Chapter 3
Iwaved one final time to Brice before he drove away. Peggy and Marsha moved up next to me and stared out the diner window. “Honey,” Marsha said, touching my shoulder. “He might very well be the one that got away.”
“Maybe you should reconsider,” Peggy added.
I slipped my arms around their waists and pulled them close to me. “Nope. He’s a very good friend, but he’s not the one.”
“Well, if you even suggest that…”
Marsha shushed Peggy. “We’re not bringing that one up. He’s in her past. Leave him there. Meredith already knows he’s not the one.”
I hugged them tighter, still facing the window. “I know he’s not the one either.”
They sounded relieved.
I lifted my head, closing my eyes. “The one will be the guy that chance deems is right for me to meet. Whom I’m not looking for, but find right in front of me. Who understands my oddities. Who doesn’t think it’s insanity that drives me but something else. Something I’m not even aware of, but he’ll get it. And I’ll get all his quirks too. He’ll be the man I can’t wait to wake up and see every morning, and the man I want to see before I fall asleep at night. He’ll see me as his equal, not just a sex toy. He won’t try to own me. He won’t be worth millions. He’ll be a working man who loves life and doesn’t try to control every aspect of it. When I find that—I’ll know he’s the one.” I took a deep breath and released the women. “It’s two o’clock. Ooo, I haven’t seen it in so long.”
They laughed as I spun around to charge out of the diner. I collided with Landry, accidently making him spill the glasses of water he was carrying. They drenched us both, and I sucked in a deep breath, the cold water soaking through my blouse.
He stared down at me. “Uh, wet t-shirt contest time?”
Laughter burst free of me, and I grabbed the glasses from his hands. I set them on the table near us and took his hand in mine. “It’s almost two o’clock!”
“Yes,” he said, lifting a brow.
I tugged, dragging him toward the door. “Come on. You’ll miss it.”
“Miss what?” he asked, allowing me to pull him out to the street corner.
I stood tall and motioned with my head to the opposite corner. Landry focused on me. His brown eyes widened and he grabbed me, pulling me to him, his body pressed to mine.
I stared up at him. “What are you doing? I can’t see it if I’m facing you.”
He caressed my arms lightly, sending chills of pleasure up my spine. “Meredith, your blouse is wet and everyone can see straight through it.”
“Oh,” I said, admiring the fact he didn’t ogle me, but rather shielded me from the view of others. I smiled and forced him to move a little, so we were sideways on the corner. I stayed pressed to him and pointed to the other corner. “There. Mr. Limen always steps out of the barber shop to smoke his cigar.” True to form, he did. The old man walked out, stogie in hand.
I grinned. “Now, Mrs. Trencher, the librarian, takes her lunch hour now, and she claims to hate the smell of his cigars, but watch, she’ll stand and inhale it, savoring it.”
She did, and Landry chuckled, still caressing my arms.
“Okay,” I motioned to the other side, near Town Square, “Paula, one of the more rowdy bunch here in town, seems to think two o’clock is the perfect time to stop drinking and wander from Tom’s Bar to the bench out in the park area.”
A woman, who looked to be in her late fifties, stumbled across the street and went straight for the bench.
Landry laughed and wrapped his arms around me.
I snuggled in and pointed. “See there. Bobby, who owns one of the garages here in town, is Paula’s second cousin. He knows her like the back of his hand.” An older red tow truck approached, pulling to a stop in front of the bench. “He always comes at two to get her.”
I continued, pointing out the things the residents did automatically, missing it all so much. I leaned against Landry’s wet chest and gasped at the feel of how steely he was.
“It’s good to be home.”
He put his chin on the top of my head. “It’s good to have you home, Meredith. It’s obvious you love it here.”
It took me a second to realize I was holding a man I didn’t really know as if we were lovers. I stiffened and then drew back. “Um, uh, sorry for the clinging to you.”
His gaze was locked on my chest and I watched as he dragged it upward, looking as if he were fighting the urge to stare at my breasts. The cords in his neck popped. “No. Uh, no problem.”
I wanted to say something profound but remembered at the last minute that there was something I could use Brice’s help with. I grabbed for my phone. “Crap. I hope he’s not too far out of town already.”
“Who?” Landry asked.
“Brice. I didn’t think of it at the time, but it would be nice if he could look over the paperwork on me purchasing the building next to yours. Real estate isn’t something I really grasp and legalese on long-term contracts scares the living hell out of me. The only lawyer I remember being in town normally hangs with Paula from noon to two at the bar.” I winked. “I’d rather not have him help me.”
Landry still looked strained, but his voice held no evidence. “I can look it over for you. If you want. I kind of know a thing or two about real estate and the law. Plus, I’m good with contracts and keeping them from being iron clad when you don’t want them to be.”
I probably could figure it all out on my own if I had to, but I wasn’t about to enter into something and find out in the end I screwed myself. A second set of eyes were a must and something about Landry made me want to trust him. “Are you sure you don’t mind? I’ll pay you for your time.”
He pulled me back toward him, covering my body with his. “I think after the peep show you just awarded me, I can do it on the house.”
I couldn’t contain my laughter as I clung to him, tipping to the side, practically howling.