“Wow!” Landon breathes out. His jaw is slack as he scans the bare area, and I know, just like me, he’s picturing what it will look like finished.

  “This is fucking amazing,” Maddox praises, walking over to the fireplace and sticking his head up the chimney.

  Weird.

  “This will be the main lobby and reception. That hallway next to the stairs leads to the back garden and the family bedrooms. To the left,” I gesture to the wide-open entrance to the next room, “will be the dining room, and through those double swinging doors is a kitchen and another exit.”

  “You should put some patio doors on that wall,” Landon says, pointing to the wall ahead of us. “It will bring light into the room and you could have some tables and chairs for outside in the summer.”

  “Can you do that? That sounds incredible,” I ask, amazed and pretty giddy at the idea. I have a patio area at the back, but to get to it, you have to walk either around the entire house, or through the hallway near the reception area that leads to the backdoor.

  “Yes—if you want one, that is.”

  “Of course. I didn’t even think of doing that. I was only thinking of space when I designed it.”

  He waves me off, walking over to the wall and knocking his knuckles against it. “Did you want me to get started down here so it’s finished and you can start doing it up? Then I can make my way upstairs to the rooms while you move everything in?”

  “If you can, then yes. I need to get pictures taken of the property and rooms, so I can find someone to set up a webpage for me.”

  “You should ask Bailey, Aiden’s girlfriend. She does that for a living, and from what I’ve seen of Charlotte’s page, she’s pretty damn good.”

  This is the most I’ve ever heard him speak. Wait! Charlotte has a webpage?

  “She does?” I ask, feeling my heart lighten. It’s really coming together. “How is Bailey doing after what happened at the park?”

  “She’s doing great. Better than expected after everything that went down.”

  “That’s good to hear,” I murmur, thinking back on that dreadful day. She’d been through a lot. Something he said hits me and I look up, titling my head to the side. “Wait, why does Charlotte have a webpage?”

  A blank veil lifts over his expression. “It’s a secret she doesn’t want our family to know, so you can’t say anything.” When I nod, intrigued, he continues. “She’s an author.”

  “Does she use her real name?”

  “Nope, and you’ll have to ask her for her pen name,” he says with a smirk. “I’ll ask Bailey to get in touch with you. What else needs doing down here?”

  “The entire kitchen,” I tell him with a resigned sigh, walking over to the kitchen. I push through the doors and try not to be affected as he follows. But it’s hard not to when I know what those hands and that body can do. My traitorous body needs to get with the programme, because we aren’t supposed to be attracted to the large, hot, muscled Carter. “He put all the electrics and piping in, but as you can see, none of the cupboards, units or anything else was fitted.”

  Landon rubs the back of his neck. “My uncle Maverick is good with kitchens. I’ll ask him to come help me with the stuff I can’t do by myself.”

  “Are you sure you don’t want paying? This doesn’t feel right,” I admit, interrupting. No one does anything for free anymore.

  His eyes soften when they land on me. “I promise, I don’t want your money and neither will my uncle. He has more time on his hands than my cousins, so he will want to help out.”

  I suck in my bottom lip. “That’s all that really needs doing down here. All the rest is décor I have in the storage units back at the removal factory.”

  “Your brother’s?”

  “Yeah. It used to be an old cattle barn, but Jaxon had it rebuilt so it was liveable and could be used for storage. We have fourteen containers that people rent, and then the rest of the space is for his removal business. He lets me use the fifteenth one that he kept open for one of us if we needed it. What I don’t have yet to pay for, is in there.”

  “How did you afford this place; if you don’t mind me asking?” he asks, and for some reason, I don’t mind telling him.

  “Money left to me. We don’t have a big family, to be honest. My aunt and uncle never had kids before they died, and my mum didn’t have any siblings growing up. I think it’s why she kept saying one more kid to my dad. She hated being an only child. Mum grew up on this farm, so she was left this and my nan and granddad’s money. She put half into savings and used the other half to build the farm up. We each had a share of the money when we turned eighteen. When my aunt and uncle died, we each got a share of that, and the same when my dad died, though sometimes I think I had more than the others.”

