“I was pretty sheltered,” Robert said, letting Landon walk right into him, that naughty smirk on his face. “I didn’t have sex for the first time until I was in college.”
“Top or bottom?”
“Top.”
“Yeah, me too.” Landon’s grin enchanted him. “How have we not discussed our firsts in all this time?”
Maybe because he liked to pretend Landon hadn’t known another man before him. Which of course sounded insane.
“Your size fits a big house like this.” Robert ran his hands down Landon’s muscular arms. A knock on the door interrupted his thoughts as he looked in that direction.
“Hang on,” Robert called out, clasping Landon’s hand, keeping him in place when he started for the door. “It means the world to me that you made me your beneficiary, that you want to give me access to your world. Thank you.”
Landon looked uncomfortable, but resigned when he said, “I told Autumn I wanted to put my paycheck into the joint account you started. I send money home to my parents every month. If something happens to me, I’d need you to keep that going. I don’t send much, but it helps them.” Robert had already learned about Landon’s generosity from his uncle then again when a notification popped up on his phone while Robert had been holding it, a text from his mother, thanking him for the money.
“Landon, keep your money…” The fierce look he got immediately had him changing the direction of his words. “Whatever you want to do. Send them more if it helps. We’re in this together now.”
Landon nodded, letting out a pent-up breath. The subject of money always weighed heavily on Landon, who left his hold and went toward the bedroom door. Right before his guy pulled it open, he tossed a cocky, teasing grin over his shoulder with a gleam in his eye making Robert know something was coming, he just didn’t know what.
Landon yanked it open wide and hooked a thumb over his shoulder toward Robert. “He’s Robert Adams, their son.” Landon twirled a finger to indicate the house, and therefore, Avery and Kane’s child. He saw excitement register on the eager faces where they stood just beyond the threshold. As the couple came forward, Landon stepped out, “I’m going to walk to the river’s edge, then I’ll meet you at the car.”
No, he did not! Robert stood there, stunned, as more visitors came for him, introducing themselves. His engrained manners suppressed the desire to get Landon back…for now. He did allow himself to call out to Landon, though, with a, “Well played!” before he greeted the tourists.
Chapter 32
“It’s been slow,” Rodney said, taking the seat next to Robert at La Bella Luna. Robert glanced at his wristwatch, a sweet and thoughtful wedding present from Landon. Half past eight. Then he looked around the restaurant. It did seem pretty empty.
“It’s Sunday night,” he replied, returning his concentration to the sleeping bundle in his arms. Kylie was the most precious little thing. But she’d been a tiny Tasmanian devil for the entire length of their dinner, pounding on the table with her little hands, throwing her cookies and crackers to the ground repeatedly.
Kylie had been so disruptive that Autumn had tried to bail on their dinner maybe fifteen minutes after arriving, afraid Kylie would bother the other guests. Robert wasn’t having any of that. He imagined his niece would slow her roll sooner or later. It took some time, but Kylie finally exhausted herself, crashing hard in his arms where she’d been for a good thirty minutes now. Her sweet warmth seeped into his heart. She was precious and soundly sleeping in his arms. He didn’t think a pack of stampeding elephants would wake her.
“I’ll finish cleaning up her mess when I can tear myself away from her. She’s addictive. I miss her.”
“We have a vacuum that’ll clean this right up. I just don’t want to wake her,” Rodney said, looking over the table at Kylie.
“If the music doesn’t wake her, I’m not sure anything could.” Robert cut his gaze toward the new dance floor placed in the front corner of the restaurant where Landon currently danced with Autumn. His guy had the moves. Robert had already learned that lesson. They went dancing regularly when at home, but Autumn had been delighted to see she had a willing partner and had had Landon on the dance floor for a good fifteen minutes now.
“Tell me what’s going on with you now. You’re married. I like him. What else’s going on? Are you ever going back to medicine?” Rodney asked, not sugar-coating his inquiry.
He’d been asked that same question a few times since arriving back in Minnesota. In DC, Robert’s focus had been Landon, making sure he was enough to keep Landon with him and finding a way to bring them to this point. Now a bigger picture future seemed a little more accessible, and looking back, he could see how his actions over the last year and a half may have seemed erratic to other people.