Landon didn’t miss a beat. “I can do whatever I want.”
“Oh don’t you dare pull the big brother card on me. I’m your twin.”
His lips twitched. “Older than you by fifteen minutes.”
She shook her head, turning to me. “He seems to have no concept of vacation, so he needs all our help. He’ll be staying here at the house, so do me a favor and be my spy. If you see him anywhere near his phone or laptop, I want an immediate report.”
I smiled at their banter and felt the need to contribute too. “But you need a supplier, and he can pull strings. Just saying, if I had a brother who could pull strings for me, I wouldn’t say no.”
Landon whistled appreciatively.
Valentina stared at me. “Whose side are you on?”
“Yours,” I replied with mock seriousness. “You sign my paychecks.”
“I’m going to check my phone.” She narrowed her eyes, then headed inside the house. A few seconds later, I heard a truck come to a stop in front of the gate.
“And that’ll be the delivery,” I informed Landon.
“What delivery?”
“Timber poles for the terracing process. To stabilize the earth.”
“Who’s unloading them?”
“The driver and I. The other guys working for me have gone home already.”
Landon motioned with his head toward the gate. “Come on, I’ll help.”
He shrugged out of his suit jacket, laid it on the wooden table, and strode down the slope before I could say anything to the contrary. On the way, he popped open the buttons of his sleeves, rolling said sleeves up to his elbow, revealing strong forearms. I sighed, shaking my head. I was a sucker for men in suits, but men with rolled-up sleeves and muscled forearms were my kryptonite.
“I can handle this, Landon. It’s my job. Go relax!”
He chuckled. “Let’s make a deal. You start the spying job for Val on Monday. It’ll be quicker if I help.”
I couldn’t argue with him on that point. I opened the double gate and the driver backed the truck into the yard. He climbed out of it the next second.
“Hiya, Maddie! Sorry for the delay. Traffic’s a nightmare.”
“Hi, Johnny!” I’d worked with him on my past six projects, and he’d been late every time. But his timber was top-notch, and I liked working with small, local producers.
Landon shook hands with Johnny. “Landon Connor.”
I had to admit, the man packed more authority in those two words than others did in
entire speeches. The way in which he carried himself radiated confidence and power. I liked that he didn’t seem to think he was above physical work.
Unloading still took a long time, even with Landon helping us. I’d quickly surmised that he worked out on a regular basis because he didn’t struggle once with the weight of the poles. When we were down to the last three, Johnny went to the front of the truck to bring the papers I had to sign to confirm the delivery. I was standing inside the truck and Landon down on the ground when I suddenly felt something tugging at my foot. Glancing down, I realized my shoelace had come undone, and one end was stuck under a pole. I yanked my foot, hoping to free the end of the shoelace. Instead, I managed to lose my balance. A shriek escaped my lips as I realized there was nothing I could grasp to stop my fall. I’d been at the edge of the truck, which meant I was hurtling directly toward the ground. I made a wild movement with my arms, my chest constricted, and my stomach lurched to my throat. My shoelace came free with a tiny pop, and then I felt two strong hands grip my shoulders, stopping my free fall just as I planted one foot firmly on the ground, then the other.
“Oh God.” I clung to Landon for dear life, my breath coming out in pants. I was still unsteady on my feet.
“You’re okay. Just breathe,” he said.
I did just that, feeling a little foolish, and a lot hot. I realized the latter was because Landon had me tucked against his chest. He smelled like wood, and something else. Something masculine and potent. Landon was looking down at me with a mix of concern and reassurance, and I melted a little under his intense scrutiny. It had been a while since anyone except my younger sister, Grace, worried about me. The green of his eyes seemed even more intense up close. His arms felt so impossibly good around me, strong and steady, that it took me longer to wiggle out of his arms than it should have. My face was burning.
“Thanks,” I muttered.
“Maddie! What happened?” Johnny stepped into view, jaw slack, papers crumpled in his hand as he took in the sight of me, all flustered and disheveled.