Lance, page 16
“How’s the downstairs coming along?” They’d started their walk-through on the third floor, going through the theater room and rec room first, then the bedrooms and bathrooms on the second floor. “Is it close to being usable?”
There was only one downside to being in Kari’s house. Space.
Lack of.
He’d taken over. The living room was functioning as both his office and Vanessa’s temporary bedroom. Kari’s coffee table was his desk. The crib took up most of the available floor space. Toys were everywhere.
This wasn’t how he intended to convince Kari to be his.
Bob shook his head. “It’s still got a few days before any of it could be considered livable.”
At least the upstairs at Kari’s house was almost done. All they were waiting on was the carpet. Then they could lay down baseboards and move her closet into the new space. “They’re still coming to lay the carpet at the other house this afternoon, correct?”
“Yes sir. Should be here any time.” Bob walked him through the downstairs. The front living room was still pretty rough but his office and the kitchen were coming along well.
Lance checked his watch. “I’ve gotta get back next door, Kari has to get to work.” He gave Bob a pat on the shoulder. “Good work.”
Lance pulled out his phone and started scrolling through his email as he walked across the lawn.
“Holy mother of God.”
Lance looked up.
His little brother stood on the sidewalk, his boyfriend Stewart at his side. Both of them stared up at his house.
“What in the hell did you buy?” Chauncey looked horrified. “Is it condemned?”
Lance grinned at them. “Who in the hell invited you two here?” He grabbed his brother in a tight hug. “How ya been?”
Chauncey finally turned away from the house. “Good.” He looked around. “Where’s Vanessa?”
“I see how it is.” While he was a little surprised how easily fatherhood came to him, Lance was downright shocked at how well his brother adjusted to being an uncle.
Stewart leaned into Chauncey’s side. “We came because we heard Claire had to take a leave.”
Lance sighed. “She did.” His nanny was having a rough time. Her mother was not going to get better. “I told her to take as long as she needed.”
Chauncey rolled his eyes. “You probably paid for her to have a place to stay too didn’t you?”
Lance didn’t answer them. Claire was a good nanny and a good person. If she needed help, he would do everything he could.
Stewart slapped him on the shoulder. “You are so sweet it makes my teeth hurt. Some woman is going to get the catch of a lifetime when she snares your ass.”
“Uhhh.” Chauncey’s jaw dropped as he stared at Kari’s porch. “Is that Vanessa?”
“Holy shit.” Stewart lowered his sunglasses. “Is that Big and Scary’s sister?” He eyed Lance. “You’ve got some big balls messin’ with that one.” He shook his head. “Big and Scary try to kill you yet?”
Lance was ignoring him. He couldn’t stop staring at the woman holding his child. Kari stood on her pink porch with a fluff covered Vanessa in her arms.
She smiled at him. “There’s daddy.” Her voice was soft in his daughter’s ear but Lance could have heard it a mile away. When he saw them together his chest felt like it would explode.
Every damn time.
Chauncey was already halfway up the sidewalk. “Little Cub.” Kari held her out, letting Chauncey take Vanessa.
She waved at Stewart. “I didn’t know you guys were coming to town.” She gave Rhea’s best friend a hug as he reached her side. “You want to come in?” She looked back toward her house. “It’s a little crazy actually.” She glanced up at Lance. “Maybe we should go to Rhea’s and you can see Annabelle too.”
Lance stepped beside her and grabbed her, pulling her against him. “I took over Kari’s house while the other is being finished.”
Chauncey lifted his eyebrows. “You’re staying here?” He pointed toward Kari’s door. “With Vanessa?”
“Yup.” Lance waited to see what his brother would say. Never had he even considered staying with a woman, especially not since Vanessa. But now he was planning so much more than that.
Because it was right.
“Wow.” Chauncey looked at Kari then back at Lance. “How’d you get her to agree to that?”
Lance laughed. “You really want to know?”
