Dirty Sexy Alphas (Twenty Book Box Set) - Hannah Ford Page 0,106

by… playing cards.

Dad met my eyes. There was understanding there, and also compassion, like he knew exactly how I’d felt when I heard the news. “I talked to his doctor,” Dad said. “And it’s not like what happened with Mom.”

And somehow, even though I knew this, even though I had heard from my brother that his prognosis was good, hearing the same words from my dad’s lips made me want to collapse in relief.

“I know,” I said, because I finally did. I could finally untwine my brother’s future with my mother’s past.

It was something I’d had to learn a lot about over the last few weeks—the ability to focus on the future, to quit dwelling on all my past heartaches.

“Five dollar buy-in if you wanna play,” my brother said, tossing down a few chips into the center of the table.

It made me laugh. To go from cancer to cards seemed ridiculous and somehow reassuring, like the world was going to just march right along whether I was ready for it or not.

“It’s okay,” I said, shifting my weight. “Actually, I need to pack, and then get back to the hospital.”

“What’s at the hospital?” My dad asked, glancing up.

“Landon’s mom. She had a stroke.”

Matt raised a brow, surprise etched on his features. For the first time---ever--- I’d known something about Landon before him.

“She going to be alright?” My dad asked, taking a sip of Coke and pretending to stare at his cards.

“Yeah, hopefully she makes a full recovery, but it’s still tough. I’m going back tonight.”

“And what are you packing for?” Matt asked. Of course he hadn’t let that bit side past him unnoticed.

I hesitated, half-tempted to lie. I didn’t want yet another lecture. But there was no point in prolonging the investable. He’d find out sooner or later. “Landon’s house.”

This made Matt still. He stared at me, his eyes boring into me, as if to uncover some alternate meaning for what I’d just said.

“I’m moving in with him,” I admitted.

My dad sat back, the old—repaired—kitchen chair creaking under him. “How do you go from an internship in Dallas to moving in with Landon?”

“I’m done with the internship. It wasn’t the right fit. And so I came back here, and Landon asked me to move in.”

“Landon’s married,” Matt said, speaking the word like it had four letters.

I stared at him, defiant. “The divorce was finalized.”

He didn’t change his sour expression.

“And you’re absolutely sure this is the right move for you?” My father asked, setting his cards down on the table.

“Yes,” I said, resolute. “I know it is. I’m in love with him, and he’s asked me to move in, and I said yes.”

“This is a bad idea,” Matt said.

“Matt, I don’t really care about your opinion,” I said, exasperated. “I’ve made my decision. Support me or don’t, that’s up to you.”

“I don’t.”

The words stung, but I wouldn’t argue with him anymore. If he didn’t want to be there for me, fine. But I didn’t have to change my decision just because he didn’t approve. I turned to face my father, waiting for his judgment, knowing his disapproval would hurt even more.

“Does he make you happy?” he asked.

I smiled. That was an easy one. “More than anything.”

He pushed his chair back from the table, setting his cards down. “I think I have some extra boxes in the garage.”

I beamed, ignoring Matt’s scowl, and followed my father out to the garage.

Chapter 4

A week later, I was bent over and staring into a corner cupboard in Landon’s kitchen, spinning the lazy-susan around to find what I wanted.

“What are you doing?”

I shoved a tall pan to the side, but there was nothing behind it. “Looking for a waffle maker.”

“I don’t have one.”

And then he pinched my butt, and I jumped up, smacking his arm.

“Hey!”

“Like you thought you could bend over right in front of me and I wasn’t going to touch you?”

“Sorry for the mistake,” I said drily. “But how can you not have a waffle maker?”

He shrugged, stepping up beside me and staring into the same cupboard as if he had a different view. “I didn’t stock the kitchen. Or the rest of the house, for that matter. My assistant handled everything.”

“That’s boring.”

“You can buy whatever you want, you know. If it means that much to you.”

“Good. Then I’m buying a waffle maker.”

He pulled me up against him, his eyes dancing with a smile. “You should make that amazing casserole thing your mom used to make when we were kids.”

“Keep being nice to me