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I dusted myself off. “Thanks, but I can stand up on my own.”
“I’m glad you came back,” he said. “I have to admit, I—”
I held up my palm to stop him. All the distant fear I’d felt about my growing feelings for Landon seemed to double in an instant. I was afraid he’d say something that was going to make me fall deeper, so I did what I always did—something stupid. “Actually. I didn’t come here tonight for Grandpa Willy’s list. Or you. I wanted to experience the club for myself a little bit.” Of course, it was a bold-faced lie, but I couldn’t seem to help myself from sabotaging whatever feelings he might have for me.
“That’s not a good idea,” Landon said. The way his dark hair was slightly messy and coming loose over his intense eyes had an admittedly startling effect, but I refused to be swayed.
“Thankfully I’m not obligated to live according to what you consider a good or bad idea. So…” I weaved around him and started walking down the hallway toward the lobby of The Golden Pecker.
Landon caught me by the shoulder and turned me to face him, almost roughly. The suddenness of it pissed me off, and I shoved him by the chest. Hard. Except he was too solid to be moved, so I only succeeded in hurting my wrists and nearly falling backwards.
I saw anger, rage, and maybe even a flame of desire explode in his features as he advanced toward me. As much as I wanted to hold my ground, I couldn’t help being backed toward the wall. He slapped one palm against the wall above my head and bent down. His lips crashed into mine, pushing my head back with the force of it.
All I did was survive the moment for the first few seconds—like being caught in a massive wave so big the only option was to relax and hope you weren’t dashed against the jagged rocks just below the surface.
Then I was kissing him back. My emotions were a tangled ball I didn’t even care to try to decipher. All I needed was the press of his lips against mine—that velvety crush of warmth that made it feel like my world had turned to glitter and fireworks.
His hands were so big and possessive, pulling me in, clutching me to his body as if he was afraid I might go somewhere.
I pulled back instinctively. It couldn’t have been more than ten seconds, maybe less. But my heart was pounding and I couldn’t seem to catch my breath. Every nerve in my body was lit up like the Fourth of July, and Landon was staring down at me like he was just as shocked as I was.
“No,” I said. “You don’t get to do that—to just,” I pushed him back and moved away, waving my hand angrily. “You’re hiding something. I know you are. And if you think being an amazing kisser is going to make me forget about it?” I laughed mirthlessly.
I really didn’t know what I wanted. I just knew I was angry. Angry that my grandpa couldn’t just pass away and let me handle the grief of losing him. He had to put this cruel twist to it all and send me on the most emotionally confusing journey of my life. And then Landon had to constantly tempt me with the promise that he might be some perfect guy, even though he was obviously keeping something from me.
“You’re right, I’m sorry.” Landon said. His words came out clipped and controlled, like he was trying hard not to say more.
“I’m right. You’re sorry? That’s it? You could try telling me what it is you’re hiding. What’s the big secret? Huh? Or were you hoping you could just let me fall for you so deep that I’d forgive you for being a liar?”
“It’s not that simple.”
“It’s pretty damn simple. There’s the truth, and then there’s you. Truth, meet a stranger named Landon. I know you two haven’t met before, but he would love to give you a try.”
“Andi…” Landon said.
“No.” I held up my palm and shook my head. “I’m going to check out the club for myself. Or will going in there reveal your secret? Is that why you’re trying so hard to stop me?”
“It’s not safe in there. For you.”
“I can take care of myself.”
“I’m aware. Trust me,” he added, almost reluctantly. “But it’s a different world in there. There are rules you don’t know about. Customs you’d be walking blind into. Somebody could misinterpret, they could think…”
“What? Spell it out for me, Landon. They’ll think I’m free game? That I want to fuck? And what if that’s all true? Is that a problem for the executor of my grandfather’s will? Because I find it hard to believe you hang out in here every night and don’t go exploring on your own. So is it just me that isn’t supposed to have any fun? That’s what you want me to be, right? Something you can put in a display case and play with when it suits you?”
