“What is it?”
“I can’t stay more than tonight. I have class on Monday. Tomorrow is Sunday, but I’ll have to study, so I have to be back early.” I pack a small overnight bag and take my purse.
We’re leaving and see Danny’s walking with Kelly. “Perfect timing.”
“No, he got summoned back to drop me off. Have fun, girly.” She winks at me and closes the door, leaving Danny standing outside with us.
We take the elevator down to the lobby and to the parking lot. I don’t know what to say because I’m nervous. I’m sure Danny knows what happened between us and what is going to happen. I suppose that’s normal, but it’s all new to me.
“I’ll see you back at the office on Monday.”
“Sure, Landon.” He nods, walking off to a large black SUV while Landon leads me over to a sleek Jaguar.
“Nice.”
“So tell me about living in Montana.”
“I grew up on our family ranch with my parents and brother. He’s a few years older than me and living his best life here in the city, and it’s kind of why I picked Chicago for college.”
“Well, then, I owe him a world of gratitude.” He takes my hand in his and settles our forearms down on the center console.
“You haven’t met him yet.”
“I’m not afraid of your brother, sweetheart.” He brushes his thumb over my knuckles before bringing my hand to his mouth and kissing it. He’s too perfect. Something has got to be wrong with him, but for now, I’m going to turn off my mind and enjoy the pleasure and joy he brings me. We make our way through the downtown area and the traffic is a little heavy, but not congested.
“So did you live outside of a major city there, or a small town?”
“Snow Ridge is a very small town with a ski resort and plenty of wilderness for hunting. Most of the area is flat where I live, or where I used to live.”
“Something tells me you didn’t like it there.”
“It wasn’t anything in particular, except it was boring. The monotony of it all. Day in and day out, the ranch runs like a well-oiled machine while I took the bus to school.”
“You don’t drive, or were there not enough vehicles?”
“My parents didn’t trust me not to run away, so I wasn’t allowed to drive often.”
“I have a feeling there’s more to that. So sneaking into parties isn’t the only trouble you get yourself into.”
“I never tried, but they knew I didn’t like living there where it was so remote.”
“Were they cruel to you?” I can feel the tension rolling off him as if he’s ready to snap at that idea.
I rub my thumb over his hand. “No. My parents are wonderful. I’ve only gotten a spanking every once in a blue moon when I was a kid, and then they started grounding me when I was bad. My brother will tell you; I was the bad one. My mother and I had this talk before I left. She’s worried about me and that I’ll get myself into too much trouble. I think I have.” I look up at him.
“Trouble? No, but you might have just signed your future over to me, love.”
“That sounds like loads of trouble.” We pull into an underground parking garage.
“Nope, I promise a life of happiness and passion,” he says as he pulls into a private parking area. It’s isolated from the rest of the garage, which is pretty epic. We go inside, and there’s six other vehicles.
“We’ll see.” His mouth lands over mine, and I’m lost in his kiss.
He takes my hand and walks me about twenty feet to a glass entryway that has a bank of elevators.
“That we will, Lara. That we will.” His mouth brushes mine again as we wait for the elevator. When it dings, he pulls back and holds my hand.
Chapter Six
Landon
The elevator doors open and I use my code, key, and fingerprint on the security system that has been fitted for just myself and Danny, who is the only other person I trust to come up to my place. Although, I’ll have to get her fingerprint added to the system as well.
“Is this the secret way you sneak your women into your condo?”
As soon as the doors close, I pin her to the wall, my hips bracing hers while my hands bracket her face. “I don’t sneak women up into my home. I’m taking you home and making you my wife because I want you. End of story, Lara. I don’t care what you say to try to dissuade me. Because when it’s all said and done, I’m going to marry you, fill your belly with little versions of us, and we’re going to live the dream life. Understood?”
I get that she’s nervous and she’s taking that out on me, making assumptions based on men in general, but I’m not like every other fucker out there. My life has been fucked up and maybe I’m no good for her in other ways, but my faithfulness is without a doubt a guarantee.