She rolled a shoulder. “What’s it about?”
“You’ve never seen it?”
“Told you, I’ve never been a TV person. I just picked it because the blurb said he’s an ex–hit man and it was action-packed. Sounded good, you know? Better than some corny comedy or sugary romance nonsense.”
For several reasons, her comments saddened him. “Will it bother you that there’s violence? Mostly John Wick kicking ass and taking names, but—”
“For real?” she asked with enthusiasm. “Count me in.”
Throughout the movie, Jodi’s attention stayed glued to the screen.
Hunter spent most of his time watching her. It was endearing, to see her enjoying something so simple, something that most people took for granted. When it ended, he asked, “How about a horror movie, or will that bother you?”
“Pfft, no.” She glanced toward the windows. “But it’s getting late.”
Knowing how she’d react to a goad, he said, “Okay, Grandma.”
“Hey!” She playfully shoved his shoulder and, taking up the challenge, settled back against the couch and even crossed her bare feet on his table. “You choose something this time.”
Because she’d taken such obvious enjoyment in the fight scenes, he put on the newest version of The Invisible Man. “This one’s been done a few times, but the remake is great. Later, you can go through my personal library to see if anything else looks good to you. If you don’t like it, just say so and we’ll pick something else.”
Forty-five minutes into the movie, Hunter wasn’t at all surprised that she loved it. There were times she went utterly still, eyes opened wide, and other times that she jumped in surprise. Once she murmured, “Oh, man,” with feeling, making him smile.
When the action lagged for a bit, he took Turbo out for a bathroom break, then grabbed a few packaged cookies and two cups of milk. She accepted both with a hushed, “Thanks,” and got right back to the movie.
Sitting all cozy on the couch with Jodi, sharing snacks and smiling at some of her over-the-top reactions, he knew this would be a memory he’d hold on to forever, even while he hoped to make it a regular occasion.
It was during the third movie, with the house dark and Turbo snoring, that Jodi started to yawn. “We might have to put this one on hold. Much as I’ve enjoyed it, I’m getting too sleepy just sitting here in the dark.”
Hunter considered the situation, but why not? “If you doze off, I won’t mind.”
Appalled, she stared at him and asked, “Here?” as if he’d suggested she sleep on a hot stove.
“Why not? Maybe you’ll actually get some rest. Look at Turbo. He knows he’s safe.” The dog sprawled on his back, paws in the air, junk on display again and his tongue lolling out.
“He looks like someone drugged him.”
Staring hard at her, Hunter tried to see some signs of association. Had she ever been drugged? But no, she half smiled, as if amused, so clearly just a humorous observation. “He has no modesty, that’s for sure.”
Jodi heaved a sigh. “If I’m sleeping, what will you do?”
“Nothing pervy, I promise.”
Her slim brows climbed high. “Describe pervy.”
What would be her first concern? Since he couldn’t know for certain, he tried to cover the bases. “I won’t check you out—even if I’m tempted. I can’t swear I won’t look at you at all, but I’ll keep it fleeting. I’ll do my best to just watch the movie and not disturb you.”
After all that, still looking slumberous but also a little more aware, Jodi asked, “Why would you check me out?”
Not the reaction he’d expected.
It was chancy, but he reached out to finger a lock of loose hair, now dry and a little tangled, testing its silky texture before tucking it behind her small ear. He let his fingertips graze her warm cheek. “I get that you’re unaware of it, but as my brother said, you’re extremely cute—and no, don’t snort. You might disturb Turbo.”
She subsided, her mouth now twisted to the side.
“You have beautiful features, Jodi.”
She continued to watch him, her expression doubting.
“Small, proud nose. High, smooth cheekbones. I especially like your eyes.” That caused her to blink and briefly look away, but not for long.
As if she couldn’t help herself, her gaze came back to his. “Why my eyes?”
“They’re like...sunshine.”
Humor flickered over her lips. “Poetic.”
Hunter ignored that. “Your big personality is also a draw.” He shifted, trying to find the right words to explain. “On a lot of levels, you appeal to me, but...” He waited, and when she held silent, he continued, “I would never, under any circumstances, do anything to you that you didn’t want me to do.”
Her attention strayed from his eyes to his mouth. “What would you want to do?”
Such a loaded question, and there were a hundred ways he could answer. “Right now? I’d really like to kiss you.”
Alarm shot her gaze back to his, where it locked on with wariness, defiance and...something more?
His heart beat a little harder, but he kept his tone gentle when he said, “Remember, I wouldn’t. Not unless you made it clear that you wanted me to.”
“I would never.”
“Never is a really long time.”
She considered that. “Men don’t really want me.”
Taking that as another opening to something important, Hunter asked, “Why wouldn’t they?”
She turned to face the TV, and Hunter didn’t know if that was a refusal to answer, or a way of buying time. She surprised him when she spoke softly.
“I’ve been seen as a nuisance by parents who weren’t really cut out to parent. Then as property by a psycho guy who didn’t see me as a real person. And I’ve been a charity case that...that my family wanted to help so I could survive. None of that is what you’re talking about.”
“No, it’s not.” Hunter badly wanted to touch her, but she had her arms crossed and strain kept her face stiff. “The first, I can’t speak for that. If you tell me it’s so, I believe you and I hate that you went through that. Parents should always take care of their children.”
“Like your mom and dad do with you?”
“Yes.” He brushed his knuckles along her upper arm, down to her elbow, back again. It pleased him when her muscles loosened and her posture relaxed. “The last, though, I think you’re wrong about your family. I heard them on the phone with you, remember? That wasn’t pity.”