Page 25 of Leaving Lando

“Of course not. Why would I mind?”

“I know how you like expanding the waistlines of the local police force.”

I scoff. “I only did that so I could flirt with you.”

“Oh, is that why.”

He’s grinning. I jab him in the arm. “Wiseass.”

“I am very wise about asses. For instance, I know that yours is fantastic.”

He can still make me blush at odd moments. “Well, thank you, sir. I am also a connoisseur of prime posteriors, and can testify that yours is superlative.”

We’ve been following a winding road up into the foothills, past what I can only call estates — grand houses, when I can see them at all, on huge lots. Lando pulls up to a wrought-iron gate across a driveway, and it swings silently open. The driveway forks past the gate, and he takes the right-hand fork, which curves around and ends in front of a beautiful house.

It’s not as grand as some of the others, though it’s not small. All wood and glass, it’s surrounded by majestic trees, as if they’d all grown up together and the house were not a manmade structure at all.

“That’s gorgeous.”

Lando slings an arm around my shoulders as we walk to the front door. “Yeah, Tonio has good taste. One reason his developments always do well.”

“Did he design it himself?”

“He did. An architect drew up the blueprints, but the ideas are all his.”

A beaming Cait opens the door. “Hi there. So glad you could make it; come on in.”

Lando hands her the goodie bag. “Dessert from Callahan’s.”

“Score! Come this way.” She takes the bag and leads us past the dividing wall that separates the foyer from —

“Surprise!”The enormous living room is full of people: my sisters, and a few gazillion Adamos.

Lando smiles at me. “Happy birthday, Red.”

“You brat!” I half-punch, half-hug him. “You never said a word all day!”

“That would have spoiled the surprise.” And then he kisses me, right there in front of his whole family, a kiss that is in no way chaste or platonic and involves quite a lot of tongue. “I’ll make it up to you.”

The way he’s looking at me makes me feel all squishy inside, and I’m far too aware of all the Adamos watching us. “Okay then,” I say, and pull back a little as I cut my eyes to Jade. “So, all that ice cream you had Quinn make today …”

She laughs. “I told her we had a client who wanted a bunch of flavors for a big party. I just didn’t mention Rome was the client.”

“Sneaky, sis.”

Jade pulls me into a hug. “Happy birthday again, Brianna. I love you more than words can say.”

I hug her hard. We already exchanged birthday wishes at the bakery, but I love that she put this together for me and Quinn. “I love you too.” She lets me go, and then I’m surrounded by well-wishers. I try not to look at Lando too much.

There’s food everywhere. Someone presses a drink into my hand, and I don’t even ask what’s in it. There are plenty of kids here along with all the grownups, so the punch probably isn’t spiked, so to speak.

I find myself next to Gina, Carlo’s wife. “I’m a little surprised at the turnout,” I say to her in an undertone. “I’ve never met most of these people. I guess Adamos like to party.”

Gina smiles. “It’s your invasion, hon.”

“My what?”

“Remember that night when all those Adamos turned up at your farmhouse?”

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