Chapter 13
“You do realize this place is entirely too cute.”
“I agree,” I said, putting my arm around my friend Natasha. I had her by about three inches. Her long, light brown hair that was streaked with blonde, was down and free today. She had a natural tan all the time, a skin tone that had always left me envious. If I didn’t love her so much, I’d hate her.
“So,” she started, “I want details.”
“About?”
“About you and Landry. Something happened. Something you’re not telling me about.”
I sighed. “Brice talked to you, didn’t he?”
I’d confided in him, telling him the truth as to why I faked being sick and missed our dinner together. Surprisingly, he’d acted like a real friend, listening to me, letting me vent. He then proceeded to pick me up and take me antiquing for the day. He was a perfect gentleman the entire time, even serving to make me laugh at his antics.
She nodded. “But only because he was worried about you.”
My brother pulled to a stop near us as we finished crossing the street. His gaze lingered on Natasha, as it often did whenever he was around her. She flashed a sexy smile in his direction.
“Sheriff.”
Samson tried, and failed, to shut his car door twice before ripping his gaze from Natasha and doing it. “Hi, Tasha.”
Only Samson called her that nickname. I assumed she’d have his head on a platter for it when he’d first started, but she didn’t.
Samson thumbed towards the diner. “I’m taking a lunch break. You two up for joining me?”
I froze.
No. I’d managed to avoid Landry for the greater part of two weeks, throwing myself into getting the house and shop in order, as well as, going antiquing as often as possible, and had no intention of seeing him anytime soon. “I’m good. I should check on the shop. The work crew said they’d be done by tomorrow, and then I’ll open the doors next week.”
Samson watched me closely. “Still avoiding Landry?”
“What? No.”
He snorted. “Okay, right. Then you want to tell me why you’re both going out of your way to stay away from each other, and why the hell it is he’s been a bear to deal with? Everyone in town has noticed.”
Natasha held tight to my arm. “We’d love to get some lunch. You lead, we’ll follow.”
“Natasha, no,” I said, attempting to pull away.
She held tight to me. Giving in, I agreed, and we headed in to find the place was crowded already. Samson found us a table and Natasha took a seat. I excused myself to visit the ladies’ room, hoping to avoid seeing Landry for as long as possible, pushing through the crowd on my way there. My fear wasn’t of seeing him and having to face him after the pool incident. It was more that I’d fall into his offer of not hurting me, of something more, and in the end, suffer for it.
Rounding the corner, I drew up short when I spotted Landry with his back pressed to the corner and a woman I’d seen around town once or twice. She ran her fingers over his lips and went to her tiptoes, pressing a kiss to his mouth.
Emotions lodged in my throat, and I spun around to leave, only to collide with Marsha. “Oh, Meredith. I’m sorry, hon.”
I glanced over my shoulder to find Landry there, his eyes wide. He glanced from me to the woman and back again. Sighing, he tipped his head back.
I swallowed hard and stepped aside for Marsha so she could head to the restroom. I found my brother. He stood to pull a chair out for me. I sat and looked out the window, holding tight to my emotions. He took a seat, and he and Natasha continued discussing whatever it was they’d been talking about. Samson stopped talking and glanced up at something behind me. “You planning on staring a hole through the back of my sister’s head or what?”
I stiffened, already knowing Landry was there.
“What can I get you guys?” he asked, putting his hand on my shoulder.
Instinctively, I shied away from his touch. Natasha spotted the action, narrowing her gaze on me, and then Landry. “I’ll take the Asian salad and iced tea, please.”
“I’ll have the special,” my brother said.
I tried to give my order, but my throat was tight. Natasha smiled up at Landry, it was fake, but only I could spot that. “She’ll have the same as me. She was raving about it on the way in. Thanks.”
Landry tried once again to touch me, but I didn’t let him. I also refused to look at him. I’d cry if I did.
“Mer,” Samson said. “Are you okay?”
I nodded.
Natasha caught his attention and took his focus from me. I remained numb as I watched the people doing their daily rituals. The food came and I didn’t bother looking at Landry then either. I picked at it, my appetite long gone.
Natasha kept Samson engaged in conversation. I joined in a little and felt the heavy weight of someone’s stare on me. Turning, I locked gazes with Landry. His play toy was sitting at the counter, trying to catch his attention. He just stared at me, looking as if he wanted to come and talk to me.
Without emotion, I turned my head, looking out the window again. I picked more at my food and was happy when Samson glanced at his watch. “Ah, I have to get back to the station.” He glanced at Natasha. “You in town for the weekend?”
“Just the day,” she replied. “You, know, I’m not that far away. Ever think about taking a day off from policing the streets and visiting me?”
