LITMIR.BIZ

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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.

      When the lights came on, he leaned down and brushed her lips with his in a brief kiss, followed by whispering in her ear, “We’re being watched.”

      She said nothing and Pete prayed no one managed to see the glare she sent him. He caught her hand in his. She tried to pull away, but she did resist discreetly. He held her fast.

      Several more couples stopped and chatted on the way out, and Pete figured he was getting his money’s worth. He decided it wouldn’t hurt to lay it on thick.

      “How about we stop at the ice-cream shop? Summer will be here before too long and I’m in the mood for a malt.”

      Mary smiled. “Oh, that would be—I mean, what do you think, Kelly?”

      How could Kelly refuse another half hour, knowing Pete’s suggestion had put the sparkle in her mother’s eyes. But she wanted to. She felt he’d overstepped his bounds with that kiss. The one she liked too much. “A malt would be fun, if you have the time,” she said, looking at Pete.

      She knew why he’d suggested it. The front of the shop was all windows. Anyone arriving for the late show would see them. But the sooner Sheila knew about them, the less time she’d be involved in this charade.

      Once seated with the promised malts in front of them, silence fell. Kelly tried to think of a subject that would engage both Rafe and Mary.

      “Drew remembered seeing the horses when we visited last Sunday, Rafe.”

      “He sure liked them. Gil’s real good with kids,” Rafe responded.

      “I think you’d be good with kids, too, Pete, if you’d try,” Mary said, leaning forward.

      “I doubt it,” he said. Then he asked Rafe about his herd.

      Before Rafe could answer, Mary tried again. “But children are so wonderful. Drew is an absolute delight.”

      “No, thanks,” Pete replied, more bluntly this time.

      “But you haven’t—” Mary pushed.

      Kelly tried to avert an ugly scene, but Pete was faster than she was.

      “I already have a mother to nag on me about grand-kids,” he said fiercely. “I sure don’t need another one.”

      Even Pete himself seemed appalled about his rudeness. Kelly supposed he’d opened his mouth to apologize, but she didn’t wait to find out. She pulled her mother from her chair and walked out of the ice-cream parlor.

      “I’m so sorry, Kelly,” Mary apologized, tears in her eyes.

      Kelly just kept walking. One of the few cabs in town was waiting at the movie theater, hoping to pick up a fare. Kelly opened the door and put her mother inside, following her as she gave the driver their address.

      By the time the taxi started moving, Mary was sobbing. Kelly put her arms around her mother. “It’s all right, Mom.”

      “But I’ve ruined everything!”

      “Mom, there was nothing to ruin. It doesn’t matter whether or not Pete likes children. It was all a pretense.”

      “But Lindsay said maybe you’d hit it off and—”

      “I’m going to kill Lindsay,” Kelly muttered. Her best friend had obviously convinced her mother this evening was a possible romantic moment for Kelly.

      “No, I don’t want to cause more problems!” Mary exclaimed.

      Kelly sighed. “Don’t worry, Mom. I didn’t mean it. Everything’s fine. But you have to promise you’ll never try to persuade Pete he wants children ever again.”

      “I promise,” Mary said, still weepy.

      Pete was stunned by Kelly’s reaction. He knew he hadn’t been nice, but he’d been tense. And didn’t the woman understand the whole purpose of the evening? It certainly wasn’t to sell him on the idea of marrying and having a family.

      He realized immediately he wasn’t going to get any sympathy from Rafe, even before he spoke.

      “What’d you go and do that for?” Rafe demanded. “I think Mary was crying. Come on, let’s go after them.”

      Before Rafe could get to his feet, Pete stopped him. “It won’t do any good, Rafe. I’m sorry I was rude, but Kelly would hardly talk to me before I opened my mouth. Now she’ll ignore me, or pull a gun on me.”

      “I reckon you’re right, but we should make sure they get home safely. They got in the taxi, and I’ve heard old Lenny takes a few nips of whiskey while he waits for a customer.” He stood, waiting for Pete to join him.

      Pete got up and followed Rafe out the door. “I’m sorry if I ruined your evening, Rafe. You and Mary seemed to be enjoying yourselves.”

      “You think she was having a good time?” Rafe asked anxiously, making Pete feel even worse.

      “Yeah, I think so.”

      “She’s

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