“We’ll try to survive without you,” he said to her departing figure before turning to face the other two. “Anybody want to make cookies?”
“I do! I do!” Olivia screeched and then grabbed Faith’s hand. “Can Miss Faith help us?”
Landris hid a smile. He hoped Faith had told him the truth about liking children because Olivia was unlikely to let her out of her sight. “I think that would be a great idea. We need to wash our hands first.” He walked around the coffee table and swung Oliva into his arms, kissing her noisily on the neck. When he raised his head, he caught Faith watching him.
Her eyes reminded him of a tranquil pond. The sense of peace that surrounded her beckoned his bruised spirit. Was this another illusion that would disappear in the harsh light of reality? He knew well how deceptive appearances were. Embarrassed by his thoughts, he carried Olivia into the bathroom. “Don’t forget soap,” he said as he lowered her to the small stepstool in front of the vanity.
Once everyone had clean hands, they trooped back into the kitchen. Landris removed the cookies from the refrigerator and laid them on the counter.
Faith glanced at the package. “Mmm. Snickerdoodles. I haven’t had those in a long time.”
“They’re mine and Daddy’s favorite,” Olivia told her.
Landris preheated the oven and located a baking pan. Then he sat Olivia on the big island in the middle of the kitchen. As he cut off one of the squares and dropped it into her outstretched hand, he reminded her, “No eating the dough.”
Olivia slowly rolled it into a ball and placed it on the cookie sheet.
He cut off another square and held it out to Faith. “As you can see, we like to play with our food before we cook it.”
“I do, too,” she said, smiling up at him.
His body hummed with awareness. He wanted to run, but knew he couldn’t. His self-imposed isolation from women had no answer for the seemingly unavoidable flash of attraction he felt for Faith. Olivia’s tug on his arm was a welcome interruption.
“I’m ready for another one, Daddy.”
“Okay, cupcake.”
“I like small cookies best because you can eat more of them.”
“Me, too,” Faith replied as Landris handed her another square of dough. “Do you have milk with yours?”
Olivia nodded. “Sometimes Daddy lets me have chocolate milk.”
“I love chocolate milk.”
By the time the final batch of cookies had been transferred to the cooling racks, Landris had learned that Faith liked mint chocolate chip ice cream, had a sister named Felicity, and knew how to make homemade playdoh. He also knew that her laugh made him want to smile and that only one of the two times he’d brushed against her had been accidental. He really was pathetic.
Taryn finished upstairs and rejoined them, obligingly sampling one of the warm cookies. Landris wiped Olivia’s hands before she could do it herself on her shirt or his.
“We’ve got time for a walk before we need to start thinking about dinner. Olivia, go find your tennis shoes. The path is too rough for those flip-flops you’re wearing.” His glance went to Faith’s sandaled feet. “You might want to change yours, too.”
“I was just thinking that,” she said with a grin as she followed Olivia out of the room.
Once they were alone, Taryn moved closer to him. “When you told me how she just happened to be here the same weekend as you, I wondered if this was some kind of setup. But that’s obviously not the case. She’s not doing anything to get your attention. If she’s interested in you, she’s going about it the wrong way.”
Taryn was half right. Faith showed no signs of being interested in Landris, but she was definitely getting his attention. This is what he’d been afraid of and why he’d thought it best that she didn’t stay at the cabin. “From something she said, I got the impression that she’s involved with someone.”
“I’m glad to hear that. She’s so young to be a widow.”
“Life sometimes takes what you think you can’t live without.”
“I hope you’re not referring to Bristol.”
He laughed harshly. “I might have felt that way at one time, but it was snuffed out long ago.”
“That doesn’t mean you can’t feel that way about someone again.”
Landris shrugged. “I’m sure I could. Nothing is impossible.” He heard Olivia calling to him. “What is it, cupcake?” he asked as he walked over to where she stood waiting at the bottom of the stairs.
“Would you tie my shoes?”