  “What do you mean?” he asks, leaning back against the wall.

  I shrug, mimicking the same movement and resting against the wall. “I know Jaxon owns a majority of Hayes Removals, but the others—other than the twins—put shares into it. With the amount I had, they shouldn’t have needed to put the money in together. Jaxon could have paid for it himself. And I hear them moaning they’re skint until payday.

  “We weren’t allowed access to our money until we turned twenty-one or needed it to invest in a business. When I got mine, I passed out at the amount. I couldn’t believe how much was there. When I questioned Mum and the others, they just shrugged and said my bank must have good interest rates,” I tell him, and when he gets a crease along his forehead, I explain further, “Our accounts are with the same bank.”

  “Did you say anything else about it?”

  I shake my head. “No. Because if they wanted me to have it, then there’s no changing their minds. I’ll thank them one day. I just hope their business doesn’t go into a crisis before I can pay them back. Or, God forbid, mine doesn’t pick up.”

  He looks at me in wonder. “You really are an incredible person. And I don’t think you’ll have problems getting bookings. The place isn’t finished and it looks amazing already. Plus, you have the cricket club not far away, and that other hotel that does parties and stuff. No doubt people will book here so they don’t have to pay their prices.”

  Blushing, I duck my head and step away from the wall. “Come on, I’ll show you the rest of the house.”

  “Wait,” he says. I inhale, not ready to face him. He’s so goddamn good looking, I’m scared I’ll give in and beg him to kiss me. “Please, just talk to me for a minute.”

  “We are talking,” I state, slowly turning around to face him. He stares deeply into my eyes, watching, admiring, almost calculating.

  He rubs the back of his neck before shoving his hands into his pockets. “Go out with me tonight,” he blurts out. Completely taken off guard, I can do nothing but stare at him. “Please. I want to know how you’re doing.”

  “Why?”

  He looks over my shoulder and inhales deeply, before looking back at me with a determined expression. Nodding, he says, “I’ll pick you up at seven.”

  “You will?” I ask, confused as to where all this is coming from. Trying to keep track of the conversation is also confusing. “Why now, Landon? Is it because of the baby? I’ve already told you it’s not your fault. You don’t need to do this.”

  “Do what?” he asks, looking genuinely confused.

  I gesture between the two of us. “This. Whatever this is.”

  “Look, we’re friends now. Friends go out for a meal with each other.”

  I roll my eyes. “We’re not friends.”

  His lips twist wryly. “Yeah, we are. We even had breakfast together.”

  “You really need to start going out more, because you turning up at my house uninvited isn’t us becoming friends.”

  “We’re doing this, Paisley, whether you like it or not.”

  I throw my hands up in despair. “I don’t even know what this is.”

  “I’m gonna go make a list of things that need doing and what supplies we need,” he says, ignoring me and changing the subject abruptly once again.

  “It’s family movie night. Mum gets pissed if we miss it, so we never miss it,” I tell him, half lying as I follow him out of the dining room. She does get pissed, but movie night isn’t until tomorrow. Hopefully, he’s over whatever he thinks is going to happen between us. If it’s friendship, I can’t give it to him. I loved him and fantasized about him for too long to become friends with him. If it’s a relationship he wants, then he has no chance. I have more pride than to let someone treat me like something they trod on.

  “Movie night?” he asks, pausing to face me. He nods mindlessly, deep in thought, before his gaze turns calculating. “Okay, okay. We can do dinner another time.”

  “Dude, you need to work on your game,” Maddox says, chuckling.

  I jump at the sound of his voice. He didn’t even make a noise when he walked in.

  “Fuck you,” Landon snaps, glaring at Maddox behind me.

  Maddox just continues to laugh. “Yeah, well, while you fucked up on epic proportions, I was making a list of shit you’ll need. You’ll have to add what you need for down here yourself.”

