Eliza had told her that if she wanted to make a move, to make one, but the thought scared the hell out of her. She didn’t make moves on guys. She could be reading Hill all wrong. He could be completely uninterested. Or faking nice. He could be here for a quick hookup. He could be a dangerous guy who was fooling her like she’d been fooled before.
She frowned. That didn’t feel like what was happening. She peeked over at Hill who was setting aside his pad thai while not taking his eyes off the movie. He sipped his margarita and she watched his throat work as he swallowed. The guy was fucking gorgeous.
Hill startled, a barely there tensing, but she’d caught it because she’d been staring. Even without looking at the screen, she knew what had happened. Michael Myers had appeared, complete with sharp, sudden music.
He glanced over, finding her looking. He smirked. “You didn’t see that.”
She smiled. “Not many people are immune to the jump scare. No shame. I still jump sometimes, even when I’ve seen a movie a hundred times and know it’s coming.”
He considered her, his dark lashes making shadows on his cheeks in the blue-gray light of the television. “But you like that feeling?”
“Being scared in a safe way is a rush.” Feeling bold, she reached out and grabbed his wrist, placing her fingers against his pulse point. His arm tensed beneath her touch, but he stayed very still. “Your heart is beating fast. You probably have already gotten a small dose of adrenaline. You’re breathing a little harder. It’s riding a roller coaster without having to leave your house or risk throwing up.”
His heartbeat picked up speed beneath her fingertips, his skin warm and solid under her touch.
She swallowed hard. “It can even make the person you’re watching the movie with more attractive,” she rambled on, her own heartbeat racing. “Studies have shown that your body mistakes the fear response to the movie for attraction to someone you’re with.”
His gaze held hers, the movie rolling on in the background. “Is that right?”
She wet her lips and pulled her hand back, feeling ridiculous but unable to stop talking. “Yeah. The arousal response system kicks in.”
“I guess I’ve been doing movie dates wrong all my life then,” he said with a half smile. “I thought taking dates to a romantic movie was the way to go. I missed the opportunity to appear more attractive.”
She scoffed. “Right. Like you need the help.”
A look of surprise crossed his face, and she instantly wanted to take back the slipup.
“I mean, I’m sure being the tall, dark, and fit firefighter who cooks was a real burden,” she added.
“Right.” Something closed off instantly in his expression as his gaze shifted back to the movie.
She didn’t know what she’d said wrong, but clearly he didn’t want to continue this conversation. She needed to turn back to the movie, focus on why they were here, but her mouth had other ideas. “Did I say something wrong?”
Hill reached for the remote and paused the movie, turning to her with a frown. “What?”
“You were with me and then you weren’t,” she said. “Usually that means I’ve stuck my foot in my mouth again.”
He let out a breath and shook his head. “No, sorry. You didn’t do anything wrong. It’s nothing.”
“Which is code for it’s obviously something,” she said, apparently unable to keep from prodding. “I crossed the friendly line, didn’t I? With what I said? I’m sorry. I ramble. I didn’t mean—”
“I know you didn’t,” he said quickly. “You’ve been clear about what this is—that this isn’t a date. I just needed a second to remind myself of that. My lines got blurred for a minute, but I’m good now. We’re good.”
A whoosh of some unnamed emotion went through her. “Oh.” She watched him watching her, a realization coming over her. “Wait—do you want this to be a date?”
His jaw flexed like he was ten kinds of uncomfortable. “That’s not why I came over. I’m not trying to pull a bait and switch on you. I came over here to hang out with you and watch a movie. No ulterior motives.”
She considered him. “That didn’t exactly answer my question.”
He sighed, weariness on his face. “Because there’s no easy answer to it. It’s more complicated than that.”
She tucked her legs beneath her, turning more toward him. “Try me.”
His throat worked and his gaze met hers. “In some ways, yes, I’d like this to be a date. You’re an interesting, smart, and beautiful woman. I’d be lying if I said there wasn’t attraction on my end. But you’re also my neighbor and tenant and a good bit younger than me. And even if there weren’t those factors in play, I’m in a weird place in my life right now, so I’m not dating. I promise I came here tonight for the friendship and company. This wasn’t some scheme to turn it into something it’s not.”
Her mind spun at all the information. Hill was attracted to her but currently not dating. In a weird place. She could relate. “Wow, well, okay. That wasn’t what I was expecting. I…appreciate your honesty.”
“I’ve made this completely awkward, haven’t I?” He scrubbed a hand through his hair. “I’m really good at doing that these days.”
She smiled, endeared. “I should feel awkward, but for some reason, I think you made me more comfortable. Honesty is my favorite quality in a friend.” She gave him a pointed look. “And, for the record, in the spirit of honesty, I think you’re superhot.”
His eyebrows shot up.
She groaned. “Don’t look so surprised. Have you looked in a mirror? Have you tasted your food? But I bet I could out-weird you in the weird-place zone. So I’m glad we’re on the same page. We’re here to be friends. To watch horror movies. And to possibly boost the ratings on my struggling podcast.”
His lips curved at that. “Beautiful yet so pushy.”
“That’s my tagline.” She searched his gaze. “So we’re cool?”
His shoulders seemed to relax. “We’re cool.”
“All right, back to bloody murder.”
But before she could hit Play, he put his hand on her forearm, stilling her. She looked over at him.
“Thanks,” he said with a little nod.
“For what?”
He gave her arm a gentle squeeze, sending a shimmer of awareness through her, and then released her. “For being pushy. I need that right now. I’ve been too good at saying no to everything and everyone lately.”