Page 44 of Hollywood

I busied myself with pulling foil off the casserole dish and spooning servings of chicken, mushrooms, and rice ontoplates. I put the first one in the microwave and chanced a glance over my shoulder.

Hollywood was settling Ruby into her booster seat. “Such a big girl, getting to sit at the table.”

Ruby lay her hand on the cardboard surface. “Box.”

“A table tonight.”

“Box!” She slapped it. “Box!”

“Table box,” Hollywood corrected quickly. “A table made out of a box?”

Ruby giggled, apparently tickled by that idea. “Table box!”

His wide smile made me want to touch his lips again. Maybe with my mouth instead of my fingers. Damn it. I had to get these urges under control.

I wanted to make things right with Holly—really talk about what happened between us—before I pounced on him. Not to mention, I wasn’t ready to pounce. I didn’t know what the hell I was doing.

I’d spent two years in prison fending off guys. I was still trying to wrap my head around the fact I wanted this one. Hollywood wasn’t the first man to ever turn my head, but he was the first real possibility. In retrospect, I’d watched more than one television show for the eye candy. I’d told myself I’d liked Matt Bomer’s charisma and wit inWhite Collar, but if I was totally honest, he was damn pretty, too.

The microwaved beeped, pulling me from my thoughts. I took out the first plate and put in the second. While it warmed, I added a smaller portion of rice to a bowl for Ruby and took the time to cut the chicken into pieces.

Hollywood came up behind me. “Anything I can do?”

His breath stirred the hairs on the back of my neck. A tingle ran down my spine. “Nope. Just take your plate.” Ibrandished it at him like a weapon. Anything to get a little space between us.

He caught it and backed away with a small smile. “You take good care of me, Tex. You must have worked really hard today. Thank you.”

His gratitude caught me off guard. I shrugged. “It was nothing.”

“No, it was definitely something.”

While I finished warming food for me and Ruby, Hollywood went to the refrigerator. He poured apple juice for Ruby, then pulled out a beer for him. “You got my favorite kind.”

“Of course.”

“But you hate it…”

“You don’t.” I shrugged. “I got some Bud in there too. Grab one for me?”

“Sure.”

We both returned to the table, laden with food and drinks. I delivered Ruby’s bowl, along with a spoon, and took a seat on the far side of the box table.

Hollywood sat closer to Ruby to keep an eye on her. “This looks great. I’ve never been so happy to eat on a box before.”

I laughed. “Fine dining, it’s not.”

“I disagree,” he said, forking up a bite and blowing on it gently. “It’sfinedining.”

I rolled my eyes at his play on words, but my chest warmed. I’d wanted his first night in a new place to be special. Hollywood was taking on a lot of change really fast, and I wanted to do what I could to make it easier on him.

It had nothing to do with me wanting to see him smile over and over. Or the way my stomach flipped and twisted when he did. Or the urge to put my hand on his cheek or his arm or his leg to feel the connection that hummed between us.

Hollywood entertained me with a few barbershop stories while he helped Ruby. She made a mess, dropping about half as much as she got into her mouth, and she was stabbing at the food with the zeal of a truly enthusiastic serial killer.

“I swear I didn’t starve her all day.”

Hollywood grinned, setting off flutters in my gut. “I believe you. She’s just a little drama queen.”