Chauncey wrinkled his nose. “Gross.” He looked at Vanessa. “Your daddy is icky.”
She smiled and touched his brother’s face.
Stewart urged Chauncey down the sidewalk. “Come on. You got your baby and I want to go get mine.”
“Wait.” Kari held up one finger before turning to rush inside. She came back out with Vanessa’s new diaper bag. “You’ll probably need this.” She handed the flower-printed, gold-trimmed bag to Chauncey. He held it out and looked at it. Then looked up at Lance.
Lance shrugged.
Chauncey smiled up at Kari. “It’s about time someone took care of my girl.” He tucked the strap over his shoulder and followed after Stewart who was already across the street and picking up speed.
Kari blinked after them, her cheeks a little pale.
Lance knew she was scared. Who wouldn’t be? He also knew he should feel bad about it.
He didn’t.
Kari was what his daughter needed. What he needed. He wanted to tell her there was nothing to be afraid of. Show her just how serious he was.
But it could make things worse if he jumped the gun.
Lance had to make her want them as much as they wanted her. And right now Kari was too scared. She was holding back. He could feel it.
It was his fault. He should never have told her the things he did before. It was the number one reason he would never touch moonshine again. It made him confess all his sins. Pour out his soul to the only person who ever listened to a poor, rich boy’s problems.
And Lance shouldn’t have left like he did. Not without explaining why he went and telling her goodbye.
But then he wouldn’t have left. Deep down Lance knew, even then, that the minute he started with Kari, he would never be finished. It’s why he tied up all his loose ends in Virginia before leaving. Even if he wouldn’t admit it then, Lance came to Greenlea to stay.
But he’d made so many mistakes wrestling with a beast who’d never had footing in his life before. Pushing Kari now was not going to be added to that list.
He’d pushed her so far already. He had to. He couldn’t stand not to.
Because for the first time in his life Lance wasn’t entirely in control.
Kari turned to go inside. “I’m going to get ready for work.” She slipped through the screen door and disappeared down the hall.
Lance sat in one of the gold wicker chairs on her porch and stared across the yard, listening to the sound of the work going on next door.
He was an ass.
Kari came through the front door, wearing a dress that showed off the long length of her legs and the lean cut of her body. “You okay?”
The beast inside grumbled at her.
She lifted an eyebrow.
“Ignore him.” Lance stood up. He stroked both hands down her bare arms. “You look beautiful Pet.”
He’d never felt jealousy before. The urge to wrap a woman from head to toe so no other man would look at her. Before he didn’t care if they did. If a woman didn’t want to be with him, eh.
Another one would.
Until this one.
“Maybe I could come to work with you. Give Joel the night off.” Lance stepped close to her, breathing in her flowery scent, hoping to soothe the beast pacing inside, making him feel agitated and antsy. He pulled her against him and the beast relaxed, placated.
For the moment.
“Your brother just came into town.”
“Not to see me.” Lance closed his eyes and relaxed around her. “You saw what happened. He stole Vanessa and took off.”
“You have work to do.” Kari leaned back, her face stern. “And they’re coming to install carpet and someone has to be here.”
“Bob’s here.”
“No.” She pushed up on her tiptoes and kissed him, softening the blow of her refusal. Barely. “You need to calm down. Joel will take good care of me.”
“He better.”
Kari tipped her head to the side. He was obviously irritating her. “A little needy today aren’t we?”
She was right. He was needy and desperate. Two very unattractive features he’d seen in nearly every woman he’d ever spent time with. And right now he didn’t give a fuck. “I’m always needy when it comes to you Pet.”
Kari’s lips twitched into a small smile.
Maybe women liked needy men.
Hopefully this one did because he’d failed miserably at being anything else around her besides needy, desperate, and demanding.
She’d turned him into a toddler.
He pressed a kiss to her lips then let her go. “Go to work.”
Lance watched as Kari disappeared across the street, waiting until she was out of sight to go inside and try to scrounge around for where he left his manhood.
