Mrs. Ramsey’s dahlias were still in bloom, and Kylie slowed her step to take in the beautiful colors. Pinks, reds, purples, and especially the blue flowers were thriving. Behind them were a row of gladiolas, yellow and white and peach, a perfect backdrop for the drama of the dahlias. It was a real treat to see them this late in the season. After the first frost, they’d be gone.
She continued down her street, aware of the lightness of her step, and how stupidly happy she was. It was nice, just for a few minutes, to let herself bask in the feelings. Yes, there were reasons to put the brakes on her giddy heart—there was still so much she wasn’t sure about. But Landon had only been staying with her for five days, so she supposed it was okay for her to feel as if she’d won the lottery.
The only thing she had to keep in mind was that this wasn’t necessarily the beginning of something bigger. Although, it could be, and that’s where the risk was, wasn’t it? Landon would be returning to his own life soon. And at the rate he was healing, it might be sooner than either of them had anticipated. She’d be busy with the bakery and he’d be busy winning rodeos and...so much could happen. Still, worrying about that served no purpose now.
Things were going great with Celeste, who was a quick learner with a good eye and talent that would only grow as she decorated more cakes. The customers liked her, and she’d even taken the time to figure out the espresso machine, then walked Kylie through the process until they were both comfortable.
If only Joe had been working as hard as Celeste and Landon. She understood the man had another job, but that shouldn’t interfere with hers. After all, she’d hired him first. As it was, he sometimes showed up late and he’d missed two full days, when the whole job was supposed to have taken one week.
On the other hand, according to Landon, the tables and the bench seats were almost done. Happily, the warm weather had helped the varnish dry on all the wood, and Barry was a big help. A nice kid, too. She’d had lunch at home twice with the two of them.
As Kylie neared the house she made up her mind to ask Joe to work over the weekend to make up for his lost time. In fact, she’d insist. After all, the counter should have been finished by now.
It hadn’t helped matters that she’d been getting less sleep than she needed. Having Landon in her bed was far too much of a temptation. He honestly had to be the sexiest man alive.
He was also adventurous enough to make her blush even now, and he’d never once just rolled over and went to sleep, leaving her hanging.
Ugh, no, she wasn’t going to ruin things by thinking of the past. Living in the moment was working for her big-time. Plenty of life ahead for regrets. But being with Landon wouldn’t be one of them.
The garage door was shut when she reached her house, both trucks parked outside. She wouldn’t bother them. After a sad look at her plain grass lawn, she couldn’t help taking a moment to imagine what it could be.
She didn’t linger, though, since she wanted to make lunch and surprise the guys.
After dropping her purse on the end table, she heard voices on her way to the kitchen. The door to the garage stood open. The temptation to peek was enormous, but she’d given her word. Though she hadn’t made any promises about not listening.
“...great stuff.”
Landon’s voice. Just hearing it made the butterflies in her stomach flutter.
“Seriously. We’re further ahead than I expected. You sure you want to major in business instead of working in carpentry? You’d do well.”
“Nah,” Barry said. “I need to be able to count on a steady income.”
“It’s a risk, that’s true.”
For a moment, the sound of what Kylie guessed was an electric sander drowned out everything. If she were a better person, she’d shut the door and get busy making meat-loaf sandwiches. But she’d never claimed to be a saint.
“So, if you didn’t have to worry about your siblings or your mom working so hard, what would you do?”
There was silence for a moment, then more sanding or whatever, then quiet again.
“It doesn’t matter.”
“Maybe not,” Landon said.
She could hear him walking with one crutch. They’d gotten carried away last night, and when she’d asked if he was okay, he’d said yes. Liar. At least he was being careful today.
“You know how I told you about my dad dying,” Landon said. “It was my senior year, and out of the blue he had a massive heart attack. He’d been healthy, active. Anyway, I’d been breaking mustangs since I was about fourteen and Dad and my brothers noticed I had a talent for it, and they encouraged me.
“After the grieving, and man, that went on for a long time, I figured my rodeo dreams were over. I felt real guilty for being pissed about that. I was even angry—” Landon cleared his throat. “I was angry at him for dying. It was my brothers who yanked me out of my funk. I was sure I had to work extra hard on the ranch to make up for my dad, but they kept pushing me to keep going. Insisted our dad would have wanted me to do what I loved. They swore they had the ranch covered.”
