by Hannah Ford
“I just mean… it makes me wonder what kind of event this is. A little high-brow for Orting, don’t you think?
Her curiosity finally piqued, she scanned the room. “It does seem kinda fancy. Let’s play a game…. We each get one guess as to what this little shindig is all about.”
I leaned back in the booth, crossing my legs at the ankle. “Alright. And how do we know who’s right?”
“I’ll wait until we’re ready to go and then asked someone. Now let’s see… Hmmm, suits, but no ties, so nothing too stuffy. Not enough black to be a funeral reception.”
“Thank god,” I said drily. I turned to the room, taking in its occupants. “Looks like some kind of work function to me.”
She leaned forward on her elbows, studying the room. “How can you tell?”
“Doesn’t really look like anyone came as a couple.” I scoot over, so Annie and I are hip to hip. “See? No one is leaning into one another, no one has their arms around each other. These people look like colleagues or something.”
She nods, sipping at her drink as she scans the people in the room. “Good call. So not a rehearsal dinner or engagement party, then. Some kind of business thing.”
We fell silent, scanning the room for clues. “Hey… isn’t that the mayor?” I said, nodding toward a tall, elegant woman in a smart black dress and pearls. “I mean I don’t know her, but it looks like the billboard.”
“Oh, actually, I think you’re right. And that guy standing next to her is Earl Thomas,” she said.
I recognized the founder of Thomas International, a nationwide shipping company. They employed half the town.
“Okay, so definitely a business function,” I said, warming up to the challenge. I was Nancy Drew, piecing together the clues. Better than a night stuck at home, playing scrabble with my brother and dad, anyway. “Alright then. If I had to guess what they were celebrating, I’d go with—”
“The launch of Prestige Sports Medicine Center,” came a voice from behind us.
I stiffened, the honey-toned voice washing over me. It couldn’t be. He hadn’t been back in years. There was no way…
“Landon,” Annie said, darting me a look. “Long time no… uh, talk.”
I closed my eyes, raking in a deep, steadying breath and wishing I’d had about six more drinks. Maybe then my heart wouldn’t be hammering so hard I could hear it in my ears. Maybe then, I wouldn’t want to stand up, stare him straight in the eyes, and slap the hell out of him.
Instead, I twisted in the booth, trying to act as unaffected a possible. “Landon,” I said coolly.
“Taryn,” he said back, the edges of his lips curling. The image of him, smiling down in that self-assured, almost arrogant way, slammed me back three years. To all the times he looked at me like that, to all the times I grinned back, flirting with the edge of danger, until the day I’d jumped right off.
And regretted that choice every day since.
“What are you doing here?” I asked. I was doing my best to hide my shock. It was like trying to pretend that you didn’t notice the earthquake happening all around you—the tidal wave about to smash everything you knew to bits.
“I could have asked you the same thing,” he responded.
I narrowed my eyes. “I live here.”
He chuckled. “You live in a bar?”
Ugh, playing dumb did not suit this man, with his startling blue eyes that saw everything. He knew exactly what I meant.
“Not here,” I snapped. “I’m talking about Orting. You haven’t set foot in this town in three years, since--” I caught myself just I time, my mouth growing dry. “In three years,” I finished.
He gripped the edge of the table, leaning in until he was close.
Too close. Annie faded beside me, and I could only stare back, remembering the last time we looked at each other like this.
“And yet,” he said, as his lips curled into a wolfish grin, revealing his teeth. “Here I am.”
I swallowed, ignoring the rich scent of his cologne, something light years different than the stuff he used to wear. More… mature, just like the man standing in front of me, filling out the shoulders of his black sports jacket. “Why?” I managed to ask.
“I told you,” he said, standing upright again. “To celebrate the opening of the Prestige Sports Medicine Center.”
I finally was able to let the air rush back into my lungs, and my head cleared a tiny bit. I snorted. Tried to act nonchalant, like his proximity wasn’t effecting me.
Tried to treat him as the twenty-two year old who left me behind, and not like this man, who dressed too sharply to belong in this town. Tried to pretend he didn’t fill out his jacket in a way he had no right doing.
