Chapter 20 #2
When Landon shook his head and opened his mouth, Will turned to me. “Maddie, I’m entrusting you with a very important task. You need to get Landon to relax. He has this annoying belief that everything is his responsibility. He’s gonna grow white hair soon.”
Jace cornered me too. “Yeah, use those womanly wiles. We’ve tried everything else and failed. You’re our last resort.”
The skin on my neck felt red-hot, but I was determined not to cower, even though I couldn’t believe he’d just used the words “womanly wiles.”
“I’ll do my best,” I countered, keeping my face straight.
Lori glanced at Milo, but he still seemed lost in his iPad, earbuds safely on. “Jace, I forbid you to say the words ‘womanly wiles’ in front of Milo.”
Jace glanced at his sister in mock surprise. “Why? Think he won’t understand? I’m more than happy to explain. He needs to be prepared for what’s out there.”
“He’s six,” Lori said so sweetly, even I feared she was cooking up a revenge plan in case Jace blabbed in front of Milo.
Hailey arrived midway through dinner.
“I’m sorry I’m late. Plane took off ninety minutes too late from Seattle.” She hugged Val tightly, then plopped down on Landon’s other side. In between scarfing down food, she questioned him about work.
“I have everything under control,” Landon said.
Hailey raised her eyebrows. “I want details, please.”
Landon gave in and recounted the past week play-by-play.
“That sounds like a lot to handle,” she admonished when he finished. I was on Hailey’s side. I was exhausted just hearing it.
Landon waved his hand. “I can balance the workload.”
Interesting. He’d admitted to me that it was going to be a nightmare, but he didn’t admit it to his family.
While I felt honored that he’d shared that with me, I thought that putting up this bravado wasn’t having the effect he thought it had.
Case in point: Jace and Will were both casting him worried looks.
“Val, I won’t be able to attend dinner next Friday. We’re playing in New York,” Jace said.
Val pouted. “The season hasn’t started yet.”
“It’s a friendly game. Though you wouldn’t know it by the way our coach had us train. You’d think we’re playing for the world championship. But I’ll stop by before I leave. And I’ll wink at you when they interview me.”
Val pointed her finger at him. “You’re just trying to rope me into watching your game.”
“You’re not even going to watch my game when you’ve got nothing else to do? Low blow, sis. Low blow.”
Everyone at the table erupted in laughter.
“I’ll try,” Val said. “But I get a headache when I watch quick movements on a screen.”
“In a few weeks she’ll go crazy,” Landon said later when we left Val’s house. We climbed down the slope using the wooden trail.
“Anyone would if they were housebound. Don’t worry. I’ll keep an eye on her, report any mischief.”
“Spying for me now, are you?”
“I’m adaptable. Dinner was so much fun. And loud. My ears are still ringing a bit. But can I just say one thing? You shouldn’t put up that bravado in front of your siblings. They can see right through it, and it makes them worry.”
He hesitated. “It’s a reflex by now. Growing up, Val and I did whatever it took to keep any trouble from them.”
I nodded, understanding where he was coming from. “I get what you’re saying.”
“You do?”
“Yes. Our situations were nothing alike, but I often felt like a parent for Grace. Especially on the nights our parents were performing.”
We came to a stop at the foot of the wooded trail.
“The venues where they performed weren’t exactly kid friendly, so we were on our own a lot from the time I was about nine.”
Landon frowned. “Nine is young to be left alone. Especially with a younger sibling.”
“I know, but they didn’t have much choice.
They’re good people, but very passionate about music.
” I’d often wondered if they loved music more than us, but that was a really unfair judgment.
They did the best they could, and that was really all any of us could do.
“They provided us with enough to get by, it’s just…
I’d just wished they’d been more present, you know?
It was the little things that added up, like Grace falling asleep waiting for them, wanting to show them something she’d drawn.
Or when I wanted to talk to my mom about girl issues, but she didn’t have time, so I interrogated the lady at the pharmacy. I sound ungrateful.”
“You wanted love and attention,” Landon said softly. “Those are normal things to want.”
I blinked, shaking my head. “I don’t usually talk about this.” What was it about him that made me talk so freely?
“You can talk to me about anything, Maddie. I understand where you’re coming from, and I like listening to you.”
We were more alike than I’d thought. I felt the connection between us like a physical hook in my heart, pulling me closer to him.
“Anyway, back to you and your family. You should try being more… relaxed around them. When they ask you how it’s going, try not to automatically say, ‘I have everything under control.’”
“I’m that predictable?”
“No, but I’m starting to figure you out, Landon Connor. And if I can figure you out, so can they, so be upfront with them.”
