Careful of the Company You Keep by Angie Daniels Page B

was corny, but for his fine ass I’m going to let that pass. “You feel good, too.”
    â€œHere we are twenty years later. Who would have ever guessed we’d be attracted to each other?”
    I chuckled at his confidence. It was something the old Landon never had. “Who would have ever guessed?”
    â€œIma keep it real, I have always been attracted to you, even back then.”
    â€œReally?” I said like I didn’t already know.
    â€œYep. I was such a cornball back then. Highwater pants, thick glasses.”
    â€œYep.” I laughed.
    â€œI knew back then there was no way I could step to you without having you laughing in my face.”
    I shrugged. “You were like a brother to me.”
    â€œAnd now?” he asked, studying my face. He licked his lips and I felt my body quiver.
    â€œNow . . . when I look at you I don’t think about my brother.”
    â€œThat’s what I wanted to hear.”
    We chuckled and then I rested my head on his chest and closed my eyes. For the first time since I left John’s tired ass, I felt that maybe there was a chance for me to finally get it right.
    It was during the next song that I got this feeling someone was watching me. Sure enough, I opened my eyes and spotted Leslie from across the room staring at my ass. I locked eyes with her, then ran my hand up and down Landon’s back. Oh, the look on her face was priceless. It took everything I had not to start laughing while I rained light kisses along Landon’s neck.
    â€œMmmm, that feels good,” he murmured.
    I continued to smile over at Leslie, daring her to bring her big booty onto the dance floor.
    â€œYou better quit before you start something,” Landon whispered against my ear.
    I pulled back and stared up at him, then draped my arms around his neck. “Oh, I’m definitely trying to start something,” I purred and looked over my shoulder to make sure Leslie was still watching. She was.
    â€œWhat do you have in mind?”
    I smiled up at him. “After the club. My place. I think we have a little catching up to do.”
    He looked surprised by my response. “Sounds like a plan.”
    The song ended and I released him and headed back over to where Danielle was sitting and talking to some short, bald dude. When I got up closer, I recognized him. Christopher Thomas. He and Danielle had dated while in high school.
    â€œWhassup, Nae-Nae?”
    I jumped back when I noticed his top teeth had packed up and moved the fuck on. “Hey, Chris, what’s been up wit you?”
    â€œJust trying to hold it together.”
    If his teeth were any indication, he was doing a poor job at it.
    He looked from me to Danielle. “I was just trying to get your girl here to go out with me.”
    I smirked, reached for a chair at the next table, and pulled up a seat. “That sounds like a good idea. Danny, why don’t you go out with him?” She gave me a look that said help me out but I pretended not to notice. “Chris, Danielle loves Red Lobster.”
    â€œBet! I can take you there tomorrow night. I think they are having all-you-can-eat shrimp.” He wagged his thick bushy eyebrows, then slid an arm around her shoulders. “How ’bout it, Danielle? You want me to pick you up?”
    She removed his hairy arm. “I don’t think so.”
    I intervened. “What you riding these days?”
    He stuck out his chest with pride. “A Geo Metro.”
    â€œGeo Metro?” Danielle and I said at the same time.
    â€œYep.” You would have thought he said he owned a BMW.
    I shook my head with pity. “I thought they stopped making them in the nineties.”
    â€œThey did. I have one of the last ones that ever came off the assembly line. I don’t know why they stopped. They are economical. Even with gas prices, I can ride all day for little or nothing.”
    â€œThat’s wonderful.” I turned