"I know." But it was over for now, and she'd take what she could get. "Want to go to The Fix? I'd like to get my car out of that lot. Plus, we can grab a bite."
"Sure."
And just like that the day turned normal again. They were a couple going out for a meal. She half-expected him to tell her not to say anything about the two of them if they bumped into friends in the bar, which, of course, would happen. But he didn't say a word. On the contrary, he took her hand as they walked from the street spot he'd snagged to the glass and wood door of The Fix. And he pressed his palm to her lower back as they entered together.
Once inside, they found a two-top by the window, and they ordered Lobster Rolls. As they waited for their food, Landon went to the back to talk to Brent. As soon as he disappeared, Mina plopped into his chair, and Megan dragged a chair over.
"Well?" Mina asked.
"Why aren't you at work?" Taylor countered.
She waved off the question. "I left right at five. I'm meeting a local director here for dinner. That's not the point. What happened with you and Landon?"
"Wait," Megan said. "What happened that you're staying at The Winston?"
Taylor blinked at her. "How'd you hear about that?"
Megan rolled her eyes. "Small world, or hadn't you noticed? I was at The Winston for a meeting with the conference manager. The Fix is sponsoring a food fair in October and Derek arranged for the hotel to donate space," she added in response to Taylor's questioning look. "Amanda was there, and we started talking and..."
"Gossip central," Taylor said. "Yeah, I get it. Long story, but the bottom line is that this guy who used to be into me before I moved to Texas is stalking me."
"Shit," Megan said.
"That about sums it up for me," Taylor admitted.
"And Landon's her knight in sexy armor," Mina chirped. "And...?"
Taylor smiled and hummed, then lifted her brow, and both girls squealed.
"So have you ... you know?" Mina asked.
"A girl never you knows and tells," Taylor quipped, making them both laugh and lean in for more gossip.
Fortunately, Taylor was saved by the arrival of both food and Landon.
"What did I miss?" he asked, which caused Mina and Megan to exchange glances and start giggling all over again.
He shifted his attention to Taylor and lifted a single brow. She just batted her eyes and blew him a kiss.
They hung out for a while after they ate, just chatting with everyone they knew. Then they headed to the lot to get her car. She wanted to ask Landon what the sleeping arrangements would be now that she had security at her apartment and her car back. Although they hadn't armed the security system yet since she still hadn't picked all her codes and safe words. But she knew Landon wouldn't leave her until she did.
As for the arrangements, she wanted to know, but the question seemed so forward, especially since she already knew the answer she was hoping for: Landon in her house, and a weekend as lovely and lazy as the morning they'd just had.
She'd almost worked up the nerve to broach the subject when they reached the lot. "That one," she said, pointing to her Corolla, tucked away in a corner under a burned-out street lamp.
But as they drew closer, she got a bad feeling. And since Landon put his arm out to keep her one step behind him, she realized she wasn't the only one. When they were a few feet away, she realized she was walking on glass.
"Streetlight," he whispered. "Someone broke it."
She looked up and realized he was right. The bulb and covering were gone, replaced by remnants, the fallen glass and plastic now crunching under foot.
"Give me your keys."
She did, and he opened the driver's door. The smell got her immediately. A rotting, disgusting smell. Rotten meat spread all over the front of her car and piled into the back seat. And in the summer heat, it was already crawling with maggots.
Her stomach lurched, and she turned away, barely keeping herself from vomiting.
Behind her, Landon slammed the door. A moment later, his arms went around her, and she curled into his arms, her face buried against his chest.