Page 81 of Her Marine
“While I enjoyed all your thoughtful deliveries today, this one is my favorite.”
Killian chuckled. “I thought it would be.” He locked the door before picking up his bag, and Journee led him into her bedroom.
“I thought you had to work today.”
“I did,” he responded. “But I left early, and I took tomorrow off. So, I’m yours for two and a half days until I fly out Sunday afternoon.”
“I like the sound of that,” Journee responded. “Although I wished you would have told me. I sent your gift, and it’s supposed to be delivered tomorrow.”
“Is it something that will go bad if it isn’t put away? If so, I’ll have Ziggy pick it up.”
“No, it’s not time-sensitive. I just wanted you to have it, but it’s fine.”
Killian nodded and placed his bag by her closet door after taking out his toiletry bag. “I’m going to shower. You can tell me more about how you want this dessert when I get out.”
Journee bit her bottom lip as she watched him walk into her bathroom. Picking up her phone from her bedside table, she texted Abbie, letting her know they were going to be closed tomorrow. She knew her assistant wouldn’t object to a three-day weekend, and Journee had the distinct feeling she would need the day to recuperate.
«-•-•-•-•-•-•-»
“What do you think of this one?”
Killian turned his attention to the necklace Journee was holding up. “It’s nice,” he responded.
“You’ve said that about everything I’ve shown you,” she sighed.
“Because everything you’ve shown me has been nice.”
“You’re bored,” she countered.
“I’m not bored, Tigress. I honestly think they’re all nice, and whichever ones you choose for Kaydence and Talia’s birthdays, they’ll like.”
Killian wasn’t sure why she thought he was bored. He’d agreed to come with her to look for something for the two women’s birthday while they killed time before the movie they would see started. She also should have known by now that he wouldn’t agree to do anything he didn’t want to. However, he realized that his trying to allow her to choose a gift on her own without his input may have caused her to think so, and that hadn’t been his intent.
Walking up behind her, Killian wrapped his arms around her waist. “I think you should get Kaydence the Lovebirds piece since she and Axel are newlyweds, and you can get the first painting you picked up for Talia. I think it fits her, and I think she’d like it.”
“Yeah, I think you’re right. Thank you,” Journee responded.
Killian placed a kiss below her ear. “You don’t need to thank me.”
He released her, allowing her to pick up the birthday gift for Kaydence before they returned to where they’d seen the painting. Killian grabbed it and asked if she wanted to look at anything else while they were there. They still had over half an hour until their movie started. She replied no, and they went to the front to check out.
After placing the items in the trunk of her car, Killian took her hand in his, and they walked to the theater, which was located in the shopping center a short walk from the store they were leaving. He’d already purchased their tickets, and they went to the concession stand once they entered.
They got a large popcorn to share and drinks before going to the movie room after showing the attendant their tickets. Killian wasn’t sure what the movie they were seeing was about. It was something he’d remember Journee saying she wanted to see in passing last week when it’d come out. So, he figured if she hadn’t gone by the time he surprised her with a visit, he’d watch it with her.
When the lights went out, Journee pulled up the armrest between them. The previews came and went, and when the movie started, the opening scene consisted of someone getting their head cut off with an axe; he wasn’t surprised. He honestly should have known that it would be a horror movie. It hadn’t taken him long to realize those were Journee’s favorites.
Halfway through the movie, when the main character fell twice while running, Killian had to keep himself from chuckling at Journee’s mumbled, “If you don’t get your stupid ass up.”
When the movie ended, he could say he hadn’t seen the ending coming. The only person to survive was the killer, which did not often happen in horror movies, so it was a nice twist.
Once they were in the car headed to get dinner, Journee turned her attention to him.
“Did you like the movie?”
Killian nodded. “It was pretty good. The ending wasn’t predictable.”
“That was my favorite part. I liked that the killer survived, as he should have because if you’re going to act stupid and go somewhere you know people have been coming up missing just to see if it’s true, you deserve to die.”
