Least Likely To Wed

“You’re supposed to act like you like my company,” he reminded her. “No one’s going to believe that if you keep acting like I have the plague.”

“I’m not acting like that!” she exclaimed even as she pulled back even more.

“Then why are you moving farther away?” he demanded.

“Because you’re crowding me!” she snapped.

Exasperated, he said, “Did you think we could convince anyone by standing five feet apart? People who are attracted to each other touch!”

“But—” she began in protest. She stopped as a couple walked by, then stopped and came back.

“Pete!” the man exclaimed, sticking out his hand to shake. “I didn’t see you for a minute. I thought you’d be with—”

The woman with him shoved her elbow into his ribs, stopping his words.

Pete knew his friend Mike was going to say Sheila. Her brassy blond hair drew the eye.

He nodded to the man’s wife. “Hi, Marge. Do you know Kelly Hampton? Kelly, this is Mike and Marge Poston. They have a place south of ours.”

“Oh, you’re partners with Lindsay at Oklahoma Chic, aren’t you? I’ve been hearing wonderful things about the store, even though I haven’t been in yet.”

Kelly thanked her for the compliment and started a conversation about fashion, leaving the men to talk alone.

“Sorry, Pete,” Mike said. “I didn’t mean to say the wrong thing. Have you and Sheila broken up? I heard you were pretty serious.”

“You probably heard that from Sheila. I think she’s ready to marry. That ticking-clock thing. But I’m a bachelor and I’m not wanting to change that fact.”

The women had stopped talking and were looking at him.

Marge turned back to Kelly. “I hope you realize you’re with a determined bachelor. I’ve overheard him say he never wanted kids, didn’t I, Pete?”

Kelly gave a determined smile. “We’re just seeing a movie tonight, not planning a lifetime.”

An awkward silence fell. Finally the couple said goodbye and got in line behind several other couples.

Mary leaned forward. “You don’t want any children?”

Pete hadn’t realized Mary and Rafe had overheard their conversation. “Uh, Mary, I’m a bachelor.”

“But—” Mary began.

“Mom, remember what we’re doing,” Kelly said softly. “We’re pretending, remember?”

“I know, but it seems such a shame.”

“Yeah,” Rafe agreed.

Pete frowned at his friend. What was wrong with everyone? The whole point of the evening was to keep from falling into that trap.

“Sir, how many?”

He’d been slowly moving in the line, but he hadn’t realized he’d reached the box office window. He turned around and asked for two tickets.

“What about Mom and Rafe?” Kelly asked.

“Rafe said he’d pay for him and Mary.”

“But they’re doing you a favor. You should—”

“Insult a man’s pride?” he growled at her. Then he took the tickets he’d just bought and gently pushed her ahead of him into the theater.

“What do you mean?” she whispered.

“Rafe pays his own way, and Mary’s, too, tonight. Popcorn?”

She studied him with those big blue eyes. “Can I pay for my own?”

He shook his head. “No. I have a little pride, too.”

“Then no, thank you,” she said and turned to see if Mary and Rafe were inside yet.

Pete stared at her in irritation. Rafe whispered to Mary as they came through the door. Mary moved to Kelly’s side and Rafe headed for the refreshments counter. Pete followed him.

“I thought you’d be ahead of me,” Rafe said.

“My date is being difficult.”

“You two seemed a little cozy in line.”

“I’m glad you thought so. I think we got the word out, anyway. Mike Poston’s wife is friends with Sheila.”

After Rafe got a bucket of popcorn and two drinks, Pete ordered the same and they returned to the women. Kelly took the drink he handed her with a brief thankyou, which was better than Pete had expected. Then she turned and followed Rafe and Mary into the darkened theater.

Once they were seated, the previews started. In the darkness, Pete put the popcorn between him and Kelly and leaned over to whisper, “I can’t eat all this by myself.”

Even in the darkness, he knew those big blue eyes were staring at him, but he kept his gaze on the screen. Without comment she took a few kernels of corn. As if he’d crossed a big bridge, he relaxed in his chair and slid his arm around the back of her chair.

“That’s not necessary,” she whispered, leaning toward him.

Her perfume filled his nostrils and he wanted to taste her. But he knew better than to get that carried away. However, he put his lips to her ear and whispered, “I’m not touching. It just looks that way.”

She never looked at him, but she shifted slightly to create a little more distance between them. Stubborn woman, he thought.

When the feature film came on, he realized it was science fiction, not his favorite type of movie. With his eyes more adjusted to the dark, he checked out the people around them, recognizing several of Sheila’s friends.

By the time the movie ended, he was much more interested in Kelly than the Hollywood beauty on the screen. She seemed plastic compared to Kelly’s natural beauty. His arm had slipped gradually to rest on her shoulders. Once, she’d even cringed when the monsters seemed to jump off the screen toward them. He’d taken the opportunity to pull her close, her right breast pressing into his chest.

However, she recovered all too quickly.