Luckily, Helene had volunteered to be on the first flight back to Minnesota to help until Robert could find a replacement. Everything fell into place as if it were meant to be when the replacement came by way of his friend, Chef Lee from Farmers, Fishers, Bakers. Robert had offered Lee a huge salary and maybe threw in an arm and leg as incentive to get the chef to La Bella Luna. It had worked. Lee eagerly took the job and planned to arrive later this week after Landon returned to DC.
“We’re gonna miss you around here,” Sebie said as if reading his thoughts while dropping two bowls into the sudsy water.
“Hell, I need to go back to work to get a vacation,” he quipped, finding some truth in those words. Besides, he didn’t want to think about leaving. It made him miss Robert already.
“When’re you coming back?” he asked, pausing there beside Landon.
“I’m not sure. I’ve been in training and have to be back to train my squadron. I’ll come as soon as I can,” he explained, looking over his shoulder to see Robert slowing the dicing, most likely tuning in to their conversation. Little had been said about Landon’s departure tomorrow morning, but they both knew it was coming. The fear they shared that things might be different between them after such an extended time apart had been for naught. He and Robert had easily fallen back into their routines. Landon never tired of being with Robert, and it seemed Robert felt the same way. Their strong connection had persevered, maybe even strengthening. Now the pain of being apart would begin anew.
No, don’t go there.
He had a year and a half before retirement. By then, La Bella Luna would be running smoother, and he and Robert could begin their life and their family.
Stick with those good thoughts.
“Air Force, right?”
Landon tuned back into Sebie and nodded, adding an absent, “Yup.” He’d felt this internal shift for a while now. The last two weeks firming up all this change inside him. The Air Force had been such a source of pride for Landon. Now, he hated to admit that it had all fizzled out. He was counting the days to retirement. Everything he cherished stood just feet away from him. But more than that, even Autumn, Cam, and Kylie had become his family. He loved spending their free time with them, even babysitting Kylie on occasion.
As if on some cosmic cue, Landon turned back to Robert who stopped chopping and stared at him. He experienced a rush of sadness, not just his own.
“He’ll be back in twelve days for two nights. We’ll save all the heavy lifting until then,” Robert said to Sebie, giving Landon a wink before turning back to his workstation.
“Guess that answered that,” Sebie said with a knowing chuckle and left Landon to finish the dishes. Seconds later, Robert’s hard body pressed against his, pushing him into the metal wash tub. His husband buried his handsome face in the crook of his neck, nuzzling the skin there.
“We’ve been so busy, I’m not sure I properly showed you how happy I am to be right here with you. Now you’re leaving.” Robert’s warm breath tickled against his skin. Landon angled his head, giving Robert access to his neck, releasing the dish in his hand, letting it slide back into the hot water.
“You show me every day. Do I show you?” he whispered.
Robert pressed his lips against the sensitive skin underneath his ear as he spoke. “Every minute of every day.”
“Good. You remember it while I’m gone.” Regret clogged Landon’s throat, and he looked down, working hard to swallow the sudden lump.
“I’ll remember it forever. No need to worry about that.” Robert locked his arms around him, hugging him tightly. Landon loved these unexpected, intimate moments. Closing his eyes, he was back to memorizing the feel of Robert’s body pressed exactly like this against his body, holding on to the image to pull up during the lonely nights headed his way.
“Robert, the florist’s on the phone. They’re running late and won’t be here until after eleven. They want to know if you still want them to come.” The spell broke. Robert turned away, and Landon felt the instant disconnect of his body. It hurt to think about not waking up to this man every morning. This was going to be so much harder than he’d ever imagined.
“There’s a big difference in flying private,” Robert said, following Landon up the steps to board the small private jet he had rented for Landon’s flight home this morning. Robert ducked his head, stepping inside. The pilot sat in the cockpit, preparing for the flight. He and Landon turned the opposite direction, heading into the main cabin.
“It’s nice, but I should’ve flown commercial—”
Robert lifted a hand to Landon’s lips, stopping him from saying the same words he’d already uttered several times over the last twelve hours when he had learned what Robert had done.
“I told you, if we’re going to live separately, our travel must be done efficiently. This is an expense we’ll have to budget for.”
Landon tossed his bag on a leather chair and did a full turn, taking in everything about the cabin before twisting to stand face to face with Robert. Robert reached out, taking Landon’s hands in his. He couldn’t believe how badly his heart already ached. It made him vulnerable, and he blurted, “Maybe we should’ve bought the restaurant and held on to it until you retired.”
“No second-guessing.” Landon
