He took a moment to really look at her as she searched inside the drawer. Her blond hair was shorter than the last time he’d seen her, and she’d put on some of the weight she’d lost after his dad’s death. She looked ten years younger than she had just a few years ago.
“I’m glad you brought it up. I heard the same thing from Chad, and I’m really pleased,” he said, “but that doesn’t mean you can’t squirrel some money away for an emergency.”
“For goodness sakes, don’t you know your own mother? Do you think for one minute I haven’t set aside a comfortable nest egg?”
It was time for him to just accept they no longer needed his help. Which was a good thing. He skimmed a hand over the worn brown leather of his dad’s old chair. “So, you’re still using this, huh?”
“Of course I am.” It appeared she found what she was looking for and closed the drawer. “When was the last time you were in here?”
“It’s been a few years.” The shelves were still crammed with books covering every topic from animal husbandry to global weather patterns. Even his dad’s old Rolodex still sat on the corner of the polished mahogany desk. And the ancient lava lamp never failed to make Landon smile.
“I thought about replacing the rug. Parts of it are so worn you can’t even tell it’s a map.” She shrugged. “I just can’t bring myself to get rid of it.”
“Well, for what it’s worth, you know Dad would want you to do whatever makes you happy.”
She smiled. “The same goes for you. That’s all we ever wanted for you.”
He looked up. “I know that, Mom,” he said, searching her eyes as she came around the desk to stand beside him. “Is there a reason you think I’m not happy?”
Tilting her head slightly, she frowned at him. “I have two questions for you, and I’d like honest answers. Regardless of whether you think it’s any of my business or not.”
Landon grinned. “There’s the mother I know and love.”
“I’m being serious, honey.”
“Okay.” He figured he knew one of the questions. “Ask away.”
“I was always under the impression that you’d be quitting the rodeo and settling down by now. You’ve been winning, so I understand why you might be pumped up, but you were always such a sensible boy. This talk about riding to the bitter end doesn’t sound like you. Especially after finding someone as great as Kylie.” She paused, but he could tell she wasn’t finished with him.
“On top of that,” she said, “first you were all gung ho about coming back to help your brothers. Then six months ago you started talking about wanting your own ranch. Frankly, we were all shocked, and yes, disappointed, but you assured us you planned on living nearby.”
Yeah, it had been the perfect solution. Until Kylie.
Landon stretched his neck to the side. This conversation was getting way more intense than he’d expected. And hell, she hadn’t even asked him anything yet.
“Chad thought—we all thought you’d be thrilled that Carlos wants to sell. It couldn’t be more ideal. So, I have to wonder if this change in attitude is because you don’t have enough money.”
“No, Mom. I’m fine.”
Undeterred, she narrowed her eyes. “You’ve been far too generous with us. If Chad ever found out all the funds came from you and not from an insurance policy—”
“He won’t know if you don’t tell him.”
She didn’t care for his tone and let him know with a stern look. In all honesty, he hadn’t meant to sound abrupt.
“So, have I misjudged Kylie? Is she encouraging you to go after that million-dollar prize?”
Landon snorted a laugh. “That’s the last thing she wants,” he said. “I know she’d be a lot happier if I never competed again.”
“Well, maybe you should think about that.”
Sighing, he put an arm around her. “Look, I know this is hard for you. After what happened to Chad, then I break a leg and now you’re touchy and thinking the worst. I have a good shot at going to the finals, and maybe taking the title. Yeah, I want it, and the gold buckle and definitely the million bucks. But I won’t be stupid, okay? I promise you.”
She gave him a grudging smile. “See? That wasn’t so hard, was it? Here...” She slipped something in his breast pocket. “Before I forget. Now, the other question—”
“I’m pretty sure you worked in both questions already.” He lowered his arm and looked her in the eye. “Don’t try sandbagging me now.”
“I’m doing no such thing,” she said with an exasperated huff. “That was merely a compound question.”
Landon laughed. “Nice try. Now, what is this in my pocket?” He fished around and pulled out torn pieces of paper. Not just paper, pieces of a check. His check. The last one he’d sent her?
The door opened, startling them.
“I’ve been looking all over for you,” Fiona said with a big sigh. “Hurry up so we can watch movies.”
“What did I tell you about knocking first?”
Fiona gave her grandmother a gap-toothed grin.
“Movies,” Landon muttered. “What kind of movies?” As if he didn’t know.
“One second, honey, we’ll be right there.”
Fiona left with a frown that said they’d better hurry.
“Mom—”
“Let me ask this, please. Why aren’t you coming back home? Does it have to do with the rodeo? Or with Kylie?”
Landon wasn’t ready to talk about his confusion over Kylie, and what to do about that. All he knew for sure was that he loved her, and wanted to be with her. Somehow. And make her happy in the process.
“Look, you just said things are going really well here. And I can see that’s true. Even though I’d already made the decision, watching Chad this morning convinced me I’m right. He’s such a vital part of the operation. He feels needed and he is. If I were to come back, we’d risk shifting the dynamics. Chad could end up feeling useless and slip back into that terrible depression again. I won’t take that chance.”
