Page 143 of Worth the Trip

“Smart-ass.”

“Educated smart-ass.”

“Even worse.”

He unloaded everything, came back with the umbrella, and walked me inside.

The cabin smelled like cedar and clean linen. A stone fireplace anchored the living room, surrounded by leather furniture, bookshelves, board games, and framed family photographs. Tall windows looked over the lake, though tonight they held little more than moving darkness.

Landon placed the food on the kitchen island. “What you think?”

“I think somebody has been withholding valuable real estate.”

“You’ve known me a week.”

“And already secrets.”

“I literally brought you here.”

“Under meteorological duress.”

Landon came behind me and settled both hands at my waist. “You think I needed rain to get you alone?”

“You seem grateful for it.”

“I’m grateful you safe.” His mouth brushed beneath my ear. “Everything else is a bonus.”

I turned inside his arms. “Bonus?”

“Significant one.”

His mouth found mine.

The kiss moved slowly, deeper than the ones at the field but still patient. My hands slid up his chest and around his neck while his stayed at my waist. I rose onto my toes, and his breathing changed before he pulled back.

“You keep doing that, dinner gon’ become breakfast.”

“You started it.”

“You turned around looking soft in my arms.”

“That sounds like a you problem.”

“Very much.” I smiled. He kissed it. “Come on. Let me get you comfortable.”

The bedroom held a king-sized bed, dark bedding, wooden furniture, and another set of windows facing the lake. Landon opened a dresser drawer filled with shirts, sweats, and shorts.

“Bathroom stocked too. Take whatever you need.”

I looked inside at clothing designed for somebody several inches taller and considerably broader. “Do you own anything that won’t swallow me?”

“That’s the point.”

I turned toward him. “The point is for me to disappear inside your clothes?”

“The point is for you to walk around in something that belongs to me while I practice restraint.”

“That sounds like a poorly designed system.”