorry about that. You don't?—"

Without a warning he kissed her, taking control of her mouth. Her little gasp of surprise spurred him on, but then she opened up to him and started kissing him back. He needed to stop this before it got out of hand. He pulled back and cupped her face, "Every time you tell me I don't have to do something. I'm going to do that. Got it?"

Her brows rose. "Is that supposed to be a deterrent?"

"Fuck," he groaned adjusting his pants.

"But yeah. Next weekend golf and combined bachelor/bachelorette party. The following week the rehearsal dinner and the wedding, then you can be done with me," she said smiling at him, like he would ever want to be done with her.

"Oh, baby girl, I won’t be done with you." The movie started as he pressed a sweet kiss to her lips.

"We'll see if you still feel that way after I tricked you into being my date for this ridiculous wedding."

"Hey, if I had it my way we would have been dating since the gala. I would’ve been your date, no trick necessary."

She sighed and settled into him as she watched the movie. He wasn't interested in the movie at all right now, right now the woman with her head on his shoulder and her hand on his knee had his full attention. When he thought about it too much he got in his head. When he let himself realize how deeply he already felt, it scared him. But whenever he let those thoughts start to take hold, he remembered the words of the Scottish woman from the gala, about how things would be simple when they were alone, but above all to not overthink it. Even if he didn’t believe in all that stuff, that was good advice. So once again, he pushed those thoughts away and turned his attention the beautiful woman in his arms.

She adjusted and dug her phone out of her pocket and held it out for a selfie.

“I feel like we should commemorate my first drive in,” she said.

He bit back the dirty joke on his tongue and bent his head and kissed her on the cheek while she took the selfie. Then he kissed the top of her head and breathed in the scent of roses that always seemed to cling to her. She truly was a queen, not an ice queen apparently, but a queen, nonetheless.

"Hey, can I ask you a question?” he asked. “You can tell me to fuck off if you want to."

She looked up at him and nodded.

"Why do you hate being called Ice Queen?"

She just raised her eyebrows and looked at him. "I would think that would be pretty self-explanatory to someone like you."

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