Convincing Landon by Serena Yates Read Free Book Online Page A

another good social worker. There’s a big need for youth counselling. Not everyone even makes it to high school, where we can reach some of the endangered teens. Too many just live on the streets. There are some rumours about the inner city developments including better support for the homeless, but I’m not sure how realistic those are. I’d love to talk to you about that, see what you think can be done. Who knows—seeing that your abilities are needed may change your mind about staying. Failing that…sure, I’ll move. There’s nothing to stop me.”
    “No girlfriend to keep you here?” Landon tilted his head.
    “No.” Greg looked serious all of a sudden. “What about you? Have you finally found Mr. Right?”
    “No.” Landon wasn’t going to talk about the fact that he’d found him but had been too stupid to hold on. And anyway, Kendall had moved back to Riverside once he’d graduated four years ago, so if anything, that was another reason to stay away from Riverside. Running into him now would just be too painful, since he’d never be able to make it up to him after all this time.
    “What a fine pair we make.” Greg chuckled.
    “At least we have each other.” Landon couldn’t have wished for a better brother than Greg. He’d gone from needing protection when he was younger to being a loving friend in recent years. Greg was the only person Landon had felt comfortable enough with to come out to, and Greg’s actual reaction hadn’t disappointed. Greg’s acceptance and support had been unwavering.
    Having each other definitely helped them get through Sunday, when they went to the ranch to see if there was anything they could do to make amends. Instead of talking, Ray closed the door in their faces after threatening to call the police if they didn’t stay off his land. The funeral on Monday was quiet with very few people attending. Ray behaved himself, even if him totally ignoring them raised a few eyebrows.
    Landon was glad when it was over. Seeing his father’s casket lowered into the ground made a lot of memories come back. Good ones, from when he was younger, and bad ones from more recent years. It made him think about the relationship they’d had, and he again felt the rejection by a person who should have loved him unconditionally. He wondered, not for the first time, what he’d done to deserve his father’s wrath. Now he’d never know.
    Saying goodbye like this also made him realise that a large part of the reason he’d left Riverside was his father’s lack of acceptance, and that had been without the man knowing Landon was gay. He hadn’t been willing to face the rejection on a daily basis, and he certainly hadn’t wanted to see what his father would do if he knew Landon was gay. But now that he was gone? Maybe Greg was right and it was time to stop running and reconsider.
    A few hours later, he knew it was time. The reading of the will hadn’t been a real surprise. Landon hadn’t expected to inherit anything, and neither he nor Greg did. The ranch and everything associated with it, which was all their father owned, went to Ray. What had made him mad was Ray’s sneer throughout the proceedings. It was almost as if his brother felt he had won a personal victory of some kind.
    “Ray thinks he’s the better son because he stuck around and that we don’t deserve any of Father’s hard-earned money.” Greg had snagged them a table in the Front Porch, an up and coming bar near the city centre.
    “Well, he’s welcome to it.” Landon had no intention of contesting the will. “Dad never wanted us to share his life, so I’m not going to fight for a share of what he’s left behind.”
    “Same here.” Greg stared at the menu.
    With their orders out of the way, Greg took a sip of his beer then looked up. “How long can you stay?” Greg looked hopeful.
    “A week for now.” Landon’s boss had been incredibly generous about giving him personal time. If Landon had been less secure,