Swing (Landry Family 2)

“Hello?” I eke out.

“I’d say ten inches is fair and I’ve made a note about the corkscrew. Glad I called,” he chuckles.

“Hey, Landry.” I want to slink into the seat and melt into the leather.

“That’s one way to make me a little less pissed that you snuck out on me.”

“I didn’t sneak out on you. I left a note.”

“For the record, the note didn’t help. But hearing you talk about my cock—who were you talking to, by the way?—that helps. That really helps.”

“Fuck off,” I say, smiling. Ready to change the subject, I flip on the Bluetooth and pull onto the street. “Why did you call? Hoping you’d overhear me embarrassing myself?”

“Baby, there is nothing embarrassing about having a man hear you talk about how much you liked being with him.”

I don’t know what I swoon harder over, him calling me “baby” or the husk in his voice. Sure, he’s called me that before, but hearing it when he’s not inside me is different. More meaningful. Maybe more like a word choice instead of a reaction.

He clears his throat. “I called because I need a favor.”

“Really, Landry?”

“Really, Dani,” he mocks. “My brother needs someone to watch his girlfriend’s kid overnight tomorrow night. They have something to do in Nashville and want to take the kid with them, but he can’t go with them that night. And Alison, my brother’s girl, doesn’t believe in nannies.”

“What do you need my help with?”

“Come over and have dinner with us. Help me entertain him. He’s ten or eleven or something and is a pretty cool kid. His name is Huxley and he’s a big baseball fan. So, naturally, we hit it off.”

“So why do you need me? Sounds like you have this figured out.”

“I’ve never been left alone with a kid all night.”

“I’m not staying the night with you and your nephew, Landry.”

“I’m not asking you to,” he says, mocking me again. “I’m asking you to come for dinner, watch a movie, build Legos, or whatever. Just hang out with us.”

I blow out a breath as I turn onto my street. Again: kryptonite. I can’t say no to this man. Even though I should back away slowly from the predator he is, I can’t. I like being his prey.

“What time?”

“Six,” he says and I know he’s grinning. But that’s fair. So am I.

Lincoln

MY WEIGHT POUNDING DOWN THE hallway causes the pictures hanging to knock against the wall. “I’m coming!” I shout as the doorbell chimes again. Like a kid at Christmastime, I pop open the door. “Hey!”

“Uncle Linc!” Huxley lunges forward, wrapping his arms around my waist.

Chuckling, I rub my knuckles across the top of the Arrows cap I gave him. Then I look up and wink at Alison. “Why’d you bring that guy?”

“Because that guy is her fiancé,” Barrett says, a smile thick in his voice.

“Officially?”

“No,” Alison sighs, rolling her eyes. “He better ask me soon or I might just up and leave him.”

“Try me,” Barrett growls, making her laugh.

I untangle myself from Hux and pull my brother into a quick hug. “How are you?”