Chapter Sixteen
Landen told me he was taking me somewhere nice for dinner. I mean, it had a dress code so it obviously wouldn’t be a chain restaurant. But I’d underestimated his intentions. By far.
I’d been here for Lucy and Chris’ wedding just a few short weeks ago and I knew exactly what the menu looked like in the restaurant and how much it cost. I’d wanted to try it but my bank account wouldn’t allow it.
When Landen turned into the drive, I’d held my breath. The fact that he was bringing me here told me a lot about his intentions. He wanted tonight to be special. No, he wanted it to be spectacular.
He pulled to a stop in front of the building and a valet opened my door to help me out of the car. When Landen came around the vehicle, he once again placed his hand on my lower back as he took the ticket from the valet.
Rosewood Mansion was not what I expected when he said he was taking me somewhere nice. This was beyond nice. This was a different level. I was also nervous as hell. Other than attending Chris and Lucy’s wedding, I had never been anywhere like this.
My stomach twisted with nerves, but not the sexy kind. No, these were nasty, biting nerves that were accompanied by a tiny voice in the back of my mind telling me that I was not good enough for a place like this. That I didn’t belong here.
I tried to ignore the tension ensnaring my body and focus on enjoying the atmosphere and the firm pressure of Landen’s hand on my back, but I still felt uncomfortable and out of my league. My foot skidded a bit on the floor and Landen reached out to steady me. My face heated and I glanced around furtively to see if anyone saw my awkward moment. Though I didn’t see anyone looking our way, my body burned as it did when I had to speak in public. Something I avoided at all costs.
A few minutes later, Landen and I were seated at a corner table. The walls were paneled dark wood and the large fireplace burned merrily. A candle burned next to a beautiful, small centerpiece. All I could think is that I was going to knock that sucker over and set the entire table on fire. Maybe even burn down the mansion itself with my sudden clumsiness.
Afraid to move, I folded my hands in my lap and looked across the table at Landen. He was studying me with intensity, as though he could see every thought in my brain.
He leaned forward and opened his mouth to speak, but our server approached.
“Good evening, I’m Todd.”
Before Todd could continue or I could respond, Landen turned to him. “Please give us a few minutes.”
Todd merely nodded and walked away, his expression still pleasant.
“Landen,” I whispered, leaning forward. “That was rude.”
“What’s wrong?” he asked.
I leaned back then, my back rigid. “Nothing.”
His eyes drifted down to my bared shoulders then up to my face. “Your body is stiff and you haven’t said a single word since we came inside. Something is bothering you.”
“Landen—”
He reached out and took my hand, his fingers gentle and coaxing rather than demanding as his words had been. “Please tell me.”
I sucked in a sharp breath, unsure of what to say. I didn’t want to admit that I was uncomfortable because it was clear he went to a lot of trouble and he wanted tonight to be special.
“Chelsea,” he murmured, but it wasn’t a command. He genuinely wanted to know.
“I just feel…a little out of place here. I haven’t been to a restaurant like this before and I don’t want to embarrass myself or you.”
Without hesitation, he offered, “We can leave if you want. I brought you here because I thought you might like to try it but I want you to enjoy yourself.”
I took a deep breath and shook my head. “No, I want to stay. I wanted to come back after Lucy’s wedding, but…” I trailed off, not wanting to admit that I couldn’t justify spending a couple hundred dollars on a dinner that I would eat by myself.
He squeezed my hand gently. “Honestly, I’ve only ever been here for business events. I thought it would be nice to share a meal here with you without the pressure.”
I nearly laughed but settled for a smile. “Then we’ll have dinner.”
“And I promise they won’t throw you out if you don’t use the correct fork or something ridiculous like that.”
This time I did laugh, but softly. There was a low hum of conversation in the room and the occasional clink of cutlery but overall, the restaurant was quiet and very romantic.
“I feel a little silly now,” I admitted.
He shook his head. “I don’t think you’re silly at all.”
Todd returned a moment later and Landen released my hand. My shoulders relaxed and I took another deep breath, determined to make the most of this evening with him. If I committed a faux pas, I knew he wouldn’t judge me.
The night would be special whether we were here or at a fast food joint because I was with Landen. That’s all that mattered.
A couple of hours later, I was feeling pleasantly buzzed and more than pleasantly full of delicious food. Landen had asked me if I would allow him to order for both of us and I’d been more than willing. So we’d had the chef’s tasting menu and when Todd suggested some of the enhancements they offered, Landen agreed to the wine pairing. He only took a few sips of each since he was driving, but I had no such issue and consumed the delectable food with even better wine.
After my initial internal freak-out, I discovered that I wasn’t actually uncomfortable at all. Our table was in the corner and felt secluded even though it wasn’t. No one seemed to pay any attention to us and, after a little while, I stopped expecting someone to come over to our table and tell me to leave since I so obviously didn’t belong there.
Now, I was in the passenger seat of Landen’s SUV. I leaned back and looked out the window, enjoying the smooth leather beneath my bare back and the soft murmur of music from the speakers.
