by Layla Hagen
I needed more funds, or a partner with access to a wider distribution network, which was what Sullivan was bringing to the table. More funds meant an IPO or bringing in even more investors, which I didn’t want because I’d have to give up even more shares and control. The partnership with Sullivan was my best option, which was why I needed the deal to go through. But this couldn’t be helped.
While Adam was a close friend, he didn’t understand how deep family ties went in the Connor clan. Explaining myself further wasn’t going to change things, and I didn’t care to do it anyway. Ultimately, I was in charge. Adam had to do what I decided.
“I’m needed here, Adam. I’m officially not on vacation anymore, so I can be contacted at any hour after today. I’m taking the time to reacquaint myself with Val’s company. I can give you ten minutes right now to discuss any urgent matters.”
Two things became clear within a few hours in Val’s shoes. One: she was more efficient than 90 percent of the people I knew. Two: she didn’t delegate jack shit. She oversaw everything from executive decisions to small operative details. Nothing escaped her sharp mind, or pen. Almost everything needed her approval.
“We need approval for the shipments—”
“The samples will arrive today. We need you in the conference room at two.”
“The budget still needs changing.”
“When is Val coming back?”
“She hasn’t replied to our e-mails. That hasn’t—”
I jumped in. “And she won’t be replying for the time being.”
I felt like I was on a baseball field, fielding balls left and right, with several hitting me straight in the face while I was busy with others. Val’s daily to-do list was busy enough for two people to hack away at it until their eyes watered. In the rare moments when I was alone in the office, I went over the budget for the department store line, but the constant interruptions made it impossible to concentrate. Val led an open-door policy I did not appreciate.
Her assistant stepped in just as I’d started making notes.
“Mr. Connor, we need you down in shipping. We—”
“No.”
“I’m sorry?”
“Look—Angelica, that’s your name, right?”
“Yeah.”
“I will not be available for the next two hours.”
Her face drained of color. “But—”
“No ifs or buts. I will be here in the office, but I don’t want anyone to disturb me.”
“Val called.”
Jesus. My sister was still in the hospital.
“Right. Until I tell you differently, you will not be taking my sister’s calls. I will also need you to prepare a briefing for me. Include every major topic along the value chain.”
Angelica looked at me like I was mad, but she nodded and left the office. I closed the door behind her, taking a deep breath. I needed to draw up a plan, a damn good one. And unlike Val, I needed silence to think things through.
The offices hadn’t been here when I was with the company. We had fewer employees, so we didn’t need an entire building anyway. Val was smart to move everything here when the company grew. It was far enough from her house to make commuting a pain, but land was cheap, so she’d bought it, saving a lot on rent.
I sat behind the desk, which Val had positioned in the south corner of the room. I could as easily glance at the door and out the window. Maddie’s garden stretched outside. Even from here, it looked like the calm-inducing oasis Val described. I rose from my seat, grabbed the laptop, a pen, and some papers, and headed out of the office.
A few minutes later, I stepped inside the small park. It was amazing. A wide cobblestone path snaked through the center, and several narrower ones sprung to the sides. Everywhere I looked, it was green, with the occasional speck of color. I didn’t know the names of the trees, but I recognized a few palm trees and ferns. I snapped a photo of it and sent it to Maddie, along with a text.
Landon: This is amazing!
I figured she wouldn’t see it until later, because Maddie didn’t keep the phone with her when she worked. She answered within seconds.
Maddie: There’s a bench behind that big fern.
Landon: Thanks.
I laughed when I found the bench, wondering how I could already miss Maddie. Did she miss me? Maybe she’d kept her phone with her because she’d hoped to hear from me, even though it was more likely that she was waiting for a business call. This morning had felt like a slice of someone else’s life: waking up next to her, our closeness, her cute determination to smooth the hell out of my shirt and suit. How would life feel if every morning started this way?
I allowed that fantasy to take over just for a moment before diving into work.
Chapter Twenty
Maddie
Over the next few days, Val’s house became a revolving door for her entire family. Will stopped by every day to check on her, Lori brought food by, and Hailey had flown in for a quick visit the day Val was brought home. Jace had visited her daily between his training sessions, and seeing a six-foot-three soccer player hover around his sister as if she were a baby was endearing to watch.
Val’s yard was looking so much better. The mason was scheduled to work on the stone steps next week, and I still had some work left, but I’d planted drought-resistant plants like the California mountain lilac and California yarrow on each of the terrace levels.
I still had to plant two Jacaranda trees near the outer edges of the porch, and on Thursday morning, I went to pick them up from Elise’s Plants and Flowers.
Elise was hands down my favorite supplier. She owned a small shop, but anything I needed, Elise could make it happen in half the time anyone else did, and at a decent price.
“Everything okay? You seem a little on edge,” I said as she helped me load the baby Jacaranda trees in the back of my Chevy. Her raven-dark hair was piled up in a bun on top of her head, and she just looked tired.
“Yeah, I’m just... redoing my website, hoping it’ll bring in more business. I just don’t know how to pimp it up.”
“I could give you a testimonial. Or better yet, you could include the pictures from the Murieta project.” That was the one I won the Best Garden award for.
