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“Just getting the lay of the land. He likes you.”
Words that made Dena happy—a foolish concept, but there was no escaping the truth.
“He’s a handsome single man who was flirting with you. If you ask me, you should definitely go for it.”
“Really, Mom? Like, throw myself at him?”
“There are worse things.”
“He’s Micah Ruiz.”
“Yes, he told me.”
Dena sighed. “He’s a famous rock star.”
Her mother pursed her lips. “Oh, that’s why he looked familiar. Is there money, or did he blow it on drugs and women? I’m only asking because I want you to find someone who will take care of you.”
Dena covered her face with her hands. “First, I can take care of myself. Second, I wouldn’t be interested in someone who acted like that. Third, I’m pregnant, and fourth, Micah is a guest, and he’s leaving. There will be no throwing or hinting or anything. He’s a nice man, and we talk occasionally, and that’s all.”
Her mother’s gaze turned speculative. “Your children could have real musical talent.”
“Mom!”
“I’m just saying. It could happen.”
Chapter Seventeen
“But we could sneak in Belle,” Harrison said, his tone hopeful.
Toby touched his son’s nose. “Belle’s too big to sneak into the theater. Plus, how would she get comfortable in one of the seats? Half of her would be hanging out.”
Harrison smiled at the image. “Okay, so not Belle, but you should call Reggie, Dad. I’m sure she’ll want to see the movie with us.”
“Maybe next time,” he told his son.
Toby was less sure Reggie would be enthralled by the latest animated holiday feature, but that wasn’t why he’d resisted issuing the invitation. His reasons were more complicated, and a little contradictory. He liked Reggie. He’d enjoyed their time at Holiday Spirits, and since that night, she’d been on his mind a lot, which was saying something because she’d been on his mind plenty before they’d gone for drinks.
He didn’t know if it was the season, their past, or Reggie herself, but he kept thinking of things he wanted to talk to her about or reasons he could call or places they could go together. All of which spelled a level of trouble he didn’t want to get into.
His not getting involved rule had always been easy to follow. It was rare for him to meet someone who made him want to rethink the whole “avoid women” plan. But Reggie was testing his limits, and he had no idea what to do about it.
He locked his SUV and took Harrison’s hand as they walked toward the multiplex. The Wonderful Life Cinema had seven screens, one of which was always playing a Christmas classic, no matter the time of year. He remembered when he and Reggie had been dating. She’d insisted on seeing a Christmas movie on the first Friday of every month, no matter what great new movie might be dropping that weekend. She would go see the new one with him on Saturday, but the first Friday of the month was a holiday movie, no matter what.
He’d quickly discovered that they frequently had much of the movie theater to themselves, and if he positioned them in corner seats, he could get in a lot of kissing and a little over the shirt action. Suddenly Miracle on 34th Street had become a lot more interesting to his seventeen-year-old self.
He was still smiling when Harrison started waving and yelling.
“Reggie! Reggie!”
Toby turned to his left and saw the woman in question also heading for the movie theater. She saw them, too, and changed direction, walked toward them. Toby looked around for a male companion, but she seemed to be alone.
Harrison broke free, rushed toward her and hugged her. Reggie hugged him back, then grinned at Toby.
“Now, what could you two possibly be doing?” she asked.
“We’re off to the movies,” he said, trying not to acknowledge the jolt of pleasure her smile brought him.
“Me, too. I spent the afternoon transplanting Christmas cactus. They’re going to be the favors for my parents’ wedding, so I need to put sixty of them into little custom planters.”