  “Already memorised it. I just need to take some measurements,” he snaps, looking broody.

  And this is the Landon I know. Not the overly talkative guy he has been recently.

  Maddox begins to laugh, pulling out his phone. Landon steps forward. “Don’t you dare!”

  Not even blinking or afraid, Maddox continues to type on his phone. “Fuck that. The broody, moody, robot Landon Carter just got turned down. You couldn’t even intimidate her into going out with you.”

  I smother the giggle that slips free at the murderous expression on Landon’s face as he takes a step forward. His shoes squeak on the laminate flooring, gaining Maddox’s attention.

  His eyes widen when he sees Landon coming for him, and before I can blink, he’s running out the front door, yelling over his shoulder. “No fun, Landon. No fun.”

  I giggle, heading out after them, watching as Landon sprints to catch up with him. He jumps on his back, sending them both flying to the floor. I hear a grunt as I lean against the doorframe.

  “Are you going to do it again?” Landon demands harshly, shoving Maddox’s face into the dirt.

  Poor Maddox, I muse.

  “If it gets me off this floor, I promise I won’t do it again,” he mutters, relaxing when Landon loosens his hold. Once he’s off him, Maddox rushes to his feet. “That said, you know I’m totally going to do it again. It’s just who I am.”

  He lets out a high-pitched squeal, jumps, then runs off when Landon begins to chase him again. I laugh, but soon lose it when I think of how I’m going to get out of tonight. For some reason, I have a feeling Landon isn’t going to let it go, and I wouldn’t put it past him to turn up at my house. Sometimes it scares me how well he can read me. It’s the way he analyses people, like he’s finding truths and lies in their eyes and movements. It was one of the things that drew me to him.

  Yep, I’m totally not going to be here if there’s a chance he will turn up. I’m not that strong.

  Grabbing my phone out of my pocket, I send a text to Adam.

  ME: SOS. Be at mine for six. We’re going out.

  ADAM: Sounds interesting.

  *** *** ***

  I tug my black dress over my slender body, glaring at my best friend through the mirror. “I don’t see what was so wrong with what I was wearing,” I mutter, then curse when I see my boobs spilling out of the dress.

  Adam made me buy it for my eighteenth and dragged me out into town. He got pissed, made me dance in public, then threw me into a cab so he could take some random guy home.

  It was a good but strange night.

  And tonight, instead of letting me wear my yellow summer dress, he pulled this out of the back of my closet.

  He gives me a disgusted look. “We’re going to Paradise. You can’t wear that there. It’s too fancy.”

  I roll my eyes at him because Paradise isn’t posh. Yes, people dressed up to go to the fanciest restaurant in town, but it was also known as a local hangout for men who have just finished work and fancy a pint. I was glad the two were slightly separated.

  “I just don’t feel comfortable.”

  “You never do in public,” he shoots back. “I still can’t believe you turned Landon Carter down. Landon fucking Carter. I think you’re seriously off your trolley. Nobody turns down one of those boys.”

  I look at the watch on my wrist. “We need to go. And I told you, I’m not interested in him anymore.”

  He pats my arm when he gets up. “Yep, you keep telling yourself that, sweet cheeks.”

  “It’s true!”

  He smirks at me. “You really are delusional. No one gets over a Carter. What I wouldn’t do if one of them batted for my team.”

  “Like they need to be gay,” I snark.

  He winks at me. “A man can admire.”

  “Let’s just go, in case he turns up.”

  “Lead the way, chick-a-dee.”

  CHAPTER TWELVE

  LANDON

  “Will you stop pouting,” Dad whines. “It’s ruining my mood.”

  I grunt, not even bothering to glance at my dad. My plans for tonight with Paisley had been fucked up. She wasn’t there. Her mum said she had gone to Paradise with her friend, Adam. The same friend she lost her virginity to. My hands clench into fists as I inhale deeply through my nose.

