Close to You (Fusion 2)

“I’m not trying to insult anyone,” Mia replies. “I’m being honest. I don’t want you to hurt her.”

“I don’t want to hurt her either, Mia. We haven’t even been out on a date.”

“But you’re taking her to dinner tonight. She told me.”

I want to ask her what Cami said, but that sounds way too much like high school. “The crush wasn’t always one-sided,” I admit quietly, then shove my hand through my hair and pace away from her, my boots echoing through the space. “But we were young, and then I left.”

“And then she got married,” Mia says, completing my thought. “I’m sorry. I didn’t know.”

“No one knew. Well, except for Dad.”

“Dad?” she asks, surprised. I nod.

“Dad saw the lust written all over my face when she was around.” I sigh. “And he warned me that she was too young. And he was right.”

“So you left.”

I nod again.

“And now you’ve decided to scratch an old itch?”

“Watch yourself, Mia.” My voice is hard.

“Hey, I’m just asking. We’ve always considered her family, but now that her folks are gone, and her brother and sister moved away, I feel even more protective of her.”

“I’m going to see her. Get to know her. I like her, Mia. Not because I’m bored or I think she’ll hang on my every word. Hell, she’s barely looked at me since I’ve been home.”

“She notices you,” Mia says.

“I want her to do more than notice me,” I reply.

“It feels like it’s moving fast. You just got home, and I know it’s been rough on you.”

“It’s getting easier,” I reply, surprised to discover that it’s the truth. “And it’s not fast, Mia, I’ve known her forever. But, something I’ve learned through all of this is that life’s damn short. I could have died up there.” I swallow hard as tears fill my sister’s eyes. “And in those seconds when all hell broke loose and I knew I’d have to eject, Cami was my only regret.”

“Oh, Landon.” Mia wraps her arms around me and hugs me tight. “I hope that whatever you both want to come from this is what happens. I love you both. I don’t want to see anyone with their feelings hurt.”

“You’ll hurt my feelings if you don’t bring me lunch again tomorrow.”

“You only ate half.” Her eyes flare as she pulls away. “You threw my food away.”

“You pissed me off,” I reply with a shrug.

“I have to work.” She turns to walk away, then stops and looks back at me. “She loves sunflowers. She says they always look happy.”

“Where am I supposed to find sunflowers in February?”

“That’s not my problem,” she says with a laugh.

“You always were a pain in my ass!” I call after her, but she just waves and keeps walking.

“Love you too!”

I frown, suddenly wishing I hadn’t thrown the last of that food away, and pull out my phone to start calling florists.

If Cami likes sunflowers, then she’ll have sunflowers.

IT’S BEEN A long day. Maybe that’s because we had a tool malfunction, requiring me to drive out to another job site to get another one. Maybe it’s because I know I’ll get Cami all to myself in just a few hours and that’s making the seconds drag by.

Either way, I’m itching to get the hell out of here.

“I’m gonna run next door for some water,” I tell my guys, and saunter over to the restaurant.

Who am I kidding? I want to get a glimpse of her. I’m pathetic.

But I don’t want to change it.

I walk through the door and smile at Addie. “How’s your day, Blondie?”

“I can’t complain,” she says with a smile. “Lucas is here. He’s back at the bar. I told him you were next door, but he said he wanted to say hi to the girls first.”

“Awesome, thanks.” Lucas has been my best friend since we were in the second grade and he gave me a black eye over a G.I. Joe. We went into the Navy at the same time, went to boot camp together, then flight school. He’s my closest friend in the whole world, and there’s no one else I’d rather have as my wingman.

But when I walk into the bar, I want to lay him flat.

He’s hugging Cami close, his lips pressed to her cheek. And one hand is planted squarely on her skirt-covered ass.

“It’s so good to see you,” Cami says with a smile, and pulls back to cup Lucas’s face in her hand. “Landon will be happy to see you.”

Landon will be happy to see him unhand Cami.

“You look beautiful, as always,” Lucas says, and that’s all I can take.

“Hey man,” I say, and move in to shake my friend’s hand, effectively pulling him away from Cami. “When did you get to town?”

“This morning,” he replies as he eyes me with concern. “Decided it was time to come check on you, since I couldn’t make it over to Italy.”

“I’m fine.” Now. I wasn’t for a while.

“Well, you can tell me all about it tonight while we drink too much beer and embellish flight stories.”

Cami has discreetly backed away, talking quietly with Kat.

“No, I can’t. I have a date tonight.”

“Of course you do,” Lucas says, barking out a laugh. “Didn’t take you long to snag some hometown bimbo. Do I know her?”