He sat on the couch and opened his laptop. At work he acted like a man. It was a good place to start. He’d barely touched the list of today’s emails and was picking up his phone to call Marlene to check in and see how the new PA she hired was doing when his phone started ringing in his hand.
He swiped the screen, connecting the call. “Good morning mother.”
“How’s my favorite son?” He could hear the smile in her voice. “Found anything interesting in the mountains?”
“Actually, I have.” He leaned back on the sofa. “And I’d like you to come visit.”
“Oh?” She paused. “I’m not so interested in hiking through the woods.”
Lance laughed. “It’s not in the woods. I bought a house.”
“A house?”
“A house. I figured it would be nice for Chauncey and Stewart to have a place to stay while they’re here to visit.” Lance held back on telling his mother the whole truth. He wanted her to see why he was here firsthand.
Otherwise she’d never believe him. His mother would be more inclined to believe he found Bigfoot than a woman to settle down with. For good reason.
“Well that’s awfully nice of you.” She sounded suspicious but thankfully didn’t try to dig any deeper.
“Are you free?” Lance had a week left before he had to travel to the city and wanted his mother to meet Kari before then because...
Because apparently he was still a pushy, selfish son of a bitch.
“What, now?”
“Yes now. I have to leave for New York next week.” Lance paused. Should he bring out the big guns?
Yes. He should. “Plus Vanessa misses you.”
His mother sighed into the phone and he heard pages flipping in the background. “I suppose I could come for a couple of days.”
“I will book you a flight.” Lance wrote himself a note as he and his mother said their goodbyes. As soon as they hung up he booked her flight and sent her the information. Then he called Gail at the B&B.
She answered on the second ring. “Greenlea bed and breakfast.”
“Gail, my mother’s flying in tomorrow. Do you have any rooms available?”
“Of course honey.” He heard her tapping on a keyboard in the background. “She can have the room you were in. I have Chauncey and Stewart in the room next door will that be okay?”
“That will be perfect.” He and Chauncey were inseparable as kids and insisted on going to visit their parents together, even if one parent wasn’t both boys’ parent. “She will be thrilled they’re here.”
“She’ll be in good company.” Gail muffled the phone. “I gotta go honey. I’ll see you later.” She hung up on him.
Lance shook his head as he went back to his emails. That woman was hell on wheels. It explained a lot.
By the time he’d checked in with Marlene, finished his emails and approved a stack of estimates and purchase agreements the carpet layers were pulling up to Kari’s house. He pulled Vanessa’s crib to one side giving the crew room to come in and out, before double-checking the carpet and padding. It was insane how many times the wrong product was delivered. Luckily this wasn’t one of those times. He gave the two men the okay and went to check in with Bob, letting him know he was going to run an errand and to keep an eye on the carpet layers.
He strolled to Hagen and Rhea’s house and found everyone in the backyard enjoying the early summer air. “How’s it going?” He walked to Hagen’s side and shook his hand. “No tours today?”
Hagen squinted up at him. “It’s Wednesday.”
Lance dropped into the empty chair between Hagen and Chauncey. “I don’t know where this week went.” He leaned Hagen’s way. “Did you look over the options for the apartments?”
“I did.” Hagen crossed his arms over his chest. “I’m torn.”
“Over the design options?” Lance caught Vanessa as she ran into his knees and pulled her onto his lap.
Hagen took a long breath. “I didn’t intend to have an investor.”
“You offered to invest here?” Chauncey’s eyes were open wide, a glass of iced tea stopped midair in front of his gaping mouth.
“I did.” Lance shot his brother a look that he hoped said to shut his mouth. He wanted to help Kari’s family and her brothers were skittish as hell when it came to the family business. He didn’t blame them. Everything they had was wrapped up in this place. He wasn’t trying to take any of it. Hell, he was giving them a hell of a deal as a silent investor.
A family deal.
That’s what he intended to be.
“Are you moving here?” Chauncey stared at him.
