Chapter 7
Landon texted me first thing Monday morning. I was packing Mikayla’s lunch, wearing my mom hat, and blushing like a child.
Landon
Good morning, beautiful. I can’t wait to see you. Are we still on for lunch? I had a dream about you and your bottomless brown eyes.
Heat rushed through me. I tingled all over. Then I remembered why we were meeting.
He was giving me flirting lessons. The man who was flirting with me. Had the lessons already started? Was he flirting because he couldn’t help himself or because it was part of teaching me how to do it?
It didn’t matter. We weren’t going to be anything beyond what we were. Student and teacher. Friends, sort of. Fake dates to the biggest story of my career.
It was all part of the plan. I asked him to give me lessons because the man could flirt without breaking a sweat. Whereas I was hot and bothered over the tiniest bit of attention from an attractive man.
No way was I getting laid that way.
I brushed the breadcrumbs off my hands and channeled my inner seductress. She was passed out in the corner, maybe dead from boredom. I’d never called on her before, so it took a minute to come up with something to write back.
Still on for lunch. I’m looking forward to soaking up all your knowledge.
Was that flirting? This was why I needed lessons. I had no idea what I was doing.
You’ll be beating them away with a stick… even more than you already are, beautiful.
“Mom,” Mikayla said, interrupting the conversation I was doing very little to advance.
“What? Yeah? Huh? Did you need something?” I jammed my phone into my pocket and tried to push down the heat rising in my cheeks.
“I asked if my breakfast was ready.”
“Oh, um, yeah.” I turned and grabbed the milk from the fridge, pouring her a glass and setting it on the table with the bagel she wanted.
Not the best breakfast ever, but mornings were not my strong suit.
Nor hers. We were lucky if we got out the door without a fight every day, and I was not going to pick new ones about healthy breakfast.
Mikayla sat down and took a bite of her bagel, chewing with her eyes half closed. I went back to packing her lunch, ignoring the pull to text Landon back. He could wait a few minutes. I could wait a few minutes.
Mikayla finished her bagel without another word, then grabbed her lunch and stuffed it into her backpack. She shoved her feet into her sneakers and slung her backpack over her shoulder. “Bye, Mom.”
“Hold on,” I told her, reaching for a hug.
She indulged me for a few seconds, then extracted herself and walked out the door.
“Have a good day!” I called before it slammed shut behind her. I waited a few seconds, then went to the window to watch her get on the bus. When she stepped on and smiled at the bus driver, I finally breathed a sigh of relief.
It was a good morning. For us.
I cleaned up the kitchen and made a quick pass through the bathroom.
I had a house to clean before lunch. I’d already submitted my first article about Natalie and Omar to Gretchen, and I was confident it was a good story.
No bombs, no big reveals, just a good story about a sweet couple who wanted to share their love with everyone.
In other words, none of the drama Gretchen wanted. But I had hope it wouldn’t end up cut.
The house I was cleaning belonged to a couple with two kids.
They both worked full time, so I was usually in their house alone.
I didn’t mind the quiet, and it meant I got a lot more done than if I had someone to talk to.
Most clients were happy to let me work, but some of them liked the company.
Any other day, I wouldn’t mind chatting, but I had a lunch date to get to.
The house was picked up as usual, and I was able to work through one room at a time. The work was soothing and rhythmic for me, allowing me to daydream about Landon and his flirtatious nature.
By the time I finished cleaning the house, I was more than happy to get something to eat and enjoy an hour or so with an attractive man.
Landon was already at Cracked when I arrived.
He suggested the popular spot for lunch since it would put us in front of as many people as possible.
I didn’t love the idea, but I was reaping the benefits of it without having to do something truly embarrassing like pay someone to teach me to flirt. Or worse, pay someone for sex.
Landon stood when he saw me open the door. His smile lit up his face, his eyes crinkling at the edges. He looked like he was honestly happy I was there, and it made it impossible for me not to return the smile.
“Hey,” he said, pulling out my chair. He hovered next to it, and I wasn’t sure if he was waiting for me to sit or hug him or what.
“Hi,” I said, smiling and taking the seat.
He pushed it in as I scooted forward, then let his hand linger on my shoulder before he gave it a soft squeeze.
I felt it all the way down my body. What was wrong with me?
“How was your morning?”
I shrugged. “It was fine. My daughter is in sixth grade, so after she got on the bus, I had to work.”
