AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Well, no.”
Was that a pout? She almost looked disappointed, but he was still learning all her tells so he couldn’t say for sure. Of course they hadn’t had sex yet, and Katelyn had never had sex, so that was not a conversation for today. Soon, though.
Brendan pulled onto a side street, found a parking spot, and fed the meter. It was just a short walk from here to where they were going. He opened the passenger door and she glanced up at him, smiling as she always did. So beautiful. He helped her out of the low seat.
“Where are we going?”
“You’ll see.” He tucked her against his side as they walked to the theatre.
But it wasn’t just any theatre. The Music Box was an icon, built almost a century ago, when silent movies were still all the rage, it was one of the first designed for talking pictures. As they turned the corner and walked toward the ticket window, Brendan watched her eyes light up as she read the marquee. He was taking her to a matinee screening of the old Jimmy Stewart film, It’s a Wonderful Life.
They stopped at concessions for Cokes and a big tub of popcorn with extra butter to share. They actually melted real butter here. None of that artificial shit you got at the modern megaplexes in the suburbs.
“This place is incredible!”
Truth. There was no place else quite like it. It was said that each of the seven hundred seats inside the Music Box had a story to tell, and they were about to add theirs.
“Just wait until we get to our seats.”
Santa, accompanied by an organist, was leading a sing-along. Brendan chose a row, and with his hand at the small of her back, guided Katelyn to her seat. Then he waited. It didn’t take a minute for her to notice the ceiling with its twinkling stars and moving cloud formations. Her head tipped back, looking up at it in awe.
Brendan held her hand, like he was on a date in high school. Except he’d never bothered dating in high school, so this was a first for him too. “I used to come here a lot as a kid. Reruns of old classics with my mom. The annual sing-along to White Christmas with my cousins. The Rocky Horror Picture Show when we got older—we’ll have to do that next year. I haven’t been here since college, though.”
Since the accident.
He squeezed her hand. Next year. He was already making plans for next year.
Katelyn laid her head on his shoulder. “Thank you.”
He didn’t ask her what for. He’s the one who should be thanking her. Brendan put his arm around her and tossed a kernel of popped corn high in the air.
“Good catch.” And she smiled.
George decided his life was worth living and Clarence earned his wings.
They filed out as the end credits rolled and as they walked through the lobby, near the concessions stand, Katelyn tugged on his sleeve. “Bren.” She tugged again and tilted her head toward the line of people waiting for popcorn. “That’s her—the lady who gave me the invite to the ball. There with that man and her little boy.”
Get the fuck out of here!
Salena? And Eric Brantley?
Eric was Hugh Brantley’s son. The little boy must be Hugh’s grandson. Salena sure as hell wasn’t anybody’s mother. Did she move onto Eric as soon as he put his father in a nursing home or was he one of the important friends Angelica claimed she had? The little boy held onto his father’s hand as he kissed Salena.
And that answers that.
Brendan wanted to get Katelyn out of there before Salena spotted them together. He didn’t care to have an encounter with the viper, especially with a child present. Besides, he had the fridge and pantry stocked so he and Katelyn could cook dinner together again. He just wanted to enjoy the day with her and not have it tainted by that bitch.
They almost made it to the door before Salena turned around and saw them. She grinned that evil bitch grin. And then she waved.
He didn’t acknowledge her. Brendan held Katelyn’s elbow and ushered her out the door. She looked up at him, her eyebrow arched. “Do you know her?”
“I wish I could say I didn’t.”
He didn’t sugarcoat it, but he didn’t go into every little explicit detail either. Brendan recounted how he met Salena and how she’d been the hostess at the Red Door, until he let her go last year, as he made the short drive home. And once they were inside the house, standing in the kitchen, he didn’t want to talk about Salena anymore. He knew this conversation wasn’t finished, but he wanted to kiss his sweet girl.
Before she could take off her coat, Brendan scooped Katelyn up and sat her on top of the island. He caged her between his legs and brushed her hair back, the silky strands gliding between his fingers. Her turquoise eyes looked right into his, in a way no one had ever looked at him before. If he hadn’t been struck already, he certainly was now. This girl was a fucking precious gift he didn’t deserve, but he’d be damned if he ever let her go.
His thumbs skimmed along her jaw. Her lips parted as he lowered his mouth to hers. Pure sweetness. His dick pushed against his zipper, insistent and throbbing. Brendan wanted inside her. He pulled her hips closer so she could feel what she did to him. How much he craved her. He could fuck Katelyn right here in the kitchen. He’d never shown such restraint. Ever. Never had to. So what the fuck was he waiting for?
