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Liza was in awe of everything she saw, often stopping to study an intricate painting or to sit on an antique sofa.
“What’s in this room?” She eyed the double doors like a kid in a candy shop.
“Oh, that’s the theater room.”
“Theater? As in a movie theater?” She pushed the doors open and clapped her hands. “We have to watch a movie. What do you say?”
I laughed and followed her in. Her enthusiasm was contagious. I couldn’t remember the last time I’d sat in here without a care and watched anything. “It’s your call. What do you want to watch?”
Liza scanned the shelves of movies and then looked up, biting her lip with a mischievous grin. “Do you like horror movies?”
I shook my head. “No way. I’m not a fan of horror.”
“Oh, come on, it’ll be fun!” She grabbed a movie off the shelf, walked to the projection set up, and popped it in.
“Well, if you insist.” I pretended to be annoyed as I followed her to the second level of movie seats and sat down.
As Liza snuggled in, I used the remote to lower the lights in the room and start the movie.
“How about brunch while we watch?” I asked.
“Perfect.”
I pulled my phone out of my pocket and texted our cook, asking him to bring a full spread of brunch food and drinks to the theater room.
Within thirty minutes, trays laden with fresh pastries, bacon, omelets, and orange juice sat on our laps.
“I could get used to this.” Liza crossed her ankles and took a bite of her buttered croissant. Her almost-silent moan as she took a bite wasn’t silent enough, and my cock twitched.
I smiled, ignoring the urgency in my jeans. “Considering I botched the first picnic, this is the least I could do on a rainy day.”
“Your house is like a strip mall.” She chuckled. “I wouldn’t be surprised if there was a bowling alley.”
“Umm.” Stifling my laugh, I grimaced. I hadn’t built the house, but I did enjoy the privacy and benefits it afforded to me. Especially right now.
“You’re shitting me, right?” Liza turned to face me and dropped her croissant on the tray. “You have your own bowling alley?”
My cheeks reddened. I had never been one for showing off my family’s wealth. It was especially difficult and disheartening since I’d been made aware of how we’d come into the money. Of course, Liza didn’t need to know that. Not yet. At some point, however, I would have to tell her that my wealth was directly linked to the life she’d been forced into. First, I had to figure out the exact right way and the exact right time. I couldn’t rush it.
“Your family does have an excessive amount of money. It’s honestly hard to comprehend someone living this extravagantly.” She shrugged. “I guess it’s okay if you like to bowl, though.”
“Do you? Like to bowl, I mean?” It didn’t matter to me one way or the other, but I was curious.
“I know how, and I do okay.” She smiled, and her eyes sparkled.
Her humor amused me. Just when I thought I did or said something to turn her off, she spun the situation to focus on the bright side. Apparently, a bowling alley was a bright side.
There were women who would hold it against me that I had so much generational wealth, much the same as there would be women out there who only wanted me because of the wealth, but Liza was her own brand of female. She rolled with the punches, seeming unfazed by most of the curveballs that life threw her way.
With each passing moment, I liked her more and more. I didn’t want to ruin the mood, but my brain wouldn’t turn off. Not wanting to wait a moment longer, I paused the movie and turned the lights up.
“Hey!” Liza eyed me. “We were almost to the best part. He was just about to pop up out of the woman’s shower as she rinses her makeup off at the sink. It’s an iconic scene.” I knew the scene. Everyone knew the scene. It could wait.
“I’m sorry, I just need to ask you something.” I studied Liza’s face, which seemed to pale a little. “What happened to that injured rabbit in the forest last night?”
She opened her mouth to answer, but snapped it shut and pursed her lips, hesitating. Liza clearly didn’t want to talk about the rabbit, though I wasn’t sure what she was conflicted about.
Finally, Liza answered my question. “I have no idea what happened.”
