Total pages in book: 73
Estimated words: 69413 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 347(@200wpm)___ 278(@250wpm)___ 231(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 69413 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 347(@200wpm)___ 278(@250wpm)___ 231(@300wpm)
I loved the little snippets from Colorado, and I was shocked to find that I even missed the cold and the snow.
I’d fallen in love with it during the wedding.
“Did Landry seem nervous at the prospect of this dinner party at Mom’s?” Chase asked as we rounded the corner onto Mom’s street.
“Shockingly, no,” I said. “Landry wants her to like him, which is quite frankly adorable, but he said he liked meeting her at the wedding.”
“He certainly seemed good when he met you,” Chase said, and when I glanced over at him, he was wiggling his eyebrows up and down at me.
“Oh, shut up.”
“Hot hotel hanky-panky,” he teased. “God, you would get lucky with a guy named Lucky. He’s like your Prince Charming.”
“Landry is not my Prince Charming,” I protested. “We had to talk through a lot of things at the ski resort to get where we ended up.”
Chase laughed. “Sounds like nothing but beautiful backdrops and cozy, fireside conversations to me.”
I couldn’t help but smile. “Not exactly, but… maybe a little,” I admitted. I parked the car outside Mom’s house, checking the time. “Okay. We’re actually only fifteen minutes late. Let’s go rescue Landry.”
We grabbed our big haul of food for the dinner party and made our way to Mom’s front door. One of Landry’s cars was already parked in the driveway next to mine, and I tried to ignore how strange it was to see the sleek, black, expensive Mercedes in front of Mom’s modest little bungalow house.
“We’re here,” Chase called into the house as we pushed through the front door.
“In the back, kids!” Mom’s voice came from past the sliding door that led into the yard. We set down all of the food in the kitchen and made our way out.
And I saw Landry, paintbrush in one hand and small paint can in the other, reaching up to paint a portion of the white wood siding that lined the back of the house.
“Hey, sweetie,” Mom said, coming in to give me a hug.
“Evening, Mom,” I said, furrowing my brow. “Can I ask what in the hell Landry is doing with a paint can in his hand?”
“Oh, I needed touch-ups on the top of the wood panels,” Mom said as she gave Chase a hug. “Landry’s tall. I had to ask.”
“She’s put him to work after being here for ten minutes,” Chase said, grinning.
“God,” I said, feeling a heat creep up to my cheeks. “Mom, I could have easily done this for you with a ladder.”
“Oh, it’s easy,” Landry protested. “I’m happy to help your mom.”
Just as he said it, a glob of white paint dripped down from the brush onto his nice pants.
“Shit, Landry, your pants—”
“Don’t worry about it,” he reassured me. “It’s fine.”
“By the way,” Mom said, leaning in close to my ear. “What a man. I knew he was handsome from the wedding, but he’s so kind and helpful, too. You did very well for yourself, Jamie.”
Now my cheeks were molten. I raked my fingertips through my hair. “I’m very happy.”
My mom’s blue-green eyes glimmered as the skin around them crinkled with her smile. “All right, Landry, it looks lovely,” she said. “You’re relieved of your painting duties. Let’s go eat, shall we? I hope you like roast chicken.”
“Love it. I can’t wait to try yours.”
Landry set down the paint and brush, checking his fingers for paint droplets before bringing me into a hug. He kissed the top of my head, squeezing me close.
“I’m sorry, again,” I whispered.
“I mean it, I’m more than happy to help,” he said. “Your mom is a hoot. She told me about a stray cat that’s been coming into her yard, and I told her all about Sprinkle.”
I couldn’t keep a grin off my face as he turned to Chase.
“Hey, Landry, when you’re back in Colorado,” Chase said, “I’ve got some places in my house in need of paint touch-ups, if you want to head over there.”
Landry laughed. “I’m finally learning the real reason you guys are so happy I’m dating Jamie now, huh?” Landry asked. “Paint projects.”
“At least you’re good at it,” Chase joked. “I’m going to help Mom get started on the roast.”
He headed inside and for a moment it was just me and Landry out back. The sun was just starting to set, and after a long day at work and then scrambling to get food and get over to Mom’s in time, I let myself breathe.
“It feels so good to finally be here,” I told Landry. “I can tell Mom likes you, and not just because you helped with the paint, by the way.”
He had a look of innocent happiness on his face. “You really think so?” he asked. “I know I’m still pretty new in your life, but I really do want her to like me.”