Chapter 16

Present

Sarah's POV:

I've always somehow been drawn to 'bad' or 'cocky' guys. It's not intentional. I usually only see their true colors much later in the relationship. I feel like Landon is who he says he is. There's no buttering up the picture. I've found a good one this time.

That's why, when Landon calls me beautiful, butterflies erupt in my stomach and I feel my cheeks turning pink. Unable to speak, I merely smile at him, at a complete loss for words.

As if realizing what he just said, he clears his throat and checks his watch. "My sister should be home soon."

I take the hint and stand up. "No problem. I should be on my way."

"You sure?" He asks, standing up with me, blocking access to the front door. "I'd like for you to stay and meet Emma."

Shocked, I furrow my eyebrows, puzzled. "You're being for real?" I'm aware that his sister is his whole world just by the way he speaks about her. It's obvious that he's very protective of her and doesn't just introduce her to anyone. "I mean, I'd love to, but are you sure?"

The thought of meeting the person closest to him is real intimidating. I'm scared I don't meet her expectations. It's clear that if she doesn't like me or approve of me, that's it. The way to her brother's heart is through her.

He nods and he moves away from the door. "Why would I not be sure? I wouldn't ask if I wasn't sure," he clarifies sternly.

I'm glad it's not just me feeling the chemistry between us. I don't know exactly what it is but I've come to value his presence in my life a little too much.

"Hello, family!" A loud voice bellows, echoing around the small house before the front door slams open. In walks Dean with a big grin on his face. He glances between Landon and me. "Sorry, am I interrupting something?" He asks mischievously, almost knowingly, before sending a playful wink my way.

It's only then that I actually notice how close Landon and I are standing to each other.

Landon hits Dean upside the head, not caring enough to step away from me. "I could've sworn I kicked you out the house today."

Dean puts up a pretense of confusion. "Really? That doesn't sound like you." I'd beg to differ. "You're much too sweet to do that to me," he adds, pinching Landon's cheek, deliberately annoying him.

"You make it so difficult for me not to kill you," Landon says with a sigh, moodily shoving Dean away from him.

I bite back a smile as I watch the interaction between the two. I love their genuine and true friendship. It's rare and it's kind of awesome how close they are to each other despite being polar opposites.

Dean glances over his shoulder at me, looking very innocent. "He's so mean to me."

Landon scoffs. "Don't try that on Sarah. She's way too smart to buy into that."

"Buy into what?" An unfamiliar voice asks aloud.

I spin around to see a girl standing in the doorway with a hand on her hip. She's taller than me with long, red tresses draping over a leather jacket. Her make-up is dark, defining her beautiful, green eyes – Landon's eyes. Like her brother, her expression is hard, as if she's been through hell and back.

My heart immediately goes out to the red-haired princess. She's probably only a few years younger than me but I picture her as the child that she was when her mother abandoned her.

"Little Sis!" Dean raises his voice in enthusiasm before forcing the poor girl into a hug. With giant, muscular arms like his, I can imagine how difficult it must be to escape his grasp. Nonetheless, the redhead holds her own because she finds a way to get past him and to her brother, her protector.

"You promised a day free of him," she says, looking up at Landon accusingly. Despite her fierce look, I can tell by her stifled laugh that she is affectionate with Dean, that he's not really a problem to her. In fact, I think both she and her brother truly do see Dean as family, especially since their own family fell apart not too long ago.

Landon shrugs, his eyes brightening as he grins down at his little sister. "His will is too strong for me."

I break from my stupor when her puzzled gaze lands on me. She immediately frowns at me, apparently just as protective over her brother as he is of her.

"You must be Emma," I say and step forward to greet her when Landon forgets to introduce us to each other.

"Who's asking?" She replies in a cold tone of voice, eerily similar to that of her brother's when he's in a bad mood – which is more than 90% of the time. It's become clear to me that they do not trust easily.

"I'm Sarah, a friend of Landon's," I answer softly, careful not to mess this up. "And Dean's," I add when I feel Dean nudge me with his elbow for not mentioning him too. When I do, he smirks in contentment.

Emma's frown instantly slips from her lips. She smiles at me instead as if she's heard all about me. She surprises me and shakes my hand, a friendly gesture on her part. "Pleased to finally meet you. I've heard a lot about you from both boys," she replies before giving her brother a sneaky glance, "especially Lan."

I fall speechless, not knowing what to say to that. Landon, on the other hand, seems unfazed by her joking, obviously used to her.

Emma winks at me. "Don't worry, it's all very good things."

I laugh, taken aback by her sense of humor, a sense of humor that seems to skip a generation seeing as Lan doesn't even crack a small grin.

Dean nods in agreement. "Very, very good things."

"He must be talking me up," I joke, already feeling like one of them. Landon is blessed with a welcoming family.

"He doesn't stop," Dean adds. "It's pathetic really. I keep telling him to just ask you out on a date already."

"Same here," Emma chips in.

"I will when I'm ready," Landon assures them in confidence.

"So, never?" Dean jokes at his best friend's expense. He remains unmoved by the look of death Landon's shooting his way.

"Please sit," Emma offers a seat to me, unaware that I'd just been sitting with her brother a few minutes ago. "I'll make us all some coffee," she says before making her way to the kitchen area.

"Yes, please," I beg, the thought of hot coffee sounding really good right 'bout now. I have a feeling that a lot of the conversations that we're about to have are going to be uncomfortable. Coffee eases the nerves.

"I'll need help," she says, motioning to Dean to follow her. When he doesn't, she drags him out of the room. He complains that he's useless for the task, Emma agreeing with him but forcing him into the kitchen anyway.

"So, that's my sister..." Landon speaks up, meeting my shy gaze as he casually takes a seat beside me, "and adopted brother thing," he concludes with a sheepish, almost apologetic look to his eyes.

"I like them," I tell him, meaning it. "They're lovely, like you."

He finally cracks a grin, his eyes flickering over my face as if trying to remember every small detail of mine. I find myself staring back, quickly getting lost in his gorgeous eyes – pools of jade.

He leans forward as if experimenting with the thought of 'us'. When I don't back away, he lowers his head and leans his forehead against mine. I involuntarily close the distance between us, feeling our lips touch and move slowly together. As expected, a fire spreads through my veins and I know I'm not feeling this alone.

Those butterflies begin flapping their wings again as goosebumps prickle at my skin. I'm so head-over-heels for this man that it scares me – I haven't known him for that long but our connection is strong.

Landon pulls back and stares down at me as if building up the courage to do or say something. "Sarah," he starts hesitantly, "I know I'm probably going to regret this if your answer is no, but I can't stop whatever this is between us, so I'm giving in instead and asking you to give me a chance to take you out on a date."

"Emma and Dean giving you a hard time about it?" I tease, delighted with what he's just said to me.

He chuckles, the sound sweet to my ears. "You have no idea."

"I'd love to go out with you," I answer, putting him out of his misery. I know that he's new to the dating world. I'm willing to be patient with him and give it a shot.

He smiles. It's candid. I take a mental snapshot of the rare sight. I don't know when I'll see it again.

"Glad that I have no regretting to do," he concludes, satisfied.