Jess thought Griffin was most likely lying about liking Thai food, so when he ate more than she did of the spicy stuff, she was pleasantly surprised that he was telling her the truth.

She let him drive when they left the restaurant to go to the movies. “Are you sure, Jess? I don’t mind letting you drive.”

“I’m stuffed. You drive,” she said as she went to the passenger side of the Lamborghini.

Griff was quick to step up and open the door for her. He took her by the waist and gave her a quick kiss. “I’m glad to have someone to eat Thai with.”

Jess ran her hands over his broad shoulders and wished like hell he wanted more than a quick screw. “You talk like you’ll be sticking around, Griff. That’s not really fair of you.”

“You talk like I have to leave, which I don’t.” He closed the door and went around the car to get in.

Jess watched him and wondered why he’d say such a thing. When he got into the car, she asked him, “Have you ever been in a serious relationship?”

He started the car then smiled at her. “Not really.”

“You’re kind of old not to have had one. That tells me you’re a player,” she said as she turned to look out the window. “So, I’d like to remind you that I haven’t had much experience and you should really be careful what you say to me. I might take some of it to heart. If you know what I mean.”

“I hope you do take the things I tell you to heart, baby.” He pulled out of the parking lot and headed up the road as Jess sat there wondering why a man who was interested in her, merely to win a bet, would tell someone so much bullshit.

Anger began to rise up inside of her as they drove down the road. She became eerily quiet. A thing Griffin was acutely aware of. He had no idea if things would progress past the point of one of them winning the bet but he knew he genuinely liked Jess.

When he pulled into the parking lot of the local movie theater that was empty except for two other cars, Jess looked at him with a puzzled expression. “Are they even open yet?”

“Let’s go find out,” he said as he tried to keep a smile off his face.

Griffin had a friend back in Montana at the theater near his home that had an in with the movie industry. Calling in a favor, Griffin was able to get a private screening of a film Jess’ aunt had told him she was chomping at the bit to see.

Parking the car right up front, had Jess looking at the empty and closed looking theater with a frown on her pretty face. “Why don’t you run up and see if the doors are locked? I think this place is closed, Griff.”

Shaking his head, he got out of the car and came around to open her door. “Come on, baby.” He held out his hand, and she took it as she looked doubtfully at him.

Jess remained silent as she and Griffin went up to the doors. When one was pushed open, and a man in a red uniform stood at it, she was pleasantly surprised as he said, “Hello, Mr. Houser and Miss Flannigan. Welcome to your private movie.”

“Private?” Jess asked as she looked at Griff who was all smiles.

The usher hurried to grab them a tray of popcorn, nacho, and sodas then led them to one of the theaters. “I bet you like to sit way up at the top,” Griff said as the usher looked at them.

“I do. In the middle,” Jess said.

Up they went, the usher leading the way. “Here you two go. And the movie will start just as soon as I get up there to start it.” He handed the tray to Griffin and headed out.

“How’d you do this, Griff?” Jess took a handful of popcorn and popped it into her mouth.

“I have my ways,” he kissed the tip of her nose. “I hope you’ll hold my hand while we watch the movie.”

“You never know. You might get that lucky, stud-muffin.” She smiled and took a sip of the soda.

The lights lowered and the screen lit up. When Jess sat back as Griffin put his arm around her, she gasped as the name of the movie came up on the big screen. “Have you seen this one already?” Griffin asked her as he held back a laugh.

“Griff! How?” she was stupefied as she knew that movie hadn’t been released yet.

“I have my ways, baby. Stick with me, and you’ll have lots of remarkable times,” he kissed her cheek and was more than surprised when she took his face in her hands and planted a big kiss smack dab on his mouth.

It took him by surprise as Jess had been a bit on the cool side with him for the first part of the date. When she ended their kiss, she looked into his eyes. “Thank you, Griff. I mean that. This is the nicest thing anyone’s ever done for me.”

He took her hands in his as he watched her eyes dance. “You’re welcome, Jess. I mean that too. I have to admit, you’re even more beautiful when your happy.” Then he pushed up the armrest divider that separated them, and wrapped her in his arms. With a kiss to the top of her head, he knew he was going into uncharted territory with the young woman. He just couldn’t seem to stop himself, though.