Page 80 of Wedding Bet

I couldn’t help but smile. “Not exactly, but… maybe a little,” I admitted. I parked the car outside Mom’s house, checking the time. “Okay. We’re actually only fifteen minutes late. Let’s go rescue Landry.”

We grabbed our big haul of food for the dinner party and made our way to Mom’s front door. One of Landry’s cars was already parked in the driveway next to mine, and I tried to ignore how strange it was to see the sleek, black, expensive Mercedes in front of Mom’s modest little bungalow house.

“We’re here,” Chase called into the house as we pushed through the front door.

“In the back, kids!” Mom’s voice came from past the sliding door that led into the yard. We set down all of the food in the kitchen and made our way out.

And I saw Landry, paintbrush in one hand and small paint can in the other, reaching up to paint a portion of the white wood siding that lined the back of the house.

“Hey, sweetie,” Mom said, coming in to give me a hug.

“Evening, Mom,” I said, furrowing my brow. “Can I ask what in the hell Landry is doing with a paint can in his hand?”

“Oh, I needed touch-ups on the top of the wood panels,” Mom said as she gave Chase a hug. “Landry’s tall. I had to ask.”

“She’s put him to work after being here for ten minutes,” Chase said, grinning.

“God,” I said, feeling a heat creep up to my cheeks. “Mom, I could have easily done this for you with a ladder.”

“Oh, it’s easy,” Landry protested. “I’m happy to help your mom.”

Just as he said it, a glob of white paint dripped down from the brush onto his nice pants.

“Shit, Landry, your pants—”

“Don’t worry about it,” he reassured me. “It’s fine.”

“By the way,” Mom said, leaning in close to my ear. “What a man. I knew he was handsome from the wedding, but he’s so kind and helpful, too. You did very well for yourself, Jamie.”

Now my cheeks were molten. I raked my fingertips through my hair. “I’m very happy.”

My mom’s blue-green eyes glimmered as the skin around them crinkled with her smile. “All right, Landry, it looks lovely,” she said. “You’re relieved of your painting duties. Let’s go eat, shall we? I hope you like roast chicken.”

“Love it. I can’t wait to try yours.”

Landry set down the paint and brush, checking his fingers for paint droplets before bringing me into a hug. He kissed the top of my head, squeezing me close.

“I’m sorry, again,” I whispered.

“I mean it, I’m more than happy to help,” he said. “Your mom is a hoot. She told me about a stray cat that’s been coming into her yard, and I told her all about Sprinkle.”

I couldn’t keep a grin off my face as he turned to Chase.

“Hey, Landry, when you’re back in Colorado,” Chase said, “I’ve got some places in my house in need of paint touch-ups, if you want to head over there.”

Landry laughed. “I’m finally learning the real reason you guys are so happy I’m dating Jamie now, huh?” Landry asked. “Paint projects.”

“At least you’re good at it,” Chase joked. “I’m going to help Mom get started on the roast.”

He headed inside and for a moment it was just me and Landry out back. The sun was just starting to set, and after a long day at work and then scrambling to get food and get over to Mom’s in time, I let myself breathe.

“It feels so good to finally be here,” I told Landry. “I can tell Mom likes you, and not just because you helped with the paint, by the way.”

He had a look of innocent happiness on his face. “You really think so?” he asked. “I know I’m still pretty new in your life, but I really do want her to like me.”

“You’re already in the good zone,” I said. “God, when I told her I was officially dating you, she must have asked me about fifty rapid-fire questions.”

Landry wrapped his arms around me from behind, rocking on his feet a little as he gave me what I liked to call a “backpack hug.”

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