No Perfect Hero(115)

“Right. Just fabulous. The last time I planned a family vacation, we ended up sleeping in a stable in Nepal. With goats. Remember?”

“That was an AirBnB mixup, not yours.” He laughs. “Look, sis, you need to recharge your batteries before you write your next book. So why not stop worrying about rent and get away to the beach?”

I snort. “Sure, I have beach money lying around. I’ll just live on my wealthy rich kid trust fund for a few months.”

“Okay, smartass,” he teases gently. “But I’m serious. I know a place you can hang out. Look, it’s just a few hours north of L.A., like twenty minutes north of the bay in Sausalito. You can drive there in less than a day. An old friend has this place on the beach where you can stay in the guest house rent free.”

I tilt my head, eyeballing the bottle of Moscato. It’s calling me, but I’m trying to resist its lure. It won't help me. Steve, on the other hand...

“No such thing as rent free,” I tell him. “Where's the catch?”

“Nah, no catch. Friends helping friends, that’s all. You remember Landon, right? My best friend? How we were always over at his place when Mom and Dad were traveling?”

I remember.

I remember hard enough to drop a stone on my heart, and the bottle of Moscato’s suddenly in my hand like a woman dying of thirst while I take a deep swig.

Holy hell, Landon Strauss. I could live ten more lifetimes and I'd never, ever forget that name.

“Nope!” I say as soon as I swallow. “Sorry, Steve, but no.”

Landon Strauss isn't someone I need to be around. He’s just a dark memory.

But wasn't it that memory of blue eyes and how starry-eyed he made me feel that led to a completely foolish decision tonight?

Once upon a time, I had the worst crush on Landon Strauss. More than a crush, actually.

I was crazy mad in love with him, and how he’d spin me all around until I was ecstatic and floating, the next I was small and awkward and ready to crawl in a hole and die.

I don’t want that feeling back. The nerd next door, glasses and all. Annoying baby sister tagging along everywhere.

I'm also not ready to revisit that unspeakable, unholy thing that happened the day my crush on Landon ended. That stupid, dark, soul shocking thing that transformed him into someone else right before my eyes.

Not just no. Hell no!

I’ve grown into myself and I’m now McKenna Burke, successful romance author.

But to Landon, I’ll always be that annoying child who stuck her nose where it didn’t belong, and uncovered secrets I never should've seen the day I picked up his damn journal when he wasn't looking.

I’ll always be the girl who knows something damning I can never believe, but that could ruin him if I ever opened my mouth.

He hates me. And I should hate him.

And he sure as hell won’t want me living on his property anytime this century.

“Kenna? Why not? What's the big deal?” Steve asks, pulling me back from my memory-misted past and into my wine-fogged present. “Hey, it’s not like he’s going to invade your fortress of solitude or anything. You’ll have plenty of free writing time. He won’t even be there most of the time.”

“Why not?”

“His security company’s really taking off. He's a busy dude. Enguard, remember? That's the name. So, he’s away on jobs most of the time. He’s had a few beach bums and prowlers squatting on his property, I guess, and he said he needs to take care of the cats and make sure kids don't mess around. Really, you’d be doing him a favor. Keep an eye on the place, do a little writing, and soak up the beach without paying a dime of rent. No big scary neighbors from the past up in your space.”

I make a noncommittal sound under my breath.

I can’t possibly be considering this, but I have to admit, it does sound tempting. Life rent-free, a place to get my head together, away from the too-familiar rush of L.A.

If it’s possible to get cabin fever from an entire city, I’ve got it.

Still, it's Landon.

“What do you say, sis?” Steve presses.

I sigh. “Give me time. I'll think about it, okay? It’s not really as easy as packing up and taking off. Let's talk later.”

Except it is that easy, if I want it to be, I realize as I hang up the phone.

It’s exactly that easy.

It’s not like I haven’t done it before, only this time I’d be doing it without hungry landlords nipping at my heels. Hell, half my stuff is still in boxes from the last move. I never bothered unpacking because I didn't feel secure.

I can’t possibly be considering this. But the opportunity is too good to ignore, and maybe...

Maybe I need closure.

Maybe he does, too.

I owe Landon an apology, at least. A few words to clear the air. I can tell him I’m sorry, purify the bad blood between us, promise him I’ve kept his secrets, be an adult and hope he’s willing to be one, too.

As I go to bed, I tell myself I'm not doing anything on heartbreak and cheap wine.

But by morning, I’ve already left notice for my landlord that I’m terminating my lease, and I’ll be back in thirty days for my things.

The next thing I know, I’m packing.

Sun, sand, and some time alone to screw my head on straight.