Keeping Secrets in Seattle - By Brooke Moss Page 0,58
Alicia? Are you going to be okay with that?”
“I…of course I am. I just want him to make an informed decision.”
“Right.” He dropped some money onto the table. “So what is going to happen if you tell Gabe what all of your so-called research turned up, and he decides not to marry Alicia? What then?”
He stared down at me. “Are you going to dump me so you can have him?”
I paused. I shouldn’t have paused, but I did.
Without a word, he scooped his coat off the bench and walked out, his shoulders slumping as he wove his way toward the door.
“Hey, wait.” I squirmed my way out of the booth after him.
I followed his trail through the restaurant, but a voice called from behind me right as I grabbed the handle. “Miss. You forgot your purse.”
I looked down at my empty hands and groaned. Sure enough, I left my purse sitting on the table, where a bus boy was waiting for me. I went back to get it, thanking the young man, then charged out to the parking lot where Landon was leaning against the side of his bike, waiting for me with a frown set deep on his face.
I drew a long, ragged breath as I walked, releasing it slowly. Sure, I could have stomped away mad, called a cab, and headed home by myself, but the truth was, I didn’t want to. I enjoyed being with Landon. He made me laugh and was sexy as hell. It’d been a long time since I found anyone who made me do that…besides Gabe.
I walked up to him with my arms out defensively. “You left without letting me answer.”
“You paused,” he grunted. “That seemed like enough of an answer to me.”
I walked right up close to Landon, so that we were just inches apart. “You’re reading too much into all of this. What you didn’t hear me say, was: no. I am not going to be with Gabe. Not now, not ever. We’re done. We’re friends. Period.”
Those words gave me a stomachache.
He looked down at me sadly. “I don’t want you to be with me just because Gabe is taken. I want you to be with me because you love me.”
“I’m with you because…” I bit my lip. “I care about you.”
His face dropped. “I’m such a fool when I’m with you. I fell so hard and fast for you, and you don’t even love me back. This is nuts.”
I rested my purse on the seat of his bike and looped my arms around his waist underneath his leather coat. “I am with you because you make me happy. I am with you because you are handsome and kind and wonderful. Just because I am slow to use that word doesn’t mean I don’t feel it.”
“Do you really mean that?” The mood shifted as he brushed my hair back, and his brown eyes began to shine.
I nodded. “Of course I mean it. I wouldn’t be here if I didn’t.”
Landon leaned down and kissed me, his lips pulling into a smile against mine. “You just admitted that you love me.”
I squeezed my eyes shut. This is not a lie. I do love Landon.
I let him deepen the kiss, allowing myself to escape in the moment. This was what was supposed to happen. This was my chance at happiness. Gabe was taken, promised to another. Landon was here and completely devoted to me. Landon was the smart choice. I was supposed to be in the parking lot of an Indian food joint making out with him next to his Harley. This was exactly the life I was meant to have. Landon and I were the perfect couple. We matched, for heaven’s sake. We looked the part.
Landon nuzzled into my hair a bit. This was it. He needed to hear it. He needed to know where I stood.
“I love you.” I closed my eyes and turned my face away from his.
My head buzzed as Landon pulled me back a few inches and looked at me like I just announced that he’d won the lottery. His eyes were moist, and his grin was wider than ever.
“You love me.” He yanked me into a hug so tight it felt like my ribs were going to crack. Another couple emerged from the restaurant, and Landon called out to them. “Hey. Check it out. She loves me.”
Oh, good Lord, I thought, as the couple waved at us and called, “Mazel tov.”