Page 24 of Bourbon & Bonfires

“No, it’s okay. We should let you get back to whatever you’re doing.”

“Addison, it’s dinner time, and Mason said he’s not going to the dance, and you’re going to order pizza. By the look on your face in response to the word “pizza” and the comments you made a few weeks back about it, I’m thinking you’re a little over pizza.”

“It’s true. I thought it was my favorite food. Heck, it’s even one of my security questions for a password. But now? After indulging Mason for months as a way to help make him happy? It’s the last thing I want to eat.”

“Perfect, tacos are not pizza,” he says with a smile and holds the screen door open for me.

As I take a tentative step into the house, I am surprised to find it less bachelor pad and more ... homey. The door I entered takes me into a large open kitchen that looks out over the living room. The kitchen is bright with a ton of cabinet space, which has my envy button pushed, and beautiful sconces hanging over a large island in the middle of the room. A single glass of wine sits on the island. I look from the wine to Landon, and he smiles before stepping toward the stove.

“Is that for me?”

“Yep. I’m having a beer. Go on, take a sip. After what I saw out there, I’m sure you need more than a glass of wine, but it’s all I had.”

He’s right, I could go for a nice bourbon and a night under the stars to wallow in my emotions. But, a glass of wine will work. I pull out the counter-height chair and sit down before reaching for the glass. The cold white is a shock to my system at first, but I instantly embrace the flavors of crisp apples and peaches. Delicious.

“Thanks for this. Where’s Mason?”

“He’s washing up. I gave him a pair of shorts and a T-shirt to put on. I now understand what my mother meant when we were kids and complained of the constant stench. That kid is foul half the time.”

“Don’t I know it. I swear he showers. Scouts honor.” I lift my fingers in a mock scout’s salute and Landon laughs. After a few minutes of small talk, during which he never brings up Dan or what happened in the garage, we fall into a comfortable silence as Landon finishes cooking and I help myself to the rest of my wine. I’ve never been more grateful for another person’s perceptive ways than I am now. Landon is a good guy, and I hate that I ever thought anything less.

And, truth be told, I have never been more grateful for whatever slice of good karma I’ve been given, because watching Landon fry tacos and drink beer may be one of the hottest things I’ve ever seen. It’s obvious while Mason and I were outside in the garage, he cleaned up. He’s barefoot in a pair of loose fitting lounge pants that highlight a superb ass and a sleeveless shirt, and his hair is slightly damp from his shower. I’m pulled from my thoughts when my wine glass slides toward me and I startle, looking into a pair of eyes dancing with mischief.

Busted.

I clear my throat and take a large drink from my newly filled glass. I shouldn’t drink a second glass, hell I shouldn’t be here. I should be at home with a new bottle of my favorite bourbon and my son sitting on the couch playing a video game. I have no business here with this guy. He’s young and, well now that I know for sure, single. He should be out meeting women, on a date. Somewhere that isn’t spending a Friday night cooking tacos for a kid he pays to sweep up after him and his boring middle-aged mother. Dear Lord, I’m pathetic.

“Addison.” Landon’s voice is deeper than I remember and pulls me from my thoughts as I set the wine glass down, lifting my hand to wipe a drop of wine from my lip. Before I’m able to reach my lip, Landon does. His thumb brushes the drop from my lip and then goes straight to his own.

“Sweet.”

I gulp. It must be loud enough to be heard, and my eyes widen. Damn, that was hot. Like a book. A movie. Heck, a book turned into a movie. Clearly I’m the ditzy girl in the movie, so I simply nod in response. And blush. Like an “is it hot in here?” kind of blush.

Is it hot in here?

“I’m feeling quite warm, actually.”

“Shit. I said that ...” I don’t finish my sentence because as Landon leans forward and my eyes go from his to his lips, my tongue peeking out between my lips as I prepare for the inevitable, I hear a voice that is an instant buzzkill.

“Are the tacos done? I’m starving here!”

And just like that, the moment passes. Or I thought it did but when Landon stands to his full height and winks at me, I maybe blush a little more.

“Let’s eat!” Landon declares, clapping his hands.

Along the counter he’s set up quite the taco bar. Seasoned ground beef and chicken, shredded cheese, chopped tomatoes, lettuce, and avocado. An assortment of hot sauces and salsa sit to the side along with some black beans. Suddenly I’m ravenous and pull a plate without preamble. I make myself a taco salad and resume my spot at the bar. Mason takes the spot next to me with a plate full of tacos, and as he takes his first bite, I nudge him with my arm and give him a look that tells him not to take a second.

“Landon, this looks delicious. Thank you for having us for dinner. It’s very kind of you. Right, Mason?”

“Yeah, thanks.”

Landon laughs at Mason and crumbles up a napkin before tossing it at his head. Mason looks up and shrugs. “What, man? I’m starving. But Mom’s right. Thanks. This is really good.”

“You’re welcome.”

Dinner is fun, and it’s nice having a man to engage Mason in conversation. I hadn’t realized how little he had been talking at the table over the last few months until tonight. He’s laughing and teasing Landon, who is dishing it right back. When I finish my salad, I stand and begin placing the sauces back in the refrigerator.

“Addison, please don’t worry about this, I’ll do it later,” Landon says from behind me. Closely behind me. My heart begins to flutter, and I shake my head quickly.

---