Chapter 25
MADDIE
The Monday before my birthday, I was cooking in the sun, dragging a sack of fertilizer across the school grounds, when my phone buzzed. I took refuge under the shade of a large California oak tree before answering.
“Maddie Jennings speaking,” I said into my phone.
“Hi, Ms. Jennings. This is David Hooper, from Hooper Properties.”
I recognized the name. It was the housing developer who was looking for landscape developers for his green residential project. I’d applied a few weeks back, but I wasn’t expecting a call so soon.
“I love your portfolio, but I hit a roadblock in your application, and I’m hoping it’s a typo. In the comment section, you mentioned it would take you two months longer than I asked for to complete the project.”
“Yes, that’s correct. Unfortunately, that’s the capacity I have.”
“I see. Well, if your situation changes, give me a call. I’d love to work with you.”
“Sure. Thank you for the call, Mr. Hooper.”
I couldn’t help the pang of disappointment after the call disconnected.
Sure, I’d known my personnel capacity would prevent me from winning this project, but hearing it out loud still stung.
I thought about working with Elise again.
Landon was right. I shouldn’t allow the failed partnership with Owen to keep me back from following my dreams. Easier said than done, but I resolved to give this more thought after my birthday.
Right now, I saw Leta Hendricks, the school’s principal, crossing the yard.
I’d asked her here today to show her our progress, ask if she wanted any changes.
The boys I’d hired for this project and I had worked a few weeks on it already.
We still had ten days left, but I wanted her opinion before we completed it.
“This is amazing, Maddie. The parents will be very happy,” she announced. “I love what you did with that cluster of palm trees and with the arch with bougainvillea. It’s even better than what I imagined when you described it. And they blend nicely with the sycamore trees.”
“Of course. That’s what I wanted. I fell in love with this space as soon I saw them.”
The California sycamore trees were on the property before there was a school here. They gave the entire space a traditional air, even if the school was relatively new.
Since she was impressed, now was the best time to ask the principal for a favor.
I took in her coiffed salt-and-pepper hair, the old-school cut of her jacket and skirt.
Leta looked exactly like I’d imagined the principal of a private school would look.
But despite her strict appearance, she was friendly.
“I’d love to stop by on the first day of school, if that’s okay with you, and show the parents and kids around.”
“Sure. We’d love to have you here.”
I didn’t doubt Leta would refer the parents to me if they asked, but I wanted to be more proactive. Nothing beat being there in person. I normally wasn’t a fan of pitching myself to people, but this opportunity was golden. I couldn’t pass it up.
“Thank you.”
“Well, I’ll leave you to get back to work.”
After she left, my stomach started grumbling, reminding me it was lunchtime. The boys had packed lunch with them, but I went to the burrito place across the street. I missed my lunches with Landon.
While I ate, I mentally reviewed my work calendar for the year.
I was booked almost solid until the end of October.
Even though LA had nice weather most of the time, people didn’t give redoing their yard much thought in winter, and I had to go the extra mile to secure projects.
I wondered if project rotation was the same in San Jose, then shook my head.
Why was I even entertaining those thoughts? I knew the score.
But I was missing Landon already.
The next morning, I woke up buzzing with anticipation. I patted the bed next to me, even though I knew it would be empty, but I’d harbored the hope that Landon had snuck in during the night. A girl could dream.
The buzz of anticipation intensified. Grace had been teasing me relentlessly about the plans she’d concocted with Landon and Lori, but neither was sharing any details.
Bastards. I’d get my revenge on them first chance I got.
Well, on Grace anyway. I wasn’t sure how that would work out with Lori or Landon.
He was leaving in one week. Val had declared that she’d be fit to return to work by then.
My eyes began to sting, and I blinked a few times. I couldn’t tear up on my birthday.
I reached for my phone. It was almost eight o’clock in the morning. I hadn’t slept so long on a weekday in years, but Landon had persuaded me to take the day off.
My phone rang the second the clock turned eight. I grinned as Landon’s name appeared on screen.
“Most people wait until later with the birthday calls. Common decency and all that.”
“I’m not most people. And I have no decency when it comes to you,” Landon said. “Happy birthday, Maddie.”
“Thank you. Are you going to tell me the plans for today?”
