Page 41 of Secret Baby for my Off-Limits Fiancé

I force my hands to stay on the wheel.

She buckles in. “So, where are we going?”

“You’ll see.”

She exhales, slumping back in her seat. “I hate surprises.”

I smirk, shifting gears. “You hate not being in control.”

She turns her head, watching me carefully. “And you love being in control?”

I grip the steering wheel just a little tighter.

She has no idea.

When we arrive at the vintage movie theater, I pull into the private lot.

Layla glances at the glowing marquee, her brows pulling together.

The theater is empty, just as I intended. Rows of untouched seats stretch out before us, the massive screen waiting to come to life. The dim sconces along the walls cast a soft, ambient glow, making the space feel more intimate than cavernous.

Layla steps inside hesitantly, her eyes scanning the room before landing on me with a mix of suspicion and curiosity. "You rented out the entire theater?"

I shrug. "Seemed like the easiest way to avoid distractions."

She lets out a small huff, crossing her arms. "And here I thought you weren’t the romantic type."

I smirk, stepping closer to her. "I’m not." I lean in slightly. "But I know how to plan a good date."

Her lips part slightly, and I catch the quick rise and fall of her chest before she rolls her eyes, brushing past me toward the best seats in the house.

I follow, taking the seat beside her, watching as she settles in.

There's something different about tonight, something unspoken lingering between us, but I push the thought away as the lights dim.

The screen flickers to life, and the opening credits of The Wedding Singer roll.

Layla stiffens beside me. "You picked an Adam Sandler movie?"

The amusement in her voice makes me smirk. "You sound surprised."

"I am surprised. I figured you'd pick something serious. A mob drama. A war film. Some depressing foreign movie that leaves you questioning your existence."

I chuckle, shaking my head. "Contrary to what you think, I do enjoy a good rom-com."

She narrows her eyes playfully. "I’ll believe that when I see it."

As the movie plays, I steal glances at her.

At first, she’s skeptical. I can practically see her resisting the charm of it, her arms crossed, her expression unreadable. But as the story unfolds, I notice the subtle shifts, the way her posture softens, the way she bites her lip to keep from laughing, the way she leans forward slightly, caught up in the ridiculous sincerity of it all.

And then, the moment comes.

The grand gesture.

Robbie, singingGrow Old With Youon the plane, pouring his heart out in the kind of over-the-top romantic declaration that most people would roll their eyes at.

But not Layla. She inhales sharply beside me. Then, without thinking, without hesitating, she reaches for me.

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