"You're welcome. I was going to bring a bottle of wine, but I thought the beer would go better with pizza."
At dinner the previous evening, Jess had invited Kim to stay for pizza after they handed out candy.
Childish laughter sounded. Jess glanced down the street and spotted a group of young children with several adults accompanying them heading their way. "Ah. Here they come." Jess set the beer down on the half wall surrounding the porch. "Hang on a sec." She headed down the steps. She turned on the luminaries positioned along the walkway, then returned to the porch. Jess picked up the beer. "All set. Let's head inside. I've already got the candy ready to go."
"The luminaries are a great idea with all the little kids running around." Kim looked down at the lighted bags lining the walkway. "I've seen ones with small LEDs in them, but those look like they have real candles burning inside even though I know that's not the case."
"They do have candles in them. But you're right they aren't real. They're battery powered." Jess reached for the screen door.
As the door swung open, the skeletons and bats once again sprang to life.
Kim walked close to one of the cardboard skeletons hanging from the covered porch roof and looked up. "Are they attached to a motion sensor?"
Jess reached in the door and flipped the switch. The dancing skeletons and fluttering bats stilled. "Yeah. It's rigged to the screen door. I normally don't turn it on until after all the really young children have gone in for the night. I want their introduction to Halloween to be fun and not scary." Jess grinned. "The older kids love it, though."
Shaking her head, Kim laughed. "I bet they do."
"After you," Jess said, motioning into the house.
* * *
"That was fun," Kim said as she flopped down onto the overstuffed leather couch. It was surprising just how quickly she had gotten comfortable in Jess's living room. The warm and cozy setting had drawn her in immediately. "When I saw all the candy you had, I thought for sure you'd be eating it for weeks. I still can't believe we gave all of it out." Kim grinned up at Jess. "Of course, being the good friend that I am, I would've offered to help you finish it off."
Jess snorted, her mouth pulling up in a smile. "Oh. I'm sure it would have been a terrible imposition." She sank down into the padded chair opposite Kim.
Kim tipped her head back as laughter bubbled up. The evening had been wonderful so far. Kim knew that had a lot to do with being with Jess. It was hard to figure, but she enjoyed spending time with Jess more than she had the women she dated. The Jess that she had seen tonight was a far cry from the overly emotionally controlled ER chief at work. Even compared to their other outings, tonight had been different. By being invited into Jess's home, Kim felt as if she had finally been allowed into the life of the real Jess McKenna. It was a heady experience.
"Well, since the candy is gone, could I interest you in a pepperoni and black olive pizza and a beer?" Jess asked.
She remembered. Warmth filled Kim at Jess's thoughtfulness. They had gone out for pizza only once, and that was what Kim had ordered. "That sounds great. Now all we need is a scary movie and we'd be all set."
"Actually I have some movies..." Jess's gaze flittered away from Kim. She ducked her head, and her right leg began to bounce up and down.
Brows furrowed, Kim studied Jess. What's going on here? Not wanting Jess to be uncomfortable, Kim said, "Pizza and a beer would hit the spot. It's getting kind of late for a movie anyway."
The breath left Jess in a blast hard enough to ruffle the hair hanging in her face. Kim could almost see her squaring her mental shoulders. Huh? Confusion reigned.
"It's not that late." Jess popped up from her chair and walked over to one of the oak bookcases next to the fireplace. After lifting the leaded glass door, she reached in and pulled out three DVD cases. "Take your pick," Jess said as she set them down on the coffee table before resuming her seat.
While still unsure just what was causing Jess's unusual behavior, Kim did as asked. She surveyed the DVD boxes. The first was a vampire movie. The second, a classic monster flick. It was the third one that made her grin. 'Under The Stairs'. Kim laughed. "I love it. Where did you find it? I didn't know her early movies were even available." Colleen Bryce had begun her career making B grade horror movies before hitting it big as the action-hero, Deven Masters. Kim had raved about the actress after they had finally managed to see her latest movie.
The corner of Jess's eyes crinkled with the brightness of her smile. "I thought you might like that one. I found a place online that has all sorts of eclectic titles. I don't watch much TV, but I do love movies. I have a pretty big movie collection."
"I haven't seen one of her scream queen movies in years," Kim said as she picked up the DVD and handed it to Jess. She rubbed her hands together in anticipation. "I can't wait to see it again."
Jess's earlier awkward demeanor immediately returned. "Um... well, the thing is..." Jess turned the DVD case over and over in her hands. "The living room really isn't that big..."
At this point, Kim was beyond puzzled by Jess's confounding behavior. She had no idea what Jess was trying to get at. Kim looked around the room. The room was on the small side but typical of a Craftsman bungalow. A fireplace with a deep stone hearth dominated the far wall. Built-in oak bookcases flanked the fireplace. The remainder of the room was taken up with the overstuffed leather couch where she was sitting, a low set coffee table, the antique Morris chair Jess was sitting in, and a large dog bed tucked in the corner. One more glance around the room and the obvious finally hit Kim. There was no TV in the room. So where is it that she's so uncomfortable? The answer hit Kim right between the eyes. Oh shit. Her gaze darted to Jess.
The flush on Jess's face substantiated what Kim suspected. She confirmed it a moment later. "The television is in my bedroom."
A flash of Jess and her entwined on Jess's bed seared through Kim's mind. Heat flooded her face and body. Oh God. Kim quickly scrubbed her hands over her face, willing the blush to fade. You're a grown woman. Act like it. Get your hormones under control. You can share a bed with a friend to watch a movie. She glanced over at Jess.
While Jess met Kim's gaze, her leg was once again bouncing up and down in an apparently unconscious gesture.
Kim was sure that Jess could sense her arousal. It was the last thing she wanted. Jess had made it quite clear right from the start, in action, if not words, that she was only interested in being friends. And she respected that and Jess.
Acting on impulse, Kim rose from the couch and moved over to stand next to Jess's chair. "It's okay." She gently squeezed Jess's shoulder. "Maybe we could save the movie for another time? We could just call it a night?"
Jess's gaze locked with hers. Kim's breath caught. Jess's eyes turned a dark, bluish silver. Emotion Kim couldn't decipher churned in those striking depths.
Jess cleared her throat and broke the spell. "I promised you pizza and a beer." She stood and offered a shy smile. "I'd like to see the movie too. So if you really wouldn't mind hanging out in my bedroom..."
Kim had no doubt that this was well outside of Jess's comfort zone, but she was doing it anyway. "I don't mind if you don't." This is one special woman. Too bad I have such a lousy track record with women. Kim stifled a sigh. Not that Jess is interested in me that way anyway.
"Pizza and a movie it is, then," Jess said.