“The endearment?” His voice is soft. “I have many more where that came from.”
“I’m looking forward to hearing them.”
“You will,” he promises. “What are you doing this weekend?”
I only think a moment before I reply. “You?”
Landon laughs. “Now that we’ve cleared that up, how would you like to do ‘me’ somewhere far away?”
I loved all the trips I’ve taken with him. He has the same love of quiet, serene places that I do. “Where do you have in mind?”
“You’ll see.” His voice gives nothing away and I have to stem my curiosity.
“You just love this weekend jaunts, don’t you?”
“I have a beautiful girlfriend to impress.”
“I’m already very, very impressed.”
“Allow me to keep blowing your mind, my darling.” When my only response is a soft sigh of pleasure, he continues. “So, what do you say?”
“Hmm,” I pretend to think about it. “Let me see… Do I want to spend the weekend with my sexy boyfriend?” I hear him chuckle. “Of course I’ll come.”
“Thank you, gorgeous. You’ve given me something to look forward to for the rest of the week.”
“I’m glad,” I reply, delighted as well. Remembering the article from this morning, I continue. “Laurie sent me the link to an article about us with the picture from yesterday. It was really tasteful, and they quoted your people.”
“Yes, that.” There’s a short pause from him. “There’s always going to be a story,” he says finally. “I took control of this one. I want the world to know about us, but I’d rather they heard from me, and not some pseudo-reporter in a sleazy tabloid.”
“You’re so anal,” I tease, but I understand why he would do what he did. It made our relationship seem less casual, less like a rumor, when his own reps had contributed to the article.
“I am thorough.” Landon corrects smugly. “There’s a difference.”
“Anal,” I insist.
He laughs. “How are your colleagues taking your move?”
“They’re all weeping inconsolably at their desks begging me not to go.”
“Lucky you. Over here, if I told them I was leaving… Going to start a colony in outer space or something, they’ll probably light a bonfire and dance around it all night.”
“Somehow, I don’t think that’s true,” I reply, sure that if I am lucky, it’s because I have him. “I think they may be planning to throw me a party over here, which is good, but they’re making me prepare my handover notes. It’s taken all day and I’m famished.”
“Haven’t you had lunch?”
I shake my head. “Would you believe if I tell you that I forgot?”
“Let’s have an early dinner then.” His voice is laced with concern, which makes me smile. “I could pick you up in a few.”
I’m trying to identify the emotion coursing through me, and I realize it’s that feeling of delight arising from being cared for by someone I love. I love it. I really do. I close my eyes. “Yes please.”
WE have dinner at Mancini, and Landon is his teasing, attentive and sexy self, watching me indulgently as I wolf down my food.
“Aidan’s play is opening next week Thursday,” he informs me. “You’ll come, won’t you?”
“As if anything would keep me away.”
“Ha!” He laughs. “I have to be careful with you around him, so he doesn’t steal you from me.”