She wrapped her arms around his neck. His white shirt was smooth and warm, crisp underneath her fingertips. His cologne smelled rich and seductive. She could easily get lost in this sort of kiss. It was all coming very fast.
She pulled away. “Well,” she said, catching her breath. “I seem to be making progress through my kissing trauma. I usually don’t kiss a guy until we’re dating.”
Landon was still close, his eyes caressing her where his lips had stopped. “In that case, do you want to go out on a date?”
“When?”
“Let’s plan two. One for dinner tomorrow night, and one for tonight, right now in my family room.”
Sounded reasonable.
He leaned forward and kissed her again. She melted into him. After all, this was officially a date. And he was gorgeous, helpful, and proving to be a really good kisser.
Jaxon’s voice came from the edge of the room. “I suppose this isn’t what it looks like either?”
Kate jerked away from Landon. She’d forgotten Jaxon was in the house. In fact, she’d forgotten that the rest of the world existed.
Landon glared in Jaxon’s direction. “If it looks like you’re barging in where you’re not wanted, then yes. This is what it looks like.”
Kate shrank into the couch and put her hand to her eyes. She shouldn’t be embarrassed to be caught kissing Landon. She was far from fifteen, but she blushed anyway.
“Didn’t mean to interrupt,” Jaxon said. “I just wanted to give Kitty her phone.” Until then, she hadn’t noticed he held it. “Here.” He stepped over to the coffee table and laid it down. “I’ll let you get back to…whatever.”
Whatever. Her cheeks were on fire.
“Because,” Jaxon continued, backing up, “that’s what a good brother would do, as opposed to getting everyone in trouble. Just saying.” He turned and walked back toward the stairs, humming.
Landon stared at Jaxon’s retreating back, his expression still dark.
Kate grabbed her phone from the table. “I just had flashbacks to the cattle drive.” She laughed nervously. “Really, is it even possible to kiss one of you without an audience and commentary?”
And why had she been so quick to let Landon kiss her anyway? The guy had been out with another woman minutes before, but he’d looked at her with those baby blues, and she’d lost all ability of rational thought. She hadn’t been joking when she told him she didn’t kiss a guy unless she was dating him. She had no idea what Landon’s commitment level to her was, and she’d just made out with him.
“Kitty.” Landon reached for her hand, keeping her from leaving the couch. “I’m sorry.”
Did he mean he was sorry he’d kissed her or sorry Jaxon interrupted them? “About what?”
“The cattle drive.”
She blinked at him. “You’re sorry you got Jaxon and I into trouble?” The apology was sweet and several years too late.
“Yes.” He immediately amended himself, “No. I mean, I’m glad I stopped Jaxon. It’s just…” He let go of her hand and shifted on the couch. “I always thought I did it for the right reasons—you were too young and naive to be out with Jaxon. I was so angry he’d taken advantage of you. But the thing is, when I came home tonight and found you here, half-dressed, I was even more angry at him, and you’re both adults now.”
Landon ran his hand through his hair, tousling it. “Come to think of it, I was even a bit irked when I came across the two of you talking in the feed store. So now I’m wondering if part of the reason I was so mad on the cattle drive was that, even back then, I knew you were something special.”
This was news. All the time they’d spent together as kids, she’d never thought Landon saw her as anything but immature and silly. She settled back beside him on the couch. “I doubt you were interested in me when I was fifteen.”
He laughed at her surprise. “You were sweet, funny, and had turned into a beauty. But I was smart enough to know I needed to wait for you to grow up.” He traced a finger along the side of her face, as though admiring the curve of her cheek. “You never came back.”
She couldn’t have moved if she wanted to. She was captivated by the feel of his touch. “I came back this year. And I’ve grown up.”
“That you have,” he agreed, and kissed her again.
Chapter Eleven
The next day,Kate managed to do her chores faster than normal. They didn’t seem as hard or bothersome when she had an evening with Landon to look forward to.
As she was putting on her makeup for their date, her parents called. “We just wanted to see how you’re doing,” her father said. “Have your hands healed?”