Was Landon struggling?
Stupid question, Mercy.
The man was recently discharged from the Army. Unexpectedly, based on the kernels of information I’d been able to glean. He’d shown up drunk at his mother’s, and then he’d accused her of siccing the bikers on him.
Clearly, she thought her son needed some mentoring.
Strings of compassion yanked on my chest, making me want to hug him.
And maybe grope him a little.
“They’re good guys,” I said. Then, because I couldn’t resist the urge to flick him shit, I added, “You’ll get along great. They have superhero complexes, too.”
Rather than snapping back, he gave me a thoughtful look. “You think that’s what’s going on with me?”
“I mean, I’m no psychiatrist, but the Army and then Doctors Without Borders? Do you have a service addiction?”
“Says the preschool administrator. Mom says you work your ass off for those kids.”
Beth was talking to Landon about me? Unsure how to feel about that, I slowed my steps as we reached my apartment building. For once, I wasn’t in a hurry to ditch him and head upstairs. He’d been flirting with me all week, hadn’t gotten offended when I teased him, and he’d just complimented me. This was the best interaction I’d had with a man in… possibly forever. Man, that was pathetic.
“I love what I do,” I said. “Most of the time.”
We stopped in front of the security door and stared at the building. Several residents had strung lights around their windows and balconies, and it was beautiful. He stepped closer, and the crisp, masculine scent of his body wash made me want to bury my nose in his neck.
Inappropriate, Mercy!
Then again, was it? We were both consenting adults, and he’d be leaving soon….
“Should I throw my jacket over the puddle?” Landon asked.
Startled, I glanced down at the small lake forming in front of the building before gawking at him. “What generation are you from?”
He chuckled, the sound warm and delicious.
With the key in hand, I hesitated. If I went upstairs alone, I’d spend the time worrying about Ben and psyching myself out over meeting Luke for a drink.
Or….
“Would you like to come up?” I blurted before I could come to my senses.
His head whipped around, and he studied my face. “Are you sure? I’m leaving on the twenty-second.”
“Yes. And I’m counting on it.” Men were a lot like razor blades; useful for a singular task, but they wore out quickly. Disposable and easily replaced options were always the best.
The right side of his mouth quirked up. “You’re counting on my leaving?”
“Drama’s not really my thing, and dating a friend and employee’s son… that’s got reality show written all over it. But I’d be down for a mutually beneficial roll in the hay.”
His gaze slid over me again, and his smirk sent a bolt of heat through my core. “Then I’d love to see your apartment.”
I unlocked the door, and Landon followed me up. Since we only needed to go to the second floor, we took the stairs. I walked in front and was a solid ninety-five percent certain he stared at my ass the entire way. As was the plan. Might as well start the foreplay now, so I could get him riled up enough to seriously work me over. There was a lot of shit on my mind that I was hoping he’d make me forget.
So, yeah, I wiggled my ass. Not excessively, like I was working a pole or something, but he’d been teasing me all week, so he deserved some payback.
At the top of the landing, I was rewarded for my efforts when I stopped short to swing the door inward, and he squeezed onto the step behind me. He hooked an arm around my waist and tugged me against him until I felt his erection against my back.
Damn. Landon was well built everywhere.
