Page 28 of Landry

His brow dipped.

“I’d like to enjoy another glass of wine and watch the fireflies off the back porch for a few minutes. I’d like you to join me, if you have the time.”

Having already spent a few hours with Camille and Ava, Landry should have tested the door and left. “I’d love that,” he said, defying the voice in the back of his head, telling him he was getting in deeper by the minute. Before long, he’d be in well over his head.

Another voice told the naysaying voice to shut up and let the man have a beer.

Camille poured another glass of the wine while Landry twisted the top off another bottle of beer. He crossed through the living room and twisted the deadbolt on the front door.

Confident the house was secure except for the back door, Landry followed Camille out onto the back porch.

Camille ignored the rocking chairs and eased down onto the steps, careful not to spill her glass of wine.

Landry dropped down beside her and stared at the bayou, stretching out in front of them. Starlight made the water sparkle brightly while casting dark shadows beneath overhanging trees.

Camille lifted her glass toward the expanse of water. “I like sitting out here at night. I find the bayou at night strangely peaceful and yet darkly dangerous.”

“And during the day?”

She grimaced. “It’s mostly hot, humid and dangerous.”

As they sat on the porch, little flashes of light blinked on and off over the grass leading down to the dock.

“Ava and I used to come out at night and catch fireflies in mason jars. She liked to put the jar beside her bed at night to see them light up the room. But when she woke up in the morning and saw that most of them had died, she was sad. We haven’t caught fireflies since.” Camille smiled. “She said she’d rather watch them flying out here, where they could spend their short lives happy and free.”

Landry shook his head. “Ava is a beautiful, empathetic girl. From what I’ve seen, she has a solid moral compass. I hope she never loses that.”

“Me, too,” Camille said on a sigh. “I hope I’m not screwing up her life.”

“I haven’t known you two for long, but from what I’ve seen, you’re doing an amazing job.”

“Ava makes it easy.” Camille stared out at the night. “I love that girl more than life.”

“And she loves you. You two are so incredibly close.”

“But I question myself all the time. Am I wrong to want to raise her without the help of a husband?”

“No.” He set his beer on the porch, took her glass from her hand and set it beside the beer bottle.

He held out his hand. She could choose to ignore it or take it. Landry’s breath caught and held.

For a long moment, Camille stared at his outstretched hand.

About the time he was ready to drop it, she placed her palm in his.

Landry tugged her closer, turned her around and pulled her back to his front, spooning her, his arms wrapping around her middle.

Her body remained stiff.

“Tell me to leave, and I will,” he whispered in her ear.

A long silence stretched between them. When he started to remove his arms from around her, she laid her hands on his and pulled them back in place. “I don’t want you to go.”

Slowly, her body softened against his until she leaned back, resting her head against his shoulder.

Landry drew in the sweet scent of her, which he was sure came from making candy all day.

“Why did you come here tonight?” she whispered.

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