Maddie

Over the next few days, Val’s house became a revolving door for her entire family. Will stopped by every day to check on her, Lori brought food by, and Hailey had flown in for a quick visit the day Val was brought home. Jace had visited her daily between his training sessions, and seeing a six-foot-three soccer player hover around his sister as if she were a baby was endearing to watch.

Val’s yard was looking so much better. The mason was scheduled to work on the stone steps next week, and I still had some work left, but I’d planted drought-resistant plants like the California mountain lilac and California yarrow on each of the terrace levels.

I still had to plant two Jacaranda trees near the outer edges of the porch, and on Thursday morning, I went to pick them up from Elise’s Plants and Flowers.

Elise was hands down my favorite supplier. She owned a small shop, but anything I needed, Elise could make it happen in half the time anyone else did, and at a decent price.

“Everything okay? You seem a little on edge,” I said as she helped me load the baby Jacaranda trees in the back of my Chevy. Her raven-dark hair was piled up in a bun on top of her head, and she just looked tired.

“Yeah, I’m just... redoing my website, hoping it’ll bring in more business. I just don’t know how to pimp it up.”

“I could give you a testimonial. Or better yet, you could include the pictures from the Murieta project.” That was the one I won the Best Garden award for.

Her eyes widened. “Are you sure? I don’t want to steal your laurels.”

“You’re not stealing anything, Elise. You really should list it. I bought all those flowers from you.”

“Okay, I’ll do it. Thanks. You sure have a knack for business, girl.”

––––––––

I left her shop with a smile on my face, brainstorming other possibilities for cross promoting. Elise and I were both one-woman shows, even though she did have two part-time employees. She had suggested a formal partnership a few months ago, but I didn’t want that. The mere word partnership still brought memories of lawyers, financial messes, and feeling small. However, it was smart to use our synergies. I was bursting with excitement when I pulled into Val’s driveway.

My time with Landon was limited to sharing a morning coffee in his sister’s kitchen. I was happy to spend any time with him at all, but I couldn’t help wanting more. I was working up the courage to ask him to spend a night or two (or every night) at my house, but I didn’t know if inviting him even deeper into my life was a good idea. I’d put defenses in place, but he seemed to demolish them with every kiss, every stolen moment together.

“What are you doing this evening?” he asked on Friday morning. I was on my second coffee. I usually didn’t drink more than one, but Landon never left before I finished, which made me want to drink an entire bucket if it meant he’d stay around a little longer.

“Nothing planned yet.”

I was perched on the kitchen counter, dangling my feet. Landon stepped between my thighs, nudging them farther apart.

“Keep tonight free.” He looked down at me with that molten gaze of his, and it did delicious things to me. My fingers itched to touch him. I wasn’t particular about where. But if I had a choice, it would be his ass. I wondered if I could run my hands down his back and accidentally on purpose grab it. Maybe I could pass it off as... what? Hmm... maybe I should keep my hands to myself until I came up with a good excuse to grope him in his sister’s kitchen.

“And why would I do that?” I teased as my stomach whooped and cartwheeled.

“Because after the family dinner, I want us to spend time together. I haven’t planned anything yet.” He dragged his nose up and down my neck. I loved when he did that. I loved everything he did to me. “I just want to spend time with you,” he went on, placing open-mouthed kisses on my neck. They worked my nerve endings into a frenzy. When he slid me closer to him, wedging his hands under my ass and rolling my hips against him, I figured I had free rein to grope his ass too.

Damn, I loved his suits. The fabric was so thin it was almost like touching his skin. Almost. He groaned seconds into my exploration of his glutes.

“Maddie, stop, or I’ll fuck you on this counter.”

I weighed the cons: Val was upstairs, but common decency dictated this was not okay. Unfortunately, I hadn’t completely forgotten my decency. But I could feel it melting away the longer I felt Landon’s breath on my lips.

I let go of him, and he immediately took a step back. I sighed at his rumpled shirt.

“Why do you let me mess you up every morning?” I asked, smoothing the fabric as best I could.

He swallowed. “I like watching you fix me up.”

“I like doing it,” I admitted. I liked it a lot. It felt so couple-ish, like he was my man, and I was making sure he looked spotless before he went to work. It was a foolish dream, but I couldn’t help but lose myself in it every morning, or when he sent me texts throughout the day, sharing tidbits about his work or asking about me.

