“Things?” I was sure I already knew, but making her say it was so much more fun.
“Oh my,” her cheeks reddened, “don’t make me say it.”
“Grace Jackson, are you talking about—”
She held up her hand to stop Maddison. “Yes.” It was the cutest thing to see her whisper-yell the answer and then look around as if someone might hear her. We were alone, tucked back by the lake on our grandparents’ property. It was our plan, the younger generation; the elders very rarely came out here. But the idea of someone hearing her had her mortified. “And I would like to say that it’s great, but I’m assuming with a partner, it would feel so much better.” Again she got embarrassed and covered her face. “Not that I am planning to you know at this party, but to let loose a bit without idiot men killing the chance for me would be nice.”
“Our little Grace is growing up.” Mad grinned and placed her hand over her heart dramatically.
“Shut up,” she snarled. “Now let’s plan this thing.”
***
“Good afternoon, sweetheart.” Margie Mae placed her hand on my arm. “How’s your momma?”
“Good.” Offering her a kind smile, I looked back at the cashier as she continued to ring up my items. Margie was the town gossip; anything she’d heard, she added to it and told it to anyone who would stop long enough to listen. The object of the game was to be polite but never offer any bits of information that were not necessary.
“And your father?” She’d managed to step up closer, and there was no way to avoid her.
“He’s good, too, staying busy with work.”
“The town knows a good honest man when they meet one.” It was so weird to see anyone fawning over my father, but it happened often. My father was handsome, but it was just odd to see the older woman, or hell even some of the younger, get all gah gah over my dad. “I image that he is definitely good with his hands.”
I tried to hide the shiver that racked through me. By her tone, I knew she was not referring to his carpentry skills.
I paid quickly and gathered my bags, turning to face her. “It was really great seeing you, but I should get going before my ice cream melts.”
“Ice cream,” she scoffed. “A lady should never indulge when she has yet to find a man. You need to watch your figure, hun.”
I swallowed back the words of distaste. I wanted to tell her that my figure was just fine. I also wanted to tell her that Landon Layne seemed to enjoy my figure quite nicely when his hands roamed over me on more than one occasion, but I forced a smile. “I’ll keep that in mind, Margie.” Moving around her quickly, I glanced back. “Have a great day.” Nosy bitch.
Exiting the market, I beelined for my truck and completely missed the gathering of men in uniform until I heard my name being called out. Glancing back, I saw Landon jogging in my direction, wearing his firefighters’ gear.
“Where are you running off to so fast?”
“Margie Mae.” No one that knew her needed any further explanation. “What are you doing lurking around outside in the market parking lot?” I’d heard no sirens, smelled no smoke.
“Fundraiser.” He pointed over his shoulder, and I saw two other men wearing similar suits. “We’ve been assigned the next two hours outside the market.”
“Sounds fun.” I was being completely sarcastic.
“Let me help you with that.” Before I had the chance to stop him, he grabbed my bags and began walking toward my truck only a few feet away. Hitting the unlock on the key fob, I pulled open the door on the passenger side and allowed him to set my items inside. While doing so, one bag slightly tilted, and out fell the pint of mint chip ice cream that sat on top.
You need to watch your figure.
I could practically hear Margie’s nagging tone ringing in my ear. “Just to spite that woman, I should go home and eat the entire thing.” I hadn’t meant to say the words out loud, but it was too late; they had been spilled.
“What woman?”
I shook my head and attempted to wave him off, but Landon was not the kind of guy to let things go.
“What woman? Margie?” I nodded, feeling foolish now. “That woman is something, and I think we both know that whatever it is she said is nothing worth worrying over.”
“Even if she insisted that my figure and the future of any man wanting me lays in the balance if I so much as have one spoonful of that ice cream?” Again I wished I had a filter around Landon, but he managed to make me extremely chatty at times. Not everything should be shared.
“I can assure you,” he stepped in a little closer and placed one hand on my hip, giving it a gentle squeeze, “your figure is nothing short of perfection.” With that, he pressed a gentle kiss to my lips, leaving me momentarily speechless. “I very much like every single inch of you.”
That longing I had felt since my father picked the wrong moment to show up at my place returned with a vengeance. That ache, the need to return to the very second and continue what we started, hit me hard.
“You don’t see yourself like I do, but believe me when I say, Chloe Rigdon, you are one seriously sexy woman.” I smiled, feeling my cheeks heat.
Surprising myself, I gripped one of his straps that connected to his pants and moved in closer, rising up on my tip-toes. With my lips hovering
