Page 2 of Split Screen Scream
Oh, there’s one next to that fit, dark-haired handsome man wearing the black t-shirt.
Her gaze stopped and held. His build was solid. Strong. Something about him drew her attention—and then she noticed he was looking right back at her with his dark, intense gaze. But then, his gaze swept past her to the other side of the theater as he sat quietly scanning the room.
Is he waiting for someone? Saving that seat? I hope not. It’s a good location, and I’m running out of options.
She headed for the seat, hoping it would be free.
Reaching his isle, she leaned forward, drawing his full attention, and asked, “Is that seat taken?”
“No.” He shook his head, his brown eyes watching her.
She smiled, and the teenager seated on the end of the aisle moved his feet, so she could slip between the rows. “Excuse me,” she said, and began the “theater row shuffle”, being careful, as she was wearing her highest heels. The new red ones with the little bows on the front and tall, narrow heels.
She’d had so much fun planning to glam it up on their girls’ night out, and both she and Tanya had pretty dresses any pin-up girl would be proud of. Now, Tanya wouldn’t see her in her new white dress with the red polka dots. Off the shoulder, the cool summer dress required her to wear a half-slip, so no one could see through the lightweight, thin material. The dress was form-fitting, narrow, and hugged her hips, making her feel attractive and quite glamorous in a Marilyn Monroe kind of way.
All dolled up for a night on the town, and no one to spend it with.No one to see the dress and appreciate it along with the time and effort she’d spent on her blonde hairdo and makeup to complete the look. Plenty of men had ogled her since she’d stepped out of her car in the theater parking lot, but that wasn’t really the kind of attention she wanted.
Tanya would’ve appreciated the dress and the time it took to find that perfect dress and do her hair and makeup just so. Still, the entire row of men she passed, and men in the rows behind them, watched her every move.
Stepping daintily to the left of the handsome man and in front of the empty seat, she turned and sat while trying to play it cool like she just needed a seat and not like she’d hoped to sit with him. Wondering where to put her purse and keeping in mind how a movie theater floor could be sticky, she bent and placed her new, shiny red purse on top of her feet.
The air-conditioning sent a cool draft across her bare back, bringing goose bumps and making her want to shiver. She’d forgotten how cool the air could be in a theater when she’d ordered this dress. Wishing she’d worn a shawl, Christie hoped all the people in the theater would create enough body heat to warm the room up. At least when she leaned back against the seat, the vent blew in front of her, not on her bare back. Though now her neck and collarbone were receiving the draft, chilling her front side.
Now that she was seated, she realized how much taller than her the handsome man was. Sitting next to him made her feel downright delicate. His chest, shoulders, and arms were muscular, and he exuded strength.
Oh my, but he’s handsome, and he smells good.
She glanced down at his hand.No wedding ring. I wonder why he’s here without a date or a friend? Women probably fall all over him. I wonder what his name is?
On her other side, a large man in an orange T-shirt and jeans sat holding a huge tub of popcorn. “Here by yourself?” he asked. “That’s terrible.”
Taken aback by his sly tone, she leaned away from nosy man and closer to the handsome man, aware of him now watching her and the nosy man.
“Why would you ask?” she said, frowning and then catching herself, as she decided she shouldn’t be speaking to this stranger about whether she was out alone. “That’s none of your business,” she said, feeling herself bristle.
Maybe this seat wasn’t such a good one after all.
Though the view of the screen was excellent, and she was near enough to the aisle to get out without having to climb over half a row of people, now she hoped the nosy man wouldn’t continue to bother her.
Mr. Nosy leaned forward as if to say something else, and his hand reached toward her, but then he stopped, looking past her to handsome man. She turned to glance at handsome man, wondering what he’d done to stop Mr. Nosy.
Handsome Man’s dark hair was damp, likely from having taken a recent shower. Hot as it was outside, his hair would’ve dried otherwise. She became aware once again of his aftershave or cologne, a manly enticing scent.
“Most people are here because they received a pass to the premiere,” the handsome man said dryly.
Mr. Nosy shut up and went back to eating his popcorn, taking a huge handful.
Christie exhaled stress she didn’t know she’d been holding.
Better his attention is on his popcorn and not on me.
“Thank you,” Christie whispered under her breath, just low enough the handsome man could hear.
“No problem,” came his low answer.
He smells good. Damn good.And that low voice was doing things to her insides as his scent assaulted her senses on another level. Pheromones flooded her body making her aware of her breath, her heartbeat, the way her palms were starting to warm. The slight flush in her pale cheeks and chest, which always happened, would begin now. Her pheromones could get her into trouble sometimes when they kicked in before she figured out if this was a good man to be with or not.
As the lights began to dim, she thought,Good thing we’ll be in a dark theater. Handsome Man will never know how I’m reacting to him.
