“You know, I could get you a few posters for your walls....”
I laughed. “I’ll pass. I happen to be interested in someone I don’t really see as the guy in those posters.”
He hesitated a moment, and then said, “Thank you.”
“See you later,” I said and hung up.
I squinted up at the morning sun and smiled before turning and heading back into the hospital to check on Jessica. She wouldn’t get dehydrated again if I could help it. The whole experience was not something I wanted to repeat.
They released Jessica to leave around lunchtime. She seemed tired and whiny. I couldn’t wait to get her home and go to work. As soon as I deposited her in bed with a large pitcher of ice water and a glass beside her, I headed outside.
* * *
Chapter Nine
When I opened the door, a familiar silver Hummer sat in the drive. Jax stepped out and walked over to meet me.
He smiled sheepishly. “I had the hospital call as soon as they released your mom.”
I smiled and stared into his eyes, which were hidden behind black sunglasses. He wore a New York Giants baseball cap pulled down low on his forehead.
“I see you’re in disguise?”
He grinned and nodded.
I nodded toward the Hummer and laughed. “You should drive a vehicle that doesn’t draw attention if you’re trying to go around undetected.”
He frowned. “What? This is the cheapest thing in the garage.”
I laughed. “So, you’re taking me to work?”
He shook his head. “Nope, we’re going to the movies. You’re off for the rest of the day.”
“You can’t go to the movies.”
He raised his eyebrows. “Wanna bet.”
He opened my car door, took me by the waist, and lifted me into the tank he called cheap. He slid into the driver's side and headed toward the largest movie theater in town.
“Jax, you do realize people are going to recognize you in your disguise if they pay close attention.”
He smiled at me. “I know, but they won’t get a chance.”
I waited for an explanation.
“I’ve been doing this for awhile now, so I know how to hide from fans, trust me.”
I hoped he was right. I would hate for us to get bombarded with crazy teenage fans. He may be used to it, but it wasn’t something I wanted to experience. We pulled around to the back of the theater, and a door swung open. An older man dressed in a black suit stepped outside.
Jax grinned. “I’ll get your door.”
I started to say I could get it, but he put his finger over my mouth and winked.
“I want to get you out.”
I melted in my seat. My door opened, and he picked me up by the waist and set me on the ground.
“Mr. Stone, if you will come this way, we have a theatre closed off just as you requested.”
Jax took my hand. I realized we were walking into the emergency exit of a theatre, and no one but this man knew we were here. I hadn’t thought of this. We walked inside, and Jax waved his hands out toward the stadium seating.
“Take your pick.” He grinned.
I pointed to the middle, and he sighed with relief.
“Perfect! My favorite spot.”
He turned to the man at the door. “All the doors have been secured?” Jax asked.
The man nodded. “Yes, sir, no one can enter.”
Jax handed the man what I assumed must be money. Jax turned, took my hand, and we went to our seats.
“What are we watching?” I asked as the man who let us in wheeled in a cart with two popcorns, two drinks, two nachos and cheese, and one of every candy available in the concessions stand.
I frowned at Jax. “Did you invite an army?”
He laughed and took the drinks and put them in our cup holders. “No, but movies make me hungry, and I didn’t know what you wanted.”
“Popcorn.”
He reached for a box, handed it to me, and grabbed the other one. “You asked what we were seeing.”
I nodded and put a handful of popcorn in my mouth.
“Night Horse,” he replied.
I’d wanted to see this after seeing the previews on television the other night. And then it hit me. “But Night Horse isn’t playing yet. It won’t be in theaters until next Friday.”
He grinned at me and winked. “For everyone else, but for you and me, it is about to play right now.”
As if on cue, the lights faded, the big screen widened, and the movie began. When I realized we were not going to have to sit through credits, I started to say something and thought against it. Today was the first day I really felt like I was dating someone from another world. Before, Jax had been a guy, a regular guy, whom I could talk to. Today, he became the rock star. It bothered me. I glanced over at his face and saw the boy who sang ‘Wanted Dead or Alive’ on a guitar he had begged for and worn out. A small smile touched his lips.
I blushed, and he leaned down to whisper in my ear. “If you keep looking at me like that, I’m going to have a harder time staying focused on this movie than I am already.”
I frowned. “Why are you having a hard time?”
He grinned wickedly and set his popcorn down before taking my hands. “Because I’m with a beautiful girl who completely fascinates me, and we are in a dark room all alone, and all I want to do is sit and stare at her, but I know if I do, I won’t be able to keep myself from kissing her very perfect, very tempting, lips.”
I swallowed hard, and my heart pounded in my chest. Suddenly, the dark around us seemed to close in, and a force neither of us seemed to be able to control kept our eyes locked. Jax’s hand slipped out of mine, slid behind my neck, and he leaned in. The lips of the only boy I would ever love touched mine, and I forgot where we were and everything else around us. His other hand slipped behind my head, and he cradled it as he softly kissed me. His tongue touched my bottom lip, and I opened cautiously, knowing it was what he wanted. The moment his tongue slid into my mouth, a low moan escape my throat, and his hands pulled my head closer. Soon, my hands wound their way behind his neck and tangled in his hair. It seemed like I was falling, but I didn’t care. I held onto him and let my tongue explore. The moment my tongue touched his, he groaned, released me, and sat back, putting distance between us. I worried I had done something wrong, and I froze, watching him, not sure what to say.
He rubbed his face with a hand and gave me with the crooked grin I loved. “I’m sorry, but, wow, I, uh, wasn’t...I mean I knew it would be good, but, wow, Sadie, you taste amazing.”