Page 91 of Mended Hearts

“I don’t understand.”

“You deserve to be courted properly, Leigh,” he said softly, “and while I fully intend to show you off like the proudest man on the planet, I won’t do that to your life until you’re all in. The last thing I want is the press in your business while you’re still deciding what you want from this. Tonight is just for you, baby. Everyone here has signed an NDA.”

Oh holy hell, my face tried to light on fire. My stomach flipped like it had just dismounted from a trapeze.

“But what are we doing?” I asked, my voice hushed, eyes still on the four employees—who seemed to spring into action the moment the words left my mouth. Had Ollie given them a signal?

Two in tailored red uniforms with vintage gold piping stepped to the sides while the other two, dressed in white button-ups, bow ties, and suspenders, approached us wearing retro snack trays slung around their necks.

“Ms. Rhodes, Mr. Hart, welcome,” said the first man, offering me a popcorn container striped in red and white. “We’re so pleased to have you for a private screening this evening.”

I didn’t even want to know what Ollie paid to pull this off.

“Please sit wherever you’d like,” the second added, gesturing to the center row. Ollie guided me forward, hand still warm against my back.

Once we were seated—dead center—the attendants placed glass Coke bottles in our cupholders and filled the space between us with snacks: Milk Duds, Clark Bars, and some chewy-looking candy I’d never seen before.

“Enjoy the show,” the first said, bowing slightly before both attendants slipped away.

“Say something, Trouble.”

I turned to find him looking...nervous?That was cute as hell. With tears stinging the bridge of my nose, I croaked, “You’re insane.”

“Well aware. That’s why God made me beautiful, to compensate.”

“And humble too.”

“Not a word the Harts are taught.”

“How did you do this?”

“Just a few phone calls,” he said, shrugging like this was no big deal—but the way he squeezed my hand said otherwise. His heart was in his throat, too. “But am I on the money?”

“That depends on what happens next.”

He grinned, jerking his chin toward the screen just as the lights dimmed. Upbeat ‘50s music crackled to life. The projector hummed. Then the Paramount logo filled the space.

My breath caught as the opening sequence ofFunny Facebegan.

“Ollie!” I barked, eyes already blurring.

“Good pick?”

I nodded, blinking fast. “You’re insane.”

“The good kind, not the rocking-in-the-corner kind, I hope.”

“You’reincredible.”

“No,you’reincredible,” he corrected, just as Kay Thompson marched through the magazine office on screen.

“How did you know I love Audrey Hepburn?”

“You’re into the classics,” he said simply. Like it was obvious. Like he hadn’t just arranged the most perfect date in the history of the world.

“You aresogetting lucky,” I whispered, prompting a full-hearted laugh as he wrapped an arm around my shoulders and tucked me in close.

“We’ll see.”

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