After a short silence, Barry asked, “Did you leave right away?”
“I didn’t completely believe them, but I was seventeen and I wanted to rodeo more than I wanted air. So after high school, I enrolled at a local college. I figured I could help at home and still manage to rodeo on the weekends if the events were close enough. It turned out to be too much so I quit school.”
Seconds ticked by without either of them speaking.
“Probably a good choice,” Barry said finally. “I mean, you know, a degree in history...”
Landon laughed. “Shut up, smart-ass. And pass me that Phillips.”
Kylie smiled, picturing his slightly flushed face as Barry laughed along with him. She was about to back away when the pounding stopped and Barry said, “You went pro about eight years ago, right?”
“About that. I told myself I’d win a bunch of money and pay for some of the expenses at the ranch, ease the burden that way. Did okay, too. I was no wunderkind, but I was moving up the ranks.”
“Yeah, but then you were like...gone for a while.”
“Hey, you been researching me, kid?”
“Well, yeah,” Barry said. “Gotta get a fix on the boss, you know?”
“Hell, when I was your age—”
“Oh, man, here we go.”
Landon chuckled.
“And by the way,” Barry said, “you’re only ten years older than me.”
“Ten years older, and don’t forget wiser.”
“I’m not the one with the broken leg,” Barry mumbled, and Kylie had to cover her mouth to keep from laughing out loud. “You don’t have to tell me why you dropped out of rodeo.”
“Nah, it’s fine. My oldest brother had an accident at the ranch, so I went home to help out. When things got back to an even keel, I had to think long and hard about what to do, but I decided to ride again. I’ve got no regrets about that. Most days, anyway.”
This time when they quieted, Kylie ordered herself to go to the kitchen but her feet couldn’t seem to move.
“Well, I’m glad it worked out for you,” Barry said, his voice serious and gruffer than before. “But I’m the oldest son.”
“Does your mom ever talk to you about your future? What she expects of you?”
“She wants me to be happy. That’s all she ever says. But Julie and Ned are teenagers now. They’ll need more things for school, clothes and stuff.”
“Sounds to me like they’re about ready to get jobs themselves.”
“No way. That’s the whole point.”
“Listen, Barry. I’m not telling you to change your goals, to work any less, do anything different. But you know how you feel about helping your family? That sense of satisfaction that sits deep and low? And how even when it’s a pain, there’s still pride in every extra job you take on?”
Sanding again. Then, “Yeah.”
“Don’t you want Julie and Ned to feel that? To know they stepped up? That they helped so that you could take advantage of the things you’ve earned, like that scholarship. College?”
Kylie sniffled. But only because she’d been smelling all those flowers. Things got real quiet in the garage, and when she heard Landon’s one-crutch walk, she scurried like a mouse into the living room, grabbed her purse, and walked into the kitchen, innocent as the day she was born.
“Hey, you just get here?” Landon asked, his smile warming her better than the sun.
“Thought I’d make you two some lunch. Hungry?”
“Yeah. I’d meant to put something together a while ago, then I got sidetracked.”
“How’s your leg?”
“Good.” He leaned the crutch against the wall. “I’m just taking precautions, like I promised.”
Guilt shot through her, but she hadn’t peeked, so technically, Kylie was still in the clear.
“Tell you what. I’ll knock on the door when lunch is ready, how’s that?”
“What, no kiss first?”
Kylie glanced toward the garage door.
“He won’t see us,” Landon said, moving closer. “And if he did, would that be so bad?”
“Does he know you’re staying here?”
“I doubt he’s given it a single thought.” He put his arms around her and pulled her against him. “But I didn’t say anything.”
She lifted her chin, getting tingly just knowing his lips were about to touch hers. Lowering his head he gave her a quick kiss. Way too quick. She was about to complain, then felt his mouth skim the side of her neck, leaving a damp trail to her ear. He caught her earlobe between his teeth and gave a slight tug, before returning to slip his tongue between her lips.
Kylie shivered down to the soles of her feet.
“You’re nervous,” he said, leaning back. “Because of Barry?” Landon lowered his arms.
“No, that’s not it. If I’m worried at all it’s because I’m afraid I’ll get carried away.”
“Oh, well in that case...”
Kylie laughed, swatting his hands away when he tried to take hold of her. “Go. Wash up. I have to hurry if I want to eat with you guys.”
