The restaurant is relatively slow for a Friday night. The owners know Luke, so they escort us to a private booth near the back where we won’t be noticed.
After chips and salsa have been delivered, and we’ve all ordered, we sit back to sip margaritas and get to know Nate.
“So, Nate, what is it that you do?”
Luke asks.
“I work at the same investment firm as Julianne,” he responds and smiles down at Jules.
My eyebrows climb into my hairline and I meet Jules’ gaze with my own.
Julianne? No one calls her that.
Jules narrows her eyes at me, telepathically telling me to shut up.
“How long have you been doing that?”
Luke asks, oblivious to our silent conversation.
“About eight years.”
We make small talk for the better part of our meal. Nate is polite, attentive, and clearly completely taken with Jules.
And it’s completely mutual.
Luke lays his hand on my thigh and squeezes and I link my fingers through his.
“Do you sail?” Nate asks out of the blue.
“I’ve been a few times, but I haven’t in a while. You?”
“Yes, actually, I have a catamaran docked in Seattle. Would you two like to join us one afternoon for a tour around the Sound?”
Luke looks down at me to get my take and I nod and smile, catching Jules’
slight nod.
“Sounds fun.”
The check arrives but I pluck it off the table before anyone else can.
“You’re not paying for this.” Luke digs for his wallet but I hold the check away from him.
“Yes, I am. We’re celebrating your movie premiere, so I get to pay.”
“Fuck no, give me that check.”
“Mine.” I hold it against my chest as I pull my card out of my wallet.
“Goddamn it, Nat…”
I pull his face down to mine and kiss him long and slow. When I pull back we’re both out of breath. “Let me do this. I’m proud of you, damn it.”
“I can’t argue with you when you do that.” He mutters and looks disgusted, but I see the gleam of humor in his impossibly blue eyes and I smile smugly as I pass the check and my card to the waitress.
Nate watches our exchange with curiosity and then breaks out in a wide grin.
“Dude, you’ve got it bad.” He says to Luke.
“You have no idea,” Luke grumbles.
Chapter Twenty-Six
“Four for Rough Shot, please.” I pass my card through to the ticket girl at the movie theater and smile at her. We’re quite early, but we want to get seats up in the back so we can be inconspicuous and leave after everyone else when it’s over.
“This is the last damn time you pay for me to go anywhere.” Luke grumbles behind me.
Jules and Nate laugh at him and I just smile serenely.
We buy two extra-large tubs of popcorn and buckets of soda to share and find our seats. Even though we’re more than thirty minutes early I’m surprised to see a handful of people already seated in the theater.
We climb up to the very top row of the stadium-style seats and sit in the middle, Jules and I between the boys.
Luke runs both his hands down his thighs and takes a deep breath.
“Are you nervous?” I whisper in his ear.
He smiles down at me and kisses my forehead. “A little.”
“Do you watch your movies?” I ask.
“Yeah, but I usually wait until after opening weekend to see what audiences are saying. Opening weekend is nerve-wracking, and usually busy.”
“I’m glad we’re here. It’s exciting.”
He laughs and takes a handful of popcorn out of the tub. “Me too. I hope you like it.”
“I’m gonna love it.”
The theater fills up quickly and finally the lights dim and the previews start.
I’m stunned to see that two of the five movies previewed are billed as being produced by Luke E. Williams. I look up at him, stunned, and he smiles shyly down at me. I shake my head and push some popcorn in his mouth, making him laugh.
I’m excited as Rough Shot begins, and want to stand up and cheer when Luke’s name flashes on the screen during the opening credits. Instead I kiss him soundly and give him a ridiculously proud smile.
It’s hard to tell, but I think he actually blushes.
The movie is fantastic. When a mostly-naked Channing Tatum walks across the screen, Jules and I look at each other and start laughing. We can’t resist. Luke throws popcorn at me in disgust.
It’s a fast-paced two hour film that keeps you on the edge of your seat until the end to find out “who dunnit”. There is indeed lots of action and stuff blowing up. There is also an intense love scene between Channing and his co-star and I can’t help but watch it in a very clinical way, knowing that Channing is married in real life, wondering how his wife deals with scenes like these.
I’m also incredibly happy that Luke has chosen to assume a different role in the movie business.
One particularly bloody scene makes both Jules and I squirm in our seats.
“Oh, God, really?” I clasp my hand over my mouth as I realize I said that out loud and both Nate and Luke laugh at us.
As the closing credits roll, I can’t stop smiling. I do clap, inconspicuously, when Luke’s name appears again and he grins at me. We wait until all the other customers have left and the lights come up to leave the theater. As we stand, I wrap my arms around Luke and hold him tight, burying my face in his chest and inhaling his sexy Luke scent. I lean my head back and look up into his shining blue eyes.
“I loved it. I’m so proud of you. We are doing this for every movie. I want a schedule.”
He runs his fingers down my face and smiles sweetly. “I’ll get you one.” He kisses me gently.
“Um, Nat? This is a double date.
Stop making out with your super-cool famous boyfriend, please.” I laugh and glance back at Jules.
“I’m just appreciating his art.” I say primly.
“Appreciate it in private. Come on, let’s go.” Jules and Nate walk ahead of us out of the theater. I move to follow, but Luke holds my elbow, keeping me back.
I turn back to him and he kisses me again, passionately this time, lovingly.
He pulls back and leans his forehead against mine.
“What is it?” I ask.
“Thank you for tonight. I love you, baby.”
“I love you too.”
***
We all decide to continue the celebration and go out for drinks. We end up near our place at the Celtic Swell, and I have to smile as I remember the first time Luke and I had drinks together here. It feels like a lifetime ago.