Lance rubbed his lips together and ignored all the eyes on him. It was just like being in a conference room. No big deal.
Only this deal actually mattered.
“I am.”
Stewart fell backwards onto the blanket where he sat with Annabelle, laughing his ass off. Suddenly he went silent and sat up straight, his brown eyes glued to his boyfriend. “You aren’t gonna want to move here too are you?”
Chauncey’s eyes moved to Stewart. “No.” He shrugged. “Probably not.”
“Oh hell.” Stewart’s gaze shot to Annabelle. He covered her tiny ears. “I mean oh hell.” He whispered it the second time.
Lance pointed at the little girl on his lap. Stewart threw his hands up. “I can’t cover all the tiny baby ears.”
“My mom is coming into town tomorrow.” Lance went to push Vanessa’s hair off her face out of habit, forgetting Kari was spending an insane amount of time each morning working her slippery, baby-fine hair into the tiniest rubber bands he’d ever seen to keep it out of her eyes. “She’s flying in at four.”
Chauncey shook his head at him. “I never thought I’d see the day.”
“Shut up.” Lance tried not to smile but it was impossible. Maybe because he couldn’t deny the truth in his brother’s statement. Maybe because a part of him never thought the day would come either. “My mom doesn’t know you guys are here.”
Chauncey clapped his hands together. “I can’t wait to see her.” He stood up. “We should have a party.”
“A party?” Lance laughed. “Maybe once the house is done.”
“We can have a party then too.” Chauncey pulled out his phone. “I’m going to go talk to Gail.” He took off toward the B&B.
Rhea snorted from her spot on the other side of Hagen. “You’re screwed now.”
“Oh hell.” Lance wiped one hand down his face. When he looked up Stewart was pointing at him then at Vanessa. He motioned to his ears.
Lance waved him off. “I’ll be lucky if it’s not already her first word.”
“Father of the year.” Stewart started to laugh then stopped. “Naw, I can’t even tease you about that. You are a kick-ass father.”
“And there’s her second word.” Hagen tossed a stuffed animal at Stewart catching him in the shoulder.
Stewart touched his face. “That could have hit me in the face Big and Scary.”
“I was aiming for your face.” Hagen grinned at his wife’s best friend. “You wanna watch Annabelle while I take my wife to an early dinner?”
Stewart pinched at Annabelle’s tiny tummy as she squirmed on the blanket trying to turn over. “I want to watch her all of the time.” He smiled at her as she gazed up at him. “Yes I do. Yes I do.”
Hagen stood up. “Fantastic.” He reached his hand out toward Rhea. “Let’s go wife.”
Wife.
It was a word Lance never gave much thought before he came to Greenlea. It never carried the weight for him it did for some people. His parents were divorced. Not miserably, but still. It was something he didn’t even consider. Never expected to even want.
Until he met Kari.
“I’m taking off too.” He scooped up Vanessa. “Tell Chauncey I’ll catch up with him tonight. Maybe we can have dinner at the diner.”
“Yes.” Stewart shifted on the blanket and scooted Annabelle out of the creeping sunlight. “It wasn’t open last time we were here and I’m dying to check it out.”
Lance started walking across the yard. “I’ll get with you later and set up a time.”
Downtown was busy which made sense now that he realized it was a Wednesday. There were no afternoon or evening tours so visitors either had to stay in town or make the drive to venture out, and with the diner, the gallery, and the business center there was enough reason for people to forgo the drive and hang around Greenlea.
All it needed now was a little more shopping. The gallery was nice but a few more stores and no one would leave the whole time they were here.
It was an idea to take to Jerrik and Hagen when they met up to go over the apartments.
Lance stopped in front of the bar.
He should leave her alone, let her work.
But he wasn’t going to.
Pushing open the door, he stepped inside, letting his eyes adjust to the much darker setting. By the time he could see, there were two women starting at him.
“Really?” Kari’s arms were across her chest.
