His Little Lanie

by Keri Ford

  Well hell, Lanie probably would like the magic of that. “You would have to talk about this with her.”

  “For now I’m just letting it go where it goes. If I formulate some concrete ideas and figure out the logistics of making it work, then I’ll cross that bridge with Lanie in the future. That’s just ideas I’ve had off the top of my head. I haven’t sat down and put effort into it yet, and I can guarantee you Tish is putting effort into whatever she can, so that’s why I spoke with Lanie and trademarked it. I hope you don’t think I was just getting involved to watch out for you in that situation.”

  “No. I understand. I’m glad you edged in there.”

  Hank crossed his arms over his chest and sat back. “How much longer are you two keeping this thing a secret?”

  “I don’t know. We haven’t discussed it.”

  “You know if I’ve figured it out others will too.”

  “Her family.”

  “Yep. When are you two telling them?”

  Good question.

  “Want my advice?”

  “Why not.”

  “Tell them before they hear it from somewhere else.”

  Eriksen pushed out of the chair for his seat to get them in the air. At the mention of Lanie’s name, Eriksen was ready to get this bird home. “They won’t hear it from anyone else.”

  Hank tipped his head back with laughter. “Jacob is close to figuring it out.”

  “How?”

  “Because Cindy told Violet that Lanie has been staying at the cabin a lot lately, and Jacob told me he’s been by your house several times and you weren’t there either. Doesn’t take much to notice when two people start slipping away at the same time. And with the way she reacted at the mention of your name?” Hank nodded. “Your days are numbered until it gets out. I’m thinking as soon as Cindy and Jacob end up in a room together and either of you comes up, they’re going to put it together. That is if they don’t figure it out just by staring at the both of you. If that was Lanie’s reaction when you weren’t there, there’s no way she can hide her feelings standing in front of you.”

  There was a lot Hank said to be concerned over. Mostly Eriksen really just wanted to know how she reacted at the mention of his name.

  Chapter Twelve

  Lanie practically danced in her tennis shoes while trying not to screw this all up. She was waiting to find the precise moment to land news on Violet. No easy task. She didn’t want this to be a big discussion or thing or event. They weren’t getting married or anything like that. It was half the reason why Lanie felt it should stay quiet, so her family wouldn’t know. Falling in love and getting married was one thing. Shacking up was another. She didn’t think her brothers would be excited about that.

  For all Lanie knew, she and Eriksen weren’t even telling their friends, but since Cindy found out, she couldn’t keep Violet in the dark.

  Plus it was killing her not to talk about this, but Lanie knew her best friend. Getting married had doubled Violet’s romantic heart. There had to be some limitations on this discussion. They weren’t a thing, like how Violet would be thinking. That was important to remember here before Violet ran away with ideas.

  She breathed out. This was already getting out of hand, and she hadn’t even gotten the conversation started.

  Violet poked her in the arm. “You’re being weird, weird for you.”

  Lanie glanced to the back door and saw the twins on their way to it. Now or never. This was about a fifteen-second window of opportunity. “Eriksen and I are sleeping together.”

  The back door opened, Violet’s jaw dropped, and she spun around to the kids. She pointed to the door. “Back outside.”

  Torrance groaned. Tara stood there with her hand on the knob. “You just told us to come in after our game.”

  Violet pointed again. “I changed my mind. Play another.”

  With a few teenage grumbles, they went back out and Lanie was trapped in Violet’s wide-eyed, slack-jawed stare. “I cannot believe you thought that was going to work.”

  Lanie fanned her hot face. “Please don’t make a big deal of this.”

  “Are you kidding me?”

  “No. I’m not.” The sound of vehicles were in the driveway, and oh my God, if they didn’t wrap this conversation up, it would be happening in front of everyone. “I don’t know if we’re telling everyone or not. Cindy figured it out earlier, and now I needed to tell you, and I don’t know where he’s at. Please, please, please don’t make a scene. I don’t know if Jacob knows. I figure it’s going to be a weird and awkward night, and I didn’t want you picking up on it and asking in front of everyone.”

  Violet’s brows slashed. “Jacob better not know. I’ll kill him if he knew and didn’t tell me.”

  The front door clicked open, and Cindy called out to them. “Hey! We’re all here.”

  Lanie was bouncing on her toes and turned pleading eyes on Violet.

  She pressed her lips together and finally sighed. Or grunted more like it, but it was a noise of giving in. “Fine. But this conversation is not over.”

  “Thank you.”

  Eriksen walked in ahead of Cindy. He came to Lanie’s side and kissed her on the forehead. “Hey, babe. You okay? You look stressed out.”

  She collapsed in a chair and pointedly ignored glances from Cindy and Violet. “I’m fine.”

  He frowned. “Is this the woman’s version of fine, or are you really all right?”

  She grinned under his concern and let the moment of everything that just happened in the last thirty seconds fall all over her. He had kissed her in front of their friends. That had to mean something. “I am fine-fine.”

