Page 57 of Landry

Camille quickly packed Ava’s pajamas, underpants and a set of clean clothes, along with a toothbrush and princess hairbrush. Once Ava was ready, Camille dove into her bedroom, changed into a light blue sundress with a pale, yellow rose pattern sprinkled across the fabric. She slipped her feet into flat white sandals, ran a brush through her hair and reapplied mascara and lipstick. For a full day at work, she didn’t look too bad.

At five minutes to six, she stepped out of the house.

Landry waited with Ava on the porch. When she appeared, Ava bounced up and down. “We get to ride in Mr. Landry’s truck.” She grabbed Camille’s hand and practically dragged her down the steps.

“We could take my car,” Camille offered, though she already knew what his answer would be.

“I promised Ava we’d go in the truck. But if you want to take your car, we can.”

“Mama, let’s go in Mr. Landry’s truck. Please.”

She couldn’t say no when her daughter looked at her with those light blue eyes so much like her own. “We’ll go in Mr. Landry’s truck.”

“Yay!” Ava ran ahead to the truck.

Landry hooked Camille’s elbow and led her down the steps. “Sorry about that. I don’t mean to railroad you by making promises to your daughter. But I can’t say no to those big blue eyes of hers.”

A rush of desire raced through Camille as she recalled what that hand on her arm had done to other parts of her body the night before. “I know what you mean. She has me wrapped around her little finger as well.” Was that really her voice? The can’t-quite-catch-my-breath sound that was so unlike her new, improved, independent self.

Landry leaned close and whispered, “By the way, you look amazing in the dress.”

Warmth spread up her neck into her cheeks. “Thank you.”

They grabbed Ava’s booster seat from Camille’s car. Landry secured it in the truck’s backseat. Then he lifted Ava and settled her in the booster and adjusted the seatbelt across her lap. When he was done, Ava captured his face in her hands and planted a kiss on his cheek. “Thank you, Mr. Landry.”

“You’re quite welcome, little princess,” he said and straightened.

If Gisele’s information about Landry was right, and he didn’t like or want children, he sure wasn’t showing it. The man appeared to like Ava, and she liked him in return.

And so do I.

Too much.

“Are you okay?” Landry asked Camille.

The passenger door stood open. Landry waited for her to climb in.

“Sorry,” she said and scrambled up into the truck, regretting the dress, sure she was showing far too much of her backside. As she settled in her seat, she tugged at the hem of her dress.

Landry chuckled. “It’s okay. You’re covered.”

Her cheeks flamed.

He rounded the front of the truck, slid into the driver’s seat and started the engine. With a wicked tilt of his lips, he asked, “Do you always match your underwear with your outerwear?”

Camille swatted his arm. “You said I was covered.”

“And you were, after you settled into the truck. It was the climb in where you were exposed to the bayou.”

She snorted. “And you.”

“Nothing I haven’t seen,” he said, still smiling.

Her cheeks were still burning by the time they pulled up to the Mamba Wamba Gift Shop.

Camille carefully slipped out of the truck before Landry could come around and open her door. She had her dress in its proper place by then.

Landry helped Ava out and swung her, backpack and all, to the ground.

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