A thoughtful offer. Was it beyond the call of a typical knight?
Angelina appeared in the foyer and swept up beside Landon, all intimate smiles and musky perfume. Her dark hair was curled in waves that brushed along her back and she wore a short skirt and tight red top. Quite a different look than her usual veterinary gear.
Angelina put her hand on Landon’s arm. “Can I ask you a favor?”
He smiled politely. “Of course. What do you need?”
“A ride to the Lawrence’s place. They want me to look over a neighbor’s stallion they’re considering buying. I told them I’d stop by after church. It’s not too far out of your way, is it?”
It probably was because when Landon hesitated, she pouted like a kid who’d just asked for candy before dinner. Honestly, you’d think a woman who was technically a doctor wouldn’t resort to pouting.
“Sure,” he said. “Let me get my brothers—”
Angelina didn’t let him finish. “I’d hate to make your entire family late getting home. We don’t have to drag them with us.” She turned triumphantly to Kate. “You wouldn’t mind taking Landon’s brothers home, would you? Their place is right next to yours.”
Kate did mind—not the part about giving Landon’s family a ride, the part about letting Angelina have Landon to herself, but what else could she say except, “Sure. No problem.”
Landon nodded a goodbye at Kate, Angelina linked her arm through Landon’s, and the two strolled off.
The way Angelina had taken Landon’s arm looked so natural, like it wasn’t the first time.
She shut her eyes and reminded herself, yet again, that Landon had broken up with her. She didn’t have a choice about that. She only had the choice of whether to keep her pride or not. Pride might be all she was left with after the year.
Chapter Twenty-One
Landon droveout of the parking lot with Angelina at his side. She seemed to have forgiven him for turning down her overtures last September. She’d not only started speaking to him again, she was back to being friendly. He hoped that meant she was over him and not that she was giving him a second shot. “It’s nice of you to stop by the Lawrence’s on your day off,” he told her.
“I’m a nice person,” she said, purred almost. “Besides, everything I own is washable. I’ll be fine.”
Maybe, but it wouldn’t be easy tromping around a stable in those heels. “With your car in the shop, how did you get to church?”
“My roommate gave me a ride.” Angelina had a four-bedroom house in Bisbee and rented out one of the rooms. “I asked for your help, though, because you looked like you needed to be rescued from Kate Benton.”
“Did I?” Angelina had obviously misinterpreted the situation. He’d never looked forward to church as much as he did now that it was the only time he saw Kitty.
Angelina leaned back into her seat. Her skirt had ridden up some but she didn’t bother pulling it back down. “She has nerve showing up to church.”
“Or maybe faith.” It was even possible she came to see him. He caught Kate glancing his way often enough.
Angelina scoffed. “You helped Cal run his ranch. You were better to him than his own son. What his family is doing to you is wrong.”
“You can’t blame the Bentons for feeling they’ve a right to inherit Cal’s estate.” Landon didn’t blame them. He just wished they’d been willing to negotiate. Everything could have been different then.
Landon stretched his shoulders in an attempt to shrug away the tension that was suddenly there. He didn’t usually let himself dwell on the bad luck that, over the last few years, kept showing up on his doorstep. To be honest, falling in love with Kitty also belonged in that bad luck category. Leave it to him to choose a woman who didn’t trust him and didn’t want to live in the same state.
Angelina ran her hand along Landon’s arm, drawing his attention back to her. She’d scooted closer. “You’re scowling. You spend too much time thinking about Kate Benton.”
Angelina had no idea how right she was about that.
She clicked her tongue. “Kate is a city girl who hates living here and will leave as soon as she can. You don’t have to bend over backward to play fair where she’s concerned.”
“That’s not the reason I play fair.” They’d reached the Lawrence’s place. Landon pulled up in front of the house and put the truck in park.
Angelina didn’t get out, didn’t even scoot toward the door. She considered Landon with knowing eyes. “She’s never going to be your type.”
Maybe Angelina wasn’t as bad at reading the situation as Landon supposed.
She put her hand on Landon’s leg. “This will be the second time I say this to you today: You look like you need rescuing.” Before he realized what she was doing, she leaned over and pressed her lips to his.