I was mildly tipsy and it took me a few minutes to realize that he wasn’t taking me home. In fact, we were heading into an area I wasn’t familiar with, but the homes were large and sat on sizeable, well-manicured lots.
I twisted my head to look at him. “Where are we going?”
Landen glanced at me and the corner of his mouth lifted. “My house, remember?”
Anticipation zinged through my bloodstream. I shifted in the seat because my skin suddenly felt hot and too small to contain my body.
He looked toward me again. “Are you okay with that?” he asked.
“Yes,” I murmured, turning my head to look at him in the dim interior. “I’m more than okay with that.”
His lips curved once again but the look he gave me was scorching hot. “Good. I wasn’t sure after that text you sent me.”
I grinned. “Or maybe this was exactly what I wanted when I did.”
His brows lifted. “I think I underestimated you.”
I laughed and leaned back in the seat. “I’m used to being underestimated. That’s how I usually end up with the advantage.”
He chuckled, unperturbed by my admission. “I pity anyone who crosses you.”
The drive was shorter than I thought it would be and soon Landen was turning the car into his driveway. I focused on breathing as his house came into view. It was larger than I expected but not huge. The lot was spacious and there were trees throughout the landscaping, giving the illusion of privacy though he did have neighbors on both sides. The drive curved behind the house and he pressed a button above the rearview mirror. As he followed the sharp turn in the driveway, I saw that the door was sliding up to reveal a three-car garage. Two spaces were empty and a sleek, dark grey sports car took up the third. As Landen pulled in next to it, I realized it was a Jaguar coupe and it was sexy as hell.
“Nice car,” I said, tilting my chin toward it.
Landen grinned. “Thanks. I’ll take you for a ride tomorrow.”
I hoped he was taking me for a ride tonight, though the car wouldn’t have anything to do with it. But I kept this thought to myself because the reality of the situation was crashing down on me.
Just a few short weeks ago, I thought Landen Weber was hot but a gigantic pain in my ass. He seemed to relish driving me crazy when he came into the office.
Now my fingertips were itching with the desire to rip his clothes off. And I liked spending time with him. That was the surprising part. I’d always found him sexy, but I hadn’t always enjoyed his company. I wouldn’t have believed it was possible.
I would have been wrong in that belief.
I was never more alive than when I was verbally sparring with Landen and he made me laugh. He could also be thoughtful, which surprised me even more than his wicked sense of humor.
My door opened, startling me out of my thoughts. I hadn’t even noticed when Landen got out of the SUV and walked around the hood. I put my hand in his and stepped out of the vehicle. After he shut the door, he backed me against it, his eyes intent upon my face.
“What’s going through your head right now?” he asked.
Shit. I liked that. He asked me what he wanted to know, no games, no pretense. Just honesty.
So I returned the favor. “I was thinking that you’re full of surprises.”
My answer seemed to mystify him. He stared down at me for a long moment. “Why were you thinking that?”
My brain was finally catching up with my body in registering how attractive I found Landen Weber. I stepped into him, our bodies brushing together. “Up until a few weeks ago, I wasn’t sure I liked you very much.” I nearly winced at the bluntness of my words, but Landen leaned into me and I saw the smirk on his lips. He wasn’t offended, so I continued, “But I’ve discovered some new things about you and I like what I’m learning.”
His hand released mine and lifted to cup my bare shoulder, his palm slipping across my back. His other hand joined in and soon he had both palms pressed against my spine, pulling me closer until our bodies were no longer brushing but were plastered together.
“That’s good,” he murmured, his lips skimming mine in that way that I both loved and hated. It felt good but always left me wanting more. “Because I like nearly everything about you.”
Though I wanted to kiss him again, deeper and harder, I asked, “Nearly everything?”
Our faces were close, only a few inches apart, so I saw the smile curve his mouth and light his eyes. It was a good look. “Well, nobody’s perfect.”
I laughed and shoved him back lightly. The sexual tension was still there, simmering but not overwhelming. Landen released me and took my hand in his. “So, are you gonna give me a tour of your house?” I asked.
“Sure.”
He led me to the interior door and hit the button to close the garage. Then he pressed a series of buttons above the knob and I heard the lock click as it opened.
I took in the laundry room-slash-mudroom as we walked through, noting that it was clean and bright, no lint bunnies lurking in the corners like I had in my laundry area at home.
When he pulled me into the kitchen, I nearly gawked. It was gorgeous, huge, and I knew during the daytime it would have amazing natural light from the large windows above the sink and that surrounded the breakfast nook.
The cabinets were black and the countertops were white quartz and sparkling clean. White subway tiles created a backsplash around the kitchen as well. Even the brushed stainless steel appliances were clean, without a single fingerprint or smudge. He even had a six-burner gas stove with two ovens.
It was a dream kitchen for anyone who loved to cook.
“Wow, I love this kitchen. It’s beautiful,” I breathed. Then I turned toward him, “And seriously clean. Do you even use it?”
Landen threw his head back and laughed. “Not as much as I should.”
My eyes narrowed. “So you can cook?”
