“I hear you sold the Warner Ranch today,” Ripley said.
“I did. Got full asking price too, and who knows, maybe I’ll get to sell it again in a couple years because the guy who bought it is no rancher. I doubt he’ll stay long.”
“I saw the listing for the ranch. They were asking what? A little over three million, right? That’s a pretty expensive hobby.”
“Yeah, he mentioned he might hire someone to run the ranch part. We'll see.”
I glanced over at Landon to make sure he was doing okay, and while he didn't look as stressed as before, he looked a little on edge. He was fidgeting with the label on his bottle again, a sure sign he was nervous. I reached over and stilled his hand. His eyes shot to mine, and everyone else faded away. I gently caressed his wrist with my thumb and said, “So do we need to bring anything with us for Thanksgiving?”
He turned his hand in mine, and I wrapped my fingers around his. I'd never been one for holding hands, but something about this felt right, so I was going with it. “No, my mom won't be expecting me to bring anything but you.”
“So y'all are going to Oklahoma for Thanksgiving then?” Frankie asked, breaking the illusion that we were alone.
“We are,” I said, giving his hand a squeeze.
“We're cooking at our house. I'm so excited because this will be our first holiday with Annie.”
“That’s one lucky little girl.”
“Nah, we're the lucky ones,” Frankie insisted. “It'll be us”—he motioned between him and Cap—“Annie, Cap's mother, and his brother, David.”
“That sounds nice,” Landon said. “Annie will have a great time.”
“Hey, guys,” Cody said, taking a seat on the other side of Landon.
“Where's Eli?” Landon asked.
“He got a call. Traffic accident out on Country Road eighty-three. He'll come by later if he gets a chance. I hear congratulations are in order,” he said, grinning at me.
“Yeah, it was a good day.”
Landon relaxed considerably once Cody arrived. I didn't realize they’d become good friends, but then again, there was a lot I didn't know about my boyfriend.
“So,” Cody said to Landon. “Want to go play?” He motioned his head over towards the pool tables in the back.
“Why? You in the mood to get your ass kicked? You still owe me for the last round.”
“Nope, that one doesn't count, you distracted me, and you know it.”
“Me?” Landon asked in mock surprise. “Never.”
“Come on, I demand a rematch,” Cody insisted.
I couldn't help but smile at their exchange. This was the Landon I'd been with last night. Easy going, laid back, and joking around. I was glad Cody came. I just wished I’d been able to put him so at ease. Of course, being here with me was what had caused him to be nervous in the first place.
I wasn't looking forward to them leaving me there with everyone so they could start in again about how I better not hurt Landon, but I also didn't want to seem clingy by following him over there. These were my friends, and I could handle them. He stood to go, and I reached for his hand again, giving it a squeeze. “Good luck.”
“Oh, sugar,” he said in an exaggerated drawl. “I don't need luck. I got skill.” Then to my surprise, he leaned down, and his lips brushed mine. I knew it was supposed to be a quick little peck as part of our show, but I'd waited too long to taste him, and bad idea or not, I wasn't letting that stand. I reached up behind his neck and pulled his mouth back to mine. He stumbled a bit, out of surprise I was sure, and grabbed the back of the chair to brace himself. I wanted to pull him into my lap and give him a kiss he would never forget, but we were in public so when he pulled back, I let him go.
He stood up and looked down at me. I was afraid he would be angry. That maybe I’d taken it too far, but he just grinned at me. Then he took off his hat and plopped it down on my head. “You hold that for me. I'll be back in a minute.”
I turned to watch him walk off, and I knew I'd crossed a line. Not with him obviously, but with myself. I'd promised myself I wouldn't touch him. I'd already pushed him into pretending we were together here in River Gorge, and I didn't want to push him any further. But now that I'd had a taste of him, I wanted more. So much more.
I adjusted his hat on my head and turned back to my friends, who all sat there looking at me like I was an alien who had grown a second head. “What?” I asked.
“Nothing,” Cap said. “Nothing at all.”
“Landon seemed a little nervous tonight,” Ripley said, looking over at Landon with concern.
“Maybe that's because everyone’s told him how stupid he is for getting mixed up with a bad bet like me. Maybe, just maybe, he’s worried about what all you are thinking,” I said, changing my mind about owing him an apology for earlier.
Ripley let out a sigh. “I didn't say any such thing to Landon, and I never called you a bad bet. You’re a wonderful guy, and I think you would be a great partner if you ever went all in. The question is just if you will.”
“It's a little early for me to be making that decision, don't you think?”
“It is, but you like him. I can tell. So I'll lay off. Just be careful, okay?”
“Landon is a grown man, baby. He knows what he's doing,” Reed said, kissing Ripley's temple.
“I do like him, and I don't intend to hurt him,” I assured him. “But this thing doesn't stand a chance if you guys don't let it. He respects y'all and your opinions.”
This thing doesn't stand a chance if they don't let it. What the hell was I thinking? This thing didn't stand a chance anyway. It wasn't real. Besides, I didn't want it to, did I? I glanced over at Landon and Cody laughing about something, and I realized I had no idea what I wanted. And at almost thirty years old, it was about damn time I figured it out.
12
Landon
I spent the next three days trying to get ahead on work so I wouldn't be leaving the guys shorthanded and thinking about that kiss. I didn't know what possessed me to kiss him like that or why he grabbed me and pulled me back for more. I told myself it was just for show and that when he walked me out to my truck when I got ready to leave but kept his hands to himself, that I wasn't disappointed. I wasn't stupid. I knew sleeping with him would be a big mistake, but I still wanted him.
Hell, I'd still wanted him for the last year when I was keeping my distance because of his reputation. He was sexy and charming and confident, what wasn't to like? But none of those things made wanting him smart, and I'd been determined to make smart choices. That kiss hadn't been smart, though. I'd convinced myself that him not taking me up on my offer last year, and the way he hadn't made a move since we started this fake dating fiasco meant he wasn't interested, and I wasn't about to throw myself at someone who didn't want me.
But when I pulled back from that kiss Saturday night, the heat in his eyes had been unmistakable. That was the thing I couldn't stop thinking about. The way his hand had felt behind my neck, pulling me back down. The way his mouth had moved over mine. All of that was amazing, but seeing blatant want in his eyes had taken my breath away for a moment.