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“Can I go?” Blair asks her mom.
Landry hears what I do. Blair needs time alone with me. Maybe she’s trying to adjust to the man who killed and replaced her dad. Or she might want to feel me out when it comes to her mama. Hell, she might just want to hang out with someone who isn’t a little kid or her mother.
“I’ll go, too,” Landry says, finding her middle ground.
“No,” I snap too harshly.
Blair and Landry look at me like I’m an asshole. Sighing, I lean my head back and try to channel my inner good guy that’s trapped deep inside me. After exhaling deeply, I level my new easygoing gaze on them.
“You’re supposed to be on bed rest. You were limping earlier. You need to sit down and put your feet up. Blair and I will be back in twenty minutes. No worries.”
“You sounded weird when you said that,” Blair mumbles while Landry cocks her eyebrow.
“This is my laid-back voice.”
“It needs work,” Landry replies while fighting a sexy, little grin.
Her teasing gets under my skin, reminding me of what life can be like if I keep my eye on the prize.
“We get cell reception around here, even in the woods,” I explain and hand Blair my phone. “If you get lost or I piss you off, just call your mama and she’ll save you. Until then, Landry, please rest your ass on the couch and watch TV.”
Landry salutes me, making Blair smile. Yet as soon as her smoky eyes focus on her daughter, she gets worried again. I’m edgy until I see how her fingers stroke the little cast on Blair’s arm. Of course, she’s worried about her girl.
I don’t know why I take every-fucking-thing personally.Okay, I know why.No way will I change that habit with most people. For Landry and the kids, I’ll need to find a way to chill the hell out.
I find one of Rosemary’s gardening hats and plop it on Blair’s head. The sun bears down on us as we walk toward the woods.
“There’s a level path around the house,” I say and point at it. “That’s a good spot to ride a bike.”
Even frowning at my words, Blair nods. “How did you pay for this house?”
“I work for my club. They make good money, meaning I make good money. I also lived with my friends for a long time, so I didn’t spend much. Once I started splurging on this place, I couldn’t stop. I like my house.”
“I do, too.”
“We should get a trampoline for the backyard. Do you remember Ruin from lunch yesterday?” When Blair nods, I continue, “He had a playhouse built out back when his daughter was little. She would play soldier and ninja out there. It was funny to watch. I should do that for you guys.”
“You don’t have to spend all that money on us. We’re not greedy.”
As we enter the wooded path, I sigh at how much Blair reminds me of Landry. They’re always sizing up options and worrying they’re crossing a line.
That behavior makes sense, of course. Landry’s been scrambling for most of her life. Having seen her temper on occasion, I bet she was a scrappy little bitch when she was younger. Yet, her kids weighed her down until she had no way to fight or escape. Her survival came down to kissing the right asses.
Now, my ass is the one keeping her family afloat. Blair thinks the same way. If she’s quiet and inexpensive enough, I’ll never turn on her.
“I didn’t grow up poor,” I tell her as we walk slowly through the shadowed path where the sun can no longer zap our energy. “I always had what I needed. I want that for your mama and you kids. Why should you struggle or do without when I have so much?”
Even with the floppy hat on her head, I catch Blair grinning at my words. “My room is so beautiful, Silas.”
“I wish you could sleep in there, but I know you like taking care of your brothers and sister.”
“They’re not lucky like me,” she says, making me frown. “I got to have so much time alone with Mama. We were a team. Dad was always gone. It was just me, Mama, and Succotash for a long time. But Beau didn’t get as much time. None of them did. So, I want to help them feel safe when they’re little.”
“You’re a good kid, Blair.”
We walk silently for a few minutes, feeling comfortable together. Suddenly, Blair comes to a hard halt before we enter an overly dark part of the path, where the trees completely block the sun.
“You’re not going to try any funny stuff, right?” she asks, seeming edgy in a way a child her age shouldn’t be.
