Page 158 of Illusory

“Don’t be ridiculous. Of course it is.”

“Dominic!”

“I jest,” he said with a mischievous smile, brushing the back of his knuckles against my cheek. My body instantly warmed despite the cool air around us. “In any event, I’d still like to get some of those cherries for you.”

“Well, I do love cherries.” I paused, scrutinizing him as he walked to his car and opened the passenger door for me. “You still haven’t told me where we’re going.”

“I’m taking you to the movies, angel.”

“The movies?” A grin spread across my face at the thought of Dominic sitting in a theater, watching a film with me. “Wait. But I thought it was too dangerous?”

“Fret not, love. I’ve already taken every precaution imaginable.”

Giving him a final look over, I walked over to the open door and then climbed into his car. I had no idea what he had planned, but I couldn’t wait to find out.

52. THE EDGE OF FOREVER

When Dominic had said we were going to the movies, I’d expected a cozy back row seat at the local theatre with some popcorn and a couple of oversized drinks, but what I got instead was nothing short of magic.

Stepping out of his black Audi, my eyes narrowed as I took in the sprawling drive-in movie theater parking lot that stretched out beneath the night sky as far as my eyes could see. The lot was void of the usual crowd of vehicles and movie-goers and was completely empty other than the two of us.

Hundreds of twinkling string lights draped along the speaker poles, casting a soft, enchanting glow across the lot, leading all the way up to the large white screen that reached halfway up to the sky. Shivers broke out over my skin as I fought the urge to pinch myself, certain that I was somehow dreaming this.

“Happy birthday, angel,” murmured Dominic, his cool breath tickling my ear as he came up behind me.

“How?” I asked, my voice barely above a whisper as I turned around to face him. “Where is everyone else?”

A small smile played at the corners of his lips. “It’s just going to be the two of us for tonight. I hope that won’t be a problem,” he added softly, taking my hand in his and knowing damn well that it wouldn’t be.

“Justus?” I couldn’t have held back my smile even if I had tried. “How did you do this?”

“There isn’t much money cannot buy, and even then, compulsion works just as swiftly.”

“You compelled everyone away?” I asked, my voice filled with disbelief.

“Of course not.” His dark eyes glinted under the moonlight as another cunning smile quirked his lips up. “I compelledsomeof them to guard the perimeter as well.”

I wasn’t sure if I was supposed to be mad about that part, but I was too busy being head over heels in love with him. “You didn’t have to do all this, Dominic. We could have watched a movie at home.”

“We could have,” he agreed with a slight nod. “But where would the fun be in that?” He brushed a loose strand of hair away from my eyes as the wind continued to whip out at it. “I know you haven’t been able to do much of anything as of late, and while it isn’t as good as a trip to the Spirit Realm, I wanted to do something special for you, if only to give you a night out.”

I felt tears prick at the corners of my eyes as I squeezed his hand, overwhelmed by the thoughtfulness of his gift. “This is incredible. I can’t believe you did all this for me.”

He clicked his tongue in mock disapproval. “You ought to know by now that there isn’t anything I wouldn’t do for you, angel,” he said tenderly, and my heart raced inside my chest because Ididknow. I knew he meant those words with every fiber of his being and had shown me that time after time. “Shall we watch the movie?” he asked as he picked up my hand again and began walking us toward the center of thealmostempty parking lot.

I squinted my eyes, trying to make out the scene in the distance.

White curtains billowed around what looked like an oasis set up in the center of the open space. String lights coiled around the posts like stars pulled from the sky and lanterns lined the path like a walkway all the way up to the purple velvet couches. A silver tray sat invitingly on the corner of the oversized couch with a bottle of champagne and two crystalflutes. Chocolate covered strawberries. Caramel popcorn. Plush white blankets.

Breathless, I pulled back, needing a moment to stop and take in all the details—all the trouble he’d gone through to get everything set up just right. No one had ever done anything like that for me in my entire life and I wasn’t even sure how to digest it.

“I don’t even know what to say,” I whispered, awestruck. This entire day had been one dream come true after another. It was almost too much for my poor little heart to handle. “I’m literally speechless.”

“Literally?” he queried smugly.

I smacked him in the chest and laughed. “You know what I mean.”

“Well, that’s the beauty of going to the movies, love. You don’t have to say anything at all,” he reminded as he held my hand up and helped me climb onto the massive velvet couch and then joined me. The giant screen lit up in the distance just as we snuggled back against the luxurious pillows.

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