Landon's Desire (Book Three of The Pulse Series 3) (40 page)

“Great,” Landon snarled. “What was he charged with, assault or armed robbery?”

“Be nice Uncle Landon,” she warned him. “Or I’ll have him arrest you for verbal assault.”

Landon looked at her wide eyed. “He’s a cop?”

“He’s with the tactical unit,” she said proudly. “Not too shabby now, eh?”

“How old is this guy?” Landon asked, looking over at Max and Carl enjoying drinks at the bar.

“This guy has a name, it’s Max and Max is twenty seven. He owns his own house, drives a RAM 1500 and has a bulldog named Percy and a goldfish named Petunia. He’s O positive, donates blood regularly and doesn’t drink or do drugs. He takes a multi-vitamin and hits the gym daily and makes the most amazing breakfast shakes. Was there anything else you needed to know?”

Landon cocked his brow and pursed his lips. “He’s too old for you,” an angry glare suddenly appeared on his face. “What do you mean
Breakfast
shake?”

“You’re grasping at straws for a reason not to like him Uncle Landon,” Emma reached for his hand. “I really like Max and he takes care of me just like you do. Please give him a chance…? Please? He makes me happy.”

Emma looked into his eyes and watched as her uncle’s frozen heart started to thaw, he held her tiny hand in his and placed it palm open over is heart.

“Tactical unit you said?” Landon asked, tapping the end of her nose.

“Everything is good?” Carl asked, as he and Max joined them.

Max stood by Emma’s side, Landon watching as he entwined his fingers with hers and squeezed reassuringly. The way Max gazed lovingly into Emma’s eyes reminded Landon of the love he and Carl shared.

Landon studied the young man. He had an imposing military appearance. He stood as tall as Carl but larger and more defined. Max was clean shaven with dark hair cut in a short army style and dark eyes. Next to Emma, he stood like an empowering force, his arms the size of a brick wall. The happy point for Landon was that his little girl would be safe with the guy.

“All’s good,” Landon offered Max his hand, then yanked him into a manly shoulder hug for a quiet word. “You seem like a nice kid, I like you, but hurt my little girl and you’ll seriously need that tactical training of yours.”

They pulled apart and Max looked to Emma with an amused smile on his face. “You’re Uncle Landon is quite the charmer. I think we are going to get along perfectly, we both care a great deal for you.”

“Uncle Landon, did you threaten Max?” Emma asked.

As Landon opened his mouth Max answered the question. “Your Uncle loves you very much, he didn’t threaten me…he simply made me understand what you mean to him, no worries, like he said, it’s all good.”

Max tucked a strand of Emma’s hair behind her ear and leaned in giving her a gentle kiss on the lips. Her face blushed as she raised her hand and stroked his cheek.

Landon was staring when Carl wove his hand in his and leaned into his ear. “She’s the happiest I’ve ever seen her.”

“I know you’re right, but.”

“But back off,” Carl said. “She’s a woman, with needs and wants and it’s time you accept that she’s all grown up.”

Carl was right and Landon knew it. Watching her, he saw the way Max made her light up, the way he stole her attention and made her smile. He may or may not be
the one,
but Landon knew it was her decision to make and if by chance she suffered from a broken heart, he’d be the one to glue it back together.

“Why don’t you two go and enjoy yourselves,” Landon said. “There’s a big new dance floor over there waiting to be christened. We’ll catch up later.”

Emma hugged Landon and Carl and dragged Max by the hand to the dance floor and laughed out loud when Max lifted her off her feet and swung her around.

“Wow,” Mikala joked, slapping her hand on Landon’s back. “I would have bet money on you chasing him out the door.”

“Who, Maxwell?” Landon asked, with a glint of innocent play in his eyes. “He seems like a nice young man.”

“Am I hearing right?” Mason asked, directing his question at Mikala.

“The man is barely keeping it together,” Chase offered. “Give him a break.”

“Fuck all of you,” Landon snarled. “Excuse me while I see to my other guests.”

Simon from the race track and Landon’s mother Carmen walked in together, her arm was neatly tucked into Simon’s and she was laughing at something Simon had said. Carl took one glance and zipped his head round to see where Landon was located and if he was seeing the same thing. To Carl’s relief, Landon was standing at the far end of the bar with Darren and Georgia from Liberator, deep in conversation, which gave Carl the opportunity to get the pair separated before Landon went into meltdown mode.

