“Must be some story.” Landon’s expression was sullen.
She poked his chest. “Now who’s jealous?”
He smoothed his features. “Impossible. I am the Tin Man, remember? And you love me, so who would I have to be jealous of?” Before her face stoked enough heat to catch fire, he said, “Spill it. Or I’ll cut your kisses down to half as many.”
The threat, though an empty one, coaxed her into talking. “Because of a lapse in judgment, or debatable temporary sanity”—she paused to admire his quirked lips—“Mick owns half of Hobo Chic. Truth is I didn’t really think things through. We’d only been dating a year when we bought it. We broke up shortly after and now we’re stuck.” She shrugged. “Unless I agree to sell it.”
“Is it sellable?”
“Probably. But I don’t want to sell my shop. I want to keep it.”
“Is it profitable?” Whoa. Landon had snapped into business mode. His brows were drawn in concentration. He watched her like an eagle might watch a prairie dog. Intently.
“It does okay. Hobo Chic is a solid business; it’s in the black. But it’s not one Mick and I want to run together. He can’t afford to walk away, and I can’t afford to buy him out. Yet.”
She held up a finger to make her point, stopping short of saying, But I will soon, thanks in part to your monetary contribution. She knew it was silly to feel badly about having accepted money from him, but she couldn’t help it. Sure, she’d done a job and he’d paid for her nanny services, but the line had blurred between babysitting for Lyon and flirting with Landon. She couldn’t help struggling with separation.
“I can help you with traffic,” he said. “One visit to the store and I can assess several attributes, look at your numbers, find a way for you to advertise to your potential customers. Do you—”
She pressed her finger to his lips to shut him up. Landon at Hobo Chic, helping her advertise, giving her business advice… that all sounded very un-fling-like. Kimber didn’t need another man entrenched in the business she should be running by herself. She didn’t want him to be anything more than he was right now.
Unless he ends up being the father of your child.
The thought crashed into her brain like a runaway shopping cart into a minivan. She shoved it away. And ignored the dent.
Putting on her “Everything’s Okay” mask, she threw back the covers and climbed out of bed. “Race you to your room. You owe me a few hundred kisses.”
As she rounded the bed, he lashed one strong arm around her waist and pulled her back in. Laughing, she bounced on the mattress as he arranged himself on top of her and kissed the underside of her chin. “There’s one.”
Her laughter ebbed as relief rushed through her. The intensity from earlier fading. If he was willing to overlook her verbal grenade, and the gaffe of failing birth control, so was she.
“This is the talking bed,” she teased as he licked a path to her collarbone.
“So, talk.” He kissed her arm. “Start with something like Oh, Landon”—he tongued her shoulder—“then yes, Landon.” He smiled, his teeth lightly nipping her flesh. “Maybe throw in a please and a don’t stop.”
As he slid down her body, she found herself murmuring those words in order, then out of order. Until there was nothing left but incoherent syllables.
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
This is how a fling works.” Gloria snatched the ringing phone out of Kimber’s hands and pressed Ignore. “You have to let it end. That’s the point.”
Glo had insisted that now was the best breaking-off point since Kimber and Landon had parted without promises or plans to see each other again. Just a kiss good night after they’d fulfilled the list, then her cab ride home.
“It feels immature not to answer,” Kimber said as her voice mail chimed, alerting her about a new message. “Even if it is to tell him it’s over.” She swiped her finger to unlock the screen.
Glo took the phone.
Kimber fiddled with her thumb ring. “Fine! I won’t check it!”
Her best friend handed over the phone and moved to a jewelry display on the other end of the counter. She lifted a pair of feather earrings to her ears and admired them in the small, round mirror by the display. “Is it over for you?”
Not unless she started her period, she thought with a tremble. Until they knew for sure she wasn’t pregnant, she and Landon were intertwined.
On a sigh, Kimber looked around. The store was empty. Neil was at lunch. She and Gloria were alone in the space. Kimber desperately needed someone to confide in. Despite the fact there was no one around to overhear, she whispered. “We had a condom break.”