All My Loving: A Butler, Vermont Novel

by Marie Force

“Sprains are the worst. They take forever to heal.”

  “I’m sorry it’s taking so long. I should get out of your way and go home to my mom. She’s calling me every day and asking me to come home.”

  “You’re not in my way, and you’re welcome to stay as long as you want. I like having you here.”

  “You do?”

  “Yeah, it’s fun.”

  She gave him a skeptical look. “You think it’s fun to have a roommate who steals your bed, stinks like smoke and never stops crying?”

  Landon’s grin did wondrous things for his already exceptionally handsome face. “Yes, I think it’s fun to have you here.”

  “You’re not right in the head.”

  “Believe it or not, I’ve been told that before.”

  Amanda laughed.

  “And you don’t stink like smoke.”

  “Yes, I do. It’s all I can smell.”

  To her great surprise, he leaned in close to her, picked up a chunk of her hair, brought it to his face and took a deep breath. “Nope. You smell like honey and something else. Something sweet…”

  “Oatmeal.” His closeness and the intense way he looked at her made her feel breathless. “It’s the shampoo.”

  “You don’t smell like smoke.” He let her hair slide through his fingers while she watched, her every nerve ending attuned to him. “And I really do like having you here, so stop worrying about things that don’t matter, okay?”

  “Only if you’ll tell me when I start to smell like old fish.” She laughed at the face he made. “My grandmother used to say that, after three days, guests start to smell like old fish. And I’ve already been here longer than three days.”

  “And you smell like oatmeal and honey and nothing at all like old fish—thank goodness.”

  “If that changes, you have to tell me to get out. I really can go home to my mom, even if she’d drive me crazy with the hovering.”

  He further surprised her when he took hold of her hand and brought it to his lips, setting off goose bumps and other curious reactions when he kissed her knuckles. “Don’t go yet.”

  She swallowed a huge lump that had taken up residence in her throat. “Why?”

  “Because I like having you here. I like you. I want the chance to get to know you better. I wanted that before the fire, and I only want it more so now.”

  It was the most either of them had said about their “situation,” such as it was, since the fire had upended everything.

  “Please stay.”

  “If you’re sure it’s no bother.”

  “I’m very sure it’s no bother.”

  “Okay, then.”

  “Okay, then.” He dropped back to his pillow but held on to her hand.

  When she woke up in the morning, he was still holding her hand.

  Chapter Four

  “We climb to heaven most often on the ruins of our cherished plans, finding our failures were successes.”

  —Amos Bronson Alcott

  Two days later, Landon was no closer to figuring out how to take the next step with Amanda than he’d been before their middle-of-the-night chat, and he was beginning to feel a bit desperate. Before much longer, she’d be recovered enough to leave his home and resume her life elsewhere.

  If he didn’t do something—soon—he was going to miss his chance with her. Yesterday, as he’d dabbed antibiotic ointment on the healing wounds on her back, he’d wanted to spin her around and kiss her so she’d know exactly how much he wanted her. But he couldn’t take advantage of the fact that she’d trusted him enough to recover at his home or cross lines she might not appreciate. He wasn’t even entirely sure she liked him the way he liked her, which was making him crazy.

  Women had never been much of a mystery to him, not like this, anyway. He was having the worst time reading her. One minute, like when they’d held hands and talked deep into the night, he’d felt fairly confident they were on the same page. But since then? Nothing.

  Desperation had brought him to his sister Hannah’s home at the end of an overnight shift at the firehouse. He stopped to say hi to Dexter, the baby moose Hannah had taken in, and was rewarded with a cold moose nose to the palm of his hand. “You’re getting big, pal. What’s Hannah gonna do with you when you’re full-grown?”

  “I’m going to continue to love him and be his mother,” Hannah said from the doorway, where she stood with her daughter Callie in her arms and their dog, Homer Junior, at her feet. His eldest sister had long brown hair, which was twisted into a messy bun, and the dark eyes she shared with her twin, Hunter. “What brings you by so early?”

  “I’m in need of some sisterly advice.”

  “And as you know, I have plenty of that.”

  “Which is why I’m here.”

  “Come in.”

  As Landon followed her inside the house, he removed his boots and left them on a rubber mat. The rain from the other night had begun to dry up, but the mud was back for a second visit this spring.

  She handed Callie over to him. “Coffee or hot chocolate?”

  He sat at the table with the sturdy baby on his lap while Homer rested on the floor nearby. “Whichever is easiest.”

  “I just made hot chocolate for myself.”

  Callie lunged for a spoon on the table and had nearly popped her own eye out before Landon caught up to her.

  “Damn, she’s quick!”

  “Nolan says she has the fastest hands in Butler.”

  Hannah poured a mug of steaming hot chocolate for him and topped it with whipped cream out of the can.

  “Remember me and Luc getting in trouble for eating all the whipped cream right out of the can?”

  “More than once, as I recall.”

  “Mom learned to hide it from us.”

  “That, all cookies, all chips and anything else that wasn’t nailed down. But you didn’t come here to relive old times. What’s going on?”

  “Amanda.”

  “Ah,” Hannah said. “I wondered what was happening there.”