  She would rather go out with him than with me? I don’t get it. Did she lie about him being gay? Is she secretly in love with him? Are they more than just friends? The need to know eats away at me.

  If she thinks I’ll stand by and watch her with another man, then she doesn’t know me at all. I’d kill him before she let him touch her.

  I exhale, trying to slow down my heartrate. I want to punch someone, but I’m not ready for that and the gym is now closed. I don’t like this feeling inside of me. It’s foreign and unwanted. And I don’t understand where all this anger is coming from.

  Two good things did come from me turning up unexpectedly at the Hayes house tonight. One, her mum told me movie night was tomorrow night and said I was more than welcome to come. And secondly, she told me where Paisley is tonight.

  I had hoped to bring Charlotte with me, but she was busy planning for the new cat I had talked Faith into letting her have earlier in the day. We’re meant to go up tomorrow to have a look.

  When she told me she couldn’t come, I called around, but it seems everyone is busy except Maddox. I have enough to deal without having him here.

  But as I look at my dad, I’m wondering if I made the right choice in asking him.

  “Are you going to keep brooding?” he asks.

  “I don’t get girls,” I admit, hoping he hears how serious I am.

  “Girls are pretty easy, son.”

  I give him a dirty look. “Dad!”

  He shakes his head as he pulls into the restaurant carpark. “Not like that,” he replies quickly, chuckling. “Never say, ‘okay’, avoid answering questions on their wardrobe choices, always text back straight away, and most importantly, don’t make eye contact in an argument.”

  “What?” I ask. That sounds completely ridiculous.

  “Yep. Looked your mum in the eye once and it was the worst mistake of my life. I ended up saying yes to Hunter moving in to the new house with us. Fucking cat had it out for me, but did she see it? No! And the sly rat would wait until her back was turned to strike. Did she care? No. I felt so unloved, son,” he rants out, and my lips quirk into a smirk. I think it’s him who has it out for that cat. “Another time, we argued over what to go and see at the cinema. I wanted to see this action movie. Your mum, she wanted this sappy romance movie. I looked in her eyes for a split second and it was all over. I spent nearly two hours listening to her gush, cry, gush, and sob.”

  “I don’t think Paisley is like that,” I murmur.

  His lip curls. “All women are like that. I’ve got a book somewhere. It will help you through a relationship. The most important one you need to remember—and run if it happens—is when they say they are fine,” he explains. “Because, son, they aren’t fucking fine. I’m telling you. If there’s an exit, run!”

  My eyes widen because he looks damn serious. But it’s Dad. He can’t be right. I’ll message my uncle Malik later. As uncomfortable as I am talking about this shit, I know he won’t bullshit me so I make a tit out of myself.

  His lips twist wryly. “Actually, I take that back. The most important rule to remember is when a woman says, ‘do what you want’, never, and I mean never, do what you want. Don’t blink—fuck, don’t move. Just stand still and don’t breathe. Hell, play dead; it worked for me every time.”

  I really do think my dad has gone crazy.

  “I’ll remember, Dad,” I tell him, silently planning to text Malik the first chance I get. He nods, turns the car off, and gets out. When I meet him at the front of the car, I say, “Remember, act surprised when we see her.”

  Dad chuckles. “Not the first time I’ve done this, son. We’ve got this,” he says, but then pauses just outside the door. “You really do like this girl, don’t you? It’s not about the baby, is it?”

  I had told Mum and Dad the very next day, needing Mum to talk to. They both took it as well as expected, but Dad did look pale the entire time I was there, muttering about Hayden and tracking devices. I never did ask what he was up to before I left. He had that crazy look in his eyes.

  “It’s not about the baby. I just don’t want to start something when I have so much baggage. I feel her slipping away though.”

  Dad looks at me with a serious expression. “Then don’t let her. Embed yourself so far into her life she has no choice but to fall for you.”

  “I just hope I didn’t fuck it up. I treated her pretty crappy.”