Page 81 of Worth the Trip

His thumb moved over my knuckles.

“Hour and fifteen ain’t a hardship. That’s a full tank, a good playlist, and enough road to look forward to seeing you at the end of it.”

My heart did something entirely too soft.

“You make it sound simple.”

“It is.” His fingers tightened around mine. “If I wanna see you, I drive.”

That was it.

No speech about miles becoming metaphors for devotion.

Just a man willing to get in his truck.

I smiled toward the windshield.

“Okay.”

“Okay what?”

“Come see my world.”

His grin showed in profile.

“Bet.”

By the time Landon turned onto Nana’s street, I had stopped thinking about how long the ride had been.

The porch light glowed ahead.

So did the headlights reflecting off Nyla’s car behind mine.

I sat upright.

“Why is my sister here?”

Landon slowed. “Maybe she missed you.”

“She saw me yesterday.”

“Separation anxiety serious.”

I laughed. “She probably thinks you kidnapped me.”

“I survived Nana and five aunties. Background check cleared.”

“You underestimate Nyla’s commitment to investigations nobody requested.”

“I respect due process.”

He parked and released my hand long enough to unbuckle.

Before I touched the door handle, he was already outside.

I stopped.

And waited.