Page 33 of Blockbuster Proposal

“Take me out to the baaaaaall game.” She couldn’t believe that was her voice filling the stadium. The thrill of performing shot up from her toes, strengthening her courage.

Mark started swaying the two of them from side to side. It wasn’t hard to move Allie—she was so shocked he could have knocked her over with a feather—or a paintbrush.

“Take me out to the crooowd.”

Mark tugged her closer and Allie was all too willing to go. If he was here, and they could truly be together, then she wanted to be as close to him as possible. If this was a dream—and she hadn’t ruled out that scenario yet—then she was going to enjoy every second.

The crowd had all joined in, their voices rising up from under the box seats. “Buy me some peanuts and Cracker Jack. I don’t care if I never get back.” On the big screen, a baseball bounced over each word, keeping them all in time.

Mark kissed her temple and Allie fumbled through the next line. His chest bounced as he chuckled, and she almost whacked him with the mic.

“For it’s one, two, three strikes, you’re out.” Allie went for the big finish, pulling the mic away from her mouth so she had the right volume. “Ball game!”

She dropped the mic to her side and waved with her other hand. Mark did the same right up until the image on the screen changed to the pitcher in his warm-up.

Allie rounded on Mark. She took his face between her hands and pulled him down for an urgent and demanding kiss. Mark didn’t take any time to catch up to her train of thought—or train of kisses, as it were. His arms enveloped her and she ran her hands down those broad, round, hunky shoulders of his and back up to the back of his neck, where she pulled him even closer, bending back in the process.

When she absolutely had to come up for air, she loosened her hold but didn’t let go. Mark straightened them up and kissed her forehead. She leaned into his lips, fluttering her hands across his chest. “I’m sorry. I just couldn’t let you leave without doing that.”

Mark tipped her chin up so their eyes met. “I’m not going anywhere.”

“But Chloe ...?” Leticia had explained about Mark’s custody battle with his ex-wife. A sharp pain erupted behind Allie’s eyeball every time she thought about the damage she had done to his case.

“Chloe is moving in with me at the end of the month—it’s been settled.”

“Wha—how?”

“Apparently, owning a theater is a respectable job—according to Judge Jamison it is, anyway. Beau’s still not convinced.”

Allie felt her cheeks widen. “She’s yours?”

“Until she’s eighteen.”

“Mark! I’m thrilled for you.”

“She asked if you could come over for Sunday dinner and a movie.”

“I’d love to.”

“It’s a date.” He brushed his fingers over her cheek.

“Yeah it is.”

“Kiss. Kiss. Kiss.” The crowd’s cheer broke through Allie’s contemplation of Mark’s rather amazing blue eyes. They were captivating—or had taken her captive. She glanced at the big screen to see what everyone was yelling for, and saw her and Mark with the word KISSCAM scrawled across the bottom in giant red letters.

Embarrassed, she buried her face in Mark’s neck. Darn it, he smelled so dang good she had a hard time remembering why she hadn’t just gone ahead and kissed him.

“Kiss. Kiss,” they continued to call.

Mark moved her back and cupped her cheeks with his palms. “Allie Gray. I’m in love with you and I want the whole world to know it.”

“I love you too.” She had to rush the words out before he kissed her.

This time, Mark’s movements were sultry and slow. Allie vaguely registered the crowd cheering as she sank into Mark’s embrace—right where she belonged.