word love stunned him. It was one thing for him to think that way, but a whole other thing for someone else to go there.
“Why do you look like you’ve just seen a ghost?”
“You dropped the L word.”
“Isn’t that what we were talking about?”
“I, uh, well…”
Megan lost it laughing, covering her mouth in a failed effort to contain it. “You’re so stupid.”
“Hey! It’s bad enough I have to hear that from your husband and our other siblings, but I thought you were a friend.”
“I am your friend, and that’s why I’m telling you you’re stupid. The reason why this is so confusing, Landon, is because you’re falling in love with her. And vice versa. Why do you think she’s arranging her new life to include you? It’s not just because the sex is good, you fool.”
“Now you’re just being mean.”
“Awww, I’m sorry. You know I love you.”
“Too late. You can’t take it back now. And PS, I’d already started to come to that conclusion about the L word myself, so I’m not as much of a fool as you think I am.” Despite the jabs, he adored her. Mostly, he adored the way she loved Hunter.
“You’ll thank me later for giving you the lowdown on what’s going on here.”
“I think you’re spending way too much time with Gramps.”
Megan laughed again. “That might be true. I’m starting to quote him without even knowing I’m doing it.”
“Who are you quoting, love?” Hunter asked when he and Amanda came into the room.
“Your grandfather.”
“He’s got her brainwashed,” Landon said.
“I can think of worse people to be influenced by.” Hunter effortlessly arranged Megan so she and the dog were on his lap with his arms around her, the baby bump and the dog. They made for a cute little family.
Landon extended his hand to Amanda, inviting her to join him.
She cozied up to him, and with her in his arms and the scent of her hair enveloping him in a cloud of sweetness, he felt himself settle ever so slightly into the possibility that he was, in fact, falling in love with her.
That was a rather earth-shattering revelation to a guy who’d gone out of his way to avoid the L word his entire adult life.
But if falling in love meant getting to be with her every day, well, then that was just fine with him.
“How was the lesson?” Landon asked her.
“It was great. Hunter showed me a few things I need to practice. I’m going to order a keyboard online.”
“We might be able to get you one through the store,” Hunter said. “We have suppliers for just about everything.”
“Even better.”
“I’ll check with Charley tomorrow and let you know.”
“Thank you.” To Landon, she said, “Are you ready to head home?”
“Whenever you are.”
Amanda stood and found her balance while holding on to Landon’s shoulder. “Thank you, guys, so much for dinner and the piano lesson. I really appreciate it.”
“Our pleasure,” Hunter said.
“Don’t get up,” Landon said. “We can see ourselves out. Thanks again.”
“Any time,” Megan said.
Landon helped Amanda down the stairs and into his truck. “How’re you holding up?” he asked as he drove them home.
“This last hour will be the longest of my whole life.”
“Probably, but just think, in an hour, you get to talk to Stella.”
“I can’t wait.” She looked over at him. “I know you have to go to work—”
“I can hang out until you make the call.”
“Oh good,” she said, sounding relieved. “I was so hoping you might be able to stay.”
“Barring a rescue call, I’m all yours.” That was true in ways he was only beginning to fully understand.
Chapter Eighteen
“Patience is the art of hoping.”
—Luc de Clapiers
After Landon and Amanda left, Hunter and Megan continued to snuggle on the sofa until she was yawning so much, he insisted they turn in early. He let out Horace and locked up for the night.
On the way upstairs, Hunter said, “I think my little boy Landon is falling in love.”
“I know. I told him that and freaked him out a little.”
“He didn’t already realize it?”
“He said he was getting there on his own, but he seemed a little startled to have it spelled out so clearly by someone else.”
Hunter put his arms around her, gazing down at her with the love and affection that had become part of her daily life since he made her fall in love with him. “You know what I don’t miss?”
“What’s that?”
“All the time I spent wishing for everything we have now. I wouldn’t go back to that for