Page 46 of The Corner of Heartbreak and Forever
“We’ll bring your stuff inside later. I have a surprise for you.” He helped her into the truck. When he climbed in on the other side, she scooted over next to him. That simple move made his heart sing. He was dying to give her the news about his contract being ratified for the theater, but he’d planned a special way to share it.
He drove to the Majestic, and as he parked out front, he said, “I know how much you love this theater, so I thought we’d finally see a movie here.” He grabbed the cooler and backpack he’d prepared and led her through the long grass to a blanket and the equipment he’d set up behind the theater.
“Is that a projector? We’reliterallywatching a movie here?”
“Yup. The projector runs off my computer and projects onto the back of the building. Beckett clued me in to these awesome speakers, which will give us the feel of being at an outdoor theater.”
“This is going to besofun! But what if we get caught? People will see the lights from the road.”
The theater sat at an angle, hiding the far side of the rear from view. Making out had never been a problem, but she was right; people would surely find out they were watching a movie. He didn’t care who knew as long as he had this special night with Grace.
“It’s okay. I hear the owner’s a great guy.”
“If you say so. I guess the worst that can happen is someone tells us to leave. I can’t believe you set all this up. When did you become so tech savvy?”
“I didn’t. Beckett helped me. That guy knows computers as well as he knows numbers.”
“That’s not surprising. Most of his business is online. I can’t believe you left your equipment out here. Anyone could have stolen it.”
He chuckled. “You’re not in the city anymore, sweetheart. No one’s going to steal my stuff.” He held up a note he’d left on the projector that read TOUCH MY PROJECTOR AND YOU’LL NEVER WALK AGAIN.THINK TWICE.REEDCROSS.
“Who’s going to mess withyou, after all?” she teased.
“Nobody smart, that’s for sure.” He smacked her bottom. “Sit your pretty butt down and let me woo you with my dating-Grace expertise.”
“Aren’t you eloquent.” She took off her heels and sat on the blanket.
He visually devoured the flash of smooth thighs her skirt revealed as she tucked her legs beside her.
“Hey,greedy boy,” she said, bringing his eyes up to hers. “Nodessertbefore dinner.”
He leaned forward and kissed her. “Bet I can change your mind.”
“Did you bring whipped cream?”
He swore under his breath, although it was just for show. He had no intention of getting naked with her right then. When they were kids, they could barely contain themselves long enough to get undressed, and short of the field behind the theater, his uncle’s truck, Grace’s car, or the empty houses his uncle worked on, there weren’t many places they could go to be alone. That was no longer a problem, and he wasn’t about to chance giving anyone a peek at their intimacy.
“I don’t have whipped cream, but I did run over to Wishing Creek. Tonight we’re celebrating.”
“What are we celebrating?”
He handed her a burger and fries from the Creekside Diner where they used to eat. “You’ll figure it out.”
She gazed down at the telltale wrapping, which had pictures of Wishing Creek on it. “Bacon cheeseburger?”
“What else is there?” He reached into the cooler and withdrew a to-go cup. “And one, probably soupy, half chocolate, half vanilla milkshake. Know what? I did bring whipped cream. There was some under the lid, but I think it’s probably melted by now. I know you’re probably used to being wined and dined, and I wrestled with having a restaurant deliver here, but—”
“Reed, this is beyond perfect. You know what you get with being wined and dined? Pin-straight posture,pleases, andthank yous.” She grabbed his shirt and tugged him forward, taking him in a fiercely passionate kiss. When their lips parted, she flashed a sinful smile and said, “That’s what you get when you do the most romantic thing in the world for me. I love that you remembered, and I love that you won’t let me forget who we were—whoIwas—because you know what? All my best memories were made here, too.”
Chapter Fifteen
REED AND GRACE sat on the blanket eating dinner as the title,Mrs. Henderson Presents, appeared on the back of the building.
Grace gasped. “Ilovethis movie! Have you seen it?”
“Yes. Do you mind watching it again?” The movie was about a woman who inherited an old run-down theater. She reopened it as a performance hall, and it goes down in history. Reed had assumed Grace would have already seen the movie, as she had always been a movie buff, but it was the ideal movie to help reveal his exciting news.
“Not at all. It’s hilarious.” She popped a fry in her mouth. “Mm. I haven’t gone to the Creekside Diner since I moved away. The fries are so salty and delicious.”
