“Of course. It was so nice of your father to invite me. I haven’t seen him in so long, he may not recognize me.”
“You’re just as gorgeous as always.” His eyes roamed my body for a split second, enough for the heat in his gaze to singe my skin. “Especially in that dress.”
My cheeks heated as I pulled at the hem of my dress. It hadn’t seemed so short until I sat down.
“It’s shorter than I wanted.” I reached for my purse, looking away to bring down the uptick in my pulse from the husky dip in Landon’s voice. “Sitting down makes it drift up my thick thighs. Hopefully the tablecloth is long,” I joked as heat ran up my neck.
That was also something new. Maybe this was the voice he used with women who weren’t me, and although I’d watched him date other women for as long as I’d known him and had attended his wedding, the thought triggered a jolt of jealousy.
“I treated myself, even though I should still be saving every cent while I’m working on this project.” I let out a nervous laugh as I stepped out of his car.
I adjusted my purse strap and straightened my black denim jacket after I closed the door, gulping in a couple of breaths to clear my head. The one person in this world who never made me nervous was Landon, and I hated being this flustered in his presence.
“Ready?” I asked and gestured to the restaurant entrance.
He nodded, his long legs eating up the distance between us in two steps. He wore a black jacket over a button-down gray shirt and black pants, and thanks to the memory of his ass in pants just like that in the hotel hallway at the Bellagio, I was looking too forward to the moment he turned around.
“I would have asked you to come with me anyway.” Landon framed my face. “You’re my person.” He grinned, his smile wide and beautiful, as he held my eyes.
“Same,” I said, clearing my throat after I croaked out my reply.
“You look beautiful tonight—and healthy. So I won’t ask you how you’re feeling today and nag you.”
“You don’t nag me…” I trailed off when he raised a brow. “Maybe a little. But I love that I have a best friend who takes time out of his busy corporate executive life to send me links for special diets.”
A slow smile crept across his lips and stole a little air from my lungs.
Landon had never taken my breath away before the events of the last couple of months, but maybe that was because I was never driven to look at him so closely. Once I had the motivation to direct my focus, everything about him was amazing enough to both astound and confuse me.
“I always have time when it comes to you. And I’m glad that in a few weeks we can see each other in person more. Not that I don’t enjoy FaceTime, but not the same.”
“Me too.” I grabbed his wrists to give him a gentle nudge before I pushed him away, but I didn’t. Neither of us moved, our feet stuck on the concrete of the parking lot as our gazes stayed locked.
“And thank you,” I whispered. “It’s been a long time since I’ve felt beautiful and healthy. So, tonight is nice for a lot of reasons.”
“Yeah, it is,” he said. And there was that husky whisper again. Was this a side effect of my weakened immune system? Did I lose some kind of innate resolve when it came to Landon? Yes, I’d always thought he was attractive but I had never been so distracted by his mouth or his eyes or where his skin touched mine.
My insides went soft like jelly as I wished for that superpower back.
I kissed his cheek, breathing in the familiar scent of his cologne and letting my lips graze his stubbled jaw as I pulled away.
“So, let’s find your father and eat. And remember what I said. No stink eye if I order meat or dairy.”
He laughed when I narrowed my eyes. The air became lighter between us when he dropped his hands. Still charged, but easier to breathe and hopefully get through dinner.
“I think this place is known for seafood,” Landon said as we made our way to the entrance. “Fish has Omega-3, and that’s good for—”
I stepped in front of him and pressed my finger to his lips.
“Stop. I may get fish, or I may get a steak. And you’re not going to say anything either way.”
He smiled against the pad of my finger, and all I wanted was to grab the back of his neck and taste the soft lips I couldn’t stop thinking about.
This was going to be a long dinner.
I did my best to shake it off as we strolled into the restaurant. I spotted Landon’s father right away, sitting with a stunning brunette at a table by the window.
They were huddled together, his arm draped over her shoulders as she laughed at something he said. I turned my head and snuck a smile at Landon. It was a little strange for me to see Mr. Clark with anyone, too. When I’d met Landon’s mother while we were in college, she was already sick, but she had such a wonderful spirit. She was a sweetheart, just like her son, and I used to wish someone would look at me the way Mr. Clark always looked at his wife.
