Page 107 of Never Fall Again

Cal squeezed her fingers. “Want me to drive you home?”

“Thank you, but no. I can drive. I’m going to go back to the house and take a nap before car line.”

“Why don’t you let me pick up Eliza? Then you can take as long of a nap as you need.”

“You’ve picked her up all week. I know you’re behind at work.”

Cal waved it off. As if missing hours of work was no big deal. “I can work tonight after the two of you fall asleep. And I can work tomorrow. It’s fine.”

“Cal.” Her voice was firm.

“Landry.” His mimicked hers.

“Is this the part where you’re going to get all bossy again? Don’t think I’ve forgotten about that.”

His grin was full of mischief. “I’m not being bossy, beautiful.I’m being selfish. If you let me pick up Eliza, then I get home three hours earlier than I would otherwise. That’s three extra hours I can spend with you.”

“Oh.” Landry leaned against the fence. “Well...when you put it that way.”

Cal winked at her. “Go home and get some sleep. Eliza and I will be back around three. Unless...”

“Unless?”

“Unless we decide to make a pit stop.”

“A pit stop?”

She suspected Cal was going for innocent, but what he was pulling off was decidedly sneaky. “Fine. Keep your secrets.”

Cal squeezed her fingers. “Let’s not do that. No secrets.”

Landry had never wanted to climb through a fence so much in all her life. “Secrets aren’t good. I agree. And I don’t want that either. I’ve had enough for a lifetime. But...”

“But?”

“I trust you. And trust means leaving room for surprises.”

A slow smile spread across his face. “I like the way you think. So, do you like surprises?”

“I like fun surprises.”

“What’s a fun surprise?”

“Unexpected gifts, visits, food, experiences. Secrets bring despair. Surprises bring delight.”

“I like that distinction. And I agree. I think I should warn you that as far as I’m concerned, surprises should always be part of who we are.”

“Who we are?”

“Yes. You and me. Us. Our...our family.”

A shiver ran across Landry’s skin, and it wasn’t an unwelcome experience.

“I want to keep you on your toes. Not with anxiety, but withanticipation. I want you to know that I’m always up to something, always plotting a fun surprise.”

Mercy, but she loved this man. “Doyoulike surprises?”

Cal blinked like a confused owl. “Me?”

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