Page 99 of Just Between Us

Right as I’m reaching for the handle to open the door, he grabs my wrist, tugging me toward him. For a heartbeat, I’m afraid he’s gonna take it all back, but then one large hand fans wide against the back of my neck and his lips brush the corner of my mouth, soft and sweet. When he pulls back, his eyes are dancing.

Oh, we are in so much trouble.

“Good. Now, come on.” He squeezes my hand before letting go. “I’ve got the perfect movie picked out.”

The second Josiewas out the door this morning my eyes landed on the flier taped to the window. Everything in me said that would be the perfect way to spend the afternoon. And I was right. Seeing Cassie’s cute as hell happy dance each time a match was made was enough to make me want to capture her mouth with mine right there in front of everyone. But I played the part of a gentleman while my blood quietly simmered.

The two of us are oddly quiet after that moment in my truck. I couldn’t begin to guess what’s going through Cassie’s head, but mine is spinning like a turntable, an anxious feeling swirling in my gut. Rarely have I gotten that feeling with a woman. I’m usually all swagger and charm. Right now though, I desperately want to get tonight right. I want her to look back on tonight and remember how I made her feel.

But seeing Cassie bent over my freezer, ass up, one hand braced on the edge of the drawer while she digs through frozen dinners isn’t helping anything. Her shirt rides up to reveal a trace of skin, just a sliver, and I’m already thinking about what the rest of her looks like.

Within seconds she straightens, eyes lit up holding a box of corn dogs. The blue-boxed State Fair kind.

“Oh my god.” She clutches the box to her chest. “I haven’t had a corn dog since I lived behind the Sonic after college.”

“Corn dogs it is, then. I’ll pop ’em in the air fryer.” I tear open the cardboard and set the timer.

While we wait, I lean against the counter and I’m back doing what I apparently do best around this woman. Watching Cassie. I never took myself for a man into voyeurism, but I can’t seem to look away from her, no matter how hard I try. Not that I’ve tried much today.

Take right now, for instance. She’s doing the most mundane thing, filling a glass with ice, but I’m enjoying the view. Specifically, the length and shape of her long legs all the way down to her bare feet on my hardwood floor. What would it feel like to have those legs wrapped around me while my name falls from those pretty pink lips?

“You gonna sit there all night admiring how hard I’ve worked with my YouTube yoga instructor, or do you plan on eating?”

Busted. A big ass grin pops onto my face right as the air fryer dings. “Don’t see why I can’t do both.”

“Look all you want. I’m eating.” Cassie opens the fridge and grabs a bottle of mustard. She plates our corn dogs and squirts a large dollop on hers.

When I open the fridge for ranch dressing, Cassie’s face screws up in horror. “Please tell me you aren’t about to do what I think you are.”

I squirt a huge glob onto my plate, dip the corn dog in it, take an enormous bite, and toss her a wink. “Oh, I’m doing it, baby. Now let’s go watch our movie.

“There is only one acceptable condiment for corn dogs and that’s mustard.” She grabs her plate and hip checks me. “But you do you.”

We head to the living room and settle onto the couch. Cassie sits cross-legged, her plate balanced on her lap while I find the remote.

“Being Valentine’s Day and all, I thought tonight we’d watch a love story.”

“A romance?” Cassie’s brows shoot up. “Anytime you’ve picked the movie, we end up watching people blow things up.”

“Well…” I tilt my head back and forth. “There’s some of that, too. Just wait. You’ll see.” I find the movie I’m looking for and click on it.

Beside me, Cassie snorts. “Deadpoolis not a romance.”

“So you’ve seen it? Because I promise you, it’s a romance.”

The slow-motion fight in the opening scene does nothing to convince her, but in my opinion,Deadpoolis the most romantic movie there is. I dip my corndog in the ranch again and sit back to enjoy one of my favorite movies with my favorite person.

When Wade gives the cab driver his pep talk on love, I flick my gaze to Cassie and back to the screen. “Told ya.”

Her eye roll might as well be audible.

Corn dog sticks are all that remain of our gourmet dinner, and Cassie now sits with her knees tucked against her chest. We’re so close our shoulders brush, but when Wade drops the firstI love you, twenty-five minutes in, Cassie lets out a soft “aww” and her head tips sideways to rest on my shoulder.

The clean, sweet smell of her shampoo is all I can focus on. I lift my arm and Cassie snuggles closer, resting her palm on my chest. Can she feel how fast my heart is beating? How everythump, thump, thumpis because of her.

The movie continues to play but I’ve seen it so many times I hardly pay attention. The only thing I’m aware of is her body pressed to mine, the gasps and short laughs she releases at certain parts, and the feel of fingers gripping my shirt during the suspenseful scenes.

The credits roll, and Cassie’s warmth slowly disappears as she straightens, tears streaming down her face.