Chapter Eight

“She’s worried about me?” Larry said out loud as he stared at the screen. 

She’d stymied him with that statement almost as much as her playful ‘what are you wearing’ question.

I’m good, I promise, he finally typed back.

If I get there and you look tired, you’re in big trouble, mister.

I’ll try, okay?

Okay. See you soon.

Larry put the burner phone on the charger right next to his work phone and stretched out again on the bed, thinking about the dream that had seemed so real.

Funny part is, I have absolutely no idea how to dance, he acknowledged. But for her, I’d definitely be willing to learn...

He drifted back to sleep still thinking about it. His next dream of spending time alone with Leah was set in a dimly lit bedroom, watching her face come alive with passion as his hands and tongue explored her body.

***

His alarm went off at ten minutes to four, and he purposely set the water temperature to cold when he turned on the shower to help combat the erection his dream of Leah had caused.

Larry showered and changed, then prepped the potato packets and put them on the grill before turning his attention to seasoning the steaks.

A little after five, he glanced out the window and saw Pete’s truck moving down the long driveway. He smiled, moving to the porch to watch them as they pulled up and parked.

“Hey, you,” he told Leah when she walked up to the porch.

“Hey, yourself,” she said shyly, and smiled, and his heart picked up its pace.

***

Ten minutes later, Larry and Leah were standing side-by-side at the grill, carefully placing steaks so that each would more evenly cook to order – medium for Shannon, medium well for himself and Leah. He’d put Pete’s steak down first, since he knew from prior barbeques that Pete preferred his well done.

“Not burnt,” Leah said of her preference. “Just, not pink.”

“I heard that,” he agreed. “I don’t do pink in the middle, either.”

“And now,” he waved with a flourish, “now we wait.”

He grinned at Leah.

“So, do I look rested enough?”

She eyed him carefully and nodded.

“Yes, you actually do. I’m glad to see it.”

Silence between them for a moment, then Leah asked, “How long until we eat?”

“Half-hour, maybe forty-five minutes, tops.”

“You mind if I take a shower? We weren’t at the farmhouse long enough for me to get one.”

“Go for it,” he answered. “Fresh towels in the linen closet just outside the bathroom door.”

Leah didn’t know it, but he watched her all the way to the door while pretending to look after the grill.

***

“I saw that,” Pete murmured as he approached.

“She’s…something,” Larry murmured back.

“Yeah. I really admire the way she looks out for Shannon,” Pete observed. “You don’t see that level of loyalty very often. Not to mention, I think Leah’s got a crush on you.”

“Do tell,” Larry said, as he turned the steaks.

“She came at me last night telling me all sorts of stuff about Shannon, and how we’d be so good together,” Pete divulged.

“Had your number, did she?”

Pete chuckled.

“And how. She just wouldn’t let it go – until I brought you up.”

Now Pete had Larry’s full attention.

“Really? Um… what happened?”

“Well, among other things, she turned red as a beet and stopped talking.”

Larry’s eyebrow raised.

“So…”

“So,” Pete echoed. “So, I think you’ve got a shot, from what I can tell. Just don’t goof it up.”

“Yes, Poppa,” Larry smirked. “Speaking of goofing it up– what is going on with you and Shannon?”

When Pete smiled slowly, Larry grinned.

“You really, really like her, huh?”

Pete sighed.

“Yeah. I really, really do. Actually, I’m pretty sure I more than like her.”

Larry clapped him on the shoulder.

“That’s awesome, man.”

“I thought so, too.”

***

Leah was humming to herself as she washed her hair.

We just met, and we weren’t apart that long, but I really missed him, she thought, and was shocked to realize that instead of scaring her the way she expected it to, the statement made her feel warm all over.

She sighed as she rinsed out her hair, then dried herself off and dressed.

When she stepped back out into the living room, Shannon was ready and waiting.

“You glowed,” she told Leah once she confirmed the men were out of earshot. “You were actually glowing when you got out of the truck and saw him. Did you even realize you were smiling that big?”

You noticed? Leah wrote out. I’m shocked, what with you being in Rambette mode when we got here.

Shannon gasped, then laughed as she swatted Leah’s shoulder. “I was not!”

You were too, Leah answered. I wish you could have heard yourself. Very G.I. Jane sounding.

“Yeah, well, nice try, but we were talking about you. I wish you’d just go ahead and admit you like him,” Shannon told her. “I mean, it’s not like it’s not already obvious. And you deserve to be happy, Leah. Especially after what you went through.”

You think?

“Yep, I really do,” Shannon confirmed. “No one deserves it more.”

The idea of letting someone else in scares me to death, Shannon.

“I know, honey,” Shannon told her, squeezing her hand. “But I think Larry Fuller is unlike anyone else you’ve met, and I think you two could have something amazing together. You just have to be willing to step toward him and try.”

Overcome, Leah hugged her tightly.

I’ll think about it. Okay?

“Fair enough,” Shannon said. “Now, let’s go check on the guys – and the food. I’m starving.”

***

Larry brought the steaks in on a platter and pointed to one.

“Shannon, that’s yours there,” he said with a smirk. “You know, the one that’s still half-raw.”

Leah winked at him then wrote, He said yours is the one on the left.

They each grabbed their steaks and a potato packet and headed to the table. Shannon had already set out the butter, sour cream, and shredded cheese she’d found in the refrigerator.

“I’ve never seen potatoes done this way,” Leah remarked.

“Yeah. They cook more quickly like this,” Larry told her. “Dice them up and put them on some foil, put whatever seasonings you want in there, plus some butter, then close it up.”

She took a sniff.

“Garlic? Nice!”

“I didn’t know if anyone else would want jalapeños in theirs, so I just did mine that way,” he told her, pointing at the portion on his plate with diced peppers in it.

As the four began to eat, Shannon spoke up, telling them her ideas about how they could utilize the layout of the farm in their favor.

Larry could tell by Pete’s demeanor that he was impressed. Larry was too. But the big surprise came as she announced her ability to handle firearms – and then requested one.

Leah had to laugh at the identical expressions of shock on the men’s faces.

***

When Pete and Shannon stood and went over to his ready bag so she could see the firepower he’d brought, Larry leaned over and whispered, “Match made in heaven, aren’t they?”

“I sure think so,” she whispered back as she observed the topic of their quiet discussion.

“Listen to her go. And look at his face as he listens to her. I can feel Pete falling in love from all the way over here.”

Larry smiled.

“Yeah. And it’s so good to see that. I think he thought he’d always be alone after Molly left.”

“Molly?”

“I’ll tell you later,” he murmured. “I’m just glad he found someone.”

“Pete, alone?” Leah said, hand on heart. “That would have been so sad. Now I’m really glad they met.”

She turned her head, and noticed she and Larry were leaning toward each other, their faces mere inches apart. She looked into his eyes, seeing something resembling – interest? attraction? She really wasn’t sure. All she knew was that it was pulling her in…