Page 74 of Worth the Trip

I hated how much I liked that.

The server returned with citrus crab cakes over sweet corn purée.

He placed mine down first.

“For the beautiful lady.”

Landon glanced up.

“Aight, my guy. You serving food or submitting an application?”

The server laughed. “Just giving the lady her due.”

“Then we agree. Proceed.”

I waited until the man left before looking at Landon. “You’re ridiculous.”

“Nah. Diplomatic. I recognized his position, established mine, and avoided unnecessary escalation.”

“That was jealousy with vocabulary.”

“I ain’t jealous.”

“He called me beautiful.”

“Exactly. Man standing there reporting established facts like he broke the story.”

I laughed.

Landon cut into his crab cake like he hadn’t said anything at all.

The first bite hit lemon, sweet corn, herbs, and enough spice to make my eyes close.

“Hershey.”

I opened them.

He was looking at me.

“What?”

“You do that every time food good?”

“Do what?”

“That face.”

“What face?”

He shook his head. “Never mind.”

“No. You started it.”

“I know when to preserve evidence.”

“Landon.”

He laughed. “You close your eyes for half a second. That’s how I know something got you.”