Page 57 of Slow Burn
Maddie grabbed the bag of popcorn and opened it. After popping a few into her mouth, she turned to me and grinned. "Only the best movie ever."
My brow climbed even higher. "Which is?"
"Are you kidding?" Her eyes grew wide. "You've seriously never watched this?"
My gaze flicked to the TV where big, bright pink letters scribbled across the screen informed me the film was titledDirty Dancing. Fitting, considering the first three minutes resembled some kind of foreplay.
"Nope, can honestly say I have not."
My face must've given away my reservations because Maddie burst out laughing. She reached over Sheldon and patted my thigh. "It's not that bad, I promise."
I focused on her delicate fingers splayed across my leg. "If you say so."
"All right." She patted my leg once more before removing her hand. "Tell you what, if by the end you still hate it, I'll watch whatever you want me to watch."
My gaze sought hers out. "Anything?"
"Yup, anything."
I narrowed my eyes and thought of the one movie my sister hated. Not because it was bad, but the ending was so unexpected. I, of course, thought it was genius. "EvenBraveheart?"
Maddie wrinkled her nose and I had the urge to kiss the tip of it. "Of all the movies in the worldthat'sthe one you pick."
I tapped my chin and pretended to think. "How about300orGladiator?" Her groan told me she'd seen both and most likely didn't want to again.
She threw another piece of popcorn into her mouth and after chewing and swallowing it down, she said, "Luckily I don't have to decide until this one is done."
"Only if I like it," I quipped.
She shot me a self-assured grin. "Oh, you'llloveit."
"That so?"
"Yes! Now shh and watch the movie."
"So damn bossy," I muttered, giving my attention to the screen. For all of ten minutes. I'd wanted to concentrate on what was happening on the television, but as if it had a mind of its own, my gaze kept flicking to Maddie. Not only did she know the movie word for word but the smile playing on her lips never wavered.
"This is such a good part," she said quietly, forcing me to pay attention to what was happening.
The girl made some comment about carrying a watermelon that Maddie found absolutely hilarious. I had to wonder, as the heroine stared at the hero of the story, if I looked like that whenever my gaze followed Maddie.
Could she see the amazement, the wonder, the want on my face?
When the pair finally made it to the dancefloor together, it was my turn to chuckle because that girl's stiffness in her hips had nothing on mine. "I'd probablybreak something if I tried that," I muttered, pointing at the screen.
I barely had time to blink before Maddie was up on her feet, pulling me right along with her. Her hands landed on my hips and I sucked in a sharp breath.
She was manhandling me; trying to rotate my hips first left then right while I thought of ice creams and cold showers.
"You're stiff as a board," Maddie exclaimed.Yeah, no kidding. "You have to loosen up. Like this…"
Every rational thought left my body the instant she took my hands and set them on her hips. Beneath my palms, I could feel the warmth of her skin seep through the soft layers of her clothing.
I wanted to grip her tighter and pull her body flush against mine. I needed it almost as much as I needed my next breath.
"Shit. Maddie…wait." I took a big step backward; almost falling over the chaise when the back of my legs hit the couch.
"What's the matter?" She moved forward, but I stopped her with a jerky shake of my head. The confused look on her beautiful face nearly killing me.
