Page 258 of Worth the Trip

Lennox slowly looked toward Mama Brooks.

Mama Brooks looked at me.

A smile appeared.

“Oh, baby. You might wanna be careful with that sentence.”

Heat climbed my neck.

Warren laughed.

Nana called from across the room, “Leave that girl alone before Landon gets here.”

“Where is Landon?” Mama Brooks asked.

“Still at Langston. He said he’d be here before lunch ended.”

Mama Brooks accepted her butter pecan from Jasmine. “That boy been checking the time since breakfast.”

“Mama.”

Landon’s voice came from behind her.

I turned.

He stood just inside the doorway holding flowers in one hand, a familiar white chocolatier box beneath his arm, and a Sable & Spine bag hanging from two fingers.

Mama Brooks smiled without turning around. “See?”

Landon kissed her cheek as he passed. “Good afternoon to you too.”

Warren laughed.

Lennox immediately reached toward the chocolate box.

Landon moved it out of reach. “Get your own.”

“Family don’t mean shit today.”

“Apparently not.”

Then Landon looked at me.

Everything else became background.

Months hadn’t changed that.

If anything, my body recognized him faster now.

His face softened.

I was already moving.

I crossed the shop, rounded the end of the counter, and wrapped my arms around his neck before he could put anything down. His free arm came around my waist.

I kissed him.

His mouth.