Page 58 of The Proximity Factor

Lanie held my gaze, her baby-blue eyes owning mine. “Dating you.”

The way she said it was different than when I told her she scared the hell out of me. Which she did. But when I said those things, I meant in that awe-inspiring, thrilling, death-defying way that was so exhilarating you hoped the ride would never end. She sounded like she was waiting for the ride to stop and for her turn to exit the car.

“Why?” was all I could ask.

Her cheeks flushed red. “I always say more than I probably should. I can’t help myself. So here it is: there’s just something about you, Parker. Something I’ve wanted to unlock since the day I met you, even though you made me angrier than anyone ever has before.”

I thought back to our first meeting, back to when I was sure the last thing I wanted was a Lanie in my life. What an idiot I was.

“I don’t even know if I can explain it. It’s just I have this feeling that if I’m ever lucky enough to get the key to your door and the chance to open it, I’ll be home.” Her voice hitched. “I know that sounds ridiculous and you probably think I’m crazy—and maybe I am—but I’ve never wanted anything more in my entire life than I want you, and it scares me because I know there are no guarantees when it comes to relationships.”

She spoke the truth. I, better than anyone, knew life and love offered no guarantees. But I could at least offer Lanie something. I gathered her in my arms despite the heat. She melted into me, allowing me to caress her bare sun-kissed shoulders. Her sexy sundresses did me in. As did she. Her words had touched me and made me want to be the kind of man she could build her home with. “How do you feel about welcome mats and front porches?” Now I sounded ridiculous, but I was looking for any way to show Lanie that I wanted her in my life.

She giggled into my chest. “They are essential to any proper home. But you can’t just get any doormat. It must be inviting and fit the feel of the home.”

I smiled. “You know, people wipe their feet on those things.”

“Yes, but at least you’ll feel good about giving them a proper place to do so.”

I wasn’t so sure I would, but I didn’t argue with her logic. Instead, I laughed and held her tighter. I loved the way she saw life. “Here’s what I’ve been thinking: I’d like to roll out a proper welcome mat and hang out with you on the porch. Maybe install a figurative porch swing. And we’ll see where things go from there.” I knew I had some clearing out of old baggage and straightening up inside to do before I let Lanie all the way in.

“There’s nothing I like more than a good porch swing. I’m assuming there will be a lot of cuddling and kissing on this swing?”

“That, I can guarantee.” Beyond that, I knew there were no other guarantees, no matter how much I wished there could be.

“WELL, YOU SURVIVED,” I SAID to Parker as we walked in the cottage door late Saturday evening and flipped on the lights.

“Barely,” Parker teased. “I still think your mom is deciding if she can dig a hole deep enough for me in her backyard or if she needs a backhoe.”

“Darlin’, she would never bury a body in the backyard. She prides herself on her lawn.” I laughed.

Parker gave me a wry grin. “I’m not sure that makes me feel better.”

“Believe me, Mama likes you. But we’re going to have to work on getting you some football jerseys, so you look legit. Thankfully, you know the lingo.” I winked.

Parker rolled his eyes and kissed my cheek. “I’ll let you pick those out.”

“You’re going to let me pick out your clothes? This is serious.”

“Very,” he crooned, giving me hope that our time on the “porch” would lead to more.

I really wasn’t trying to rush things—it’s just that I’d never felt like this before. And I wanted to know if that little voice Mama and I were hearing spoke the truth. I felt a little stupid for telling him I hoped to unlock his door, although he seemed to understand my home analogy. But I had to wonder if I was just going to scare him away with all my crazy talk.

Parker headed for the kitchen, and I followed. “So, what did you and my brother talk about?” Tad had asked to speak to him alone before we left. Parker hadn’t offered any information about it on the ride home, which made me nervous, so I gave him time to process before I brought it up.

Parker opened the refrigerator and grabbed a soda before giving me a crooked grin. “He just wanted to warn me about how annoying you were growing up.”

“Uh, me?” I wrinkled my nose. “Did he fail to mention he took all the hot water every morning, and he used to booby-trap my room all the time with trip wire? I never knew what objects would fly at my face at any given moment.”

Parker laughed and walked toward me. “Sounds like a typical big brother.”

“I bet you never did that to Daphne.”

“Daphne and I never lived in the same house, and I’m a lot older than she is.”

I tilted my head. “Was it weird being an only child?” As much as Tad tormented me, I loved growing up with him.

“It was lonely. My mom worked a lot, so I was home alone most of the time.”

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