Carmen had adjusted to single life very well, after her boyfriend took off with a much younger version of herself. She kept herself busy with charities and volunteering and the boys made sure to include her in the Sunday dinner ritual at Eden and Chase’s penthouse. She had even taken on the role of surrogate Grandmother to Emma and Marco, something she thought would never happen in her lifetime.

“Mom, Simon, it’s great to see you,” Carl said, giving Carmen a peck on the cheek and shaking Simon’s hand. “How are you?”

“I’m well,” Carmen said, gazing around the room. “Everything’s so modern, I was expecting loud music and flashing lights.”

“That’s a thing of the past, now a days people want it more refined.”

“Great to see you Carl, the place is real swanky…I’ll get us a drink?” Simon asked Carmen.

“Please, I’ll have a martini, not too dry,” she smiled, and touched his forearm. Simon grinned and touched her hand, then walked over to the bar.

There was a distinct spark between them, a smile was pasted on Carmen’s face as her eyes followed Simon and once he was out of sight she turned swiftly in Carl’s direction and held out her hands.

“Hugs,” she laughed.

Carl narrowed his brow and shoulder hugged his mother-in-law. “So mom, what have you been up to? And…what’s with you and Simon?”

“I’ve known Simon for many years,” she told him. “We have been seeing each other for a few months now.”

“A few months?” Without sounding like a total idiot for not knowing what his own mother-in-law was up to, Carl asked, “Does Landon know?”

“Of course he knows, I tell him everything,” she said. “In fact, he encouraged me to go for it.”

“Landon?” Carl shook his head. “Our Landon encouraged you to date?”

“Sure I did, why not?” Landon stepped around the back of Carl and gave his mom a kiss. “They’ve known each other since I was a little boy. It only makes sense for them to be together. Simon’s like a dad to me and my father would have approved of Simon, they were best friends after all.”

“And you didn’t say anything to me?” Carl snarled at Landon. “Talk about being kept in the dark.”

“Sorry,” Landon gave Carl a toothy grin and palmed his ass, leaning close to his ear. “You can punish me later, Babes.”

“If you’re lucky,” Carl tittered.

Simon handed Carmen a glass and greeted Landon with a hearty handshake and a pat on the shoulder.

Holding his hands up in surrender, Carl laughed. “I’m happy for you both, I really am. I just never thought I’d see the day when Landon Kyle turned into cupid. It’s so
Fiddler on the Roof-ish.
”

“What do you mean? I’m Mr. Romance, cupid has nothing on me,” Landon cocked his chin.

“First Emma and now your mom,” Carl said. “You’re usually too busy playing guardian, protector from everything evil, to let anyone near them and here they are tonight with dates and no one requires stitches.”

“For one, my mom’s a big girl now, besides she’d kick my ass if I interfered in her private life.”

“Damned right I would,” she agreed, patting him on the chest.

“And two,” Landon looked over at Emma slow dancing, cuddled into Max’s arms. “My man Max is officially on probation, I have my eyes on him.”

He gestured two fingers between his eyes and Max’s and Max smiled. Landon could almost see a bit of himself in Max, and as scary as that thought was, it was also comforting in a way.

Rolling his eyes, Carl pulled him by his arm. “Come dance with me.”

“Have fun you two,” Landon called back to his mom and Simon, as Carl dragged him off. “Eat something, there’s a massive dessert table.”

“Do you think you can give me five minutes of your time baby?” Carl asked, as he tugged Landon until their chests collided.

“I think I can manage that,” Landon smiled, stroking Carl’s cheek. “Kiss me.”

Carl brought his mouth to Landon’s and spoke against his lips, “I love you.”

“I love you more,” Landon whispered, crushing his mouth to Carl’s.

Their lips lingered together for several long minutes as they swayed together ignoring the change of music. The slow mellow rhythm had been replaced by a fast upbeat tempo, but they were so lost in each other, they never noticed.

“That’s the kind of love you dream about,” Eden said, standing with her arms wrapped around Chase’s waist.

“The kind of love that lasts forever,” Mikala said. “That’s indestructible love, made to last…like ours,” she hugged Mason’s arm.

“Hello,” A voice said. “I see nothing has changed, they’re still together.”