“Sure, tease me like that, then push me away. Don’t worry about my hurt feelings.”
“You should be more concerned about that,” she said, glancing at the bulging front of his jeans. “Wash up first, then get Barry.”
Landon looked down. “He’s seen this condition before, I promise.”
“Oh, I can’t hear this.” She laughed as she turned to the fridge, knowing her cheeks were pink.
“To be continued.” Landon kissed the nape of her neck, then jumped back to avoid a swat. “See you in five?”
“Make it ten.” She got busy, knowing this was going to make her later than what she’d told Celeste, but not sorry she’d stopped to listen.
She hadn’t known some of that stuff about Landon’s dad and his family. He’d told her his father had died, and only recently about his brother’s accident having been the family emergency. She’d even known about him breaking mustangs as a teenager. But his brothers encouraging him to return to the circuit, his guilt over it...that he’d never mentioned.
While they had talked about personal things, she sure hadn’t shared anything about her mother. As it was, she feared Landon knew more about Darlene than Kylie cared to acknowledge.
Mostly though, she was impressed with how he’d opened himself up to a kid he’d barely known a week. Barry was self-effacing, quiet, but he couldn’t hide the fact that he thought he was pretty awesome at wrestling and carpentry. Nothing wrong with believing in yourself. If she hadn’t, she wouldn’t have The Cake Whisperer right now. But Landon had seen deeper and reached out.
It didn’t take long to finish making their lunches, and both men washed their hands before they sat down. She didn’t have much to say about her day, so she mostly listened to the two of them. Barry asked about breaking mustangs, and Landon was all too happy to fill him in on what it was like and how much he loved it.
Then Barry started bragging about his wrestling injuries, and added a couple from construction mishaps.
She just ate and smiled. Grateful for the day, grateful that she liked a man who could share himself with someone in need. Someone who, despite his big muscles and skillful hands, was just a kid trying to fill shoes far bigger than the ones his father had left behind.
Leaving Landon to clean up the kitchen, she hurried back to work. During a lull in customers, she confronted Joe, listened to him complain for about fifteen minutes, then made sure he would make up for his lost time. Finally, though, she hung out the closed sign, and while she was more than ready to go home, she had a stop to make, first.
Kevin was in his office at the motel, as she knew he’d be, and the way he lit up when he saw her made her stomach tighten. But not being honest with him would be worse. She’d already begged off on a second date.
“What brings you here?” he asked, rounding his desk. He put his hand on her back and kissed her cheek, before he held the visitor’s chair out for her.
Once they were both sitting, she took a deep breath. “I wanted to let you know that something’s changed.”
“Oh?”
“It’s about my friend Landon.” She looked away, then forced herself to meet Kevin’s gaze. “We were strictly friends back in Iowa but...”
He started nodding as if this wasn’t new information. “Now it’s more.”
“Yes. And I honestly have no idea what’s going to come of it.”
Kevin looked at her somberly. “I like you, Kylie. A great deal. But I don’t want to make a fool of myself. Any more than I already have.”
“You haven’t. You’ve been nothing but great. And I’m being as honest as I can.”
“I appreciate that.”
She stood, and he did as well, but before he could come around the desk, she went to the door. “Thanks for being so understanding.”
He just looked down and didn’t respond.
* * *
AFTER CROSSING THE STREET, she saw Landon’s truck coming down the block. The moment he stopped, she climbed into the passenger side and before she could get a word out, he pulled her straight into a kiss.
When they finally took a breath, Landon relaxed in his seat. “I’ve been thinking about that all day.”
“I imagine you had a few other things on your mind.”
“A few. But we could get arrested for those.”
Grinning, she buckled her seat belt. “Yeah, let’s not do that.”
“You sure? Might’ve been a slow day. Could give Grace something to do.”
She picked his hand up off her thigh and put it on the wheel. “Drive.”
“Yes, ma’am,” he said, putting the truck in gear. “Where to? Feel like going out to dinner?”
“Nope. Let’s stay home.”
“Works for me.”
“Oh. I almost forgot. Rachel and Matt have invited us to dinner at their place tomorrow night.”
“That sounds good.” He checked the rearview mirror then pulled away from the curb. “I told you about him stopping by the other day?”
“Yes. And I’m sure it wasn’t because he was worried you’d ruined his worktable.”
