“Are you crazy? Have you felt that water?”
His wide-eyed incredulous stare made her laugh. “Yes, and that’s why I thought you were crazy when I saw your hair wet.”
“I splashed a handful of water on it to keep the strays down.”
“Since you don’t need this, I’ll run it back upstairs and change.”Forgive the lie I’m about to tell. “I came to see you first so you could get ready. I didn’t think about the guys having toiletries you could use.”
Landon wiggled his brows. “Maybe I like the flannel and sweatshirt look on you.”
“Yeah, okay.”
“I do. It shows you’re comfortable in your own skin.”
Boy, did he know the right words to say. The breakfast bell rang, and she had a choice—change and be late or go as-is like she’d initially planned before seeing Landon. Spurred by his compliment, she swallowed her pride. “Let’s get breakfast. The cinnamon rolls are calling my name.”
“You weren’t kidding about loving all things sugar.”
She shook her head solemnly. “I never joke about serious issues.” She couldn’t hold her laughter any longer. “My aunt gave me my first lollipop when I was two, and it all went downhill from there. I figure as long as I balance it out with lots of veggies and lean protein, I’m good.”
“Sounds solid to me.”
Breakfast was a lively affair. With a variety of people gathered together from different seasons of life, everyone had a story to share. Beth remained quiet, cutting food into small pieces for Dex, but April jumped into every conversation, charming everybody in the room.
Landon nudged her and leaned over to whisper. “For a little girl so concerned about leaving with a stranger last night, she sure seems okay with all of us now.”
“I’m surprised she knows what a stranger is. She’s even made friends with the college boys.” She watched with amusement as April held the two young men captive by explaining in detail about a movie she’d seen in theatres over Christmas break.
After the meal ended, Mrs. Addy shooed everyone away refusing all offers of help. Several people organized a checker tournament while the able-bodied men prepared to shovel a path from the back door to the front.
Jessa dug her snow pants out of her closet and dressed warmly. She needed to burn energy, not just to work off the cinnamon rolls. Unaccustomed to lounging around for two days, her muscles went stir crazy. Her legs ached to move around and running up and down the bed and breakfast steps would get old quick.
As a reward, once the shoveling was completed, she looked forward to quiet time with Landon. How’d they accomplish that in a house filled to the brim she didn’t know, but she’d find a way. She hadn’t brought up the topic, but this snowstorm likely affected their Valentine’s Day plans.
Even if local streets through town were plowed today—which was doubtful since the snow showed no signs of ending—the roads overall wouldn’t be safe for him to leave and he’d have to stay another night in Jasper Lake. The earliest he’d get home would be Thursday. Would he want to come right back on Saturday to keep their plans for the most romantic day of the year?
If not, she wouldn’t be upset. She understood he might have to work and make up the lost days, or not want to make the drive again so soon. The weather couldn’t be helped, and she’d make the most of this time theydidhave together.
Dressed like a gigantic ball of bubblegum, she waddled down the stairs. What had possessed her to buy the pink suit? Other girls could pull them off, but not her. She came off as a blob, and it wasn’t that she had a bad figure.Oh well.He saw me in pajamas and crazy hair. This can’t be much worse.
She met Landon, Jake, Zane, Mr. Bill, and Mr. Lejeune out back.
Mr. Bill, a permanent boarder, handed out the shovels. “We only have three, so we’ll work in pairs. The snow is heavy, and the effort will tax your body. Our goal is safety.”
If that were the case, he and Mr. Lejeune shouldn’t be out there to begin with. Mr. Bill pushed seventy and had served his time through the years pushing snow. Mr. Lejeune was middle-aged, staying at Addy’s for February, but he wasn’t in the best shape. She’d questioned Landon about it between breakfast and changing, but he’d assured her they were grown men who could make their own decisions and knew their limits. Asking them to step aside would only sting their pride and make them more determined to work harder.
The six paired off. Jake teamed with Mr. Bill and Zane with Mr. Lejeune. She was surprised at the groupings until she saw Landon wink at the younger kids and realized he’d set it up that way. If she had her guess, Landon, Jake, and Zane would do the bulk of shoveling before Mr. Bill and Mr. Lejeune ever had a turn.
Her feelings for Landon multiplied. Time after time, he proved his integrity and compassion. She could have kissed him right there, except her bulkiness would keep them apart. That and a kiss in front of others was different than holding hands. She’d never been a fan of public displays of affection.
With the other four paired off, that left her to partner with Landon, just as she had wanted. They trekked through the high snow twenty feet down the stone walking path, and Landon dug the shovel into the snow and began. Clearing a path and removing the drifts in front of the house shouldn’t take long with all of them working together.
She reached for the shovel after fifteen minutes. “Let me have a turn.”
“I’m still going strong.”
“But I’m cold and need to move to keep warm.” She grinned. “Plus, you’re cute and all, but I can only stand here and stare at you for so long before I feel like a creeper.”
He chuckled then narrowed his eyes, giving her a doubting glance. “You’re up to something.”
