Though I don’t hate my club brothers, I still feel like they’re trying to cause trouble today. Ruin’s looking to tease me. Armor thinks I’m making a mistake. I don’t want Smokey and Dice so much as glancing at Landry. They’re closer to her age. I can imagine them thinking dirty shit about her. Her shirt today is too revealing. I want Landry to cover up, rest on the couch, and hide away.
Instead, she sits out in the open and watches me. I wish she would take better care of herself. She’s supposed to be on bed rest, yet she’s always up and moving around.
I consider making the kids get off her lap and let her breathe. Except they’ll cry. Right now, they all seem calm. Brooklyn and Beckett are playing with their toys. Beau is curious about the people walking back and forth. Blair is dying to find the damn cat, but I don’t trust the Jordan men. Until they’re out of my house, I can’t lower my guard.
Standing near Landry, I dare anyone to cross me. I’m still edgy from those idiot Copper people. However, I do take a moment to notice how soft Landry’s blonde hair looks in the sunlight. Her chocolate-brown eyes are brighter today. I often catch her smiling.
Her relaxed demeanor calms my anger. So does the exit of the Jordans and most of my club brothers. Only Ruin, Selene, and Yazmin remain.
Does Landry want girlfriends? Should I get the sisters to hang out with her? What would they have in common besides shitty ex-husbands?
I catch Yazmin watching Beckett when he dances to the show Landry puts on for the kids. Brooklyn stops clinging to her mama and gets down to jump around.
“Can I look for Succotash now?” Blair asks me.
“Sure. We need to get out her shit box and food, too.”
“I’m on it,” Woodrow announces.
In the kitchen, Rosemary takes Ruin’s food order as if this is a fucking restaurant. Blair disappears down the hallway, searching for the cat. Beau claps in response to the show. Everyone’s got their things to do. Except me.
“Are you hungry?” Landry asks me.
I frown at how she’s standing. “You need to rest.”
She watches me like I’m an idiot, yet a smile warms her face. “I’ve been on bed rest with the last three pregnancies. I never lie around all day and night. But I did rest more today than usual. Thank you.”
Frowning, I feel like she’s messing with me. Her hand rests on my forearm.
“You said you wanted something from me,” she explains without spelling out things since we have an audience. “Is that something you still want?”
Studying her beautiful face, I drink in the affection I find in her expression. My earlier irritation drains away until I can only feel her.
“Yes.”
As Landry smiles, her eyes warm even more. I still worry she’s putting on a show. Kati conned me because I was a willing mark. The lies she told were better than the truth I understood deep down. I chose to be a fucking chump.
Right now, I desperately want Landry to be the woman to love me right.Am I seeing affection in her gaze where none exists? Is my racing heart another fucking trick I’m pulling on myself?
“Silas!” Ruin calls out from the kitchen.
Glaring at him, I shake my head. “No.”
“Bennings?” he asks, taunting me. “Bro?”
“What?”
“What kind of sandwich do you want?”
“I don’t care. Ask Landry what she wants.”
Her gaze flashes to him, and I block her view. Landry steps around me and walks toward my president. I hate how he’s here. Women act so stupid around him.
I’ve only seen Ruin act stupid around Selene. Today, he kept repeating everything I said in a different tone. He made himself look like a fool. I guess that means she’s a keeper.
Now, Landry is in the kitchen with him. But so are Selene and Yazmin. I don’t need to assume anything. Ruin won’t flirt with her. Besides, Landry seems more interested in lunch. However, I still want to pick up Ruin and put him outside like a bad dog that’s pissed on my floor.
Landry organizes the kids’ sandwiches, knowing what each one wants and won’t like. I admire how she doesn’t slap the same shit together for them all. They’re individuals rather than mini versions of her.