Page 79 of All's Fair in Love and Blood - A Romantic Comedy Novel

Landon was dressed casually in the same black T-shirt and loose-fitting jeans he normally wore during his show. Sometimes he sported a lab coat when it was called for. His circular wire-rim glasses rested atop his graying mop of messy brown hair. There were several people in the room, engrossed in their work. A low hum from the electronics and whispers from a few people could be heard, but no one gave us the time of day or even noticed us as far as I could tell.

Megan jetted over to Landon and tapped on his shoulder. He barely glanced at her.

“You have some visitors,” she informed him.

“I’m busy,” he growled.

I had a feeling another dream of mine was about to be obliterated. Might as well add it to the collection.

“Maybe we should go,” I whispered out of the side of my mouth to Kane.

“Not yet.” Kane strutted over to Megan and Landon, obviously intent on saving the day once again.

I stood by and bit my lip, watching Kane be Kane. I wasn’t sure what he said to Landon, but within a minute, both men were walking my way. Kane with an arrogant smile and Landon resigned. Of course, Kane got his way. I had a feeling he would make a good hostage negotiator. Maybe someday he would quit holding my heart hostage.

As they drew nearer, Landon slid his glasses down off his head and fixed them on his diamond-shaped face. Even in the dark, I could see his eyes widen when he got a good look at me. His scowl was replaced with a smile. He didn’t wait for an introduction but instead held his hand out to me on approach.

“I’m Landon. I’m sorry to have kept you waiting,” his baritone voice filled the room and, admittedly, me. I knew his voice like my own. He’d been a constant in my life for many years. Sometimes he had been the only thing I had to look forward to on a weekly basis during my lonely undergrad years.

That fluttery feeling was back. “I’m . . . uh . . .” Who was I? Besides an idiot.

“This is Scarlett Armstrong.” Kane came in clutch again. “Excuse me, Dr. Armstrong.” He sounded so proud of me.

I took Landon’s hand. It was a bit dry, but his grip was firm.

“Yes, Kane was just telling me that you finished a clinical pathology residency at Stanford. Impressive.”

“Yes.” It was all I could think of to say. What was wrong with me? It wasn’t as if Landon was drop dead gorgeous like Kane, or even that I was attracted to him like the aforementioned. Yet there was something about Landon. His intelligence consumed me.

Kane again came to my rescue. I really wished he wouldn’t. “She’s also a huge fan.” Kane winked at me.

I twirled some tendrils of my hair that I’d pulled up in a messy bun. I’d refused to wear my hair down because Kane loved it that way. I knew it was petty. I wasn’t proud of it. “Um, yes, I was one of the first hundred subscribers to your YouTube channel.” That made me sound juvenile.

Thankfully, it seemed to please Landon. “I’m honored.”

“Well, I know you’re busy. So, we won’t keep you. I just want you to know that I admire the work you do. I think you’re brilliant.” I sounded like a starstruck teen, breathy and all.

Landon smiled, and it lit up his brown eyes, which crinkled a bit at the corners. He looked older in person. Not that he was old. He was only forty-five, but they obviously did some editing to make him look younger. “Please, don’t go yet. I was about to take a break. Do you like green tea?”

It wasn’t my favorite. Ethan was kind of a health nut and had always been trying to get me to drink weird concoctions. Half of them made with green tea. Still, I didn’t want to be rude. “Yes.”

Kane’s brow quirked. He knew I wasn’t telling the truth. He always knew. But he didn’t say anything.

Landon turned to Megan. “Three green teas, if you wouldn’t mind.”

I caught Kane’s grimace. He wasn’t a green tea sort of guy.

Megan huffed like she did mind, then marched out the door anyway. It made me feel even more guilty for the intrusion.

Landon waved his hand toward a couch back in the corner. “Please, have a seat.”

I walked over and sat down. Landon was quick to sit right next to me, leaving Kane to take the overstuffed chair nearby. He wasn’t pleased about it; I could tell you that. He shot daggers at Landon with his eyes.

Landon leaned back and studied me for a moment. “Tell me about yourself, Doctor. Why clinical pathology?”

“Please, call me Scarlett. My father owns Armstrong Labs. We specialize in blood plasma therapies and collection. I’m the new lab director.” Which was true. Only the board, Kane, and I knew that perhaps I would have a different title soon. Besides, I wasn’t slated to start in the lab until next month anyway. I was supposed to be house hunting and settling into my life in Atlanta, not writing a business plan for a Fortune 500 company.

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