5. Nolani #5
Not because I’d suddenly forgotten how doors worked.
I simply wanted to let him open it.
Landon came around and did exactly that.
His eyes caught mine as he held out his hand.
“Look at you.”
“Don’t.”
“That’s growth.”
“Say one more word, and I’m closing the door back.”
He laughed. “Come on, Hershey.”
I placed my hand in his and stepped down.
The living room curtains moved as we approached the porch.
I looked toward the window.
“They’re watching us.”
“They terrible at surveillance.”
“You still wanna come to Crème & Chill after meeting this family?”
“I ain’t dating them.”
My foot stopped on the first step.
Landon’s hand caught mine before I lost balance.
I looked up.
“You’re dating me now?”
He considered me beneath the porch light.
“Attempting to.”
“Oh.”
“You keep extending the evaluation period.”
I folded my arms, though my smile made the posture useless. “You’re very confident for a man who hasn’t received an official decision.”
“I reviewed the evidence.”
“And?”
“Applicant interested.”
“Maybe the applicant is still evaluating the position.”
Landon nodded. “Take your time. I intend to stay competitive.”
I laughed.
Then he looked at my mouth.
The humor changed shape.
My pulse followed.
His hand slipped from mine before returning, this time his thumb resting near the inside of my wrist.
He moved closer without closing the final distance.
“Tell me if I’m moving too fast, Hershey.”
“You’re not.”
Something passed through his expression.
Desire, definitely.
Maybe relief too.
His free hand came to the side of my face.
“Good. Been exercising unreasonable restraint since that bookstore.”
I laughed.
His mouth met mine before the sound completely left me.
The first touch was softer than I expected.
Then I kissed him back.
Landon’s hand settled more fully against my cheek, and the second pass of his mouth carried enough heat to make my fingers close around the front of his shirt.
He kissed like he did everything else, deliberate without treating deliberation like hesitation.
No rush to take more because I’d given him some. No performance.
Just a grown man kissing a woman he wanted.
And Lord, he knew what he was doing.
My fingers tightened in his shirt.
A low sound left him.
That did not help.
Neither did the fact that Nyla and Nana were almost certainly pressed against the living room window.
I smiled against his mouth.
Landon pulled back just enough to look at me.
“What?”
“We have an audience.”
He glanced toward the curtain.
It snapped shut.
He laughed and rested his forehead against mine.
“Terrible surveillance.”
I laughed too, still holding his shirt.
“That was a very confident first-round interview.”
“I believe in demonstrating value.”
“You’re ridiculous.”
“You kissed me back.”
“I was gathering data.”
“Mhm.” He lifted his head. “What the research say?”
I smoothed the wrinkles I’d made in his shirt. “Findings remain under review.”
“Need a larger sample size?”
My eyes lifted to his.
That grin.
“Good night, Landon.”
He laughed.
“See how you avoid rigorous methodology.”
“Go home.”
“As you wish.”
He kissed my forehead, stepped away, then reconsidered long enough to steal one brief kiss from my mouth.
I stared at him.
“That was not your forehead.”
“I’m aware.”
“You’re pushing it.”
“Worth it.” I shook my head. “Good night, Hershey.”
“Good night.”
Landon waited until I unlocked the front door before walking back toward his SUV.
I watched him go longer than necessary, then I stepped inside.
Nyla rose from Nana’s sofa with her arms folded and the expression of a woman preparing to testify before Congress.
“You have lost your damn mind.”
I kicked off my sandals. “Hello to you too.”
“I texted you six times and called twice. Lunch started before two, Noli. It is night.”
“My phone was in my purse.”
Nyla’s arms fell. “What?”
“My phone was in my purse.”
She looked toward Nana.
Nana looked back.
Then both of them looked at me.
I frowned. “Why are y’all staring?”
Nyla pressed a hand to her chest. “You forgot your phone?”
“I was busy.”
“Doing what?”
“Having fun.”
Her entire expression changed.
I knew that look.
“No.”
“Noli.”
“Don’t.”
“My baby.”
“We are twins.”
“My baby went on a date and forgot the world had Wi-Fi.”
“I hate you.”
Nyla crossed the room and wrapped both arms around me.
I lasted two seconds before hugging her back.
She squeezed tighter.
“I’m proud of you.”
I groaned into her shoulder. “Please stop making this weird.”
“You went somewhere, enjoyed yourself, let somebody else make the plans, and didn’t call the shop once.”
“Nyla.”
“And you kissed him.”
I pulled away. “You were watching?”
She stared at me.
“You knew we were watching.”
“Nana?”
Nana lifted her teacup. “I glanced.”
“You opened the curtain.”
“I needed a clearer glance.”
I covered my face.
Nyla laughed.
“So?”
I looked through my fingers. “So what?”
“How was lunch?”
I lowered my hands.
My attention moved toward the front window where Landon’s taillights had disappeared several minutes ago, then down to my purse.
The phone remained inside it.
Untouched.
I smiled.
“Lunch was hours ago.”