“Nah, but my helper will be there soon.”
I wiggled my ass. “Grace or Lori?”
“Grace.”
“I can’t believe you’ve been plotting with my sister and your sister. And that you’ve used all those tricks to convince me to take the day off.”
“I don’t remember you complaining at the time.”
I felt my cheeks burn. His tricks fell into two categories: racy and downright sinful. Of course I hadn’t complained.
“You really have no decency. I don’t know why I keep you around.”
Landon laughed softly. “I can’t wait to see you later. Have fun today.”
“Fun doing what? Come on, just a little hint.”
As if on cue, the bell rang. Landon must have heard it too, because he said, “That’s your hint. See you later, Maddie.”
“See you.”
I scrambled out of bed, looking for my jeans. An idea struck me. What if Landon was at the door, and he’d just been messing with me? My heart went pitter-patter at the thought. The knock at the front door became more insistent.
When I swung it open, my smile faltered just a bit.
“What’s that?” Grace’s voice dripped with accusation.
I hung my head in shame and owned up to my sins. “I’d gotten it into my mind that Landon was messing with me saying I’ll only see him later.”
“I’d be mad, but it’s understandable. I’d be disappointed too if I was expecting that hunk and all I got was little old me.”
I pulled her into a hug. “I’m not disappointed, you little schemer.”
“Happy birthday, sis.” Pulling back, she added, “I will be your guide today. You have fifteen minutes to get dressed.”
Curiosity and panic warred inside me. Curiosity regarding our plan for the day, and panic that I only had fifteen minutes to shower and dress. Fourteen minutes later, I did a full turn in front of Grace.
“Acceptable?”
She nodded. “Let’s go.”
My phone rang nonstop while Grace drove us through the city. Friends and old clients called, then my parents.
“We’re here,” Grace announced while I was bidding Mom goodbye.
She pulled the car into a parking space on a narrow street lined with restaurants and shops.
We were going shopping? I loved shopping.
I didn’t need anything in particular, but that had never kept me from indulging. I loved pretty things.
I finished the conversation with Mom as Grace took my hand, guiding me onto the main street. Only when I shoved my phone into my purse did I realize we were on Rodeo Drive, also known as one of the most expensive shopping streets in LA.
“Rodeo Drive is a bit out of my budget, don’t you think?”
She winked. “Luckily, you’re the birthday girl so you’re not paying. Landon’s treat. He asked me what you liked to do, and I brought up shopping.”
I opened my mouth to argue, but she held up her finger.
“Any complaints, direct them to Landon. I’m just your guide. But just so you know, you’re not leaving here without at least a dress and shoes.”
“I can’t believe it!”
We came to a stop in front of a store displaying fabulous evening gowns. They looked exorbitant. I felt myself melting as we admired them. It was a hot day even for August standards. Grace pushed open the door to the store. It even smelled expensive.
A perfectly coiffed blonde vendor greeted us.
“How may I help you?” she asked.
“We’re looking for an evening gown. It’s my sister’s birthday, and we’re having a party tonight.”
“Of course. Shall I give you a tour? You can tell me which dresses you want to try on, and I’ll bring the right size to the changing room.”
I tried on dress after dress after dress, excitement bubbling inside me.
I couldn’t decide which one was my favorite.
The black one with a plunging neckline? The dark blue one with little ribbons up my back?
I thought Landon would particularly like that one.
Undressing me would be like unwrapping a gift.
I toyed with the idea of sending Landon snapshots, but I wanted to surprise him.
Then I had an even better idea. I took a picture of myself in between changing dresses, when I wore nothing but underwear.
He replied after I’d already slipped into a new dress.
Landon: Maddie…You don’t want to do this. Teasing me is a dangerous game.
I licked my lips, anticipation firing me up.
Maddie: You’ve teased me about my birthday. This is your punishment.
Landon: I’ll collect my reward tonight.
I clenched my thighs, letting out a long breath. Right. This was not the moment to get turned on, with the vendor and Grace waiting for me to come out of the changing room. Damn Landon. How could he affect me even from a distance?
“If something doesn’t fit you perfectly, we’re happy to modify it. We have a seamstress here, and she’ll have it ready for you in a few hours,” the vendor called from behind the curtain separating the changing room from the store.
“Okay.”