Page 91 of Desolation

A feeling of unease jolts through me. What if I have met her before? She doesn’t look familiar to me but I have met a lot of people with the galas and charity events I put on.

I excuse myself to use the restroom and take a few deep breaths while I’m inside. Panic starting to set in. This was a bad idea. I should have hid out at Dax’s house. It’s too hard to keep my lies straight with a group of people.

I reapply my lip gloss and step out of the bathroom only to run into Landon.

“There you are,” he says, his hand going to my ass.

I look around him to make sure no one sees us as I push his hand off.

“What the hell, Mar?”

I pull him into the bathroom, locking the door behind us. “Sorry… I just don’t think we should let people know we are together.”

“Why not?”

I bite my lip. “Because everyone thinks I am David’s friend. How the hell would we even know each other?”

His thumb goes to my mouth and pulls my lip out from the trap my teeth have it in. “We could tell them we met at the VA hospital. Since that is what happened. Coincidence we know the same people.”

I frown. “Well—but—I don’t—”

Landon’s lips shut me up and I melt into him. I know I am being stupid.

When he pulls away, he brushes a stray piece of hair out of my face that escaped my topknot. “We could pretend we don’t know each other. Almost like roleplay.”

“Lan, that’s not what I am talking about.”

“Could be fun,” he says as he spins me around and opens the door.

I don’t think as we exit the bathroom together and walk right into the kitchen area. Mark is sitting on a stool eating an apple. His gaze darting between the two of us.

“Is this the woman that had you torn up the last time I saw you?”

Had him torn up?

Landon has always wanted this casual.

“Or did you two just meet? From the look on Mari’s face I’m guessing this is a thing.” He points between the two of us.

“It is,” Landon says as he grabs my hand.

I pull mine away. “It’s not a thing. It’s—”

“Don’t worry Marigold. Your secret’s safe with me.”

Landon leans into me. “See babe, it’s fine.”

“Marigold?” I ask Mark.

“It’s your call sign. Golden eyes and Mari. Marigold.”

“He makes sure everyone has a call sign,” Landon tells me before pressing a kiss to the side of my neck but I stand still.

“Well this is fascinating.” Mark says as he stands. “But I need to go check on the terror known as my child before my wife grounds me from sex for a week.”

I watch as Mark saunters off. I go to follow but Landon holds me back.

“Hey,” his voice is like velvet, soothing and calm. “We can pretend not to know each other. I’ll survive.”

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