Page 65 of Landon

“Thank you.” She started to take it from him as soon as he had it in his hand but hesitated, still not wanting to say goodbye. Looking up into his face, she hoped for a sign of what he might want. He wasn’t making any moves to dump her case and leave, so she ventured, "Would you like to come up?" The words slipped out before she'd finished thinking them through, but he smiled, and she was instantly glad she'd offered.

“Yes. Absolutely, Noel.” His smile widened instantly.

With her bag in one hand, his other hand rested lightly against the small of her back as they walked, a simple touch that sent sparks through her, so subtle yet intentional. Something about the gesture—a blend of warmth and protection—had her heart racing in ways she hadn’t thought possible.

“Are you okay?” he asked gently as they climbed the stairs to the second floor.

A blush crept across her cheeks, and she managed a small laugh. “Yes, just… thinking too much,” she admitted, reaching for her key. She opened the door, stepping into the neat space she’d thankfully cleaned before the trip. “Would you like something to drink?”

“Water would be good,” he said, setting her bag by the door.

“I also have orange juice or pale ale from a local brewery.”

“Are you going to have anything?”

She walked over and placed her purse on the small table beside a window between the kitchen and living area. “You know, I think I could have the beer.”

His smile warmed, and he dipped his chin. “Make it two.”

He followed her as she walked into her tiny kitchen, grabbed the two beer bottles from the refrigerator, and popped the tops.

“I don't need a glass,” he said. “Straight from the bottle is fine and less for us to clean later.”

They stood together in her cozy living room, the quiet intimacy of the moment wrapping around them like a blanket.Lifting their bottles, they tapped them together, the soft clink mingling with their breathing and her pounding heartbeat. The room was bathed in the soft glow of early dusk, the sun dipping low in the sky, casting a warm, amber hue over everything.

She wanted to offer him a chance to spend the night and drive back to his place in the morning, but an awkwardness lingered. They were back in the real world now, far from the adrenaline-fueled days they’d shared. Was their connection just a fleeting spark from an intense, high-stakes experience?

She took a slow sip of her beer, her gaze drifting over him. “It’s strange,” she finally murmured, her voice soft. “Just… being here, with you, like this. I wasn’t sure if it would feel the same, you know?”

Landon bent over to set his beer bottle on the coffee table, then slid her bottle from her fingers and placed it next to his. She looked up in surprise as he stepped closer. His hands curled around her fingers to hold her tightly. Drawing their clenched hands up, he pressed them close to his heart. “If you're tired and want me to leave, just say so. My feelings won't be hurt.”

“I am tired, but I don't want you to leave. I want you to stay. I mean, if you'd like to?—”

“I absolutely want to stay,” he said, his gaze not wavering.

“You can stay as long as you want. If you spend the night here, you'd be more rested to drive back to your place tomorrow.” She winced, hoping she didn’t sound desperate.

His grin widened. “I like the way you think. But here’s the thing—this,” he said, gesturing between them, “this isn’t something I want to let go of. I don’t want this to just fade away because we’re back to our normal lives.”

With the smile staying firmly on his face, she relaxed. “You said I was in my head earlier, and you were right. The way you and I met and started a relationship was completely out of the ordinary for me. And once we got back here, I suddenly had noidea if we were simply together because of the bizarre situation we found ourselves in.”

He squeezed her hands, still holding them to his chest. “I promise that this is new for me too.”

She laughed and cocked her head. “So you don't usually pick up women during your intense assignments?”

“Never. I'll admit that I've had friends who found their significant other during assignments. But for me? This is new, too.”

“Then I’m glad you’re here in my home.”

His gaze drifted around her space. She tried to see her apartment through his eyes—colorful pillows on the dark blue sofa and matching chair. The TV was on a low console she’d found in a discount store, along with the coffee table. She’d sanded and repainted them in rustic cream. There were framed pictures on the wall, some of her family over the years—others, scenes that offered more splashes of warm color. She hefted her shoulders. “I like it. It’s home.” Her gaze moved back to him. “It’s not a forever place, but a perfect right-now place. I hope it’ll be comfortable for you tonight.”

“If you think I'm staying here just to have a restful layover, then I need to convince you that I'm staying here because I want to spend time with you.”

Her breath hitched as his words sank in. She could see the sincerity in his eyes, the way he looked at her as if he saw all of her, even the parts she hadn’t yet revealed. "Oh."

Landon laughed and wrapped his arm around her. “No pressure. No expectations of sex. Just a chance to spend some quiet downtime with you where we’re not racing through the jungle or hiding out from a storm. Although, I wouldn't object to another shower with you.”

"Yes,” she said, her voice breathy with anticipation. “In fact, we should take care of that now.” Hesitating, she crinkled hernose. "I should warn you that, unlike the resort house guest suite, my shower is over the bathtub. I'm not sure it's big enough for?—”

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