Safe (Conquering)

by Ryan Michele

  “Son, you can’t hog our guests. Even if you want to.”

  Landon pulled me to his side and wrapped his arm around my waist. I felt embarrassed, nervous, and my anxiety was through the roof, but as soon as I felt his arm, I began to relax into it.

  Smiling the same beautiful smile as Landon’s, he walked closer and held out his hand. “Nice to meet you. I’m Pop around here. But you can call me Keith.”

  “Nice to meet you, too.” I shook his hand.

  Keith took his other hand and clasped it over mine, fully engulfing my hand. This guy had huge hands. Wow! I actually felt warm and comforted. Meeting people, especially men, was always hard. But with Keith, I didn’t feel scared. It felt easy and safe. The same as I felt with Landon.

  Was this real? And did I want it to be real? Those questions would need to wait until later for me to figure out.

  “Landon here tells us that you’re living with Lauryn in the guest house,” Keith said.

  “Yes sir. I’ve only been here a couple of weeks.” And in those weeks, I got sucked into your son.

  “Well, let’s go see the rest of the family …” Keith winked.

  Keith stepped aside and allowed Landon and me to pass. With Landon’s hand on the small of my back, he led me down a hallway lined with beautiful family pictures. The pictures looked very professional and had everyone in different poses. They were all in black and white and were amazing.

  Not getting much time to look, Landon pushed on a swinging door and led me into the most beautiful kitchen I had ever stepped into. Now, I loved Lauryn’s, but this kitchen was Lauryn’s kitchen’s Momma.

  Beautiful cherry wood cabinets lined the walls, some high and some low. Stainless steel appliances were in abundance. The island in the middle was just that … an island. Huge! I thought that Lauryn’s was big, um no.

  The smells assaulted me and made my stomach growl. I smelled roast, potatoes, and something chocolate.

  Standing at the stove, Kay turned as she heard the door swing shut. “Oh Sadie! I’m so glad you made it!” Walking closer to me, Kay threw her arms around me to give me a hug. I felt my entire body stiffen. Kay must have felt it, too, because she hugged me tighter, causing my body to relax into hers.

  “Hi, Kay. Thanks for having us,” I said into her shoulder.

  “Nonsense. You come anytime!” Kay said, pulling out of the hug and moving back over to the stove. “Dinner will be ready in about ten minutes. Landon, get Sadie a drink and head on in to the living room.”

  “Yes ma’am,” Landon said and led me into the living room.

  Walking into the living room, I felt so small. The size alone screamed party to me. It would hold lots of people; yet, it was very warm and friendly, like you wanted to be here. The brown sectional couch and three recliners were all lined up in a U-shape facing a TV the same size, if not bigger than, Lauryn’s.

  Everyone turned to look at us as we entered. Lauryn gave a small smile and turned back around. Lukas and Renzo were up and moving toward me.

  Letting out a deep breath, I watched them.

  “So glad you’re here. How are you doing?” Lukas said while coming around to me.

  I felt my body stiffen. I didn’t want to talk about this. This was what I wanted to avoid. Landon must have felt it. “She’s fine, dude.” Landon actually growled at his brother, staring at him as if he was trying to convey words.

  “Relax, I asked her how she was doing. Didn’t mean anything by it.” Lukas’s eyes were on me, laced with concern.

  “I’m fine, Lukas. Thanks.”

  “Well, we’re glad to have you here.”

  “Thanks.”

  Renzo’s booming laughter came from across the room, and I started.

  “Hey Sadie. I see you picked the wrong brother. Come on over here and sit with me.” Renzo patted the seat on the couch next to him, still laughing. It was Landon’s turn to tense by me. The vibe in the room instantly changed, except for Renzo, he was still laughing.

  “Shut. Up. Renzo.” Landon was fuming.

  This made Renzo laugh harder. He looked at Lukas. “We called it, didn’t we?” Lukas then joined in on the laughing.

  “Am I missing something here, boys?” I asked. Damned if I wanted to be out of loop, especially if it was about me.

