Chapter 4
CHAPTER FOUR
The locksmith came by and changed the lock, confirming it was in fact tampered with. That was an unsettling thought and I asked Amber to get someone to install lights out the back of the store. Whoever, or whatever, was there last night, I’d get a clear view of them if they returned.
The day was as hectic as I knew it would be. Suits and dresses needed to be made as the gala was fast approaching.
By the time we were ready to close, I was sore and exhausted.
“You’re not staying late again, are you?” Amber asked as I walked her to her car.
“No, I promised my mom I’d come over for dinner.” I conveniently left out that Landry Astor would be there. I knew Amber would be worried and I just didn’t have the spoons to deal with a lecture from her.
“That’s nice. A home cooked meal is exactly what you need.” She smiled and got in her car.
Once I was in mine, I looked at myself in the mirror. Landry Astor was a gorgeous man, and possibly an unhinged stalker who owned an alligator. But still, I wanted to look good.
My wavy dirty-blond hair wasn’t anything special but it was thick and all I ever had to do was run my fingers through it and it would stay put.
My eyes were nice, a cornflower blue. I wasn’t a gym bunny but I was in decent shape and braces had made my teeth straight.
I wasn’t ugly. I wondered what Landry saw when he’d looked at me yesterday for him to be so… persistent, as my mom said.
I started the car and drove the fifteen minutes to my parents’ house. My mind kept wandering to Landry. I should maybe do some stalking of my own and find out all I could on this billionaire hottie.
Warm lights glowed inside my parents’ two-story ranch.
Dad told me they bought it hoping to fill all the bedrooms with kids but Mom had such a hard time delivering me that in the end, I’d be the only child they’d have.
They called me their blessing and showered me with enough love that would fill a hundred kids’ hearts.
Using my key, I let myself in. I could hear boisterous laughter coming from the living room so I assumed Landry had arrived. There wasn’t a car outside so I wondered if he Ubered or limo’d? Was that a thing?
“Hello, family…and Landry.”
He was more casual than I’d seen him, in dark trousers and a burgundy dress shirt. No jacket or tie.
“Oh, Jason, we didn’t hear you come in. Landry was just telling us a funny story.” Mom hugged me like she didn’t just see me that morning.
“Was he now?”
“It was nothing. I was down at A3 today, and there was some interesting side effects to a particular drug they are trying to develop. It involved a caffeinated rat and three researchers chasing it all the way into the ladies’ room…just a typical day.” He shrugged.
“Uh huh, well, no rats for me.”
“Dinner’s ready, come and sit.” We all followed Mom into the dining room.
Being just the four of us there was no need to extend the round table, so we all simply took a seat. I was glad I was between my mom and dad, but it meant Landry was directly in my line of sight and he was very handsome.
“Any news on the issues last night with the shop?” Dad asked as he passed me the basket of freshly baked bread.
“Someone did try and break in, the lock was tampered with. The locksmith changed all the locks.” Which reminded me. I reached into my pocket and pulled out a set of keys. “These are the new ones for you.”
“How worrisome.” Mom’s face was pinched and I reached over to pat her hand.
“Don’t worry, the police said they’ll keep an eye out. There’s nothing in the shop any robber would want anyway.”
“This is delicious, Barbara.” Landry smiled, seemingly uninterested in the shop’s break-in and that nagged at me.
“Oh, thank you, Landry. I use beef, sausage, and pork in the sauce. I like the flavors.”
“Mmm, well, I’m a meat eater so that must be why.”
We made small talk while we ate and avoided any red-button topics. Landry was very charming and had both of my parents easily on Team Astor by the time my mom brought out cheesecake.
I was equally charmed by the man but there was something about him that tickled the back of my mind. He seemed almost predatory but he’d smile at something my mom would say and I’d wonder if I was nuts.
“Dinner and dessert were wonderful. Thank you, Barbara and Martin, for inviting me.”
“Our pleasure.” Dad patted Landry on the back as we made our way to the door.
“I’ll just call my driver to come get me.” Landry took out his phone and I knew what was coming.
“That’s nonsense,” Dad scoffed. “Jason can drop you off, right, Son?”
Yup…that happened.
“Sure, Dad.”
“I don’t want to be an imposition.” But Landry was slipping his phone inside his jacket as he said it.
“None at all, let’s go.” I kissed my mom on her cheek and hugged my dad before I walked to my car.
Landry was hot on my heels and as soon as I unlocked the car, he was jumping in.
“Where do you live?” I asked as I pulled out of the driveway.
“Do you know Prescott Tower?”
I quirked a brow and shot him a look. “Everyone knows Prescott Tower.”
He shrugged. “Okay, no need to get snippy. Anyway, I live there.”
“Of course you do,” I mumbled.
“Are you still mad at me?” Landry didn’t sound upset, more like bemused.
“I don’t understand you is all.”
He hummed. “Would it make you feel better if I told you my suits were recovered and are being shipped to me and I no longer require your services?”
“Is that true?”
“It is.”
“And why would that make me feel better?”
“Because it means I genuinely want to get to know you for you, not what you can do for me.”
It made me feel marginally better but there was still that feeling. “Can I be honest with you, Landry?” Please don’t let this be the cause of my murder.
“I’d appreciate it actually.”
The light in front turned red and I faced him. “You’re charismatic, incredibly handsome, obviously well off, but there’s something about you that scares me…it’s a feeling in my gut that tells me…” I sighed and saw the light turn green from my periphery.
I hit the gas then realizing Landry had been silent, I chanced a glance and he was staring at me.
“What does your gut tell you, Jason?” His voice was deeper, gravelly.
I could see Prescott Tower ahead of me so knowing he’d be getting out soon, I said it.
“It tells me I should run.”
I pulled up to the front where I could see the doorman already approaching my vehicle. I looked over at Landry and gasped.
His eyes…they’d changed? Was that possible?
“We should all listen to our guts, Jason.” He leaned closer and his eyes definitely changed. “Yours tells you to run, mine tells me to chase.”
I swallowed loudly and even though Landry couldn’t see the doorman about to open the door, he held up a hand and the man halted.
“See, that’s not reassuring,” I said.
His smile was predatory. “Let me take you out tomorrow night. I feel I can explain things better to you if we’re…alone.”
“Are you going to kill me?”
He finally sat back and laughed. “Heavens no…I’m going to open up your world. What do you say? Meet me here after you close the shop?”
I should have said no, I should have left and never returned. But I was an idiot.
“Okay.”
He smiled again, though this time it was warm. “Fabulous.” He waved his hand and the door opened. “Until tomorrow, Jason.” He winked and was gone.