I smile. “That’s nice. You also have Elliott.”
“Yeah.” He nods. “He’s the brother I never had. Literally. I love him more than any blood relatives other than my sister.”
Interesting.
I wouldn’t take Landon for the type of man who admits loving another man so it’s refreshing that he’s so confident in his masculinity. But I mean, why wouldn’t he be?
“I have friends, but the relationship with my father is difficult and the club just isn’t my scene.”
“You grew up in it, right?”
“I did. And that’s why. I know what they do and I just can’t be a part of that kind of violence, all the illegal activity, not to mention the…lifestyle. Drinking, drugs, wild parties. Women are second-class citizens in that world. My mom worked really hard to change some of that, so my dad’s a million times better than he used to be, but a leopard never truly changes his spots.”
“Well, you can’t expect him to be someone he’s not. From where I’m sitting, he’s been pretty respectful of what you want.”
“Yeah, but I know he would rather throw me over his shoulder, drag me to the clubhouse, and lock me in a room for the next five years or whenever he deems it safe.”
“I think as protectors, we just want the people we love to be safe. I can’t imagine how I would react if it were my daughter who was kidnapped and brutalized.”
“That’s why I’m cutting him some slack but deep down, he wishes I would settle down with Pete and become a club wife.Like my mom. Carry on the legacy.” I shudder just thinking about it.
“Are you an only child?”
I nod. “Yup. And a girl, so I imagine my dad was disappointed even though he’s never said it in so many words.”
“That’s tough. I’m sorry.”
“It’s all right.” I lean back in the seat and stare out at nothing. I have so much to do but I’m suddenly overwhelmed and frustrated.
And hungry again.
“My apartment is small,” Landon says after a while. “But you can have the bedroom. I have a big sectional where I can stretch out in the living room. That way, you’ll have some privacy.”
“I hate kicking you out of your own bed,” I say contritely.
“Nah. I manage on about five hours of sleep anyway, so I’d be annoying you at the ass crack of dawn if you were on the couch.”
“Thank you. I wish I knew why you’re being so nice.”
“Rescuing you was pure, random luck. Right place, right time. And now you’re officially a client.”
For some reason, that bothers me.
“What?” he asks when I don’t say anything.
“It feels weird for you to call me a client. And if I’m a client, shouldn’t I have been the one to hire you? I don’t recall having that conversation.”
“We kind of danced around it at the hospital, but your dad and Daniil, my boss, worked it out once I told them that you were going to stay at my place.”
I grunt with annoyance even though I know I’m being irrational. “Someone could haveaskedme.”
“You want to get your dad or Daniil on the phone?”
Do I?
Not really.
It’s kind of nice not to have to think about anything right now. I have enough going on in my head without dealing with money, contracts, or whatever else is in the works.