  Commotion in the room stirred up. Jacob walked in behind Cindy and placed a grocery bag on the counter. The twins were at the back door again. Their moaning calls of Mom rang through the door. Violet blew bangs from her face and grabbed Jacob’s hand. The couple faced them, and both of them were absolutely beaming. “We had to tell the twins this morning, and they’re on pins and needles. They’ll never stay quiet about it through dinner to surprise you with the cake.”

  That’s all she said. Violet eyed Jacob. Jacob looked back at her. Both continued with their goofy, lovey-dovey smiles.

  Lanie glanced across the room. “Tell us what?”

  Violet just snickered. “Hold on. I’m going to keep you all in suspense to repay you and Eriksen for keeping secrets.”

  Cindy scoffed. “Don’t punish me for them!”

  Eriksen’s wide hand slid down her back in a comforting caress.

  Jacob laughed, kissed Violet’s knuckles, and finally looked at them. “We’re pregnant.”

  Lanie blinked at Jacob. “Good lord man. Do you have super soldiers in there?”

  Violet laughed and hugs went around the room.

  Lanie settled back beside Eriksen and leaned into him. From a few weeks of sneaking off to being able to rest against him while his hand lightly caressed her shoulder. Look at her. She was like a real adult, with a boyfriend. Gosh, did people call it that when they were this old?

  Jacob kissed Violet’s head. “I promised the twins a game of HORSE after we told.”

  Eriksen pushed up. He didn’t give Lanie a parting kiss, but his hand lingered, sweeping across the back of her shoulders as he left her side. “How about two-on-two?”

  She couldn’t help but watch as he went out the back door on the heels of Jacob. The twins met them. There were nods, giggling, and laughter between the four of them. Warmth curled through her, and she turned back to Violet and Cindy. “When are you due?”

  Violet’s answer was a cocked eyebrow. “January. Don’t think I’m going to let you get away with dropping in and telling me in two minutes you’re dating and then ending the conversation. We have nine months to discuss this baby. I want your details.”

  It would be easier to share everything Lanie knew if she wasn’t absolutely glowing with a tickle that she could talk about this. “I don’t think we intended i
t to be a secret. We didn’t discuss it. It just sort of started that way.”

  “But now you two are finally coming out and going to start telling everyone?”

  Lanie bit her lip. “I don’t know. Maybe? I didn’t know he was going to walk in and kiss me. We’re just sort of enjoying the moment and going with it, I think.”

  Violet winced. “Keep in mind what your brothers will think about enjoying the moment if they find out.”

  Lanie nodded. “That aspect hasn’t left my mind. I think it’s part of why I’m not pushing for this to get out. I dread dealing with their response. You know I’ve never dated before, and I’m pretty sure they think I’m still twelve.” She waved them off. “Enough about that though. You’re pregnant! That’s more exciting. What did the twins say?”

  Violet’s laugh was so joyful and her expression just pure happiness. “We have a cake in the refrigerator announcing it. Tara found it, and the Moooooommmm echoed through the house. They’re both excited and are trying to figure out if they want a baby brother or sister.”

  Cindy shrugged. “Or maybe one of each again.”

  “Or a pair of each,” Lanie snickered.

  Violet laughed and looked a little bit petrified. “Let’s hope for just the one.”

  They got steaks ready for dinner, the kids came through, and they all ate in a whirlwind of laughter, jokes, and just a good evening. Through all of it, she got to sit with Eriksen. His hand was often on her thigh. Occasionally he seemed to absentmindedly brush her with his thumb. It was completely surreal, and surely there was a shoe about to drop somewhere. It would be a heavy boot with the name of her family written across it.

  The thought lingered with her as she drove back to the cabin and walked inside with Eriksen. He glanced to her. In the time they’d been together, he’d learned the lay of her house and what she liked. He set about making tea. He pulled out a cup for her and poured himself a drink of rum. “You’re quiet.”

  She pushed her damp palms across the top of her thighs. “Just thinking. Violet, Cindy, and I talked while you were in the backyard with Jacob and the twins playing ball.”

  “Anything wrong between Jacob and Violet?”

  “What? No.”

  “I hoped not, but you’re giving me this feeling that you’re uncomfortable about something, and you told me earlier you were fine-fine.” He cocked a brow at her, hinting at humor, but there was no missing the concern crossing his expression.

  “It’s not about them. They’re completely happy. It’s about us.”

  He caught her with a worried glance. “Are you unhappy?”

  That just warmed her all over. The alarm and worry in his voice that she may be unhappy. That meant this was real and something and not just a whatever happens, happens. Didn’t it? “They asked how much longer we were going to keep us a secret.”

  It was him who was the quiet one now. She leaned across the counter, cupping her empty mug and waiting for the click of the electric kettle. As the silence continued, a chuckle worked out of her. “At least I think we feel the same about things. You don’t have any idea either, do you?”

  He rubbed over his chin. “Yeah, you could say that. We started fast.”

  “You think we should slow down?”

  “Not if it means seeing each other less or something. I’m just not sure how this progresses, I don’t think.” The kettle ticked off, and he poured steaming water in her mug.

  She steeped in rose petal black. “I think in most cases, it runs a natural course and everything is fine.”

  He swirled his drink around in the squat glass. “I feel a but hanging off the end of that.”

