Landon stood with slumped shoulders. Extra creases formed at the corner of his eyes and his demeanor could only be described as beatdown. “Thanks for letting me come over.”
“I’m glad you called. Come in.” She led him through to the small library/office. “Wait here and I’ll bring the cake and coffee. What do you take in it?”
“Black is fine.”
“No creamer? We have the fun seasonal flavors.”
“I’m good, but thanks. Need any help getting it?”
She shook her head. “Sit and relax. It won’t take more than a minute.”
After he settled into the overstuffed, pink armchair, she strode to the kitchen and prepared everything on a tray to carry to the library. When she walked back in, Landon was browsing a row of books.
He turned around at the noise of her approaching. “Did you know many of these are signed?”
“No, but I’m not surprised.” She set the tray on an end table and joined him at the shelf. “Addy loves books. Before she took over the bed and breakfast, she worked for a publishing company for a decade.”
“Do you read a lot?”
She shrugged. “When I get the time. I’m not an avid reader, but I enjoy a good story now and then. I read a lot more when I was younger. You?”
“I never read much, but my family started buying me audiobooks since I’m on the road a lot.”
“What type do you listen to?”
“Thrillers and mysteries mainly, some non-fiction. I like true crime, but I discovered I have to limit those because I have a cynical nature already.”
“You don’t say.” She softened the comment with a wink.
He chuckled, taking the comment in the lighthearted way she’d intended. “Hey, all things considered, I turned out pretty well. We’re all allowed a flaw or two.”
“Or three or four in my case.”
His brows arched. “I doubt you’re any more flawed than anybody else.”
“I think that’s a compliment?”
“Let’s call it an assurance.” He turned on his killer smile. “If I’m going to hand out a compliment, there will be no mistaking it.”
Her cheeks warmed. Would she soon be the recipient of one of those compliments? “Ready for cake and coffee?”
“That answer is always yes.”
“A man after my own heart.” She laughed. “One of those flaws I mentioned is a deep abiding love for anything with sugar in it.”
“We all have our vices.”
“What’s yours?” She crossed the room, returning to the chairs.
“Don’t laugh, but chocolate milkshakes.” He sat down in the same chair he’d claimed earlier.
“Why would I laugh?”
“It seems so childish. Most men have a beer to kick back and relax with, but I don’t drink.”
“It’s not childish at all. Much better than resorting to alcohol.” She handed him a slice of cake with a fork and his coffee.
“When one of your best friends has been killed by a drunk driver, it makes you stay far away from the stuff.”