  Landon wrapped his arm around my shoulder and looked down at me. “They just think they know me.”

  “Well, they are your brothers. Don’t they?” I asked.

  “I guess,” he whispered. I knew I was missing something, but it didn’t seem like anything big since Landon relaxed around me.

  “There you are!” Lainey came barreling into the room, wrapping her arms around me.

  “Hi.”

  “It’s about time you showed up. We’ve got dinner almost done.”

  Lainey’s appraising eyes took me off guard. Mostly because it wasn’t me she was looking at; it was her brother next to me.

  “Lauryn, can you keep the boys entertained for a minute. I need to talk to Sadie.” The room fell silent.

  “Why?” Landon asked.

  “I just do. We’ll be right back.” Lainey smiled at her brother.

  Landon looked down at his sister, almost as if he was warning her, but surely I read that wrong. Well, at least I was hoping I did. Landon kissed the top of my head and released me.

  I nodded and allowed her to lead me throughout the monstrosity of a house. Opening the door down the hall, we entered into a study or office. Hell, it could have been a library. There were shelves and shelves of books on every wall. There were even shelves around the windows! In the middle was a beautiful desk, and to the side was a brown leather couch.

  “Come sit,” Lainey said, patting a spot on the couch.

  Joining her, I couldn’t help but feel the nervousness rush through me, and I didn’t even know why.

  “I just want to talk, Sadie, and I bet Landon is chomping at the bit to find out what I want to talk to you about,” she said with a sly smile.

  “So you just wanted him to sweat a bit, huh?”

  “Kinda. You have no idea what it’s like growing up with three brothers … oh wait. Do you have brothers?” Lainey questioned.

  I smiled thinking of Seth. “Yes, I have an older brother. He’s stationed in Iraq.”

  “Oh wow. What branch?”

  “Marines.”

  “How long has it been since you’ve seen him?” she asked.

  “About a year.” The thought alone made tears form in the back of my eyes, but I wouldn’t let them fall.

  “I couldn’t imagine not seeing my brothers. It must be hard,” she whispered.

  “Yeah, it is.”

  “Do you at least get to talk to him?”

  “No, he can email me every once in a while, but really he has no communication. I don’t know much about what he’s doing. He said before he left that he would contact my mom when he could.”

  Her mouth dropped open, and I knew she was imagining the pain of not speaking to her brothers. I really didn’t realize how hard this would be, but I couldn’t help it at this point. I just hoped he was safe. I needed to remember to ask Mom next time I talked to her.

  “I’m sorry,” Lainey said, looking down at her entwined fingers.

  I reached over and touched her fingers lightly. “It’s okay. I worry, but it’s who he is.” And wasn’t that the truth. Seth was a full-blown, man’s man and was engulfed in the Marines. I wouldn’t have had it any other way.

  “I’m glad you’re here. What’s going on with you and my brother?” Talk about cutting to the chase. I felt the small smirk playing on my lips.

  How the hell did I answer that question? I didn’t even know what we were. I didn’t have a label for it. So I went the easy route. “We’re friends.”

  She laughed. “Hmm … yeah, friends.” Her voice was disbelieving.

  “We are getting to know each other. I don’t know what it is,” I said in a very low voice, now looking at my hands.r />
  “Well, I know what I see from my end. Landon doesn’t do relationships. He goes out, has a good time, and then he’s done. He’s my brother, and I love him, but I hate that he’s like this.” Lainey blew out air she seemed to be holding. “I just wanted you to know so you don’t end up like all the others.”

  Surprised at my possessiveness, I snapped, “Others?”

  “You’re not his first ‘friend,’” she said with those damn finger quotes.

  “I know I’m not. And I don’t want to come off rude, but why the hell are you telling me this. I mean, you are his sister and this little talk is, well, weird. You are sitting here warning me of your brother … why?”

  Turning, Lainey looked me straight in the face. “Sadie, he’s different around you, I get that, but some things don’t change. He’s been going from woman to woman for years now. No commitment. Just fun …”

  “Okay, but seriously, why are you telling me this?”

