Page 50 of Out of Place

I nod, but I’m not sure if I believe him. “I just want them to think I’m good enough for you.”

His eyebrows raise in surprise. “Good enough for me? Olivia, one of us is clearly shooting outside of their league here, and it’s very obviously me. You have the world at your fingertips. I, on the other hand, have nothing to offer except myself.”

“Landon, no. That’s not true. You’ve treated me like a princess since I got here. You’ve been so nice and understanding. No one has ever been like that to me. People either want something from me, or they want to fuck me.”

He holds up a hand. “Let’s not talk about you fucking anyone except me, please.”

“Right. Sorry. What I’m trying to say is you’re too good for me. I don’t deserve you.”

He gives me a comforting smile. “We’ll have to agree to disagree on this. Now, let’s go before my mom actually breaks the window with her forehead.”

I turn to the house, and sure enough, a curtain moves like someone just put it back.

He helps me out of the truck, takes my hand, and we walk up the path to the front door. Landon doesn’t bother knocking and just turns the knob and walks in.

Everyone is already standing around the front door, which makes Landon laugh. He squeezes my hand before he starts introductions.

“Jesus, guys. Way to be chill. Olivia, this is my mom, my dad, and my little sister, Lucy. Guys, this is Olivia.”

I lift my hand to wave.

His mother speaks first. “Olivia, it’s wonderful to meet you.” She steps forward and wraps her arms around me in a motherly hug, and for a moment, I’m not sure how to react. I can’t remember the last time my own mother hugged me. I finally relax and hug her back. His sister jumps in right after and wraps her arms around me. She’s beautiful and takes after Landon’s mother, but they both have their dad’s brown eyes.

“Welcome to our family, Olivia,” Mr. Bowen says as we shake hands. I’m part of the family now? I hesitate for a second, wondering if Landon has told them I’m not staying forever, but I push it out of my mind. Landon wants me here and knows the truth, so I have to trust that he’s told his family what he wants them to know.

“I love your outfit,” Lucy says as we head to the kitchen.

“Oh, thank you.” If I were talking to anyone else, I’d tell them I got this outfit for the grand opening of one of my father’s stores in London. I keep that detail to myself this time, but I’m not exactly sure why. Maybe because I want these people to see me just as Olivia and not Jameson Sterling’s daughter.

“Olivia,” his mother says as she takes a large chicken out of the oven. “I actually went to school with your mother. She was a year above me, but we were both on the cheerleading squad.” Huh. I didn’t even know my mother was a cheerleader. “You’ll have to tell her Natalie said hello.”

“For sure. I will.” When my mother ever decides I’m worth talking to again.

Landon leads me into the dining room off the kitchen to show me the pictures of young Landon and Lucy hanging on the walls. I immediately start looking, my eyes lighting up with amusement.

Landon has several school pictures with crooked teeth and crazy hair. His mother yells that he would never let her style his hair before school. He would roll out of bed and go to school however he woke up. He’s definitely grown into his looks, though. He’s gone from a cute little kid to a hot-as-fuck man, and I’m certainly not mad at it.

There are a few family pictures of them on Christmas, a few on a beach somewhere, and one of Landon in a football uniform with a young Camden and Bennett.

It’s adorable.

When I think about it, I don’t know if there are any pictures of Rhett and me as kids in our house in New York. The art is all designer or custom pieces. It’s beautiful, but definitely not personal like this room.

I’m pulled out of my thoughts when Natalie and Lucy bring dinner out and set it in the middle of the dining table. We take our seats, Landon and I on one side, Lucy and Natalie on the other, and his dad at the head of the table.

“So, Olivia. How do you like working at Underwood Farms?” his dad asks as he takes a scoop of potatoes.

“Uh, it was definitely an adjustment for me. The smell was a lot to handle at first.” They all laugh because I’m sure they know what I’m talking about. “But I think I’ve gotten a lot better at everything. I’m getting used to it, I guess.”

“She’s doing great,” Landon adds. “I’m impressed by how quickly she caught on.”

“I had a great teacher.” He smiles at me as his sister goes, “Awww.”

I look over and see her and Natalie smiling at us.

“Landon came home for dinner one of the first days after you got here and told me how gorgeous and funny you were,” his mom tells me.

“I’m pretty sure I also said she had an attitude.” Landon laughs.