  “Nothing is happening! Not one thing, other than a middle-of-the-night conversation that felt promising, but then nothing came of it.”

  “And you’re frustrated by that?”

  Landon gave her a withering look. “Yes, I’m frustrated. I like her. I think she likes me. She’s living in my house, which is, like, five hundred square feet, but it may as well be separate countries. I feel like I have this amazing opportunity with her, and I’m somehow managing to blow it without even trying.”

  Hannah tipped her head as she studied him with that intense big-sister way of hers, as if she could see right through him. Which, of course, she could. That had always been the case. She was ten years older than him and Luc and had been like a second mother to them. “Are you even trying?”

  He stared at her in shock. “What do you mean?”

  “What, specifically, are you doing to indicate your interest in her?”

  “Other than inviting her to stay with me while she recovers?”

  “Yes, other than that.” While Landon’s mind raced to keep up with her, Hannah continued. “You had the night out at the inn. You brought her to your birthday dinner. You saw her here and there over a few weeks. And then the fire happened.”

  “Right.”

  “So since the fire, what have you done to re-spark the romantic portion of the program? Pardon the fire pun. And giving her a place to stay is only part of it. That was nice of you. I’m sure she appreciates it, but does she know you did that because you want your friendship with her to be more than friendship?”

  “I, um… Well, I sort of assumed she’d figure that out when I offered to let her stay with me.”

  Hannah cracked up laughing. “How can you be so cute and so stupid at the same time?”

  Landon frowned at her. “Mommy is being mean to me, Callie.”

  The baby responded by whacking him in the head with the spoon.

  “That’s right, Cal,” Hannah said. “Hit
him upside the head. He needs it.”

  “Is this supposed to be helping?” Landon asked.

  “You have to do something to make her realize you’re interested in her as more than just a platonic roommate.”

  “Like what?”

  “Take her out again, to start with. When was the last time she was out of the house?”

  “She hasn’t been out since she left the hospital. I figured with the crap weather we’ve been having, she was safer at home while still on crutches. And besides, you guys made so much food for us, we can live off that for two more weeks.”

  “And isn’t that romantic! Leftovers for days and days. Take her out, Landon. Take her somewhere nice and romantic and spend some money on her and make her feel special. While you have her attention, mention you want to be more than friends with her. The poor girl probably can’t figure out whether you’re putting her up out of pity or if you genuinely like her.”

  “She knows I like her.”

  Hannah propped her chin on her upturned hand. “You’re sure of that, rock star? Or have you finally met a woman who isn’t doing gymnastics to get your attention, and as a result, you have no idea how to get hers?”

  Landon scowled at her. “That’s not what this is.”

  “Oh, no? You don’t think so? I think that’s exactly what this is. You’re so used to women falling all over themselves to get close to you that you have no earthly clue how to deal with one who doesn’t do that.”

  “If she doesn’t do that, maybe she’s not into me.” And why did that possibility make him so sad? Probably because he really liked her, and he didn’t want to blow his chance with her.

  “I’ve seen her with you. That’s not the problem.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “She likes you.”

  “How could you tell?”

  “She pays attention to everything you do and say, and she stays close to you the whole time you’re together.”

  “And you don’t think that has anything to do with being intimidated by our massive family?”

  “Amanda doesn’t strike me as an easily intimidated sort of woman. Look at what she does for a living.”

  “I can’t even think about that,” he muttered.

  Hannah giggled behind her hand. “You’ve found the female version of you—someone who could have any guy she wants—and you have no idea how to win her over because you’ve never had to try before. The same thing happened to Luc with Dani. I talked to Gramps about it. He said he told Lucas that when it really matters, you have to try. Same goes for you, sport.”

  “You seem to be enjoying this a little too much.”

  Her laughter made Callie chuckle, too. “Are you kidding? I love it! I’ve waited all your life for this moment. From the time you and your equally adorable brother were born, people have gravitated to the two of you. After you became teenagers, it was mostly female people. Neither of you has ever had to work for it before.”

  “That’s not true.”

  “Yes, it is. Female attention has come too easily, which is why nothing ever stuck for either of you until Lucas found someone who mattered enough to bother. Why do you think Dani and Savannah are with him now? It’s not because he casually said, ‘Hey, babe, you want to come home with me?’” Her impression of Lucas was shockingly good. “It was because he made the effort to have a real relationship with her. That’s the secret sauce, Landon. It’s called effort.”

  “Effort. I can do that.”

  “Can you?” Hannah asked warily. “It means you have to actually do something other than sit back and wait for her to come to you.”

  “Yes, you’ve made your point on that.”

  “Am I wrong?”

  “Not entirely…”

  Hannah lost it again, laughing so hard she had tears in her eyes as she reached for Callie.

  Equal parts annoyed and amused, Landon handed the baby over to her mother.

  “So what’s your plan?”

  “I’m going to ask her if she’d like to go out to dinner.”

  “That’s it?”

  “That’s not enough?”

  “No, Landon,” she said, sounding exasperated. “That’s not enough. You have to make it clear to her that you’re asking her out on a date. Not just to consume a meal outside your own four walls. Please tell me you see the difference.”

