“He’s a cousin of somebody or other,” she says with a frown. “I don’t think he has an official title.”
“Well, I’d say we all made out like bandits,” Hannah says as she slips the scarf Willa got her around her neck. “And I’m just grateful that y’all include me.”
Our circle isn’t big, but it’s tight.
“What do you think of my present?” Willa asks while hiding a laugh behind her hand, and I glance over at the life-sized cutout of Christian Wolfe sitting next to me. He’s in a tux, but the tie is undone, along with his shirt. We can see his spectacular chest and abs.
It’s actually kind of hot.
And funny as hell.
“He’s hot,” Grace says with a sigh. “No disrespect intended.”
I laugh and drag my hand down his flat, cold stomach. “It’s better doing this in person.”
“Now you’re just bragging,” Grace replies, making us all laugh.
“Is he nice to you?” Hannah asks as she pours popcorn kernels in the old-fashioned popper of Grace’s.
“Of course, he is. I wouldn’t have talked to him after that first conversation if he was a dick. He’d be on his own.”
“And the sex,” Willa says, pushing her long, dark hair over her shoulder. “On a scale of meh to what the fuck was that?”
I bust out laughing and throw a Milk Dud at her, but she isn’t deterred.
“Seriously,” Hannah says. “We need to know.”
“So, you know the man can dance,” I begin, and they all nod, staring at me as if I’m about to tell them the secrets of the universe.
And maybe I am. The girl secrets, anyway.
“He can move his body in ways that just defy comprehension. And I’m not talking about being flexible or weird here. Like, he constantly hears a beat in his head and he moves with it all the time. Whether he’s walking or cooking or making love to me, it’s just effortless.”
“Wow,” Grace breathes, rubbing her round belly. “That made the baby kick.”
“And I won’t deny that he’s hot. I mean, look at him.”
“I have to interject here and just say,” Willa says, “that the two of you together is just ridiculously beautiful. It’s kind of not fair to those of us who are just average-looking.”
“Shut up.” I roll my eyes, but they all nod their heads in unison.
“I know you don’t love that people only see your face,” Willa adds. “And you know that’s not all we see. We love you, inside and out. But I just want to remind you that he’s not the only hot one in this relationship.”
I eat a Dud and ponder what she’s saying. “I appreciate that. You’re sweet.”
“I can’t wait to see you walk a red carpet together,” Grace says and gives an excited dance.
“There are no plans for that.” I grimace and set my Milk Duds aside.
“Are there plans at all?” Hannah asks.
“The plan is to enjoy him for the next twelve or so days, and then we’ll see. But we said the L word yesterday.”
“What?” Grace screeches, then flings her arms around me and hugs me tight. “Oh my God, that’s so great.”
Willa holds my gaze from across the room and sips her wine. She looks happy for me and apprehensive at the same time.
And I get it. So, I offer her a small shrug.
“Now, we have one more surprise for you,” Hannah says as she begins to hand out fresh popcorn to the three of us. “We’re doing movie night like we said.”
“But it’s all Christian Wolfe movies,” Grace says with a laugh as we walk into the theater. There are ten massive leather recliners and two loveseats in front of a giant screen. Vintage movie posters line the walls.
“Christian would love this room,” I murmur as I take a seat in the middle row, settling in with my goodies.
“He’s here,” Willa says, stationing the cardboard cutout at the end of my row, facing me.
“Why does he have to watch me? It’s creepy.”
“Good point.” She turns him so he’s facing the screen. “There. Now he can watch the movie, too.”
Grace gets the movie queued up, the lights dim, and soon, Christian comes on the screen, working a crime scene.
His hair is darker in this role. He’s clean-shaven like he was the day he arrived not that long ago. He’s since let his stubble grow.
I like it both ways.
There’s action, suspense, and even some romance.
“Oh, boy, look away,” Hannah says, shoveling popcorn into her mouth. “Your man’s gonna kiss that floozy.”
“We’re rooting for her,” I remind her with a laugh.
But then his lips are on her, his hands gripping her shoulders the way he sometimes grips mine, and I tip my head to the side, studying it.
It’s just a kiss between two fictional characters. No big deal. They’re interrupted by something sinister, and the movie progresses with more action.
About an hour later, the mood of the film changes, and it becomes much sexier.