“Tempting.” And it was… “But I think I’ll go make dinner arrangements. Any requests? You can have anything you’d like—even the finest restaurants in the area deliver.”
She wiggled onto her knees, leaning her hands on the edge of the tub as she pressed her lips to his for a brief, flirtatious kiss. “You’re going to think it’s silly.”
“Try me.”
Lillie bestowed another of those delicately sweet kisses on him before rocking back out of reach. “Pizza? Something with a kick?”
He could do that. “One pizza with a kick, coming right up.” He took a final appreciative glance before leaving her, the singing starting up as if the bluebird of happiness had invaded his suite.
She wasn’t singing when she joined him, but another of his oversized plain white shirts had found its way from his closet onto her petite form. He didn’t mind at all. They looked better on her than they did on him.
Jim held out a hand, and she joined him, curling her fingers around his and curling her body tight as well. “Did you check the movies?” He led her to the couch and seated her, passing over the remote control. “Let me get us something to drink, and you’re in charge of this.”
Lillie gave an exaggerated gasp of disbelief. “Not the remote control. Really? Really?”
She was almost as bad as Damon. “Did you want to pick the movie tonight or did you want me?”
She cradled the remote to her chest and rocked slightly. “I will cherish it forever.”
“You’ve never even watched TV with me. What makes you think I’m a remote-control hog?”
“You’re a guy.”
“Women hog the controls as well.”
A low clicking noise escaped her. “Statistical data would suggest that in nine out of ten cases of remote control obnoxia, the overwhelming majority of sufferers are male.”
She tossed him a brilliant smile and turned to the TV, clicking the unit on then tucking the remote into her cleavage.
“If that’s where the controls are going to be stored, I can see exactly why men want to have their hands on them.”
Too much laughter followed, until Jim’s cheeks damn near hurt from all the smiling. She found them a show to watch. The pizza arrived. The next three hours passed in the blink of an eye. Jim couldn’t remember having as much fun without sex involved in a long time.
She pointed out plot holes in the movie, just like Jim always got in hell for doing with Damon. At one point, the two of them were so busy discussing what exactly had jumped the shark in the show, they had to rewind to get up to speed with the rest of the action.
He’d ordered three pizzas, pleased to see she had no qualms about eating heartily. Every time she opened the box for herself, she picked up a new slice for him and laid it on his plate. She also went to his fridge and rummaged around until she found something green and leafy. That went on his plate as well, and when he made a face, she tapped her foot and refused to give him any more pizza until he’d eaten his veggies.
She blew bubbles in her soda. Tickled him to make him move and give her more room on the couch.
Jim Halcyon wasn’t sure what was happening, but he liked it.
The movie time slipped into talking time, the credits rolling past unobserved as they discussed the cinematography. She was smart and intelligent, and made him think hard when she pointed out inequalities in the casting that he’d completely missed.
They moved in front of the windows, the temperatures having dropped too low to make sitting on the balcony comfortable for Lillie in only his shirt. And no way would he suggest she put on any more clothes.
They could still see the fountain display. She curled up affectionately at his side in the manner he’d grown to crave. Such an honest sensation, all of her shy trepidation evaporated as he’d earned her trust.
“I think my mom would enjoy the fountain,” Lillie shared, “but there’s no way my dad would ever come to Vegas.”
Something personal.
Very personal, talking about family, and Jim worried he might push too far but he needed to take the chance. “He doesn’t like gambling?”
“He doesn’t like…” She frowned, this time not as if she was trying to keep secrets, but as if she was trying to figure out the best way to explain. “Dad likes routine, and being at home. And my mom does too, but she’s more willing to try new things than him. She was the one who moved to be with him. He’s lived his whole life in the same community.”
Typical bear situation. His parents had dealt with the same thing, but then discovered they both liked traveling. Liked each other—which didn’t always happen.
Jim stroked her fingers where they lay on his thigh. “Are they happy?”
She nodded. “Pretty much. Their life is nothing dazzling or thrilling, but you know—it’s not boring, either. It’s what they chose, and because of that, yeah, I guess they are happy.”