  “Look, it’s not my story to tell. It’s his, and he needs to do it.”

  “Okay, so you just want to warn me about your brother, but you’re not going to tell me why? This is officially the weirdest conversation I’ve ever had,” I murmured to myself.

  “I’m sorry. I don’t know what I was thinking.” Lainey shook her head, got up, and left the room. So that was not what I expected. I thought I was going to get the ‘you’d better not hurt my brother’ speech, but she was warning me about him.

  What the hell? Something was seriously wrong here. What sister warns a woman off her brother? What, is he a killer? He’d always been a perfect gentleman with me. Hell, he asked if he could kiss me. What killer would ask that? Maybe Lauryn and I should call it a night and get the hell out of here.

  I really didn’t know much about Landon. So anything could be possible. I knew for certain I didn’t want to be another notch on his bedpost.

  “There you are,” Landon’s voice came from the door, and my body stilled.

  I noticed the change in Sadie the moment I opened my mouth. Her spine stiffened, and her breathing became nonexistent. What the hell?

  “Sadie, are you okay?”

  When she shook her head and answered, “Fine,” her voice was shaky and uncertain and I wanted to get rid of that. What the hell just happened?

  “You don’t seem fine. Tell me what’s wrong.” I didn’t dare go over and sit by her. Instead, I moved so I was leaning on the desk in front of her.

  Her eyes wouldn’t meet mine and she didn’t say anything.

  “Sadie, look at me.” I knew my tone was a bit rough, but it got her attention. Her eyes snapped to me and went wide. “Can you tell me what’s going on?”

  Sadie’s eyes were searching for something. I didn’t know if it was something in me or not, but they were weary. I didn’t want that look from her. I thought we had gotten to a point where she was comfortable.

  “Had an interesting and very strange conversation with your sister.” Her voice was flat.

  “Okay. About what?”

  “She wanted to warn me about you. I hear you have a long string of chicks that you fuck and leave. She didn’t want me to end up like them. Why would she do that?”

  “Fuck!” I said. Seeing Sadie flinch at my tone, I knew I needed to rein my temper in. “Sorry. It’s not what you think.”

  “What’s not what I think? That I’ll just be one of the many? I told you in the beginning I didn’t want a relationship. So, no biggie.”

  Damn women … to hell it was no biggie. I wasn’t that fucking stupid. I could see the hurt and disappointment in her eyes. They were hooded, and the walls building up were tougher than Fort Knox. Damn. Just when I thought I was getting somewhere.

  “Sadie, I told you this was more. I meant it.”

  “Look, Landon. It’s okay. I’d rather know what I’m getting into than have any surprises. We haven’t known each other long and it’s fine.”

  “No, it’s not fine. I want you to believe me.”

  Her face was questioning my words. “Then let me ask you something.”

  “Anything.” Why I cared that she believed me was beyond me.

  “Why did Lainey lead me to believe there’s something I should know that you are not telling me?”

  “Why, what did she say?”

  She cocked her head to the side, almost like she was reading my thoughts. I didn’t want her to read it. I didn’t want to tell her.

  “Better yet, Landon, you tell me.” Immediately, I saw the change in her. She pushed her shoulders back and began to have an air of anger in her laced with determination and self-assuredness.

  “Can we talk about this later?” I did not want to do this here. Damn! Damn! Damn!

  “Yeah, sure, later.” Sadie stood up and began to walk out the door. When she brushed past me, I reached out for her arm.

  Her eyes widened in shock, and she wrenched her arm out of my grasp.

  “Sadie, I just want to talk,” I pleaded.

  “Don’t grab me.” She left the room.

  Damn it all to hell. What the fuck just happened? I was gonna kill Lainey. Surely she didn’t tell her about Stacy. We never talked about her. She … never talked about her.

  Turning out of the room, I immediately went in search of Lainey. I had to know what the hell she told Sadie.

  Finding her in the kitchen, I immediately went up to her side.

  “Lainey, what the hell did you say to Sadie?” I knew my anger was coming through my words, but I couldn’t help it. I wanted to know.