“Middle school is tough. Is the newspaper busy every day or is there a day that’s quiet?”
“Um, I don’t really know, actually. I only freelance at the paper, so I write articles when the pitch I give is something the editor is willing to print.”
“Oh. I didn’t realize that was how it worked. Were you working on an article today?”
I picked up my water and shook my head. I always felt a little ashamed that I didn’t have just one job. Or two. “No, actually, I was cleaning a house. It’s my second job.”
He shook his head. “I didn’t know you had a second job.”
“I actually have three. I do some data entry at night, too.”
“Wow. You’re making me feel like a slacker.” His grin was kind and encouraging, but I felt my cheeks heat with embarrassment.
“I don’t get any financial help from my ex, and it’s expensive here. None of my jobs pay for insurance, so I basically have one job to cover the cost of insurance for us, one to pay for our living expenses, and one to try to have a little bit of fun sometimes.”
He reached across the table for my hand, holding it until I looked up at him.
He smiled kindly. “You have nothing to be ashamed of. I’m amazed by you.
Not everyone would be willing to work their asses off to make ends meet.
I admire it. I have an apartment above my shop that basically came with the building, and I live there because I had the space available.
Before I bought the place, with a gigantic loan from the bank, I had roommates.
And I was only worried about myself. Not a kid. ”
“You’re being nice.”
He shook his head. “I’m being honest. Andre lives in your building, but before that, he was living at home with his parents. A lot of people I know had some kind of support in one way or another. Don’t discount how hard you work to make your situation work.”
“Thank you,” I whispered.
He squeezed my hand. “You moved into the apartment a year ago?”
I nodded. “Yeah. When my divorce went through. We had a house, but without my husband’s income, I couldn’t afford to stay there. We sold the house and split the money.”
“I sense a but in there.”
I chuckled at his insight and nodded.
“Are you guys ready to order?” Blake asked, not missing that Landon was holding my hand. Her brows went up, and her lips pressed together in a smile she swung my direction.
I shook my head and pulled my hand back.
“I need some coffee to start. And I’ll have a BELT sandwich to eat.”
“A what?” I blurted. I hadn’t looked at the menu and had no idea what he was ordering.
“It’s a BLT, but we add eggs,” Blake explained. “So it’s a B.E.L.T. sandwich.”
“Oh, that sounds good. I’ll do the same.” I smiled at Blake.
“Coffee for you, too?”
I nodded. “Yes. And a water, please.”
“Coming right up.” Blake winked at me before she walked away, and I knew I was going to get grilled next time I went to book club.
“You two are friends?” Landon asked.
I nodded and shrugged at the same time. “Sort of, I guess. Melody… Holland, do you know Melody and Ramsey?”
Landon nodded.
“Their daughter and my daughter are best friends, so Melody tries to get me to go to book club.”
“Book club?”
“Melody and Blake and a bunch of local women meet at Book Boyfriends Unlimited on Sunday nights.”
“Ah, nice. A bunch of the guys meet on Thursday night. Sounds like it might be the other halves. Ramsey and Ian are usually there, and a bunch of guys they’re friends with.”
“Do you go?”
“Sometimes. Not every week. Andre has been going more lately, and he’s dragged me a few times. It’s not always easy being the only single one, though.”
“Tell me about it,” I murmured.
Blake delivered coffee and water to us, pausing to see if she could catch more of our conversation before she sighed and walked away.
Landon snorted a laugh. “I guess she’s curious.”
I nodded. “It seems so.”
“And you don’t want people to get the wrong idea about us.”
“Yeah. I mean, I know we’re going to the wedding together, and you need people to know you and Reegan are done, but…”
“But you’re looking for…”
He trailed off, giving me space to answer the unasked question. “Sex.”
He barked a laugh, then snickered when I didn’t laugh with him. “Really? A gorgeous woman like you needs my help in that department? I don’t believe it.”
I snorted. “The last time I had sex was with my husband before we decided to separate.”
He had just picked up his coffee and stopped with it halfway to his lips. “You said you’ve been divorced for a year.”
I nodded.
“And separation takes time.”
“A year.”
“Are you telling me it’s been two years since you’ve had sex?” he hissed.
“Longer, but close enough.”
“What the hell is wrong with the men of this town?” He shook his head in wonder.
“They are just like all men. Not interested in a divorced single mom with more than a little extra weight.”