  “Well, I don’t know how my brothers and dad are going to feel about it. It’s crossed my mind. I wondered if maybe it was in my head because I know they can be outrageous sometimes. Maybe I’m more concerned with the nagging they’re probably going to give me. But then Violet asked about it today, and now I’m wondering if I should be seriously concerned about it getting back to them. I’ve never had this come up before. I don’t know what to do, what they’re going to think, but I don’t want them ruining anything.”

  Eriksen came around the counter and brushed a thumb across her cheekbone. “They can’t ruin anything. We can tell them. We can wait. I don’t care. This is your family. You know them best. You should be the one to decide when they find out.”

  That was the thing though. When it came to bringing boys home, Lanie didn’t know them at all. Eriksen hooked an arm over her shoulder and drew her against him, pressing another one of those sweet kisses to the top of her head. “Come here. I want to show you something. Get your tea.”

  He guided her around the corner, and she stopped on entering the living room. A large, oversized recliner sat in the corner. “Where did that come from?”

  “Last time I took Hank to Chicago, I arranged for it to be brought here. I wanted it here.” He pulled her forward, settling in the chair and pulling her down in his lap. She snuggled the tea close to her chest, careful not to pour the hot liquid down the front of them both.

  He rested his tumbler on his knee and wrapped an arm around her to pull her in. “Is this okay?”

  She softened in his lap. “This is totally okay.”

  Chapter Thirteen

  Eriksen slapped the dangling Beanstalk sign for luck on the way in to pick up whatever his mom ordered. Then it was dropping off food and facing the major conversation he’d been dreading. He didn’t know what Tish hoped to happen, but his mom had to quit feeding information to the woman. Not that he suspected Tish of accomplishing anything devious based on what his mom told her, especially not on Hank’s watch over his investment in Happily, but then again, he had underestimated Tish once before. He’d dragged the woman into part of this mess, time to take her back out of it in the only way he knew how. There was about a five-percent chance the conversation with his mom could be a short one without a lot of resistance.

  While he waited at the counter, he turned and found Tommy and Mike Lange standing behind him. An immediate flush of heat landed on Eriksen’s neck. It spread down his back and had him shifting uncomfortably.

  Mike smiled at him. “Hey. How’s the airport coming?”

  “It’s coming.” His clothes seemed to suck at his skin, but he resisted tugging on them. It was Lanie’s family, and if she wasn’t ready for them to know, then he didn’t want to push that button. Everything about him told him that was the wrong choice to make, not just because Hank thought so either. The Langes were a traditional kind of family, and so to have their respect, Eriksen needed to ask permission. He’d never put much salt in that kind of thing before, but family was important to Lanie, and starting out on the wrong foot could set them up for a line of issues.

  “Is it really going to be open to the public? With regional flights?”

  He shuffled thoughts of Lanie off his mind and focused on work. “If it all pulls together like Hank is hoping, it will be.”

  Tommy nodded and smiled like there was nothing wrong in the world which meant he didn’t know the guy standing in front of him was sleeping with his sister several nights a week. “That’s going to be great. Any idea when that will be?”

  Eriksen swallowed the heavy knot in his throat. “I’m not sure. He’s still working out what his options are. We can take locals up anytime for a tour on the helicopters to see the area. We’re just not shuttling airport to airport yet.”

  Mike shook. “I’ll pass on the heights.”

  Noted. At least he could escape one of them. Or he could just tell them. It eased to the tip of his tongue, but the girl at the register called his order out and he headed off as far as the truck, where he got stuck with Hank’s advice ringing in his head. Eriksen couldn’t help but wonder if part of Lanie’s hesitancy was because she didn’t know what he wanted.

  Now that was a complicated answer. He didn’t want her to feel forced into anything. Eriksen had practically had his arm twisted into marriage. Anytim
e he mentioned uncertainty, his parents had swatted the thoughts away. He’d all but been chained up the aisle, and he wanted to allow Lanie open-minded choices as much as possible. This was basically her first relationship. Also allow himself that freedom too. Though he couldn’t think of one single thing he found wrong with Lanie Lange to have him changing his mind about her. In his every breath he craved her. Maybe that’s why it was so easy for him. He’d had his turn being with the wrong woman, and that made it abundantly clear now that he had found the right one. His feelings for Lanie were beyond anything he ever imagined possible.

  Pulling up to his mom’s house, he did his best to reorganize his thoughts for this conversation. He let himself in and dropped the bag on the counter. “Mom, I’m here.” He flipped his watch around. Let the timer be set.

  His mom’s laughter carried through the hallway, and he was drawn to the sound. He walked through the maze of the old house, and another voice stopped him cold in his tracks. He took the final steps, and his mood darkened considerably as he entered the living room and found Tish laughing with his mother.

  His mom saw him first and her eyes brightened. “Eriksen, honey. Look who dropped in for a visit.”

  “I see that.” He crossed his arms over his chest. He was so tempted to know what she wanted, but he wouldn’t give Tish the satisfaction. As casually as he could, he slipped his hands in his pockets. The conversation about Mom’s loose lips would just have to wait. There wasn’t anything going on of useful information that his mom knew to be able to spread at the moment anyway.