His mother bowed her head, eyes closed. She took a deep breath, then looked at him again. “I’m not sure I agree, but I admire the thinking that went into your decision. Maybe, and it’s just a suggestion, you could talk to your brother?”
“I’ve got a lot to think about, Mom.” Understatement of the year. All those promises he’d made to his family about returning. And then Kylie happened. So happy and rooted in her new town. He gave his mom a one-armed hug as he walked her to the door. “We’ll work it out. Okay?”
Man, talk about being between a rock and a hard place.
* * *
KYLIE PUT ON her best face as she helped Landon and Martin clear the table, while Alison put away the food. Thankful that Chad and Cindy were tending to the kids, she even managed to ask Alison about her musical background. But inside, Kylie was tense. Landon’s brothers were making it very difficult to put off the honest conversation she needed to have with him. Maybe this was the universe’s way of ripping the cocoon from her whether she liked it or not. But she still didn’t want to have the discussion here.
“I’ll get the dishes,” she said, touching Alison’s arm when she stationed herself at the sink.
“You don’t have to do that.” Alison patted her hand. “You’re supposed to be out of the kitchen this weekend, and you’ve already done so much.”
“I can’t help it. Kitchens call to me. And believe it or not, I find washing dishes relaxing.”
Landon laughed. “You could’ve mentioned that all those times you made me clean up.”
“What would’ve been the fun in that?”
Martin chuckled.
Landon gave her a look that prompted her to step back. “You see, Mom?” he said to Alison, while keeping Kylie in his crosshairs. “You thou
ght she was such a nice girl.”
His mouth was curved in that sly half grin that never failed to make Kylie shiver. She swallowed hard.
Martin made a hasty exit.
Alison smiled and slipped the dish towel off her shoulder. “Make sure he helps you.”
“Oh, he will,” she said, a second before Liam yelled for “Uncle Landon.”
“Ah, gee, sorry sweetheart. I’d love to help but duty calls.” He put his hands on her waist and dipped his head for a kiss. Not just a quick peck, either.
Kylie kissed him back, then remembered his mom was there. By the time she’d pulled away, Alison was gone.
It didn’t matter. Kylie still shooed him away. “Go. Get out. I need some Zen.”
“Some what?” Landon leaned back, laughing.
“Zen.”
“Since when...”
“Since right now.”
Liam yelled for his uncle again, and she practically pushed Landon out of the kitchen with both hands pressed against that broad chest she’d come to know quite intimately. And which she absolutely couldn’t think about right now.
She wasn’t the type who could meditate, but then she’d never really tried it. Three minutes later she understood why. Her mind was buzzing even more than it had before. Trying to clear her head was a fool’s errand anyway. The trouble with having a light shining on her fantasies was that the light wasn’t very discriminating. It showed everything.
Like the fact that she’d fallen in love with Landon. Maybe fallen wasn’t even the right word.
Her feelings for him hadn’t just started when he’d come to stay at her house. Lord, he was so much the man she’d wanted when she thought of forever, it squeezed her heart. Whatever it was that he was holding back, he clearly didn’t want to share it with her. Yet. At least he hadn’t made empty promises. That was something... But the clock was ticking.
Which meant that she had to get her head out of the clouds, and figure out exactly what she wanted. Could she make peace with Landon being on the road so much? Traveling to rodeos had never been something she’d considered, but it wasn’t out of the question if it meant seeing him.
But what about the bakery? She couldn’t just take off whenever she wanted. And she wasn’t making enough money to justify hiring someone else.
And what about later? If things really got serious between them? No. No good would come of getting ahead of herself.
She’d just wanted the illusion to last. Possibly for the rest of her life.
* * *
KYLIE TRIED TO compartmentalize her feelings for the rest of the evening. But Landon didn’t make it easy. Even after the slight awkwardness at dinner there’d been so much laughter, such closeness.
It got surreal, though, when Alison brought out old movies. Family movies. Not just of her grandchildren but of her sons and daughter, despite the guys’ loud objections.
Watching Landon as a little tyke, so rambunctious he must have been a terror, brought a smile to Kylie’s face. As for his affinity for horses, she counted only two shots of him without a horse somewhere in the picture.
But right in the middle of watching his parents’ twentieth anniversary party, the smell of the room changed. Jenna, the adorable little muffin, could have knocked down a barn with the stink.
“Sorry,” Cindy said, moving forward to rise from the couch.
“I’ve got it,” Landon said, snatching the baby from her.
Kylie expected anything but Cindy’s casual “Thanks,” as she settled back down. Landon walked with Jenna at arms’ length, grumbling at her for being a little stinkpot, but smiling the whole way.
Kylie looked at Cindy, who grinned. “Yep. He got used to that with Liam and Fiona. He does a way better job than Martin.”
“Hey,” Martin said, although it was a bit mumbled as he was polishing off the goody basket.
“Which,” Cindy continued, “is almost certainly on purpose. Landon never blinked. Just jumped into the deep end of the pool, and that was that. He’s really something, that one. I have to be honest and tell you I got the best one, but he comes close.”