“Did you forget how to do it?”
She tilted her head to the side. “No. It takes too long.”
“You need practice. The more you do it, the easier it will be. I didn’t learn to hit a ball over the fence in one day.” Taking her hand, he led her into the foyer and sat down on the floor, putting her in front of him. “I’ll do one shoe, and you do the other.”
“Okay, Daddy.”
When Faith joined them, the shoe-tying session had just finished. “Taryn, are you coming?” Landris asked as he opened the front door.
She popped her head around the corner. “I’m waiting on a call from Clint. If I leave the house, I can’t get a signal.”
“Well, then, of course you can’t go,” he teased. “We’ll see you later.”
* * * * *
The walk to the lake was one Faith would remember for weeks afterward. The vivid blue of the water made a stark contrast to the dark green of the trees surrounding it. The cool breeze carried the tang of honeysuckle. Mixed with the cry of mockingbirds and the buzzing of bumblebees was Olivia’s childishly high voice and the deeper tones of Landris.
Question after question fell from the little girl’s inquisitive lips. Each one was patiently and thoughtfully answered. His care and attention to his daughter couldn’t be faulted. When Olivia tripped over her feet, he kissed the ‘boo-boo’ on her knee. At the first sign of flagging footsteps, he settled her on his shoulders. Before she could complain of being thirsty, he offered a drink from a small water bottle in his pocket.
The bond between them was touching to witness, but Faith couldn’t help wondering about the mother. Why was she not part of her child’s life? And who had made that decision? Her knowledge of custody law was limited, but even Faith knew that the courts were hesitant to remove children from their mother. Just as puzzling was why Landris hadn’t remarried. It couldn’t be for a lack of candidates. Even with a child, he was a catch for any woman. Was he still in love with his ex-wife? Or had he not met the right person?
That line of thinking brought her back to the situation with Connor. As she knew, finding the right person wasn’t easy. It was more than being compatible; it was about connecting on a deeper level, both physically and emotionally.
She didn’t realize that she’d walked so far ahead of the others until a hand fell on her shoulder, sending a tingle racing down her spine. Astonishment halted her movement as her brain searched feverishly for an explanation.
“Faith, we should probably head back to the house.”
She turned around slowly, praying that her confusion wasn’t evident to Landris. “When we get back, I’ll start working on the macaroni and cheese.”
“Olivia and I will clean the grill and prep the meat. If we can pry Taryn away from the phone, we’ll get her to make a salad.”
“After we eat, can we watch a movie, Daddy? I brought Frozen.”
He rolled his eyes comically. “I hope that’s not all you brought. We’ve seen that one fifty times already.”
She patted his cheek. “I like it. Have you seen it, Miss Faith?”
“No, but it must be good if you’ve watched it that many times.”
“It’s about two beautiful princesses, Anna and Elsa.”
“Is there a handsome prince?” Faith asked.
“Isn’t there always?” Landris put in.
“Daddy! Stop it! There’s a prince, but he’s not very nice.”
“This sounds interesting. I
look forward to seeing it.”
“Get ready for lots of singing,” Landris said to Faith, before looking up at Olivia. “No movie until after your bath.”
“Okay, big daddy.”
His lips twitched. “You’ve been listening to Aunt Taryn, haven’t you?”
Olivia chuckled. “Maybe.”
As she walked alongside the twosome, half-listening to their conversation, another part of Faith’s mind was dealing with what happened when Landris touched her. Given her unsatisfactory experiences with Connor, it was impossible not to make a comparison. She’d assumed that her inability to respond to him was indicative of how she would react to any man other than Ian. That supposition now appeared to be premature and even a little naïve.
This discovery added another layer of complexity to the dilemma that had brought her here. It also bore out the theory that you can’t manufacture feelings you don’t possess. It didn’t matter how good a man Connor was or how wonderful a husband everyone thought he would make. The ingredients necessary for her to establish a deeper relationship with him were missing.
