Page 49 of Billionaire's Coastal Haven

My heart blooms under her observation. Landon wants me. I mean something to him. Enough that he chased me down the side of the cliff begging me to spend more time with him, to kiss him again, to share the things I’m most passionate about with him.

I can’t let any of that mean anything. Not if I want to protect myself. “I don’t know him. He might be a player with a new woman in every town. I might be another name on a growing list of make-out partners.”

Kelsey chews the corner of her lip, opens her mouth, then shuts it again. A sigh shakes her chest. “If you believed that, Zo, you wouldn’t need us to convince you not to make out with him again.”

Well, crap. She’s got me there.

It all comes down to what’s more important to me: a possible love connection or the town’s respect.

Will the town ever respect a mayor they callBaby Girl?

What kind of relationship can I have with Landon?

My brain skips back and forth between how amazing it felt to kiss him and fear that it wasjusta kiss. If I didn’t rock his world like he rocked mine, all this worrying is for nothing.

Besides, what can I offer a man like Landon besides a fling?

I’m not a fling type of woman.

But I don’t want to beBaby Girleither.

Chapter 14

Zoe

As I finish my swim, just like every other morning for the last two weeks, Landon is standing on the beach, wearing that same creamy wool coat with heavy wooden buttons. It’s perfectly tailored to his broad shoulders and brightens the golden, terra cotta tones in his skin. Too bad he looks so handsome. He’s easier to ignore when his piercing green eyes aren’t ravishing me as I walk out of the water.

Instead, I focus on the familiar thermos of coffee in one hand and the casserole dish in the other.

I wring the water from my hair and try to ignore the sweet cinnamon smell coming from the dish. My stomach growls in delight.

He pops the lid. “This is the recipe our chef makes for Christmas breakfast.”

“Of course it is. Did you fly them in to cook for you?” It’s the most logical explanation for all the delicious food Landon brings me every morning.

He shakes his head. “Mom and Dad wouldn’t allow that.”

My eyes narrow. “You have to ask permission?”

“To borrow the chef who has prepared every meal my mother has eaten for the last two decades, I need to drop to my knees and beg. I made these.” He holds out the dish. “For you.”

I scrub my towel along my arms instead. “I don’t understand why you bother.”

“Because I like talking to you.”

“We don’t have anything to talk about. I can text about the estate.”

“You’re right. We don’t have to talk. Making out seems like a much better idea. The back seat of my car is infinitely comfortable. Or we can try yours.” He nods to the Jeep sitting in the parking lot.

His sarcasm isn’t lost on me. If only I had the guts to turn down the gift…but she’s so pretty, I couldn’t.

I shipped the dry suits, cashmere coat, and flowers back to his room at the Cherry Blossom, donated the meat to the food bank, and took the cookies and tacos to Town Hall for everyone to enjoy, so I do have a backbone somewhere.

Emberly’s scowl fills my mind. She wouldn’t approve of our conversation. Time to redirect. “Collin sent me the blueprints for the cottages. They don’t match the aesthetic of the house.”

“Picking a fight? Not your strongest tactic.”

“Not picking a fight, just stating the obvious.”