Giggling, Kerry added, “I can suddenly fall feverish and you need to take me home early.”
“Wicked girl,” he murmured as he exited the truck and quickly made his way over to her side. Landon opened her door and held out his hand to escort her from the vehicle and she smiled up at him, loving the way his eyes almost twinkled in joy. She wanted to be the one to keep that sparkle there.
“Hey, Landon. You don’t have to worry about the news report while we’re here. They know everything about me.”
“Really?” he asked as he stepped to the back of the truck to grab the oversized cooler that thankfully had wheels and a handle.
“They are my friends and some of the best people that I’ve ever met,” she explained as they began their walk toward the house.
Chapter Seven
Austin must have already informed the men in the Connelly family that Landon had arrived with Kerry in his truck because by the time the two of them had walked into the spacious backyard, they descended on him like vultures. Landon didn’t mind, if he had a sister, he would have done the exact same thing.
He ignored them as much as he could as he wheeled the cooler closer to the grill where patriarch Joseph Connelly stood manning the meat cooking. But the moment he popped opened the lid and grabbed a beer for himself, Austin and Jameson pulled him aside.
“How long has this been going on?” was the first question they peppered him with, and as Landon looked across the yard, he could see that Kerry was going through her own form of interrogation with Nikki at the helm. Except her questionings left Kerry with red cheeks that had Landon imaging the things the girls were saying.
“Dude!” Jameson pushed for an answer when Landon didn’t respond.
“How about I sum it up for you?” Landon said a bit more harshly than he intended, which caused his Irish accent to come out. “I met Kerry for the first last night in Asheville. We hit it off and that was going to be that. Then she showed up in my bar this afternoon looking for a job. And yes, I was surprised to see her. It was completely coinciden
tal.”
“But, man, you can’t mess with her. She’s-” Austin started, but Landon interrupted.
“- A princess? Yes, I’m aware. I saw the news story this afternoon, while she was with me, about how she was missing. Kerry told me everything.”
“So, what does that mean?”
“It doesn’t mean anything. We agreed to enjoy our time together while she’s here until her parents force her to return to her country, which is probably bound to happy sooner than she would like.
“And I get it. I’m not a good match for someone like her, but I like her, and we’re just taking it day by day. I won’t hurt her.”
“Well, damn. I don’t even know what to say.”
“There isn’t anything to say. We’re going in with eyes wide open.”
Landon took that moment to glance over at Jameson, who had cocked his head, staring at Landon expectantly. He knew his friend, who was a computer genius and probably gained more about Landon’s past with a click of a button than Landon had actually experienced, was silently asking if she knew about his history. All Landon could do was shake his head, hating the look of disappointment on Jameson’s features.
The men gathered around, thankfully changing the subject to the Independence Day festival happening the next month until the women approached and claimed their significant others.
Landon’s heart soared as Kerry came to stand beside him, subtly gliding her hand against his.
“How bad was it?” she whispered as the group began moving toward the oversized picnic table.
“Eh, could have been worse. You?”
“I came out unscathed. Though they were very interested in your. . .um. . .goods.”
“Uh oh, should I be concerned?” he asked as he helped her take a seat on the bench.
“No way. Those are things for me to know.”
Landon loved the way she smiled at her secret as he took the seat beside her. It was a smile that he would never tire of, and when she left for good, he’d keep it locked away in his memory for eternity.
The platters of food were spread out on the table by Amy Connelly, who winked in his direction as she took her seat at the other far end of the table. He knew that she was pleased he had shown up. The Connelly’s were a welcoming group, but it was an honor to be invited to one of their famous cookouts.
Landon and Kerry both remained invested in the conversations flowing around them, but he would subtly brush his hand against her thigh, or press his knee against hers. Every time he touched her the redness on her cheeks would grow. Landon was completely fascinated by it.