Was she asking my brother out?
Samson grinned. “Picture me in the city.”
Natasha laughed. “Good point.”
He left and Natasha let out a dreamy sigh. “I want a man who is just like your brother. He’s so sweet, yet totally screams tough guy at the same time.”
I grinned. “You could take him off the market.”
She lifted a brow as if the idea was a possibility.
I laughed.
“Planning to eat it or pulverize it?” she asked, eyeing my salad.
“Option two.”
She touched my hand. “Okay, what’s with you and Landry? Is something there?”
Shaking my head, I pushed my plate forward. “Uh, no. But I’m guessing Brice told you otherwise.”
“He did, but I want to hear it from you? And I want to know why it is Brice is aware of what’s going on in your life more than me, your best friend.” She wasn’t going to let up and I knew it.
“Landry has this mantra about having sworn off women.” I snorted and glanced at the table. “Turns out, he was just swearing off me. Though, I guess I worked to get his rocks off. He made it seem like he wanted something real between us. I asked for a little bit of time because, to be honest, he sort of flaked on me big time, and it reminded me so much of Phillip that I needed to pull away from it. I don’t know. Kind of stings, but I’m not really sure why, if that makes sense. It’s not like I was looking for something when I came home.”
She patted my hand. “Oh, honey, it makes perfect sense. You went and let one creep under your radar, didn’t you?”
Nodding, I bit at my lower lip, moisture glistening in my eyes. “I knew better. It’s why I asked for time. Stupid me, huh?”
“Stupid him, Mer.” She rubbed my hand. “Why don’t you call Brice and tell him you changed your mind and that you’ll go to England with him. You love acquiring new things for the house and don’t give me any crap about you not working there anymore. I’m sure he’d like your support over there. Plus, he said the two of you had a nice time antiquing the other day.”
“Why are you always pushing me at Brice?”
“I still meet him on Wednesdays for lunch, just like the three of us used to do when you lived in the city.”
“I know. He mentioned as much when he calls.”
“Do you want to know how many dates he’s been on since you left?” she asked.
“Am I going to need a calculator?”
She smiled. “No.”
“I give, how many?”
“None,” she answered, shocking me. “Not a one, Meredith. He’s trying very hard to be a better man, and he understands all you’re willing to give him is friendship. I think he deserves some credit for going from a new one’s bed nightly to sleeping alone in his for how many months now. That’s a huge step for him and your encouragement would mean a lot to him.”
“Then why hasn’t he told me he stopped dating?”
She shook her head slightly. “You always miss huge signs.”
“Huh?”
“Call him,” she pressed. “Tell him you’ll go with him. And just think, when he plays the swearing off women card, you’ll know he’s doing it for you, not to keep you, and you alone, away.”
That made me laugh. “Good point.”
“Can I ask you a serious question?”
“Of course,” I replied.
“If you weren’t so scared of being hurt again, would you have been open to Brice and his advances, or is he really so far from your type of man that you can’t see yourself with him?”
I thought about it and didn’t like the answer I found.
“By the look on your face, you were scared and I know you. He is exactly your type of guy. You just keep drawing similarities between him and Phillip. Is that really fair to Brice? I think if you would open your heart and mind to him, you’d figure out he’s a really great guy.”
“I know he is, but, Natasha, he’s not ready for what I bring to the table, and I don’t want to hurt our friendship.”
“Tell me, Mer, is it really him who isn’t ready, or is it you? Not all men will hurt you, Mer. Open up and give one a chance.”
The irony of her statement wasn’t lost on me. “Funny, I was doing just that and just got burned again. That’ll teach me for being foolish enough to get close to the flame again.”
“Meredith,” Landry said.
I twisted in my seat, surprised to see he was as close as he was. I had a feeling he heard our conversation, but for some reason, I didn’t care.
He glanced at Natasha and then me. “I…it’s not…dammit…you…I…dammit.”
Marsha reached for him from her spot at the table behind me. “The words you’re looking for are that you’re an idiot who is too stupid to realize a good thing when you see it, and you deserve every bit of her anger right now.”
I leaned, staring past Landry at Marsha, impressed with her style.
She laughed. “What? I saw him back there with Mary Sue. I also know he’s been keeping you at arm’s length while certainly giving the impression the two of you were becoming something more than friends. The entire town has been whispering about you two for months. We all thought something might have happened between you both. Never did any of us think Landry would pull this. Had we known, we would have warned you about him. You’ve been hurt enough, honey.”
I offered a soft smile. “It’s okay, Marsha.”
“Sweetie, it’s so far from okay that I can’t even put it into words,” she said.
