In the Landry family, there were very few rules when it came to love. They just did it. They just loved. Big and loud and fiercely. And they didn’t get hung up on things like it not making sense or it being too fast or two people seemingly not fitting together. Love was love. If you felt it, you felt it. And if you were a Landry, you embraced it, and you celebrated it, and you fought for it.
The Landry family tree had many amazing, crazy love stories. There wasn’t one person currently residing in Autre, Louisiana, who would tell her that it was bonkers to think she was in love with Griffin Foster after only two weeks.
Except maybe Griffin Foster.
But she had no intention of telling him that she thought she was in love with him.
“Fiona!”
Charlie swung around at the sound of Griffin’s voice. He’d evidently come in through the back of the clinic.
“Hey, Griff!”
A moment later, Griffin had his arms wrapped around Fiona and her feet dangling several inches off the floor.
“Saw that huge purple truck in front of the clinic,” Griffin told her, setting her back on her feet. “You can’t really surprise anyone with that thing, you know.”
“It does make me a bit conspicuous,” Fiona agreed. “But it also makes me feel like a badass, so I’m going to keep driving it.”
“Not to mention that you need a huge old truck to pull those animal trailers you’re always hauling all over.”
Oh great, her surprise was ruined. He knew Fiona was here with animals?
He glanced at Charlie, and she felt her stomach flip at the warmth in his gaze when their eyes met. “You didn’t ruin my surprise, did you?” he asked Fiona.
“Nope, we were just having some girl talk.”
Wait, surprise? He had a surprise?
“Girl talk?” Griffin looked back and forth between them.
“Yeah, heard all about this hot guy Charlie is falling for,” Fiona said.
Charlie’s eyes went wide as Griffin’s gaze clashed with hers.
“Is that right?” he asked, his voice almost nearing drawl-level. Hot and slow and full of isn’t-that-interesting.
She didn’t know which of them he was talking to exactly, so she simply swallowed hard and stayed quiet.
Fiona was happy to jump in. “Yeah, apparently he’s super smart and really dedicated and passionate about his work and good looking and has a huge…”
Charlie’s mouth dropped open, and she made a little squeaking sound.
Fiona gave her a sly smile as Griffin’s brows shot up.
“…heart,” Fiona finished.
Charlie snorted, and Griffin even grinned.
“Well, maybe I should leave since you haven’t had a chance to talk about all of my other huge parts.”
He was staring right at her when he said it, and Charlie felt her mouth drop open even wider. He always caught her off guard when he flirted, but he’d never done it in front of someone else and never so blatantly.
She looked at Fiona, who was grinning broadly.
Yeah, she liked Fiona too. Griffin was clearly very comfortable with the other woman, and seeing her made him happy. Anyone who could make Griffin smile like that was someone Charlie could like.
Especially if they were more like brother and sister.
“Yeah, I haven’t had a chance to tell her about your huge ego or your huge negative attitude toward sloths,” Charlie said.
Fiona gasped. “Don’t tell me he turned you down about getting a sloth.”
Charlie nodded, propping a hand on her hip. “Yep. Shot it right down.”
Griffin groaned. “The last thing I need in my life is the two of you conspiring against me.”
“Too late,” Fiona said. “We’ve met, we’ve fallen in love, we’re going to be BFFs. And just remember, Foster,” she added. “You invited me here first.”
“He did?” Charlie asked.
“First?” Griffin asked on top of Charlie’s question.
Fiona just gave them both a sly smile.
They looked at one another.
“You invited her here?” Charlie asked.
“Yeah. So, did you?”
Charlie shook her head and looked at Fiona again. “No, actually I didn’t know she was coming but… She brought something I need.” She said those last five words slowly.
Griffin turned narrowed eyes to Fiona. “Who called you besides me?”
“Tori,” Fiona answered.
“To bring something Charlie needs?” Griffin asked.
“Yes.”
“Something for Charlie besides what I asked you to bring?” Griffin pressed.
Charlie looked at him quickly. “You had her bring something for me?”
Fiona shook her head. “Wouldn’t this be easier if we just went outside and looked at everything?”
Charlie figured that hiding a bunch of lemurs would probably be difficult, so she might as well show them to Griffin now.
Griffin nodded. “Oh, I definitely need to see this.”
Charlie snuck a glance at Griffin as they followed Fiona out to the parking lot.
He met her gaze and gave her a half smile. “I would’ve warned you about Fiona, but I wanted this to be a surprise.”
“Fiona needs a warning?”
He chuckled. “Um… Yes. She can be a lot.” They stopped at the doorway together and turned to face one another. “Fiona is one of my favorite people in the world. One of my best friends.”
Charlie nodded. “She told me you were in Zambia together.”
“And we stayed in touch and see each other periodically since she’s been back in the states. And it hit me the other day when I was talking to her that you two have a lot in common.”
“Fiona and I?” Charlie didn’t see that. Fiona was an exotic animal expert of some kind. She’d traveled to and lived in Zambia. She’d worked on a wildlife game preserve. And she somehow was able to procure three lemurs with only a couple of days’ notice. Charlie didn’t know much more about her than that, but all of those things set the two women apart drastically.
“Fiona doesn’t really believe in asking for permission. She follows her gut and is perpetually certain that all situations can be better. And doesn’t take no for an answer.”
“So she’s pushy and bossy?”
Griffin grinned. “Definitely. But she is also an optimist and wants to change the world. And believes she can.”
Charlie felt a warmth spread through her chest. “And that reminds you of me?”
“Yep. And, I know that the two of you together will cause me some major headaches at times, but I also think that the world better watch out once you two get together.”
Charlie stepped closer and took his hand, giving it a squeeze. “I consider that a huge compliment.”
“I seem to be getting a little better at those.”
“You are. And, in the spirit of putting everything out there, it also makes me want to kiss you even more than usual. Which, by the way, is a lot.”
Then Griffin completely shocked her by cupping the back of her head, tipping her head back, and covering her lips with his.
Right in the doorway of the veterinary clinic with Fiona just on the other side, and the potential for anyone to drive up and see them.