All heads turned to Tristan standing with his hands in his pockets. He was dressed in charcoal slacks and a black blazer with a crisp white dress shirt and a magenta tie. Clean shaven and carefully groomed. He smiled with a more mature stature, a confident and impudent grace about him.

“You shouldn’t be here,” Mikala boldly stepped between him and the couple on the dance floor. “How did you get in?”

“With my invitation of course,” Tristan pulled an invitation from his interior pocket and handed it to Mikala. “Turn it over.”

On the back in Landon’s hand writing it said:

Please come, we would love to see you.

Landon & Carl

Mikala handed it back. “I had no idea, I apologize.”

“No apology necessary,” he gave her a million dollar smile. “I understand your concern, after the trouble I caused the last time I was here. I assure you I’ve grown up since then, I’m not here to cause problems.”

“Obviously you finished school?” Chase asked.

“I did,” Tristan said, taking a glass from a tray being offered by a passing server. He put the glass to his lips and took a sip. “I’m an investment broker.”

“Out of Boston?” Mason couldn’t help asking, hoping he wasn’t living in Boston with his sights set on Landon again.

“Mr. St. James is a Wall Street stock broker in New York City,” Landon said, walking through the group and shaking Tristan’s hand with a smile.

“Landon, it’s good to see you,” Tristan said, before Landon pulled him into a hug.

“It’s been a very long time,” Landon said. “When I told you to go make Tristan St. James a household name, I have to tell you I had my doubts. I didn’t think you’d be standing here today proving me wrong.”

“Tristan, you’re looking very dapper,” Carl said, with a hand shake and a shoulder hug.

“How long are you in town?” Landon asked.

“I have to fly back tonight,” Tristan said. “Tomorrow’s my four year anniversary, I promised to take the hubs to our cottage in BC for a vacation.”

“You’re married?” Eden asked, ever the romantic loving the happily ever after stories.

“Yep, Ted’s the love of my life,” he took out his wallet and showed her an apparent wedding picture of him and an older man at least ten years Tristan’s senior, with happy smiles on their faces. “We dated all through college, moved to New York after we graduated and got married.”

Carl’s eye caught sight of his mother waving from the doorway, his father came in behind.

“Ace, my mom and dad are here,” Carl announced. “Make yourself at home Tristan and we’ll catch up to you later.”

“I will be going soon, if I don’t see you before I leave,” Tristan said. “I just want to say how happy I am for you both, the club looks great. It was wonderful seeing you again.”

They shared hugs and goodbyes and left the group to join Carl’s parents at the buffet table.

“Patrice, you look ravishing,” Landon said, hugging her and tipping her back as she laughed.

Landon, behave yourself,” she giggled, slapping his arm and then smiling up into his face.

Emmitt cleared his throat to get their attention. “Son,” he offered his hand with a scowl on his face.

“How goes it old man?” Landon asked with a laugh. “How was France?”

Before he could answer Patrice was answering and Emmitt was rolling his eyes.

“We found a place, a small apartment in Dijon,” she said.

“That’s mustard,” Carl joked.

“That’s what I told her,” Emmitt got a plug in. “People will have quite a laugh when we tell them we live in a mustard jar.”

“Emmitt, stuff a sock in it!” she told him, turning to the boys. “It’s a six hundred and one square foot newly renovated pied-à-terre near Place de Breteuil, on the top floor of a cut-stone building. There’s a marvelous terrace with a view of the Eiffel Tower. It’s to die for and close to everything.”

“Sounds magnifique, Patrice,” Landon said. “Je vais vous enseigner le français si vous le souhaitez.”

“What?” Patrice asked, confused.

“He’ll teach you French ma,” Carl said, as Landon raised a brow. “I know some French, probably not enough to survive in France for more than a few hours, but enough. I bought one of those audio tapes that teach you French when we came back from our honeymoon, since I spent the week there with my mouth shut.”

“That’s not quite how I remember it,” Landon said with a wink.

“Ace,” Carl poked his elbow into Landon’s ribs, exacting a groan from him. “Not in front of my parents.”

“I think your parents are well aware of our relationship,” Landon said. “And how things work.”

Landon was not at all shy. It didn’t matter to him who knew the ins and outs of his sex life, as long as he had one.

“Yeah, but they don’t want to hear about it,” Carl told him off.

“It is one of those things I’m not exactly comfortable with,” Emmitt squirmed about. “Not that I don’t support you two, because I do. S. E. X isn’t something my generation talked about much.”