I crossed my arms, steeling myself against the feelings warring in my chest. “Why the hell do you care about a sports medicine center?”
His grin widened, turning smug. Whatever he was about to say, he was enjoying it, salivating over my reaction like it was going to be his next meal. Until that moment I’d forgotten his arrogance, forgotten the way he walked into every room as if he knew we’d all bow if only he asked.
“Because I own it.”
“Bullshit.”
To this he laughed, shaking his head. “I think I may need a drink for this. Stay put. We have some catching up to do.” He gave me one last look before he sauntered off, and for a moment the smile in his eyes seemed to die and was replaced by something far more intense and hungry.
Then the smile was back and that hungry look was gone, and I knew it had probably all been in my imagination.
I watched him retreat, blinking away the after-effect of his nearness.
“Ho-Ly-Shit,” Annie said, the second he was out of earshot. “How is it possible that he got hotter?”
I gritted my teeth. I didn’t give a shit about how great his ass looked in those pants. He didn’t deserve to look so good in his clothes. “Never mind that, how is it possible that he’s back in town and I didn’t know it?”
Annie slurped from her straw, but the drink was empty, gurgling between the ice cubes. “Do you think your brother knew he was coming?”
I shrugged, sinking in my seat. “I’m not sure, actually. Matt’s been kind of distant lately. He’s got this big project at work so he’s been missing family dinners.” I dug into my purse. “I’ll text him.”
I unlocked my phone, fury building in my veins. Tonight had been fun, until now. Until he strolled up behind me and blew it all to hell.
Why didn’t you tell me Landon was back in town?
It took only seconds for his reply to appear.
Why do you care?
I frowned and shoved my phone back into my purse. So Matt knew his high school best friend was back. So nice of him to give me a chance to steel myself from the emotional reaction I had when Landon reappeared…like something out of a dream.
Or maybe a nightmare. I still wasn’t sure which this was.
Before I could say anything else, Landon slid into the booth, his body pressing against me, his heat evident against my bare shoulders and knee. I gritted my teeth and tried to slide over, to put some distance between us. But Annie was there, grinning back at me. And then she loudly slurped at her straw, as if to prove her drink was empty.
“What, like we’re just going to pick up where we left off?” I snapped.
His face remained blank as he tipped his head to the side, studying me. “Still the same Taryn, I see.”
“I need a replacement,” Annie said, picking up her glass and sloshing it around. The ice cubes clanked together so loudly I was sure I’d remember it in the morning, like the clank of a prison door slamming shut.
“Enjoy the mushrooms?” he asked, gesturing to my plate.
I leaned back, crossing my arms, trying to create a barrier between me and this arresting, all-too attractive man. “Are we really going to do this? Trade some small talk, maybe discuss the weather?”
“Would you rather do something e
lse?” he asked, his eyes dipping lower.
There’s no way he couldn’t tell I was braless, the way his gaze raked over my breasts.
My cheeks burned, and I struggled to hang onto the anger simmering in my chest. “Don’t be an ass, Landon. You know why I’m mad at you.”
He sighed. “I’m not interested in rehashing the past.”
“How convenient,” I sniped.
He turned, looping his elbow over the back of the seat and pressing his knee into my leg, and his eyes narrowed as he shot back. “You seemed pretty happy with me when we saw one another last.”
I clenched my jaw. “You’re insufferable.”
His grin returned, more seductive now. “Are you sure you don’t want-”
“Stop, okay?” I said, my heart fluttering against my ribcage. “Just stop. I can’t do this with you. I don’t want to pretend-” I caught myself, lowering my voice. “I don’t want to pretend with you.”
I slid out of the booth, the leather sticking to my bare skin. It took only seconds, but it seemed to stretch on forever, because I had to slide all the way around the horseshoe-shape to get out the same way Annie had gone.
I stood, smoothing my skirt. “Congratulations on all of your success,” I muttered, shooting him a dirty look. “And welcome back.”
I strode across the room, looking for Annie. Torn between ordering a few shots or storming out of the place. I was halfway to the bar when a hand on my arm stopped me. I spun to say something witty to him, but lost my balance on the heels as he pulled me toward the waiting darkness of a coat closet.
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