As to why she reacted so strongly to someone who was little more than a stranger, there was no simple answer. That being the case, she couldn’t help thinking that it was fortuitous that their paths were unlikely to cross again.
* * * * *
The sun was just beginning to sink below the tree line when they finished dinner. The conversation during the meal had been lively. As occupied as Landris was with Olivia, he wasn’t able to forget the woman sitting a few feet away. After a while, he stopped trying. It would have been pointless to do otherwise. Nothing was going to come of this; it was a harmless diversion. Once Faith’s car was repaired, she’d be gone and that would be the end of it.
After Taryn took Olivia upstairs for her bath, Faith stood up and began to clear the table.
“Don’t bother with that,” Landris told her. “You haven’t had a second to yourself since Olivia got here. Go relax in the hammock.”
“I can relax during the movie. You go get in the hammock.”
“I plan to after Olivia’s in bed.”
“Are you going to sleep under the stars?” she asked teasingly.
“Now that you mention it, I might.”
Faith pointed to the window. “This would be the night for it. There’s not a cloud in the sky.”
“That’s true,” Landris replied, a vision of the two of them counting stars while sharing the hammock flitting through his mind. Where had that come from? He shook his head slightly as he carried his and Olivia’s plates to the sink. Still somewhat unsettled by that picture in his head, Landris turned away to deal with the leftovers. Behind him, he could hear Faith loading the dishwasher.
“I hope my Jeep is ready in the morning.”
“Tired of us already?”
She looked at him over her shoulder. “Of course not. I had a great time today.”
“That’s what I thought. So why are you in such a hurry to leave?”
“Because you didn’t ask to have an unwanted guest for the weekend.”
“I’m not even going to answer that.” He tugged the dishtowel out of her hand. “Come with me.”
She eyed him suspiciously. “Where are we going?”
“You’ll see.”
“What about Olivia and Taryn?”
“They can manage by themselves for a half hour.” He motioned her to follow him to the front door. “Come on. You’re worse than Olivia for asking questions.”
“Shouldn’t we at least tell them where we’re going?”
“Taryn’s a smart girl. She’ll figure it out.” Opening the door, he led the way along the path they’d taken earlier. Just before they emerged from the woods, he said, “Take my hand and close your eyes.”
“Are you going to throw me in the lake?” she asked as she did what he said.
A pleasant warmth spread through him when her fingers closed around his. “I’m saving that for next time you come.” Her steps slowed to a crawl. “You can walk normally, Faith. I’m not going to let you trip on anything.”
“Famous last words.”
“We’ve got about fifteen more yards to go.”
“Is this one of those trust exercises?”
His shoulders shook with silent laughter. “No, it’s not. We’re going to step down to the level of the pier. Easy does it.”
“I’ve got a bad feeling about this.”
“It’s going to be worth it. And for once, I think I timed it right.” Her laughter brought his eyes to her face.
“I guess I’m not the first girl you’ve brought to the pier.”
“You’re the first person I’ve brought to the pier for this particular reason.”
“Is that supposed to make me feel better?”
“You asked, and I answered. Okay, open your eyes.” Landris had seen the view many times. Instead of looking at the half-hidden arc of fire atop the mountain sending its last rays of reddish-orange light across the surface of the lake, he watched the dawning appreciation in the face of his companion. He didn’t say anything; this was one of those times when words weren’t necessary.
After a few minutes, she turned to him. “It’s beautiful. Thank you for showing me.”
“You’re welcome. I thought you might appreciate it. And since you’ve got this silly idea that you need to leave the second your car is ready, I wanted to make sure you didn’t miss what I consider to be the best part of coming here.”
She pulled her phone from her pocket and took several pictures. “This reminds me of a line of poetry in a book I have at home. ‘A thing of beauty is a joy forever’.”
“John Keats,” he said softly.
Her mouth dropped open. “How do you know that?”
“The same way you did. I read it in a book.”
