Page 234 of Worth the Trip

When he stopped, he turned toward me.

“Did you want to sing today?”

“Yes.” No hesitation. “I wanted you to hear me.”

“Hershey.”

“You heard me Monday, but Monday was different. Today I wanted to choose it before you ever asked.” His free hand settled at my waist. I covered it with mine. “You tell me when you want me. You tell me when you miss me. You let me into your family and your work without making any of it a test. You told me you loved me and never stood there waiting for me to hurry up and say it back.”

“There wasn’t a deadline.”

“I know.” My voice lowered. “That’s part of why I got there.”

His body stilled. “Got where, my love?”

I lifted one hand to his face.

“I love you, Landon.” For once, language left him first. He stared at me. I smiled. “Baby?”

His eyes closed.

When they opened, the swagger had disappeared.

Just Landon.

“Say that again.”

“I love you.”

“Nolani.”

I stepped closer. “I love you, Landon.”

His forehead came down to mine.

The breath he released trembled between us.

“My love.”

He kissed my forehead, one cheek, then the other before finally reaching my mouth. None of it hurried.

When he looked at me again, something bright sat behind his eyes.

“You have no idea what you just did to me.”

“I think I do.”

“Nah, baby. You don’t.”

I curled my fingers into his shirt.

“Then show me.”

He kissed me.

Slowly.

His hands stayed at my waist while mine held his face. Somewhere beyond the trees, a saxophone stretched a note across the festival, but his mouth moved against mine again, and everything else receded.