Landry touched my shoulder. “Meredith.”
I put my hand over his and pulled it off me. “It’s okay, really. No biggie.”
Natasha sighed and tapped my knee. “What do you say you and I go out tonight? Either you come into the city, or we find a place not too far from here? Either one. Let’s just get you out and about. Back in the game.”
One of Landry’s employees walked past with a plate of meatloaf. The second I got a whiff of it, my stomach reacted violently. I paled and put my head down.
“Meredith, are you okay? You look like you’re going to be sick,” Natasha said.
“Did you smell that?”
“Smell what?” she asked.
I shook my head, my stomach still touchy. “Never mind. Nothing. I’m good.”
With a shaky hand, I sipped my iced tea.
Natasha pushed my bowl toward me. “Try to eat something. I watched you pick at your muffin this morning, and I’m still in shock you turned your nose up at a latte from Java Jonsing. I brought that in special for you. You love that place.”
I exhaled slowly. “I’m sorry. I’m not feeling like myself the last couple of days. Guess I should do the whole take lots of vitamin C thing, huh?”
Marsha cleared her throat. “That or a pregnancy test, but you’re not dating anyone, right?” she asked as if she knew different.
I went ramrod stiff.
Natasha laughed. “Like you’d ever do anything without protection.”
I sipped my tea and forced a smile to my face. “Y-yeah.”
“Want to scratch going out tonight?”
“No,” I answered. “That sounds really good, but can we do something a little more local? I can’t spend one more night in the city. I’m not up for all that drama.”
She snorted.
“Guess this means you’re staying the night?”
“Do you mind?” she asked.
“Of course not.”
“Do you mind if I call Brice to come in? He’ll need to sleep over too. You have plenty of space.”
“Meredith,” Landry said, squeezing my shoulder. “Don’t do this.”
“Do what?” Natasha asked, staring up at him. “Enjoy herself? Meet a friend for drinks and dancing?”
I could have stopped her. I didn’t. I kind of enjoyed seeing her rip him a new asshole.
Marsha joined in. “Brice is the man who was your boss, right? The one who came in here and kissed you?”
“Yes.”
“Oh, darling, he’s handsome and I bet he’d be good to you if you let him. I get the sense you care about him.”
“I do,” I admitted.
“Meredith, can I talk to you, please?” Landry asked.
Natasha patted my leg. “So, is it a yes? Can I call him?”
“Can we maybe have this conversation somewhere else?” I drew away from Landry’s touch.
“I think here is the perfect place to have it,” Natasha said. “I hate seeing you upset like this, and I’m really thinking of doing bodily harm to the person who caused it.” She glared at Landry.
“Leave him be. It’s not his fault I fell for him.” I gasped as I realized what I’d said. “I mean, well, I…”
“Meredith, let’s talk.” Landry made a move to touch me and Marsha caught his hand.
“I have a feeling your actions spoke louder than your words,” she said. “Live with it.”
Standing, I tossed money on the table and waited as Natasha followed me out. I was careful not to look back. I couldn’t. The door to the diner opened and Jeremiah entered.
Natasha beamed. “Hey, Jer, how about going out with us tonight? I plan on dragging Samson too.”
Izak entered the diner behind Jeremiah. “Dragging Samson where?”
“Out with us tonight,” Natasha said. “Want to come too?”
Izak looked past me. “Will Landry be joining us?”
“No,” I said.
“Yes,” Landry replied.
Izak stared between us and then grinned. “Oh, Mer, what did he do? I know that face. You wore it enough with Phillip over the years. Landry is in the doghouse for something.”
Jeremiah pushed him with his elbow. “Stop gloating about it. I know you can’t stand the idea of Meredith being interested in Landry, but…” Jeremiah closed his mouth and looked at me. “Shit. Sorry.”
“Don’t be. I think Landry figured it out already. You’re not really breaking anything earth shattering to him. No fear though, he’s not into me.”
“Really?” Izak asked, mischief gleaming in his eyes. “Interesting, huh? I could have sworn the being into each other thing was mutual, not that I’m complaining.”
“Of course you’re not,” Jeremiah snapped. “You’re Phillip’s best friend. My cousin is an asshole, and just because he thinks there is hope he and Mer will get back together again, doesn’t mean you gotta go out of your way to try to make it happen.”
“Oh, over my dead body,” Natasha said, going for Izak.
I grabbed her waist and ushered her out. “No killing the town doctor. He’s needed.”
“Can I maim him?”
“Sure, but later. I have a few things at the shop to do first.”
“Need my help?” she asked.
“No, and I know you’ve wanted to check out that little boutique down on the corner. Go on. I’ll be in my shop if you need me.”