“I’ll try.” The corners of his mouth twitched. “You took Jace’s trolling like a champ.”
I feigned shock. “Trolling? That was serious advice. And I plan to use my womanly wiles on you tonight.”
“Do you now?”
“Yep.”
“What are you doing this weekend?” he murmured. “I’d like to spend it together with you, if that’s possible.”
“I’d love that. I have plans for tomorrow, though. In the morning, Grace and I are going to the flea market. You want to come with us?”
“I have a conference call with Adam, my acting CEO, in the morning. I had no time to talk to him today. What are you doing in the afternoon?”
“I need to paint two of my outer walls. I painted the other two a while ago, but I really need to get to it this weekend. But after that, I’m free to use my womanly wiles on you again.”
“You’re painting alone?”
“Yes, Grace is working at Macy’s in the afternoon before her shift at the Lucky Bar.”
“I’ll paint with you.”
I waved my hand. “Oh no. That’s a messy affair.”
“So? We’ll be faster together.”
“Landon, really. I’ll deal with it.” I made to walk toward the front gate, but he caught my arm, spinning me to face him. His gaze was focused, hard.
“Why are you so stubborn?”
“I’m not stubborn, but I don’t want you to feel obligated to help me with stuff like that. It feels as if we’re a couple.”
I felt vulnerable for revealing that particular detail.
I was pushing him out, and I didn’t know how to stop.
After my breakup, I’d been afraid to let anyone get close.
I didn’t want to give anyone the chance to make me feel insignificant.
I tried to shrug everything off, but I suspected Landon could see right through me. He seemed wired to my emotions.
He let go of my arm, cupping my face in both hands.
“We are a couple, Maddie. This isn’t just a romp between the sheets.
Yes, I want you every damn second of every damn day, but I also want to just spend time with you.
Doesn’t matter what we do.” His thumbs caressed my cheekbones, and then he kissed me.
“You’re fun, loyal. You’re a great woman, Maddie.
You deserve someone who knows how to treat you the right way.
I want to be that man for you. Here, now, I want to be that man. ”
He leaned in until his chest brushed my breasts, and I sucked in a breath.
Landon stole the next one, sealing his mouth over mine.
He kissed me gently but demandingly. I twisted my fingers through his hair.
His hands and lips were wreaking havoc on my senses, but his words had reached straight to my heart.
Landon was like a hurricane. He swept me off my feet completely, and even though I knew I’d be better off in the long term if I fought my feelings, I couldn’t do it anymore.
I wanted to take all this man had to offer, experience everything he made me feel.
Landon tore his mouth away. “Woman! Don’t start with those wiles before we even leave my sister’s yard.”
Laughter began to bubble up my chest, but it got stuck in my throat when he cupped my breast, flicking my nipple over my dress. After work, I’d changed into a light blue cotton dress with a V neckline and short sleeves.
He lowered his hand on my right thigh, bunching up my dress until he reached my skin. I shuddered.
“I love how your body reacts to me. It makes me want to just stroke you like this for hours.”
I bucked my hips, desperate for more friction. He kissed down the side of my face, tugging at my earlobe, whispering in my ear.
“Landon! The things you make me want.” How could he bring me from zero to 100 percent turned on in a few seconds?
I didn’t even know I was capable of that.
Landon made me discover new sides of myself, though I suspected I would only ever respond to him this way.
It was pitch dark in the yard, but still.
I couldn’t climb him here, so I did the sensible thing and took a step back.
“Shall we go?” I asked.
“Yeah, we should.” I heard the smile in his voice as we left the yard. “So, we’re on for painting tomorrow.”
“Yes, bossy man. We’re on for painting. Where do you want to go now?
” I asked once we were in the car. “The view from the Griffith Observatory is really spectacular at night. Or we could go to the observation deck on city hall, and then have drinks downtown. Or we could go to a beach. Not Venice, too much going on.”
“I forgot how amazing this city was.”
“Oh, I’ll remind you. I always think imports value LA more than the locals.”
A dangerous idea popped into my mind. Would he ever consider moving back here? Could I… persuade him? I shook my head, pushing away the selfish thought. But I found myself wishing that this thing between us could stretch beyond here and now.
“Well, then, LA expert. Show me what I’ve been missing. You choose the adventure tonight.”
I glanced at him suspiciously. “You’re so accommodating. No negotiations?”
“I’ll prove my negotiating prowess later tonight.”
“Will clothes be involved?”
“Of course.” He leaned in closer. “I didn’t say we’d be wearing those clothes.”