“I will,” I tell him. Then I channel some of that relationship building stuff Daisy’s been teaching me before I add, “Thanks for understanding, man. I honestly never meant for things to happen this way.”
Rowan blinks at me, seeming surprised. “Of course. You know I’m not just saying this because I love Daisy, right? You’re just as much my brother as the rest of those guys are,” he says, gesturing to a wall covered with photos of the Lafleur boys. “I want you to be happy, too. Even if that means sacrificing my favorite sister.”
I laugh awkwardly. “Thanks, I guess. Either way, I promise I’ll do whatever’s best for Daisy in the end.”
“I’m sure you will.”
CHAPTER 37
daisy
I smileto myself when I tap on the bedroom door down the hall from my old one. Landry emerges a few seconds later in a pair of pajama pants that are a few inches too short for him. I point to his ankles and giggle as he pulls a tight T-shirt over his head.
“Shh,” he scolds me quietly before he steps out of the room and closes the door behind him. “Your brother’s still awake, you know.”
I lift my chin tauntingly and shrug. “So? What’s he gonna do? Tell my parents that I snuck out of the house with my own husband?”
Landry smirks at me, triggering a wave of butterflies in my stomach. “Exactly what have I agreed to?”
Gah, he’s sexy, even in his ill-fitting pajamas.
Could he just play along this once and fulfill a few of my teenage girl dreams, especially the ones involving me sneaking out of my bedroom in the middle of the night to meet up with a boy who looks this good with sleep-mussed hair?
I step forward and use his shoulders to turn him around. Then I stifle a laugh at the way the flannel pants stretch awkwardly over his rear end.
“Yep, just as I suspected. Still hot.” I reach out to smack his butt, and he turns back to face me with widened eyes after he flinches and covers himself with his hands.
He glares at me strangely, his expression still amused. “What’s gotten into you tonight?”
I shrug again, trying to downplay my embarrassment. Maybe I went too far with the butt slap, but I’m feeling braver than usual, especially after basically confessing my feelings earlier today.
“I don’t know. It just … feels different now.” I pause and bite my lip, debating whether to go on. “Let’s go out and wait for the snow.”
“Daisy, it’s freezing out there.”
“I know a place where we can start a fire. And I’ve always wanted to sneak out with a boy at night.”
“A boy?” He narrows his eyes at me, but I give him my most convincing eyes and pouty lip.
“Pleeease?”
“Fine,” he says with a sigh. “But only if you put on another layer of clothes first.”
I glance down. “I’m already wearing a long-sleeved shirt.” Then I remember that I’m not wearing a bra, and itispretty chilly, even in this hallway.
Landry clears his throat uncomfortably. “Find a hoodie, a jacket, or something, Daisy.”
By the time I look up again, he’s turned his gaze away, but I can tell hewantsto check me out. And that’s good enough for me. “All right,” I say, biting back a smile. “I’ll meet you in the kitchen in a minute.”
He agrees, and I dart back to my room and grab the first jacket I find in the closet, as well as a throw blanket from my bed. Then I tiptoe down the stairs, scoop up my boots near the front door, and enter the kitchen to find him waiting for me, already wearing his coat and shoes. This time his eyes betray him, and I catch him glancing at my chest before I pull the sweatshirt down.
“Ready?” I ask, snatching a lighter from the junk drawer.
He nods and forces a smile, but he looks less than enthusiastic. I imagine he’s worried I’ll get too cold.
I lead him outside and through the farm to a rocky firepit at the edge of the woods. I dig the lighter out of my pocket as he gathers a few small logs nearby, and he starts a fire while I spread the small blanket on the ground for us to sit.
My teeth chatter quietly while I wait for the flames to grow. “Do you really think it’ll snow tonight?” I ask absently.