When our gazes met, a bout of vulnerability crossed his features. It was so raw that I felt it in my chest. Was he having those same thoughts too? I didn’t dare ask, but when he pulled me into a hot and soulful kiss, I kissed him back with all I had.

***

That evening, he arrived at six o’clock. I ran into him outside the front gate.

“Hey!” He raked his gaze longingly over me, stopping on the car keys in my hand. “You’re leaving?”

“Yeah. I’m done for the day, and I don’t want to be in anyone’s hair.”

“But we have plans tonight.” The top button of his shirt was open, and he’d rolled up his sleeves again. He looked tired and pissed off.

“After your dinner. Text me when you’re ready, and I’ll drive back. I won’t be far away. I’m exploring the neighborhood.”

“Maddie, I’d meant for you to have dinner with us.”

“Oh! But... this is a family dinner. I’m sure you have a lot to talk about.”

“No state secrets, I promise.”

I shifted my weight from one leg to the other, looking down at my red ballerinas. I was flattered he asked, but still didn’t know if I should accept. Wouldn’t the other siblings mind? They’d been warm and welcoming at the Fourth of July celebration, but this felt more intimate.

“Are you mad at me?”

I snapped my gaze up, startled. “Why would I be mad?”

“I know I’ve been neglecting you for the past few days. I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to—”

I stepped closer, covering his mouth with my hand. “Stop, Landon. I’m not mad. You’ve been working. I understand.”

I felt him smile against my hand before he pushed it away. “So you didn’t miss me.”

“I didn’t say that.”

“So you did?”

“I didn’t say that either,” I teased. He drew the contour of my mouth with his thumb, then tugged my lower lip between his teeth. I stilled, letting him continue with the ministrations. He didn’t outright kiss me, just teased me until I ached for him. We were in front of Val’s gate, where any neighbors or passersby could see us, and I didn’t care. I was like a besotted schoolgirl when it came to Landon.

I took in his body language. He was on edge, and I wanted to take that edge off, so I kissed him with all I had. He kissed me back with fervor, as if he’d been starved for me the whole day. As if he was still starved for me and needed to kiss me as much as he needed his next breath.

“Hard day?” I asked when he moved his lips to my neck, rocking me in his arms.

“Fucking hard day. I hate people sometimes.”

“Me too. That’s why I work with plants and earth and stones.”

“You just made this day much better, though.” He laughed, then pulled back a notch. “Stay for dinner. I’d like to have you by my side.”

He sounded sexy when he was determined. He still had his arms around me, and he was drawing small circles on my back. His gaze was on my lips.

“I feel like you’re about to use your allure to talk me into this.”

He grinned. “What gave it away? The kissing? The touching?”

“Nah, that look in your eyes. It’s almost predatory.”

“That’s a yes?”

“It’s a yes.”

The corners of his mouth lifted, and he kissed both my hands before leading me right back through the gate. He looked visibly more relaxed than when he’d arrived. I smiled to myself. I didn’t want to claim full credit for that, but I felt pretty confident I could at least claim 50 percent.

One word could describe dinner with the Connors: loud.

During the Fourth of July party, we’d all been scattered through the backyard, but five of the Connors plus me were gathered around the living room table. Hailey’s plane had had a delay, so she’d only arrive later. Milo had scarfed food down quickly and was currently in the sitting area of the living room, earbuds plugged in his ears, eyes focused on an iPad.

Everyone was talking at the same time. My ears would pop any second now. Landon was having a blast. Clearly his earlier statement about hating people didn’t apply to his family.

Val was at the head of the table, sitting in an armchair that had a support for her cast.

“I don’t need a full-time caretaker, Landon,” she repeated for what seemed like the millionth time. “The nurse who comes to help me bathe is enough. I’ve learned to maneuver the crutches. I can’t move quicker anyway, unless I get a wheelchair, which I refuse to do. It’s impractical with the stairs anyway. I just wish the effects of the concussion would go away faster. I still can’t read without getting a massive headache, and I get tired quickly.”

Will chimed in. “It’s good for her to do things on her own, as much as she can.”

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.”