“Bailey! Bailey!” Her eyes grew wide. “Is this Bailey Daniels who works for Yukon Cider? I’ve known her since she was a little girl. She’s absolutely wonderful.”
“You are so slick,” Caleb said, poking Landon with his elbow. “A workplace romance, huh? You keep surprising me.” He chuckled.
Landon ran a hand over his jaw. This was so out of control, like a runaway train speeding along the tracks. He had no idea how to stop it other than standing up and screaming at the top of his lungs. Neither Hattie nor Caleb was easy to rein in.
Why hadn’t he ever realized how similar the two of them were to one another? They reminded him of two peacocks, always fluttering their brilliant feathers and commanding the room.
“I’m not doing anything with anyone,” Landon protested. “Bailey is just a co-worker from the lab.”
Caleb let out a snort. “Is that what we’re calling it these days?” He rolled his eyes. “We were in the smoothie shop when Bailey came in and made a beeline to Landon.” Hattie looked at Caleb with wide eyes before turning her attention toward Landon.
“Aren’t you a sly fox,” Hattie drawled. The expression on her face resembled something that looked like pride. “Just when I thought I might have to hire a matchmaker for you. Now you’ve gone and surprised me.”
Landon let out a shocked sound. He didn’t even bother asking whether she was serious. Hattie wasn’t the type of woman who minced words. She meant what she said, every single time.
“I honestly thought they might start making out in front of everyone,” Caleb continued. He winked at their grandmother, who let out a little squeal of delight.
“That is a bald-faced lie,” Landon said, becoming heated. He could feel his cheeks getting warm. The idea of kissing Bailey wasn’t unwelcome, but why was he on the hot seat when he was the one telling the truth? And why was Caleb stirring the pot so dramatically?
Stupid question. Caleb had been acting the fool since he was in diapers.
Hattie rubbed her hands together. “Oh, Landon,” she said, reaching out to grasp his wrist, “I am beyond thrilled for you. As long as it’s consensual and devoid of drama, I’m all for it.” She let out a huge sigh. “Seeing you fall in love before I meet my maker has been high on my bucket list, although I never wanted you to feel pressured.” She dabbed at her eyes, which were suddenly brimming with moisture. “You have no idea what this means tome. I can leave this mortal coil knowing you’re in good hands.”
Gulp. He was speechless. One of his grandmother’s final wishes was to see him paired up like Xavier and Caleb? He should have known since she was always talking about him being as single as a dollar bill. Hattie was a strong and spirited woman who loved nothing more than a happy ending. His chest began to tighten at the idea that his grandmother cared so deeply about his future.
Caleb placed his arm around his shoulder. “See, Landon. You did good.” His brother was grinning from ear to ear.
“But I didn’t,” he began before allowing the words to clog up in his throat. How could he deflate Hattie by telling her that she was mistaken? The words refused to leave his mouth!
“I think what you’re trying to say is that you didn’t choose to fall for Bailey. It just happened,” Hattie said. She was grinning so much he thought her face might crack. “Am I right? And in case you didn’t guess, I’m pleased as punch about your romantic connection with a hometown girl.”
Caleb was beaming as if he’d just won the lottery. “See what you’ve done. Look at how happy you’ve made Hattie. And I totally get why you didn’t tell any of us. You didn’t want the pressure. I get it.”
In the past Landon had been put under the microscope by his family regarding his lack of romantic entanglements. He knew they hadn’t meant to hurt him, but the probing had gotten old.
“Wait till Mom finds out about you and Bailey,” Caleb said, making a face. “She might just be tempted to fly to Moose Falls to check Bailey out.”
Landon didn’t put it past Daisy Stone to show up on Hattie’s doorstep. She had always been extremely close to her three sons, no doubt due to having been the one who’d raised them as a single mother. It had been difficult not having her around during their time in Alaska, but she was in Arizona doing her own thing. She had always provided a great listening ear with no judgment whatsoever. And the fact that she loved him, Caleb, and Xavier more than life itself meant the world to them.
Landon felt incredibly torn. The situation was rapidly spiraling out of control. He hated Hattie believing something that wasn’t true, but at the same time he knew that thinking he’d found a romantic connection was bringing her a profound sense of joy. And for a dying woman, that feeling was monumental. His grandmother didn’t complain about being terminal or the pain she endured on a daily basis. She was a tough cookie, the type of person who just got on with the business of living her life with pride and dignity. There wasn’t much Landon could gift her with during this last season of an epic life. And now that Xavier and Caleb were happily coupled up, Hattie wanted a trifecta.
No wonder she kept bringing up his pitiful love life. She yearned for him to have a happily-ever-after. Despite her tough exterior, Hattie was pure marshmallow on the inside.
Goose bumps rose up on the back of his neck. Maybe this was the one thing he could do to enrich the last weeks and months of her time on this earth. Clearly it would make her ecstatically happy.
“It’s all very new,” he heard himself saying. Internally he let out a groan. What was he saying? With every second thatpassed, he was digging himself a deeper hole. Yet he couldn’t seem to pull himself out.
“Oh, that’s the most exciting time of a relationship,” Hattie said. “When I met your grandfather, it was swoon at first sight. Was it like that when you first met Bailey?”
“Yeah, it was definitely a mind-blowing experience.” He was talking. Why was he continuing to talk? The best thing to do right now was to admit that he was lying through his teeth. With every word he spoke, he was just getting in deeper. And it wasn’t like him at all. He didn’t lie or exaggerate. He always did things by the book. Not that it had gotten him anywhere! So many times he’d been viewed as a pushover. Nice guys finished last and all that.
Hattie leaned toward him. “Tell us more. The beauty of budding romance is always in the details. Humor an old lady, Landon.”
Caleb leaned over and placed his arm around her. “Not old, just heavily seasoned,” he quipped, flashing her a cheeky smile.
Hattie laughed and said, “Oh, you’re incorrigible.” Landon could tell by her flushed cheeks that she was entertained by Caleb’s comment.
“When we first met, she took me completely by surprise.” At least that was the truth, he thought. Their first meeting at the smoothie shop had almost knocked him off his feet. “I mean she’s a total stunner. And her personality is so vibrant. It’s like she’s lit up from the inside.” Talking about Bailey was the easy part, he realized. He’d never met anyone quite like her before, and he imagined that she had her fair shareof admirers. Someone should definitely add him to the list, because she fascinated him.
