“Bullshit.”
To this he laughed, shaking his head. “I think I may need a drink for this. Stay put. We have some catching up to do.” He gave me one last look before he sauntered off, and for a moment the smile in his eyes seemed to die and was replaced by something far more intense and hungry.
Then the smile was back and that hungry look was gone, and I knew it had probably all been in my imagination.
I watched him retreat, blinking away the after-effect of his nearness.
“Ho-Ly-Shit,” Annie said, the second he was out of earshot. “How is it possible that he got hotter?”
I gritted my teeth. I didn’t give a shit about how great his ass looked in those pants. He didn’t deserve to look so good in his clothes. “Never mind that, how is it possible that he’s back in town and I didn’t know it?”
Annie slurped from her straw, but the drink was empty, gurgling between the ice cubes. “Do you think your brother knew he was coming?”
I shrugged, sinking in my seat. “I’m not sure, actually. Matt’s been kind of distant lately. He’s got this big project at work so he’s been missing family dinners.” I dug into my purse. “I’ll text him.”
I unlocked my phone, fury building in my veins. Tonight had been fun, until now. Until he strolled up behind me and blew it all to hell.
Why didn’t you tell me Landon was back in town?
It took only seconds for his reply to appear.
Why do you care?
I frowned and shoved my phone back into my purse. So Matt knew his high school best friend was back. So nice of him to give me a chance to steel myself from the emotional reaction I had when Landon reappeared…like something out of a dream.
Or maybe a nightmare. I still wasn’t sure which this was.
Before I could say anything else, Landon slid into the booth, his body pressing against me, his heat evident against my bare shoulders and knee. I gritted my teeth and tried to slide over, to put some distance between us. But Annie was there, grinning back at me. And then she loudly slurped at her straw, as if to prove her drink was empty.
“What, like we’re just going to pick up where we left off?” I snapped.
His face remained blank as he tipped his head to the side, studying me. “Still the same Taryn, I see.”
“I need a replacement,” Annie said, picking up her glass and sloshing it around. The ice cubes clanked together so loudly I was sure I’d remember it in the morning, like the clank of a prison door slamming shut.
“Enjoy the mushrooms?” he asked, gesturing to my plate.
I leaned back, crossing my arms, trying to create a barrier between me and this arresting, all-too attractive man. “Are we really going to do this? Trade some small talk, maybe discuss the weather?”
“Would you rather do something else?” he asked, his eyes dipping lower.
There’s no way he couldn’t tell I was braless, the way his gaze raked over my breasts.
My cheeks burned, and I struggled to hang onto the anger simmering in my chest. “Don’t be an ass, Landon. You know why I’m mad at you.”
He sighed. “I’m not interested in rehashing the past.”
“How convenient,” I sniped.
He turned, looping his elbow over the back of the seat and pressing his knee into my leg, and his eyes narrowed as he shot back. “You seemed pretty happy with me when we saw one another last.”
I clenched my jaw. “You’re insufferable.”
His grin returned, more seductive now. “Are you sure you don’t want-”
“Stop, okay?” I said, my heart fluttering against my ribcage. “Just stop. I can’t do this with you. I don’t want to pretend-” I caught myself, lowering my voice. “I don’t want to pretend with you.”
I slid out of the booth, the leather sticking to my bare skin. It took only seconds, but it seemed to stretch on forever, because I had to slide all the way around the horseshoe-shape to get out the same way Annie had gone.
I stood, smoothing my skirt. “Congratulations on all of your success,” I muttered, shooting him a dirty look. “And welcome back.”
I strode across the room, looking for Annie. Torn between ordering a few shots or storming out of the place. I was halfway to the bar when a hand on my arm stopped me. I spun to say something witty to him, but lost my balance on the heels as he pulled me toward the waiting darkness of a coat closet.
Chapter 2
I caught only a glimpse of him before the door slammed shut behind us, plunging us into the dark.
“What the hell, Landon!” I said, swatting his hand off of my arm.
“I need to talk to you,” he said, with no trace of the amusement I’d heard earlier.
I wrenched my arm away. “In a freaking closet? Who exactly are we hiding from?”
Silence fell, and I wished I could see his expression in the shadows. Instead I could only smell him, a rich and masculine cologne that had me dangerously close to leaning in.