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She grimaced as she hit a tender spot. “Yeah. They will be. Those boots are a little small and my feet are all cramped up.” She switched to the other foot.
“Hm.” He turned his attention to the kitchen and started opening cupboards like he owned the place.
“Do you have popcorn?” he asked.
“I do.”
When she didn’t offer any more information, he gave her a look.
She wasn’t sure she’d be able to describe it except it was flirty and exasperated all at once.
And she liked it way too much.
“Andwhereis your popcorn, smart ass?”
She pointed at the one cupboard he hadn’t gotten to yet next to the oven.
“Why are you making popcorn?” she asked, bracing her elbows on the butcher block.
“Because you have to have popcorn when you’re watching a movie.” He found the popcorn bowl and brought it over to her. “Two bags or one?” he asked, holding up the microwave popcorn box.
“Two.”
He flashed her a smile that had her wishing she’d spent some time desensitizing herself to his face. Maybe she could have printed out photos from online and used them like flashcards.
Sure, at first glance he wasn’t what someone might consider “attractive.” But looks were such a small part of someone that she barely noticed those things.
He was enormously attractive in all the ways that counted.
His smile, his laugh, his sense of humor, his energy, how he treated children…
Oof.
Her heart was already way too fond of him.
He had not said or done anything to suggest he was interested in herthat way. And neither had she, she was pretty sure.
But she’d always been very good at longing in secret.
“What movie are we watching?” she asked, knowing all of this was probably a bad idea and not caring enough to put a stop to it.
He flicked his eyes between her and the television in their living room. “Whichever Star Wars is your favorite.”
“If you’re running for office, you have my vote, sir.” She slid off the stool, washed her hands at the sink, and then hobbled her sore feet over to the sectional. She sank into the soft, velvety cushions and picked up the remote control.
While the loft filled with the scent of fresh popped corn, she cued upEmpire Strikes Backand hit play.
Dave joined her and placed the huge bowl of popcorn on the seat between them. They both put their feet up on the square ottoman in front of them.
The opening story scroll finished and the camera focused on the big Star Destroyer as it jettisoned probe droids out into space.
“Did you check the windows and make sure they were locked?” Dave asked quietly.
“Shut up,” she muttered.
He craned his neck, looking around at the loft. “Can we lower these lights?” He focused on her. “Would you mind?”
She shrugged and shook her head. “I don’t mind.”
