Page 248 of Worth the Trip

My palm settled over his chest.

“For the record, I’d make the trip too.”

His brows rose.

“Yeah?”

“Every time.”

His smile broke open.

“Careful, baby. You keep talking like that, and I’m gon’ start thinking you like me.”

I laughed, then gave him the truth again because I loved what it did to his face.

“I love you.”

His breath caught.

He pulled me against him.

“See, now you showing off.”

“You said you were gonna keep saying it.”

“I am.”

“So am I.”

His lips touched my forehead.

“Please do.”

I stayed there until music from the festival shifted into another song.

Eventually, Landon looked down.

“You know what I liked most about today?”

“My wildly successful business venture?”

“Impressive.”

“My custom flavor?”

“Sacred.”

“The song?”

“Almost killed me.”

I laughed. “Then what?”

He studied me.

“You looked free.” The laughter left. “I watched you enjoy your own damn day. You let your people work. You listened to what folks had to say about Self Springs without turning every question into a five-year plan. You made me something because you wanted to. You sang because you wanted to. Then you told me you loved me because you were ready.” His thumb moved across my cheek. “You looked free.”

I leaned into his hand.