  “Nothing that wasn’t the truth.”

  “What the hell did you say?” I knew I was reaching my boiling point, not that I would ever lay a hand on her.

  Blowing out an exasperated breath, she continued, “Landon, I just don’t want to see her get hurt. Mom says she seemed really nice, and I know how you are.”

  “And how am I, Lainey?”

  “You don’t do relationships. You haven’t since Stacy. Not that I wouldn’t be pissed about what that bitch did, but it changed you.”

  “I thought we agreed never to talk about her again.” The sternness in my words even shook me. The mention of her name was too much.

  “I want it different.”

  “What?” I arched my brow.

  “I want you happy.”

  “And you think by telling Sadie I’m a whore, and she’s going to be another notch on my bedpost, that’s ever going to happen?”

  She rolled her eyes. “I didn’t say you were a whore, and we both know that she won’t be around for long. You’ll be done with her soon enough.”

  “Don’t talk about her like that!” I growled.

  “Landon Matthew! What are you yelling about?” Hearing my mom made both Lainey and I jump. Even in our twenties, Mom still had the power over us.

  “Nothing Mom, Lainey and I were just talking.” The snide way I said talking didn’t get past Mom.

  “Well, enough talking; it’s time for dinner and don’t bring whatever this is to my table,” she ordered, turned, and walked to the dining room.

  Turning again to Lainey, I added, “Look, I don’t exactly know what’s happening between Sadie and me, but damn it, shit like this will surely mess everything up. You gotta stop this.”

  Without another word, I left and went into the living room.

  All right, so maybe I had been a whore these past few years, but the women knew what they were getting into. I never told them we would have a happily ever after or any bullshit like that. They knew. That made it okay. We both got pleasure without all those damn strings that seemed to form.

  Walking into the dining room, my eyes immediately landed on Sadie. She was sitting close to Lauryn in some sort of discussion. It didn’t take a genius to know they were more than likely talking about me.

  Lauryn knew my past, and the fact she hadn’t told Sadie yet was surprising. I figured she would have told her the first time I took Sadie out, but for some reason, she’d kept quiet.

&
nbsp; I knew now that I had to talk to Sadie tonight. I didn’t want her thinking that she was just another notch on my belt. When I was with her, it was different. Most of the time women I met would take me back to their house, we’d both get off and then I’d get my shit and leave. There were no emotional ties, and I didn’t want them. With Sadie, I looked into her eyes and she caught me, made my heart pick up, and turned me into something I never thought I would be again.

  Even though that scared the shit out of me, I couldn’t help but want to be around her. I wanted to know her.

  “Son, come have a seat.” My dad’s voice cut me out of my thoughts. Looking back at Sadie, she gave me a small smile, and I took the seat next to her.

  “Are you okay?”

  “Fine,” she said.

  “When dinner is over, we need to talk.” God, did we need to talk.

  “It’s fine. I already told you that.” Sadie kept her voice quiet so only I could hear, but I could see Lauryn straining to hear what was being said.

  “It’s not fine, and we will talk after this.” I probably came off like an asshole, but I’d be damned if she was going to put me off. I couldn’t have that. I wanted her to understand. I had to tell her about Stacy.

  By the look on her face, I could tell that she didn’t like my tone, but being at my parents’ table was a God-send at this time. She refrained from arguing with me, even though her body language was screaming at me.

  “So Sadie, tell us about your family,” Mom said while putting the final dish on the table.

  In all honesty, I didn’t know much about her family either. She seemed to avoid the topic with me.

  “My mom is Lauryn’s mom’s sister. I have a brother who’s in the Marines. My dad died about four years ago.” Sadie got quiet, and I could see the tears welling up in her eyes. She looked down to hide her face.

  I grabbed her hand under the table and squeezed. She turned her face and gave me a small smirk, which was reassuring to me.

  “Oh honey, I’m so sorry to hear that.” Mom’s voice cracked.

  “It’s been hard having him gone,” Sadie said back.

  “I bet it is.” Changing the subject, which Mom was good at, she asked, “How long has your brother been in the Marines?”