Page 5 of Baby By my Best Friend's Daddy

“Nah,” Landon said. “You guys should go celebrate. I think I’m going to turn in early.”

I giggled. “It’s not exactly early.”

Landon shrugged. “I’ll take you home, and Brad can go party.”

“Thanks, Dad,” Brad said. “I’ll call you tomorrow, okay?” he added, looking at me.

I nodded, and Brad sauntered back to the group. Landon stood by me.

“You don’t want to drink with them?” I asked.

Landon sighed. “As much as I’d liked to… I’m tired.” He grinned and rubbed the back of his neck, his other hand in his pocket. “I’m young at heart, but there comes a time a man realizes he can’t recover as well as he used to, and I’m not in the mood anymore. I guess it’s an age thing.”

“I don’t think so,” I said. “I’m Brad’s age, and I can’t imagine going out to party now.”

Landon grinned at me and held out an arm. “Allow me to escort you home.”

I smiled and looped my hand through his arm.

“What did you think of the wedding?” Landon asked in the car on the way to my apartment.

“I thought it was beautiful.” I sighed. The wine made my head spin, and emotions welled up in my throat. “I want to find love like that.”

“It’s a wonderful thing when two people find each other,” Landon said and cleared his throat.

“Yeah.” I glanced at him. “Bet their wedding night will be pretty great too.”

Landon looked at me, surprised. “What?” He burst out laughing.

I shrugged. “You can imagine the two of them would have fun. Aaron is good-looking, and Jade is adorable. Perfect match, and that first night is a big deal.”

“Even when they’ve already slept together?”

I laughed. “You don’t get it.”

Landon offered me a look. “No, I don’t think I do. Sex is sex.”

I shook my head. “Sex isn’t sex at all. I mean, with the wrong people, sure. But with the right person, it changes everything.”

Landon cocked one eyebrow, a smile playing around his mouth. “You sound like you’re talking from experience.”

I sighed. “No, I’m not. I’m just talking from what I know should be true.”

We fell silent. The wine was making me loopy, and I was saying things I wouldn’t usually say. I would probably feel stupid about it tomorrow morning. Right now, I didn’t care. Landon’s company wasn’t awkward and weird like I’d thought it would be, and talking to him was the most natural thing in the world.

“Here we are,” Landon said when he pulled up in front of my apartment. He got out of the car and ran around it to open my door.

“Oh, thanks,” I said, surprised. “What a gentleman.”

“Only because you’re a lady.”

I giggled. “I’m not a lady.”

“Of course you are.”

I snorted. “I worked in a bar all through college, and now I’m a nurse. Nurses aren’t ladies. Bartenders aren’t ladies.”

Landon frowned. “You say those things like they’re bad.”

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