Page 26 of A Sweet Mess

Landon glanced at her before answering glibly, “Iamthirty-four. I guess it won’t hurt to embrace stability.”

“Are you sure you’re up for it?” Mischief glittered in her silver eyes.

She’s fucking adorable.

“Well, let me know if you ever need any advice.”

“You wantmeto askyoufor advice about adulting?” he said, not bothering to hide his grin. “What are you? All of twenty-three?”

“Why do people get uppity about being older than somebody? Is aging a personal accomplishment?” Her tone chilled by ten degrees. “I’m actually twenty-seven, and I have plenty of advice for someone like you.”

“Someone like me? How do you figure?”

“A man who gallivanted around the world for a decade without so much as a car waiting for him. I’d say you’ve been living in never-never land.”

“So I’m Peter Pan and you’re Wendy, all grown up?” He forced out a strained chuckle to hide his unease. Her teasing had hit too close to home.

“Precisely.”

“Well, you must’ve collected some crazy anecdotes in your long life.”

“Oh yes. Especially from the good ol’ days.” She patted his shoulder, empathy oozing from her solicitous frown. “I’m here for you, kid. Anytime. Just ask.”

8

The sound of Landon’s deep, rich laughter lifted the weight that had been crushing Aubrey’s chest. Optimism lifted her spirits.Maybe he and I could be friends.Yes, he’d been her hot one-night stand and her mortal enemy, but now could he be an ally? A friend? With the first third of her compensation, Aubrey had paid her general contractor to get Comfort Zone’s expansion on track. He resumed the renovations and would obtain the necessary permits once all the appliances were installed. If Landon was right, the TV appearance would bury the negative review and bring more customers than she’d lost. It was hard to be enemies with a man who was hell-bent on helping her.

Spending time in the wine country to create new recipes sounded like a dream. Her portion of the filming would only last about a week at the end of her stay, so she wasn’t going to worry about that too much. If she could forget about her infatuation with Landon, she would have an amazing time at Bosque Verde. As simple as that. Once they became friends, everything would be wonderful.

To start off Operation Friendship on the right step, Aubreyturned and smiled brightly at Landon. He returned her smile, briefly taking his eyes off the road.There. That wasn’t so hard, right?

They drove in sufficiently comfortable silence, only stopping once for an In-N-Out Burger and restroom break. Her animal-style cheeseburger—with extra melted cheese, grilled onions, pickles, and dressing—was messy, juicy heaven. Their conversation was on the bland side but not too weird. Comfortable was good. Bland was great. All she’d needed was a game plan and a positive attitude.

Once they were back on the road, Aubrey was surprised at how quickly the rest of their drive went. The streets leading up to the hills grew narrower and narrower until Landon turned onto a nameless dirt road.

“We’re almost there,” he said, glancing briefly at her.

They were halfway up the long, curvy road before she spotted the gorgeous hacienda sitting on the hilltop like a bright, sun-drenched haven. She couldn’t look away from it. When they pulled into the driveway, there was a silver Land Rover parked out front.

“Here we are,” Landon announced unnecessarily and unfurled his long frame from the car. Aubrey was still admiring the stunning villa when he opened the door for her. “I’ll get your bags and meet you at the door.”

Too tired to object, Aubrey murmured her thanks and made her way to the entrance. She raised her hand to knock, but the door swung open before her knuckles reached their target. Her hand still poised midair, she blinked as her eyes adjusted to the relative darkness of the interior.

“Please come in,” a handsome silver-haired man with a slight French accent urged. “You must be Aubrey.”

She only had time to smile her thanks when Landon calledout from behind, “Lucien, I hope we didn’t keep you waiting too long.”

“No, no. Not at all. I got here only a few minutes ago.” Lucien pumped Landon’s hand and slapped his back enthusiastically. The bro hug. “It’s good to see you, my friend.”

“It’s been too long.” Landon craned his neck and surveyed the villa. “Where’s Aria?”

“Come,” his friend said without answering Landon’s question. “Let me show you to your rooms.”

Rooms?The men walked ahead of Aubrey, speaking in lowered voices to each other, leaving Aubrey free to gawk at the beautiful interior of the house. Everything in it was obviously expensive, but it still felt rustic and welcoming with a cream, yellow, and brick-red interior.

Their voices remained muted, but the conversation grew fast and heated. Landon nearly knocked a ceramic vase off a side table, gesturing with hands full of her luggage. They were whisper-screaming, so Aubrey couldn’t make out what was being said, but Landon looked murderous. A mountainous cactus sporting head-to-toe spikes would shrivel at his expression. Lucien improbably maintained an air of sophisticated ennui while facing his friend’s fury.

At the top of the stairs, they turned into a wide hallway. She stole a peek at the nearest suite with a spacious bedroom, attached bathroom, and private balcony. Landon’s broad shoulders rose and fell in a sigh as though preparing for an unpleasant task. He turned in slow motion to face her, and she got the awful feeling that the unpleasantness somehow involved her. Lucien shrugged apologetically and strode a few steps away.

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