Page 79 of Worth the Trip

I fought a smile.

Lost.

“Pay the bill, Landon.”

“Yes, ma’am.”

By the time we stepped off the yacht, night had claimed Self Springs.

Landon climbed down first and turned with his palm already open.

“Your hand, Hershey.”

This time, I gave it to him without reminding either of us what I could do alone.

His fingers closed around mine.

Once my feet reached the dock, he didn’t let go.

Neither did I.

We walked back toward the SUV holding hands like somewhere between the Gulf and brown sugar cheesecake we’d both stopped pretending this was merely sightseeing.

The drive toward Willow Run began beneath low music and dashboard light.

I sank deeper into the passenger seat, tired in the pleasant way a good day left behind. My phone remained buried inside my purse.

Landon glanced toward me at a red light. “You tired?”

“A little.”

“We did a lot.”

“So did you.”

“Yeah, but I planned to wear you out.”

I turned so fast my seat belt caught. “Excuse me?”

His face stayed completely serious for approximately half a second.

“Walking, Hershey. All that walking today. Whatever else your imagination added is between you and the Lord.”

I laughed. “You knew exactly how that sounded.”

“I possess a respectable command of English. Absolutely knew.”

“You’re terrible.”

“Extensive command, actually. But humility.”

I shook my head.

He looked toward my purse. “You ain’t checked your phone all day.”

My smile eased. “I forgot about it.”

Landon glanced at me.