*****
This was not going according to plan. Elyssa struggled to even keep her eyes open, much less to follow the plot of her chick flick. As heavenly tingles spread from Jaxon’s fingers, down her spine to the tips of her toes, she fought to hold onto her anger. No matter how nice he’s being now, I can’t let him control me like this. With immense effort, she stiffened her back, grasping his hand to push it away from her traitorous neck.
“Elyssa, I didn’t trick you on purpose.” He breathed the whispered words into her ear. “Give me a chance to explain.”
The humiliation of her confession returned in a torrent, dousing the fire of his touch on her skin. Her face burned with embarrassment at the memory. She had to get away. To escape the stroke of his fingers on her neck, muddling her mind. She hopped to the next seat, but found herself in a tug-of-war with the popcorn box.
She sent her most intimidating scowl his direction and yanked on the box. He raised a single brow in response, his knuckles whitening as he firmed his hold.
“Let. Me. Have. This. Popcorn.” She spat a coarse whisper.
“No.” He stuck out his jaw.
“Shhhhh…” “Can it!” “Shhhh…” Hushes came from all over
the theatre.
Elyssa’s cheeks flamed, but she couldn’t let Jaxon win this battle. Without relinquishing her hold on the box, she shifted one hand to the bottom for better leverage. She mouthed her words without making a sound, but she could tell he understood. “Let. Go.”
Jaxon’s hands flew up in surrender.
So did the box of popcorn.
The rain of fluffy white buttered kernels was spectacular.
Part 33: Breathtaking
JAXON FOLLOWED ON Elyssa’s heels—her angry, stomping heels—down the hallway, through the lobby, to the glass exit doors. He cringed as she lunged with all her weight against the door. Fortunately it didn’t shatter under her assault. Outside, she skidded to a stop, whirling to face him with her hands on her hips, her jaw clenched, and tears pouring down her face.
“Now I’ll never know what happens at the end of the movie! I can’t believe you got us thrown out!” She swiped her face dry on her sleeve, but more tears flooded from her eyes.
“Me? You think I got us thrown out? You were the one who threw the popcorn in the air.” He fought to control his temper. “And I’ll tell you how it ends. Monica and the rich guy are at the alter, and she hears a dog barking outside, and she backs out at the last minute, runs down the aisle and out of the church, sees the dog and follows him to the park. And the dog leads her to Gary, and they kiss while the dog jumps around them barking. And they live happily-ever-after.”
Elyssa sniffed, her furrowed brows arching in surprise. “You’ve seen this movie? You went to a chick flick voluntarily?”
“No, of course not. I… you know… I just guessed…” He stammered to a stop, his face burning as her lips curved in a smirk. Then her smile disappeared as quickly as it had come.
“Wait a minute. You must have gone with another girl. That’s it, isn’t it? You’re dating someone else.”
“No, I’m not—”
“It’s okay, really. It makes perfect sense. It explains everything, and I’m not even upset about it.” Her eyes grew wide. Tears no longer marred her visage—she looked positively exultant. “You know what this means? It means that confession you tricked me into wasn’t even real. I liked you when I thought you were a different kind of guy.”
“But Elyssa—”
“No, don’t worry. You’re a player, but that’s okay. In fact, it’s great. I don’t like players, so I don’t like you at all.” She beamed. “So we can just forget I ever said anything and go back to being enemies. Well, I guess we don’t have to be enemies since you aren’t after my building any more.”
“Elyssa, I’m not—”
“I mean, I’m still upset you pretended to be asleep and let me totally embarrass myself. But I’m so relieved to find out you’re just another disgusting, deceitful player. No offense, Jaxon. I’m sure you’re happy with that kind of life.”
In one step, Jaxon closed the distance between them, covering her mouth with one hand and securing the back of her head with the other.
“Mmmff!” Elyssa squinted at him, her nostrils flaring, her fingers pulling at his.
“Will you let me say something now?”
“Mmmff!”