He nodded. “I can make the basics.”
Feeling feisty, I asked, “And what are the basics?”
“Eggs, roasted chicken, pasta, salad, and a few other things.”
“Really?” I lifted my brows at him. “That sounds like more than the basics.”
Landen shook his head as though I amused him. “I’ve been on my own a long time and I didn’t always have the money to eat out, so I had to learn how to cook.” He tugged me into his side and put his arm around my shoulders. “Plus women love a man who can cook.”
“That was a broad generalization,” I commented, nudging him with my elbow. “Some women prefer a man that will take them to nice places.”
He smirked as he glanced down at me. “Well, you’re a woman, so you tell me. Do you like it when a man cooks for you?”
I cocked my head and pretended to think about his question. “I’m not sure. I’ve never had a man cook for me.”
“Seriously?”
I nodded. “Yes. None of the men I’ve dated ever made me a meal, unless you count a ham sandwich.” I paused before continuing, “Though I think I would like it as long as you didn’t give me food poisoning.”
Landen chuckled and shook his head. “I can manage that.” With his arm still around my shoulders, he walked us out of the kitchen and into the formal dining area. “This is the dining room that I never use.”
I bit back a giggle at his dry delivery. As with the kitchen, the walls were white and a rectangular wood table sat in the center of the room, surrounded by eight chairs. The table was bare but all it needed was a colorful and exotic floral arrangement in the center and the room would look like it had been pulled from the pages of a magazine.
He didn’t stop as he continued on into the entryway. The foyer was spacious and opened up into the living area. The furniture was sleek, modern, but not intimidating.
I was also noticing a theme. The walls in every room so far were white. It was nice, but he needed a bit more color, whether with artwork, rugs, or toss pillows. Something. The overall effect was clean and comfortable, but not warm. It looked like a showroom rather than a home, beautiful but not a place you’d want to sit and stay a while.
He also had an enormous flat-screen television mounted to the wall. It had to be at least seventy inches, probably more. I wanted to laugh at the sight but suppressed the urge.
“The living room,” he stated, pausing just for a moment so I could take it all in.
I found myself mentally re-positioning some of the furniture and adding a bright painting or photograph to the bare wall opposite the TV. And maybe some plants.
After a few seconds, he turned, still holding onto me, and headed toward the staircase. “I have an office on this floor but we aren’t going in there because it’s a disaster right now.”
“Why is it a disaster?”
“I bought a new computer system and there’s stuff everywhere. Wires, monitors, and everything else. One of us will end up tripping and breaking an ankle and I have plans for tonight that don’t include a trip to the ER.”
I laughed as we climbed the stairs. The loft at the top was large and also held a sofa, two chairs, a coffee table, and another television, also mounted to the wall. It was smaller than the one downstairs but still bigger than the one I had at my apartment. Two hallways split off from each side of the loft.
Landen lifted a hand and gestured down the longer hall. “Those are the guest rooms. I have four but I converted one into a home gym.” That explained why he was in such good shape, I realized. As he was speaking, he moved toward the end of the hall to our left, which was shorter and ended at a set of double doors. “And this is my bedroom.”
He reached out and pushed the doors open and I froze just inside the doorway. A huge bed sat in the center of the room. It must have been specially made because it was bigger than a king-size. It had to be. It looked as though it could comfortably hold five or six people.
“What the hell?” I asked, gaping at the monstrosity.
Landen laughed, pulling me into the room. “It’s huge. I know. I wouldn’t let the interior designer order it at first. I mean, who needs a bed larger than a king? But in the end, I admitted she was right. This room is too big. Even a king looked too small.”
His arm dropped from my shoulder as I wandered toward the behemoth mattress. I stopped at the foot and just stared.
“Have you ever lost anyone in this thing? I mean, will some other woman pop out from under the covers if I pull them back?”
He laughed again and this time I joined him because it was a funny mental image.
“I haven’t had anyone here since I got it, so I can promise that won’t happen.”
His statement shocked me. I twisted around to look over my shoulder at him. “What?”
Landen tucked his hands in his pockets, his jacket open to reveal his black shirt. He looked like he belonged on the cover of a men’s magazine. Then he shrugged. “I’ve been too busy to date,” he said. He didn’t seem the least bit uncomfortable with this admission.
I studied him. “Not even a one-night stand.”
“I think you overestimate my ability to pick up women,” he declared with a chuckle.
My brows lifted. That was bullshit. He wouldn’t have to pick up women, they probably threw themselves at him with glee.
At my expression, he grinned. “Unlike you, I don’t like to be chased.” When my eyes narrowed, he took a step toward me and his amused look faded. “I’m not the kind of man who has sex with a woman just because she offered. I got my fill of meaningless fucking in my twenties. I want more than that now.”
I read between the lines of his words and understood he wanted a relationship. Over the past few years, I’d met so many men who were always looking for something else, someone better, that I’d given up hope of finding a partner. It seemed Landen was searching for the same thing.
A tiny thrill raced up my spine at the way he watched me. I decided we’d talked enough. For now.