Page 58 of Valentine Nook
“Sounds like a good camouflage technique, wouldn’t you say, James?” I elbow him in the ribs. “Isn’t it how the army does it?”
“Not exactly, Your Grace, but close enough,” he replies in his usual diplomatic tone.
“Uncle Lando, can I have a firework?”
Scooping up Max, I prop him on my hip and straighten his helmet. “Of course you may. We have special ones just for you.”
“If you’re talking about sparklers, Miles used them all up at his party after the fair. So you’ll need to find some more. Otherwise, you can deal with the tears and fallout.”
Bloody Miles. At this rate, I’ll be the one in tears.
Taking another deep breath, I turn to James. I don’t even need to ask.
“I’ll see what I can find,” he replies wearily.
“Thanks, James. You’re the best.”
Max decides he’s bored being propped in my arms, and in his bid to get back on solid ground, he kicks me in the stomach.
“Thanks for that,” I call after him as he pushes open the doors leading to the garden and sprints out, the three of us close behind.
It’s a beautiful, balmy summer evening, not too hot but warm enough to spend it outside in relative comfort. The fragrance of the roses from our mother’s garden drifts through the air, a strange contrast mingling with the scent of the coals heating up on the barbecue, while the birds are performing their twilight serenade.
For half a minute, everything’s perfect until Alex ruins it with more questions.
“Are you planning to explain the fireworks at any point, or are we just going to pretend it’s a normal Friday night occurrence?”
“What’s there to explain?” I reply, taking a beer from the drinks table, which has been laid out.
Alex shrugs, and hopefully, he’s done with his Spanish Inquisition. Hendricks picks up a beer and takes a long draw. Once again, we stand in blissful silence until the next interruption.
This one is far more welcome.
Alex’s and Hendricks’s backs are turned so they don’t see Clementine walking around the corner on the far side of the lawn next to Holiday. It’s going to take at least thirty seconds for them to reach us, and for that thirty seconds, I get to enjoy the sight of her before anyone else notices.
Enjoy watching her laugh at whatever my sister is saying.
I’m thankful the beer is cold in my hand, stopping my palms from sweating again because that erratic thump of my heart returns.
Her pale blond hair is loose and bouncing around her shoulders. The last few times I’ve seen her, she’s had it tied back, but today, the soft waves make her face even more heart-shaped than usual. Her pink cheeks stretch with a smile, and when she looks up to find me staring, it freezes for a split second before widening even further.
A tugging sensation stirs in me, a long-forgotten feeling of attraction, and for the first time in a long time, I feel single.
Not tied to someone. Not someone’s ex-fiancé. Not the guy whose wedding was called off the night before.
Just Lando.
“We’re here. We’re here. No need to send the search party. Happy Fourth of July, everyone,” Clementine announces loudly when she’s ten meters out.
“Fourth of Ju . . .” Hendricks’s eyes meet mine. “Ohh.Oh. And it all becomes clear. Nice, Lando. Very smooth.”
“I agree.Verysmooth.” Alex slings an arm around my shoulders and leans in. “I like you like this.”
“Like what?”
“Just . . . likethis. It feels like the old Lando is coming back to us.”
I want him to explain what he means, but Clementine barges in with Holiday next to her.