Her eyes widened. “Are you sure? I don’t want to steal your laurels.”
“You’re not stealing anything, Elise. You really should list it. I bought all those flowers from you.”
“Okay, I’ll do it. Thanks. You sure have a knack for business, girl.”
I left her shop with a smile on my face, brainstorming other possibilities for cross promoting. Elise and I were both one-woman shows, even though she did have two part-time employees. She had suggested a formal partnership a few months ago, but I didn’t want that. The mere word partnership still brought memories of lawyers, financial messes, and feeling small. However, it was smart to use our synergies. I was bursting with excitement when I pulled into Val’s driveway.
My time with Landon was limited to sharing a morning coffee in his sister’s kitchen. I was happy to spend any time with him at all, but I couldn’t help wanting more. I was working up the courage to ask him to spend a night or two (or every night) at my house, but I didn’t know if inviting him even deeper into my life was a good idea. I’d put defenses in place, but he seemed to demolish them with every kiss, every stolen moment together.
“What are you doing this evening?” he asked on Friday morning. I was on my second coffee. I usually didn’t drink more than one, but Landon never left before I finished, which made me want to drink an entire bucket if it meant he’d stay around a little longer.
“Nothing planned yet.”
I was perched on the kitchen counter, dangling my feet. Landon stepped between my thighs, nudging them farther apart.
“Keep tonight free.” He looked down at me with that molten gaze of his, and it did delicious things to me. My fingers itched to touch him. I wasn’t particular about where. But if I had a choice, it wou
ld be his ass. I wondered if I could run my hands down his back and accidentally on purpose grab it. Maybe I could pass it off as... what? Hmm... maybe I should keep my hands to myself until I came up with a good excuse to grope him in his sister’s kitchen.
“And why would I do that?” I teased as my stomach whooped and cartwheeled.
“Because after the family dinner, I want us to spend time together. I haven’t planned anything yet.” He dragged his nose up and down my neck. I loved when he did that. I loved everything he did to me. “I just want to spend time with you,” he went on, placing open-mouthed kisses on my neck. They worked my nerve endings into a frenzy. When he slid me closer to him, wedging his hands under my ass and rolling my hips against him, I figured I had free rein to grope his ass too.
Damn, I loved his suits. The fabric was so thin it was almost like touching his skin. Almost. He groaned seconds into my exploration of his glutes.
“Maddie, stop, or I’ll fuck you on this counter.”
I weighed the cons: Val was upstairs, but common decency dictated this was not okay. Unfortunately, I hadn’t completely forgotten my decency. But I could feel it melting away the longer I felt Landon’s breath on my lips.
I let go of him, and he immediately took a step back. I sighed at his rumpled shirt.
“Why do you let me mess you up every morning?” I asked, smoothing the fabric as best I could.
He swallowed. “I like watching you fix me up.”
“I like doing it,” I admitted. I liked it a lot. It felt so couple-ish, like he was my man, and I was making sure he looked spotless before he went to work. It was a foolish dream, but I couldn’t help but lose myself in it every morning, or when he sent me texts throughout the day, sharing tidbits about his work or asking about me.
When our gazes met, a bout of vulnerability crossed his features. It was so raw that I felt it in my chest. Was he having those same thoughts too? I didn’t dare ask, but when he pulled me into a hot and soulful kiss, I kissed him back with all I had.
***
That evening, he arrived at six o’clock. I ran into him outside the front gate.
“Hey!” He raked his gaze longingly over me, stopping on the car keys in my hand. “You’re leaving?”
“Yeah. I’m done for the day, and I don’t want to be in anyone’s hair.”
“But we have plans tonight.” The top button of his shirt was open, and he’d rolled up his sleeves again. He looked tired and pissed off.
“After your dinner. Text me when you’re ready, and I’ll drive back. I won’t be far away. I’m exploring the neighborhood.”
“Maddie, I’d meant for you to have dinner with us.”
“Oh! But... this is a family dinner. I’m sure you have a lot to talk about.”
“No state secrets, I promise.”
I shifted my weight from one leg to the other, looking down at my red ballerinas. I was flattered he asked, but still didn’t know if I should accept. Wouldn’t the other siblings mind? They’d been warm and welcoming at the Fourth of July celebration, but this felt more intimate.
“Are you mad at me?”
I snapped my gaze up, startled. “Why would I be mad?”
“I know I’ve been neglecting you for the past few days. I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to—”
I stepped closer, covering his mouth with my hand. “Stop, Landon. I’m not mad. You’ve been working. I understand.”
I felt him smile against my hand before he pushed it away. “So you didn’t miss me.”
“I didn’t say that.”
“So you did?”
“I didn’t say that either,” I teased. He drew the contour of my mouth with his thumb, then tugged my lower lip between his teeth. I stilled, letting him continue with the ministrations. He didn’t outright kiss me, just teased me until I ached for him. We were in front of Val’s gate, where any neighbors or passersby could see us, and I didn’t care. I was like a besotted schoolgirl when it came to Landon.
