Page 174 of Worth the Trip

Once the food was put away, she stretched her legs across my lap.

I caught one bare foot in my hand.

Her eyes narrowed.

“What are you doing?”

“Foot rub.”

“That simple?”

“I’m reforming.”

She laughed.

My thumb worked through the center of her foot, and suspicion gradually surrendered to pleasure.

“You don’t need an academic justification?”

“I don’t need a degree to touch my woman. The vocabulary is recreational.”

That got her.

“You’ve been waiting to say that.”

“Nah. Your feet presented an opportunity.”

“Of course.”

I took my time with both feet while she watched the water. Every now and then, she looked at me, caught me watching her, and shook her head like the behavior had become a condition she intended to manage.

Eventually, she shifted closer and tucked herself beneath my arm.

The bookstore bag sat beside us.

Nolani glanced toward it. “Are you giving me my book now?”

“I already gave you the book.”

“You refused to let me open the bag.”

“I preserved the reveal.”

“You enjoy unnecessary suspense.”

“I enjoy your face when you happy.”

She reached.

I moved the bag.

“Landon.”

“What?”

“Give me my book.”

“Demanding gifts now?”