Page 20 of His Forever Princess

Her face flooded with heat. He didn’t seem to notice as he nodded to the movie theater marquee. They were nearly underneath it.

He didn't wait for her to answer, but ducked inside, pulling her by the hand. The interior was dimly lit and smelled slightly musty—how old was this building?—but she didn't care.

Until he dropped her hand and slipped past her to check the door.

Her smile faded.

She'd thought—

She'd hoped—

Gideon came next to her, pointing toward a hallway that led alongside one wall. A red exit sign glowed.

"What's the matter?"

His low murmur reached her ears as she allowed herself to be hustled in that direction. "Nothing."

He stopped her when someone came out of the theater itself. An employee.

"Not nothing,” she said.

He stood close in front of her. Watching her closely.

"I didn't mean to scare you. That girl started videoing. I couldn't be sure, but it looked like she was pointing her phone at us."

Of course, he'd been paying attention. Protecting her, even when she'd been distracted.

“What’s wrong?” He was apparently paying close attention to her now.

“Nothing. It's fine."

He clearly didn't believe her. He waited patiently, his eyes demanding answers.

Embarrassed, she had to look over his shoulder to get the words out. "I thought it was real. That we had come in here to watch a movie."

"Like a date? Would you really want that?"

* * *

Like a date? Would you really want that?

Alessandra's soft but certain, "Yes," twisted Gideon's stomach in a knot.

He checked over his shoulder. The lobby in this single-theater movie house was empty. The uniformed employee had disappeared for now.

Which meant Gideon was free to lean his elbow on the wall Alessandra had scooted next to and lean. Not too far into her personal space, but enough that she would be able to tell he was interested.

She tipped her head back to look into his face. Man, he'd missed her.

"Being with you these few days has been..." She trailed off and he braced for what might come. Difficult. Strange. Harrowing.

"A blessing." Her voice caught on the words. "I'd forgotten so many things. I've just... missed you."

"Me, too, Princess." He couldn't help himself. He stepped in and scooped her into a hug.

Holding her was the one thing that made sense. She fit in his arms. Her cheek laid right over his heart. She smelled like whatever custom-made shampoo she used and the sweetness that was all her.

He never wanted to let her go.

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