“Fine,” I said. “Can you talk about some of the things you do and like to do? Like your job and hobbies and stuff? You can keep it brief.”
“That’s good, since my hobby is work.”
“And softball. And the Sport That Shall Not Be Named for which you need a putter.”
“Touché.” I zoomed out a little so every delicious inch of him was visible. This time, he addressed the camera in a slightly less sexy tone. “Though I like to play softball, go to the movies and shoot pool with my friends, I’m a builder for a living. I love to renovate old houses and make them feel new again. I believe every house needs TLC to become a home, and every home should be a unique space that’s perfect for the people who live in it. Kind of the way everyone needs someone who’s perfect for them.”
“Holy bucking seahorses,” I mumbled.
“What?”
“That’s fantastic,” I said more loudly. We couldn’t let this dating video get out. Every woman in Florida would want to bang Landon’s hammer. “Can you talk about the kind of dates you like to go on?”
He nodded, looking thoughtful for a moment as I zoomed in a bit. “I like dates that are either comfortable or adventurous. It’s fun to do something your date really loves to do and see her in an environment where she’s relaxed and happy. And after you get to know each other a little bit, it’s a thrill to take an adventure with her. That doesn’t mean jumping out of a plane, though it could. It really means trying something new. An adventure of discovery. If you’re compatible with someone, you’re happy doing a cozy night at home or an adventure. The important thing is that you’re with someone you care about.”
I was now thoroughly jealous of anyone who’d ever gone on a date with Landon.
“That was really good.” Understatement of the year. “Let’s just do one more question. What are you looking for in a life partner?”
“This is assuming I want a life partner,” he joked.
“Humor me. It’s for the video.”
“Can I put my leg down now?”
“Why don’t you sit on the bench? I’ll get a close-up shot for this one.”
He lowered his leg, did a couple of quick stretches and sat on the bench, leaning forward so his elbows were on his knees. He clasped his hands in front of him, looking as earnest as I’d ever seen him. I was starting to think Landon had missed his calling. He should’ve been an actor or a pitchman.
“Will this work?” he asked.
“Definitely. Let me adjust a few things here.” I lowered the tripod a little and zoomed in so the camera was framed on his face, like it was having an intimate conversation with him.
“What was the question again?” he asked.
“Very funny. The question is: What are you looking for in a life partner?”
The subtlest of smiles touched his lips as he gazed into the camera. “It’s hard to think about forever in today’s world, but I think it’s possible to find the right person and make forever happen. For me, she’s smart. She thinks about things, but she also likes to have fun. She doesn’t take everything seriously. She understands what it means to live in the moment. She takes risks, but not stupid ones. She’s a good friend as much as she’s sexy — with the total understanding that sexy is something that is as much a part of that light inside her as it is her smile or the confident way she carries herself. She supports my plans but has her own dreams and ideas, and I love her for it. That’s the woman I want forever.”
For a moment, I let the video roll as he looked into the lens. I almost forgot the camera was there. With him talking right into my ears through the headphones, speaking to me — thanks to the beautiful illusion of the camera — I was completely lost. Finally, I dimly registered the sound of the wind and distant cars and reluctantly hit the stop button. I pulled off my headphones. “How do you do that?”
“What?”
“Just ‘turn on’ for the camera. It’s a gift.”
“I took a public speaking class once, and one tip I took away is that it helps sometimes to pick out an audience of one. Talk to that person, and whatever you’re saying will feel natural.” His dark eyes seemed to sparkle in the dappled sunlight, but he wasn’t joking this time. “I was talking to you.”
I was transfixed. Speechless.He was talking to me?And then a blast of salsa music and the crunching of tires on the driveway heralded the return of the construction crew.
“Thanks,” was all I eked out before he grinned, pulled off his tie and microphone, handed me the gear and wandered over to see where the crew stood. The cement truck was coming that afternoon.
In my head, I was going over what he’d said.I was talking to you.Of course, he meant I was a safe audience, that audience of one he imagined to keep from being nervous on camera. Not that I was thoughtful and smart and sexy and confident and a good friend, too…
Was I? Could I be?
Maybe I didn’t think the jerk in Orlando would be mine forever, but I’d been open to the idea — probably because I was completely naive, imagining us growing from the lame kids’ show to a Hollywood power couple, making great TV and movies. From the very first time he blew off one of my ideas, I should have known he’d never respect me, that he was only using me. But sometimes it takes a while to admit you’re wrong, to realize that all those feelings that come with sex might have nothing to do with love. And then you crawl back home and get a crappy job and wonder how you can ever feel fresh and smart and alive again. How you can ever take the “closed” sign off your heart.
As I packed up the camera gear, I snuck glances over at Landon chatting with the guys. In Spanish. He had more layers than an onion.