“Hey!” Martin said again, scowling.
“You’ve got a window to learn all about what you’ll need when Hailey gets back,” Cindy said, arching a brow at him. “Don’t blow it.”
The movie went on, the music Country and Western, the dancing an uncoordinated mess with everyone from toddlers to grandparents, and they all looked so happy.
Even after Landon returned and sat next to her with their thighs touching, Kylie remained quiet, not trusting that her voice wouldn’t quiver. Soon enough, they would both have to lay down all their cards.
The only problem was, she might end up with the losing hand.
Chapter Eighteen
They arrived in Blackfoot Falls midafternoon on Monday, and Kylie couldn’t wait to see the new counter so they went straight to the bakery. A tarp hung in the window, which made sense. Not only did people tend to ignore the closed sign, too many busybodies would be peering inside and bothering Joe. He was just getting ready to lock the door when they pulled to the curb.
He waited for them, then passed the key to Kylie. “Guess I won’t be needing this anymore.”
“You’re finished?”
“Said I would be, didn’t I? Have a look.”
Kylie’s excitement woke her up completely, after having slept for most of the return trip home.
“Wow, Joe. You did an amazing job.” Kylie drew her hand over the sleek gray and black surface, trimmed with polished ash. It wasn’t granite but it looked and felt like it. She glanced over her shoulder at Landon. “Isn’t it beautiful?”
“Gotta admit, it came out better than I pictured,” he said, bending over to get eye-level with the lower ledge where customers would be able to set down their drinks. “You can’t even tell this isn’t part of the original counter.”
Joe looked pleased, but then shook his head. “It’s a wonder I got anything done at all. Didn’t get a moment’s peace, what with Rachel McAllister and Celeste yammering at me.”
“Rachel was here?”
Joe eyed Kylie. “I figured you sent them.”
“Celeste was supposed to work half a day on Saturday, but other than that, no.”
“Well, glad you like it. Now I gotta get to my other job.”
“You have any material left?” Landon asked. “In case we want to use it for trim?”
“I have scraps in my truck. Trim would be just about the only use for them. I cut the measurements close to keep the cost down. By the way...” He stopped at the door and reached into the pocket of his coveralls. “Might as well give you the final bill.”
Landon reached for it the same time she did.
Kylie snatched it first and almost choked at the amount. It couldn’t possibly be right. She distinctly remembered telling Joe to let her know if the material or labor exceeded his quote by more than ten percent before he proceeded.
He already had his hand on the doorknob. “If you can pay the balance by the end of the week I’d be much obliged.”
Just as she was about to call him back, Landon gave her hand a squeeze. “No problem,” he said to the man. “We’ll get it to you tomorrow.”
Joe had barely closed the door behind him, when Kylie lit into Landon. “What is wrong with you? Not only is this more than we agreed upon,” she said, waving the paper at him, “you had no business interfering.”
Landon looked surprised at first, then he smiled. “Look, you’re still tired from the weekend,” he said, as he cupped her cheek with his big hand. “I understand my family can be overwhelming at times—”
“None of that has anything to do with it.” She inched back and his hand fell away. “I know you’re trying to help b
ut—”
“It’s my fault. I asked Joe to order something for me and I think he added it to your bill by mistake. So I figured I’d look it over before saying anything to you.”
“Added what? Material for the tables and bench seats?”
“No, something for me, personally. For my truck. I need sheltered cargo space.”
She wasn’t sure she believed him, but why would he lie?
“May I?” He nodded at the bill.
Reluctantly, Kylie handed him the invoice, the ringing of the bell above the door reminding her that she hadn’t locked it.
Patty stuck her head in. “I just clocked out and didn’t know if you were open...”
Kylie sighed, still thinking about the bill. “Come on in, but I don’t know if I can help you.”
“I was hoping you still had turnovers. Oh. Guess not. Nice counter, though.”
“Sorry, we just got back. Celeste only made enough Danish and muffins for the motel this morning.”
Patty looked over at Landon. “We wondered where you were. You haven’t been to your room in a while.”
Kylie stared at him. He seemed startled but didn’t correct Patty.
“Well, you two look beat,” Patty said. “See you tomorrow.”
Kylie summoned a smile, then watched as Landon locked the door behind Patty.
She got tired of waiting for him to say something. “I thought you checked out.”
“I was going to, but I saw Kevin in the lobby that morning. That’s when I realized if I gave up the room and people saw me around town, they’d know I was staying with you.”
“So?”
“I did it so there wouldn’t be gossip—”
“I didn’t ask you to.” While he claimed he needed to save money, he’d been needlessly paying for a motel room.
Her gaze caught on a sticky note on the back shelf and she suddenly remembered she had to prep for tomorrow. She could have cried. There was no way she’d get through it still being this exhausted.
Landon was staring at her with what appeared to be concern. But did she really know what that looked like on him? He didn’t have to lie about the motel room. Unless keeping it while he stayed with her made it feel less like a commitment. Though she’d never given him the impression she expected anything from him.
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