  “I do,” he said, laughing at the way she spoke to him as if he were five rather than twenty-seven. “I get it. I hear you, and I’ll make sure she knows it’s a date.”

  “How’re you going to do that?”

  Landon had to think about that for a second. “What if I tell her I really enjoyed the last time we went out together, and I’ve been waiting for her to feel up to doing it again? And would she like to pick up where we left off before the fire by going out to dinner tonight.”

  “That’s pretty good.”

  “Only pretty good?”

  She gave him a calculating look that made him feel a tiny bit sorry for his brother-in-law, Nolan, who didn’t stand a chance against Hannah. Case in point: the baby moose living on their property. If Hannah had her way, Dexter would be sleeping between her and Nolan. He’d drawn the line at allowing the moose inside the house. “Stop at the grocery store and get flowers to take home to her. Tell her you were thinking of her while you were out and were hoping you could talk her into an actual out-of-the-house date tonight.”

  “That’s a good idea.”

  “Do you need me to write that down for you?”

  He shot her a withering look. “I’m good. Thanks.”

  “If you really care about her, Landon, show her. Show her in everything you do and say. Make it obvious to her. This is no time for games or foolishness. There’s nothing keeping her here once her ankle is better. The clock is ticking. If you want her to stay, you need to play all your cards. Right now.”

  “I hear you, and I agree. I know what I need to do.”

  “And you’ll let me know first thing tomorrow how it went, right?”

  He rolled his eyes. “Maybe not first thing.”

  “First thing or no more free advice, and I have a feeling you’re going to need much more advice before you make the close with this woman.”

  Landon waggled his brows at her. “Once I ‘make the close,’ your services will no longer be needed. Trust me on that.”

  “Ew. Don’t be gross.”

  “Nothing gross about it. Got lots of satisfied customers who can attest to that.”

  “Get out of my house. Right now.”

  Laughing, Landon stood, rinsed his mug and put it in the sink.

  The phone rang, and Hannah took the call. “Hey, Tweedledee. Funny you should call while I’ve got Tweedledum here with me, and he’s extra dumb today.”

  Landon glared at her even as he wanted to laugh. Under no circumstances could he confirm for Hannah that she was funny.

  “Lucas says he has news, and I have to put the phone on speaker so we can both hear.” She pressed a button. “Are you there?”

  “I’m here,” Lucas said.

  “How you feeling?” Landon asked.

  “Good. Dani and I have been sitting on some news for a few days.”

  “Abbotts don’t sit on news.”

  “I can’t believe we actually kept a lid on this one. We’re engaged.”

  Hannah let out a scream that startled Callie. “It’s good news, baby girl! Uncle Lucas found someone to take him off our hands.”

  “Very funny,” Lucas said, sounding elated. “We told Mom and Dad when it happened, but we wanted to talk to Dani’s parents and take a few days to ourselves before we told everyone else.”

  “Congratulations to you and Dani,” Landon said as an oddly hollow feeling overtook him. His twin brother was getting married. “That’s big news.”

  “I couldn’t be happier. We want to do it soon so we can get busy having a bunch of kids.”

  “That’s not happening,” Dani said into the ph
one.

  “It’s on, baby. You promised me seven.”

  “I did no such thing.”

  “Don’t worry, Dani,” Hannah said. “We believe you.”

  “Hey!” Lucas said.

  “Welcome to the family, Dani,” Landon added. “We’ll be here to support you as you put up with him.”

  “I’ll remember this when your turn comes,” Lucas said. “We’ve gotta go call Gramps to tell him the news, even though Dad probably already told him—and took credit for the whole thing. Talk to you guys later.”

  “Love you all,” Hannah said.

  “We love you, too,” Lucas said. “Later.”

  Landon was convinced his “turn” was a long way off, especially in light of the fact that he couldn’t seem to move past Go with Amanda.

  “That’s some big news,” Hannah said after she put down the phone.

  “For sure.”

  “Why do you look like you just lost your best friend?”

  “Because I kinda did.”

  “Nah, that’s not true. You guys will still be tight.”

  “It won’t be the same.”

  “I still talk to Hunter every day now that we’re both married.”

  “You do?”

  “Every single day. He stops by to see Callie a couple of times a week, or we meet for lunch. We see him and Megan for dinner at least once a week. We make an effort, Landon.”

  “That seems to be the word of the day.” He kissed his sister’s cheek and the baby’s head. “You ladies have a nice day.”

  “Good luck. Don’t mess this up. I don’t want to deal with your pouting ass if this doesn’t work.”

  “My ass doesn’t pout.”

  “Get. Out.”

  “I’m going. Don’t get up. I can see myself out. And, Han, thanks.”

  “Any time, little brother.”

  On the way to his truck, Landon stopped to give Dexter another scratch on the top of his cute little moose head. Was that where moose liked to be scratched? He would ask Hannah that the next time he saw her. She was a bit of a moose whisperer. Fred, the town moose, was like a poodle when she was around, and now she had Dexter eating out of the palm of her hand, too.

  In a family full of odd characters, Hannah fit right in.