The Truth About Love

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Book: Read The Truth About Love for Free Online
Authors: Sheila Athens
nice, too.
    He slowed and pulled his truck into the circular drive of a two-story building with the clean, crisp lines of contemporary Asian architecture. A teenage valet moved from behind a podium to greet them as Landon opened the driver-side door. “Welcome to Indochine.” The boy’s eyes widened as he seemed to recognize Landon. The teen would have been in middle school—maybe high school—during Landon’s playing days.
    “How’s it going?” Landon nodded and smiled, as if trying to put the boy at ease. He handed the teen his keys.
    Gina slid from the passenger side and met Landon at the front of the truck.
    “This is Thai food,” she said with surprise as they headed toward the garden of small trees that led to the front door of the restaurant.
    “I keep my promises.”
    So he did. She liked that in a man.
    An unexpected touch startled her. She jerked, then realized it was Landon’s fingertips settling on the small of her back as they walked through the garden. She could feel their warmth through the thin fabric of her blouse. She didn’t want this to end.
    He chuckled behind her. “I’m not going to hurt you,” he whispered as they reached the front door. He held it open for her.
    She stopped, so close to him she could smell his freshly showered, masculine scent. The curls at the nape of his neck were still wet. “I thought this wasn’t a date.”
    “Southern boys always open doors for a lady.” His voice was low. Intimate. Like they were the only two who were supposed to hear it.
    She swallowed, suddenly wishing they could be alone together. So what if they shared a little quiet conversation. Maybe a little playful banter. As long as she kept their relationship professional, she wouldn’t violate her commitment to her job.
    Landon checked in with the hostess, who led them to the opposite side of the restaurant and up an open staircase.
    The second-story loft held several tables, a few of them occupied by couples and foursomes. A candle in an amber-colored glass sat in the center of each, creating little islands of light in an otherwise dimly lit area. The hostess led them to a teak two-top by the silver railing, overlooking the diners below. Landon pulled out Gina’s chair for her. She smiled at his gesture and sat down.
    One corner of his mouth quirked upward as soon as the hostess handed them each a menu and returned down the staircase. “I don’t suppose they have a rib eye and some fries?”
    “You’re a good sport to bring me here.” Her gaze slid to a table on the other side of the loft. Some of the couples around them were openly watching, but likely couldn’t overhear their conversation. “Though I do think this is good payback for yelling at me in my office the other day.”
    Landon smirked and returned his gaze to his menu. Gina glanced at the patrons on the level below, some of whom had their heads turned upward, watching Landon.
    The server arrived and took their drink orders—a glass of cabernet for Gina and a sweet tea for Landon.
    “So my boss asked me to be on a task force,” Gina said, ignoring the other diners.
    He fiddled with his silverware. “Oh, yeah? What kind of a task force?”
    “Its purpose is to bring people together to find common ground on the death penalty issues. Someone from your office is supposed to be on it. Somebody named Scott something?”
    “Scott Meredith. The chief of staff.”
    “You work closely with him?”
    “He’s my boss.” Landon glanced to the diners below.
    “He’s a good guy?”
    His gaze returned to her. “He’s probably not going to agree with you on death penalty issues, if that’s what you mean.”
    So there it was again—the difference in values that had separated her and Landon from the beginning. But it was too early in the dinner to talk politics. “I thought it was pretty cool that Suzanne’s letting me be on the task force. It’ll be a great experience for my internship.”
    The server returned with their

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