Shake It Up (Man of the Month 8)

Taylor: Yes. Will be there if and when.

* * *

Satisfied, she nodded to herself. She'd see Dominic, he'd help her. And by tomorrow night, she'd be long gone.

No more Landon.

No more friends.

Tears pricked her eyes again as she paused on the path, just a few yards shy of the pedestrian gate.

Was this really the way?

Could she really do this? Leave Landon behind?

More important, did she want to?

The answer filled her head, loud and resolute. Hell no.

She froze, her heart pounding wildly. Because that was the real issue, wasn't it? She didn't want to leave. Didn't want to run anymore. She wanted to stay here, with the friends she'd made, living the life she'd built.

She wanted Landon. His friendship. His laughter. His touches.

And, yes, she wanted more. Or at least she wanted the chance for what already existed between them to grow into more.

But she'd never get that chance if she ran away.

And maybe--just maybe--he could help her to end this once and for all.

Slowly, she started to turn around. She was still terrified, but she was more resolved, and one step at a time she started back toward the house.

At first, she watched her feet as she walked, unsure of her footing in the dark. Then she lifted her head and saw something moving in front of her. A shadow.

She froze, and was about to turn and run when she realized it was Landon. Jogging through the night toward her. Moving like a silent shadow over the crushed granite drive until he was right in front of her, his breath coming hard.

"You were leaving," he said. "But now you're not?"

"I'm not. I--I changed my mind."

He studied her face. "Why?"

She drew a breath. "A lot of reasons," she admitted. "But the only one that matters is you."

A slow smile spread across his face. "I like that answer."

"I didn't mean to wake you," she said.

He laughed. "I assumed as much."

"I was going to walk out the gate and keep on going."

His eyes locked on hers. "I assumed that as well."

Her mouth was dry, and she licked her lips. "You came after me."

Gently, he reached out, then traced her lower lip with his thumb. Then he held up his own phone and showed her the little dot that represented her. "I would have come a hell of a lot further than the property line."

"Why?" The question was barely a whisper.