I took in his body language. He was on edge, and I wanted to take that edge off, so I kissed him with all I had. He kissed me back with fervor, as if he’d been starved for me the whole day. As if he was still starved for me and needed to kiss me as much as he needed his next breath.
“Hard day?” I asked when he moved his lips to my neck, rocking me in his arms.
“Fucking hard day. I hate people sometimes.”
“Me too. That’s why I work with plants and earth and stones.”
“You just made this day much better, though.” He laughed, then pulled back a notch. “Stay for dinner. I’d like to have you by my side.”
He sounded sexy when he was determined. He still had his arms around me, and he was drawing small circles on my back. His gaze was on my lips.
“I feel like you’re about to use your allure to talk me into this.”
He grinned. “What gave it away? The kissing? The touching?”
“Nah, that look in your eyes. It’s almost predatory.”
“That’s a yes?”
“It’s a yes.”
The corners of his mouth lifted, and he kissed both my hands before leading me right back through the gate. He looked visibly more relaxed than when he’d arrived. I smiled to myself. I didn’t want to claim full credit for that, but I felt pretty confident I could at least claim 50 percent.
One word could describe dinner with the Connors: loud.
During the Fourth of July party, we’d all been scattered through the backyard, but five of the Connors plus me were gathered around the living room table. Hailey’s plane had had a delay, so she’d only arrive later. Milo had scarfed food down quickly and was currently in the sitting area of the living room, earbuds plugged in his ears, eyes focused on an iPad.
Everyone was talking at the same time. My ears would pop any second now. Landon was having a blast. Clearly his earlier statement about hating people didn’t apply to his family.
Val was at the head of the table, sitting in an armchair that had a support for her cast.
“I don’t need a full-time caretaker, Landon,” she repeated for what seemed like the millionth time. “The nurse who comes to help me bathe is enough. I’ve learned to maneuver the crutches. I can’t move quicker anyway, unless I get a wheelchair, which I refuse to do. It’s impractical with the stairs anyway. I just wish the effects of the concussion would go away faster. I still can’t read without getting a massive headache, and I get tired quickly.”
Will chimed in. “It’s good for her to do things on her own, as much as she can.”
When Landon shook his head and opened his mouth, Will turned to me. “Maddie, I’m entrusting you with a very important task. You need to get Landon to relax. He has this annoying belief that everything is his responsibility. He’s gonna grow white hair soon.”
Jace cornered me too. “Yeah, use those womanly wiles. We’ve tried everything else and failed. You’re our last resort.”
The skin on my neck felt red-hot, but I was determined not to cower, even though I couldn’t believe he’d just used the words “womanly wiles.”
“I’ll do my best,” I countered, keeping my face straight.
Lori glanced at Milo, but he still seemed lost in his iPad, earbuds safely on. “Jace, I forbid you to say the words ‘womanly wiles’ in front of Milo.”
Jace glanced at his sister in mock surprise. “Why? Think he won’t understand? I’m more than happy to explain. He needs to be prepared for what’s out there.”
“He’s six,” Lori said so sweetly, even I feared she was cooking up a revenge plan in case Jace blabbed in front of Milo.
Hailey arrived midway through dinner.
“I’m sorry I’m late. Plane took off ninety minutes too late from Seattle.” She hugged Val tightly, then plopped down on Landon’s other side. In between scarfing down food, she questioned him about work.
“I have everything under control,” Landon said.
Hailey raised her eyebrows. “I want d
etails, please.”
Landon gave in and recounted the past week play-by-play.
“That sounds like a lot to handle,” she admonished when he finished. I was on Hailey’s side. I was exhausted just hearing it.
Landon waved his hand. “I can balance the workload.”
Interesting. He’d admitted to me that it was going to be a nightmare, but he didn’t admit it to his family. While I felt honored that he’d shared that with me, I thought that putting up this bravado wasn’t having the effect he thought it had. Case in point: Jace and Will were both casting him worried looks.
“Val, I won’t be able to attend dinner next Friday. We’re playing in New York,” Jace said.
Val pouted. “The season hasn’t started yet.”
“It’s a friendly game. Though you wouldn’t know it by the way our coach had us train. You’d think we’re playing for the world championship. But I’ll stop by before I leave. And I’ll wink at you when they interview me.”
Val pointed her finger at him. “You’re just trying to rope me into watching your game.”
“You’re not even going to watch my game when you’ve got nothing else to do? Low blow, sis. Low blow.”
Everyone at the table erupted in laughter.
“I’ll try,” Val said. “But I get a headache when I watch quick movements on a screen.”
***
“In a few weeks she’ll go crazy,” Landon said later when we left Val’s house. We climbed down the slope using the wooden trail.
“Anyone would if they were housebound. Don’t worry. I’ll keep an eye on her, report any mischief.”
“Spying for me now, are you?”
“I’m adaptable. Dinner was so much fun. And loud. My ears are still ringing a bit. But can I just say one thing? You shouldn’t put up that bravado in front of your siblings. They can see right through it, and it makes them worry.”
He hesitated. “It’s a reflex by now. Growing up, Val and I did whatever it took to keep any trouble from them.”
I nodded, understanding where he was coming from. “I get what you’re saying.”