“I don’t believe it,” she stated firmly, as if the idea was too much for her to fathom.
“You don’t believe what? That I can read?”
“I can’t believe you read poetry.”
Landris turned her around, and they began walking back to the house. “Why is it so hard to believe?”
She eyed him up and down. “I don’t know. It doesn’t seem to fit your image.”
“If we’re going to talk about image, you don’t look like an English professor, either. Let’s put you to the test. Tell me who wrote these lines:
‘She was a phantom of delight
When first she gleam’d upon my sight;
A lovely apparition, sent
To be a moment’s ornament;
Her eyes as stars of twilight fair;
Like twilight’s, too, her dusky hair’.”
“That’s Wordsworth, isn’t it?”
“Very good, Professor Peters.”
“Thank you, Mr. Thomas. I offer you my sincerest apologies for doubting you. When did this love of poetry begin?”
“That’s one of those embarrassing stories from my youth. In light of who you are, it might not be one I should share with you.”
“In light of who I am? Now you’re just being provocative.”
“Not really. I don’t want to be laughed at.”
She turned toward him in the gathering dusk. “I don’t laugh at people.”
“When I was in ninth grade, I had a serious crush on my English teacher. In my defense, I wasn’t the only one. Miss Vining was twenty-three years old and looked like every teenage boy’s dream. I quickly picked up on the fact that she liked poetry. In order to impress her, I started reading it and whenever I could, I’d quote passages. Eventually I came to my senses, but I didn’t stop reading poetry. By that time, I was hooked.”
“That’s not an embarrassing story at all. It’s kind of sweet.”
He laughed suddenly. “I hope you can keep a secret. I’ve never told that to anyone else.”
“It will never leave my lips.”
They were approaching the cabin. Landris looked up and saw Taryn and Olivia st
anding on the porch. Olivia waved, and he waved back. He hid a smile at the look on his sister’s face. Given his lack of social life, he should have known what interpretation she’d put on his actions. It wasn’t worth worrying about. In a few weeks, the events of this weekend would be forgotten.
Chapter Three
The mid-morning sun peeked through the twisted branches of the giant oak. Underneath the ancient tree, sitting opposite each other at a child-size wooden table and chairs, were two people. Perched on each head was a rhinestone tiara; wrapped around their shoulders were pink feather boas.
The woman watching from the porch grinned widely as she reached for her phone and took a picture before making her way across the wide expanse of green lawn. “What’s going on here?” she asked.
“Aunt Taryn!” Olivia shot up from the chair and ran over to give her a throttling hug. “We’re having a tea party.”
Taryn’s smile widened when she noticed the red lipstick and rouge on her brother’s face. “I like the new look, Lan. The people at the charity ballgame will definitely get their money’s worth today.”
He pulled out a chair and motioned her to join them. “I don’t think this is the kind of publicity Eric wants. You made good time from Augusta.”
“The traffic wasn’t bad until I got on the interstate.”
“I thought Clint was coming with you.”
“His partner got sick so he’s on call this weekend.”
Olivia pushed a cup in her direction. “Have some tea, Aunt Taryn.”
“Thank you.” She obligingly took a drink. “Mmm. This is delicious.”
“Look, Daddy, there’s that butterfly again.”
He followed the direction of her pointed finger. “It’s a swallowtail.”
“I want to see where it goes.” She took off across the yard, the ends of the boa streaming out behind her.
Taryn peered down into the cup. “What is this? White grape juice?”
“Sure is,” Landris replied, his eyes on Olivia. “I found out the hard way that colored drinks are almost impossible to get out of a princess dress.”
“Look at this,” she said, holding up her phone to show him the picture she’d taken. “It’s tempting to post this on one of those dating sites. You’d have women queuing up outside your door. Not that it would do any good with you being so against having a woman in your life. Don’t you see what you’re doing? Every day you stay single is a victory for Bristol.”
Love of a Lifetime: A Sweet Contemporary Romance (Finding Love Book 3) Page 4