“Maybe just a little.” His mouth curved in that lopsided smile she loved so much. “Tomorrow I’ll pick up a nice bottle of wine.”
“Uh, maybe we should get them something Rachel can enjoy also?”
“Well, that eliminates chocolates. Flowers?”
“That’s perfect.”
“I’m still getting a bottle of wine, though.”
Wondering about her decision not to mention her visit with Kevin, Kylie sighed.
Landon glanced at her. “Is that a no on the wine?”
“What? No. I mean, yes. Wine would be great. In fact, get two bottles. Trace and Nikki will be there, and probably another couple. Also, I’ve been thinking about my neighbor’s flowers.”
“Okay,” he said with a laugh. “What, you want me to go steal them for Rachel?”
“Ha. Funny. Anyway, the white house with the green shutters? Do you know the one I’m talking about?”
“Vaguely.”
“You really can’t miss all the dahlias and gladiolas growing along the porch. They’re absolutely stunning, but I was surprised anything would still be blooming this far north.”
“Not for much longer, though.”
“Still, it gives me hope for my own garden. I can’t wait till next summer to plant some flowers and vegetables. There’s room for a small greenhouse in the backyard, too, and I want to grow dwarf fruit trees and lots and lots of berries.”
“Don’t you rent the house?”
She nodded. “But I think the owner might be willing to go for a rent-to-own deal. The place is perfect for me. It’s close to work, and it’s big enough for me to have people over. I really miss having homegrown veggies and fresh blooms for the table.”
Landon was silent while they waited for some teenagers to cross the street. Kylie wondered if she should’ve been more diplomatic. But it had only been a week and they hadn’t spoken about the future, and if anything, he should be relieved that she wasn’t expecting a commitment. Still, she wished she’d thought first.
He looked at her and smiled. “Barry’s turned out to be a hell of a helper. He’s really good, and without him, no way I’d be this close to finishing.”
“So you’ve said.” Three times so far, not that she would bring that up.
Instead of turning onto her street, Landon went around the block, then drove down the only other residential street off Main. “I was thinking, since Celeste is doing so well and Joe’s working over the weekend, and Barry’s finishing up the bench seats, how about going with me to see my family?”
“What?” She stared at him. He looked serious. “For how long?”
“It’s only six hours away. We can leave Friday after you close. Drive back Sunday night. Or Monday morning if you think Celeste can handle things.”
Kylie didn’t know what on earth to say. Sunday was the only day she closed. But her reluctance wasn’t just about that. “I planned on opening for half a day on Saturday, then giving Joe the afternoon to work.”
“Won’t Celeste be there? We won’t be gone long. My mom would like to meet you. In fact, so would the rest of my family, but I don’t care about them.”
“Liar.” They passed Mrs. Ramsey’s but Kylie barely noticed the flowers. She was thinking about what he’d told her at dinner. “Wait. Is there something going on with your brothers? Did you guys have an argument or something?”
“Us? No. Why would you ask?”
“I don’t know, I just remembered something you’d said about circumstances at home having changed.”
Landon shook his head. “I’m the youngest brother, and crap rolls downhill. They’re always yanking my chain about something. But no, we’re tight.”
“Okay,” she said, “I just didn’t want to be surprised. But seriously? Your mom wants to meet me? What did you tell her?”
“She’s known about you for a while. I mean, it’s no big deal. She wants to make sure I still have both legs, and I promised to come see them. You can meet the whole gang, kids, brothers, sister-in-law...everyone except my sister who lives in Utah.”
The tummy butterflies had turned into hundreds of hummingbirds. He wanted her to meet his family? “I’m not sure I can. I mean, Celeste would have to make arrangements for her children. And she’s still so new...”
“Maybe you could close all day Saturday and give Joe an extra few hours to work.”
She just smiled.
“Hey, no pressure,” he said, catching her hand and squeezing it. “Look, if you don’t want to go then we won’t.”
She believed him, but could see that he was genuinely disappointed. “If I can’t swing it, you could still go.”
“Not without you.”
They turned onto her driveway, her thoughts a complete jumble. She wanted to go, but she couldn’t abandon her responsibilities. “I’ll talk to Celeste. If she can work it out, I’d love to go.”
“Excellent,” he said with a heart-stopping smile and kissed the back of her hand.
Kylie melted like a stick of warm butter.