“Oh gosh. You’re starting off with the tough ones. Well, I’d probably have to say…You’ve Got Mail. I love a good rom-com and that was the one I’d check out from the library over and over.”
Briggs could tell from the look in her eyes that it was a good memory she was reliving.
“We didn’t have a DVD or Blu-Ray player. Just my grandpa’s old VCR from the Eighties. So, it was a VHS and it was always at the library. I guess no one checked it out besides me. Anyway,when they finally got rid of all their remaining tapes, the librarian let me keep it. I still have it. And the VCR.” She looked a little sheepish as she added, “That’s how I still watch the movie. I’m sure it’s streaming somewhere and I could see it in 4K or something. But… I dunno… I like that worn-out old tape, the occasional muffled sound and lines dancing down the picture sometimes and everything.”
When Briggs was finished with the chip he’d eaten, he said, “I’d love to watch it with you sometime.”
“I’d love that, too.”
“Okay, next question.” Briggs dipped another chip in his salsa but paused before bringing it to his mouth until after he asked, “Favorite movie you’ve been in?”
“Now that’s a tough one!” She took her elbows off the table and leaned back, clearly thinking hard. “Buy Me a Rose.”
“Another rom-com.”
“Yeah.” She smirked. “Yousaw that one?”
“What? You don’t think I’d watch that?”
“Hmm. Were you dating someone who wanted to see it? Or you went with a friend?”
Briggs laughed. “I watched it all by myself. In the theater, I might add.” He shrugged. “What can I say? I have a romantic streak.” He smirked now, too. “And I kind of have a crush on you. So I’ve seen all your movies.”
He was relieved when she seemed pleased by the news. It was the truth, but he’d been a bit hesitant to share that.
“Okay. You’ve managed to surprise me,” she admitted. “I didn’t figure you for the rom-com sort.”
“Well, again, I’m a Riley Hartwell sort.” He winked. “But I also enjoy a good rom-com when the mood strikes me.” He ate some more chips and salsa before asking, “What kind of movies did you peg me for?”
Before she could answer, someone at a table across the room caught his eye. Looking beyond Riley, he saw two men, about his age, who seemed to be enjoying some beers while waiting on their food.
The man who’d been looking their way quickly averted his eyes, going back to conversation with his friend, and Briggs wondered why he’d been staring.
Dude, calm down. It’s because she’s hot. And a movie star. He probably recognized her.
Returning his focus back to Riley, he listened as she said, “Action movies. Definitely.”
“Why action?”
“Because you look like you could star in one. You’re all strong and stuff.”
“Well, I do love action movies. But comedies are a close second.”
“Romantic comedies, huh?”
He smiled wider. “Like I said, I enjoy them. But I’m starting to think living them is way more fun than watching them.”
“Oh?”
Their eyes remained locked until the waiter returned with their entrees a moment later. But even as they started eating, Briggs couldn’t stop staring at the beautiful woman across the table from him.
Damn. How’d he get so lucky?
Chapter Eighteen
Riley wasn’t normally the type to sleep with a guy on the first date.
Okay, she’dneverbeen the type to do that. But there she was, falling hard and fast for Briggs.