“And isn’t that romantic! Leftovers for days and days. Take her out, Landon. Take her somewhere nice and romantic and spend some money on her and make her feel special. While you have her attention, mention you want to be more than friends with her. The poor girl probably can’t figure out whether you’re putting her up out of pity or if you genuinely like her.”
“She knows I like her.”
Hannah propped her chin on her upturned hand. “You’re sure of that, rock star? Or have you finally met a woman who isn’t doing gymnastics to get your attention, and as a result, you have no idea how to get hers?”
Landon scowled at her. “That’s not what this is.”
“Oh, no? You don’t think so? I think that’s exactly what this is. You’re so used to women falling all over themselves to get close to you that you have no earthly clue how to deal with one who doesn’t do that.”
“If she doesn’t do that, maybe she’s not into me.” And why did that possibility make him so sad? Probably because he really liked her, and he didn’t want to blow his chance with her.
“I’ve seen her with you. That’s not the problem.”
“What do you mean?”
“She likes you.”
“How could you tell?”
“She pays attention to everything you do and say, and she stays close to you the whole time you’re together.”
“And you don’t think that has anything to do with being intimidated by our massive family?”
“Amanda doesn’t strike me as an easily intimidated sort of woman. Look at what she does for a living.”
“I can’t even think about that,” he muttered.
Hannah giggled behind her hand. “You’ve found the female version of you—someone who could have any guy she wants—and you have no idea how to win her over because you’ve never had to try before. The same thing happened to Luc with Dani. I talked to Gramps about it. He said he told Lucas that when it really matters, you have to try. Same goes for you, sport.”
“You seem to be enjoying this a little too much.”
Her laughter made Callie chuckle, too. “Are you kidding? I love it! I’ve waited all your life for this moment. From the time you and your equally adorable brother were born, people have gravitated to the two of you. After you became teenagers, it was mostly female people. Neither of you has ever had to work for it before.”
“That’s not true.”
“Yes, it is. Female attention has come too easily, which is why nothing ever stuck for either of you until Lucas found someone who mattered enough to bother. Why do you think Dani and Savannah are with him now? It’s not because he casually said, ‘Hey, babe, you want to come home with me?’” Her impression of Lucas was shockingly good. “It was because he made the effort to have a real relationship with her. That’s the secret sauce, Landon. It’s called effort.”
“Effort. I can do that.”
“Can you?” Hannah asked warily. “It means you have to actually do something other than sit back and wait for her to come to you.”
“Yes, you’ve made your point on that.”
“Am I wrong?”
“Not entirely…”
Hannah lost it again, laughing so hard she had tears in her eyes as she reached for Callie.
Equal parts annoyed and amused, Landon handed the baby over to her mother.
“So what’s your plan?”
“I’m going to ask her if she’d like to go out to dinner.”
“That’s it?”
“That’s not enough?”
“No, Landon,” she said, sounding exasperated. “That’s not enough. You have to make it clear to her that you’re asking her out on a date. Not just to consume a meal outside your own four walls. Please tell me you see the difference.”
“I do,” he said, laughing at the way she spoke to him as if he were five rather than twenty-seven. “I get it. I hear you, and I’ll make sure she knows it’s a date.”
“How’re you going to do that?”
Landon had to think about that for a second. “What if I tell her I really enjoyed the last time we went out together, and I’ve been waiting for her to feel up to doing it again? And would she like to pick up where we left off before the fire by going out to dinner tonight.”
“That’s pretty good.”
“Only pretty good?”
She gave him a calculating look that made him feel a tiny bit sorry for his brother-in-law, Nolan, who didn’t stand a chance against Hannah. Case in point: the baby moose living on their property. If Hannah had her way, Dexter would be sleeping between her and Nolan. He’d drawn the line at allowing the moose inside the house. “Stop at the grocery store and get flowers to take home to her. Tell her you were thinking of her while you were out and were hoping you could talk her into an actual out-of-the-house date tonight.”
“That’s a good idea.”
“Do you need me to write that down for you?”
He shot her a withering look. “I’m good. Thanks.”
“If you really care about her, Landon, show her. Show her in everything you do and say. Make it obvious to her. This is no time for games or foolishness. There’s nothing keeping her here once her ankle is better. The clock is ticking. If you want her to stay, you need to play all your cards. Right now.”
“I hear you, and I agree. I know what I need to do.”
“And you’ll let me know first thing tomorrow how it went, right?”
He rolled his eyes. “Maybe not first thing.”
“First thing or no more free advice, and I have a feeling you’re going to need much more advice before you make the close with this woman.”
Landon waggled his brows at her. “Once I ‘make the close,’ your services will no longer be needed. Trust me on that.”
“Ew. Don’t be gross.”
“Nothing gross about it. Got lots of satisfied customers who can attest to that.”
“Get out of my house. Right now.”
Laughing, Landon stood, rinsed his mug and put it in the sink.
The phone rang, and Hannah took the call. “Hey, Tweedledee. Funny you should call while I’ve got Tweedledum here with me, and he’s extra dumb today.”
Landon glared at her even as he wanted to laugh. Under no circumstances could he confirm for Hannah that she was funny.
“Lucas says he has news, and I have to put the phone on speaker so we can both hear.” She pressed a button. “Are you there?”
“I’m here,” Lucas said.
“How you feeling?” Landon asked.
“Good. Dani and I have been sitting on some news for a few days.”
“Abbotts don’t sit on news.”
“I can’t believe we actually kept a lid on this one. We’re engaged.”
Hannah let out a scream that startled Callie. “It’s good news, baby girl! Uncle Lucas found someone to take him off our hands.”
“Very funny,” Lucas said, sounding elated. “We told Mom and Dad when it happened, but we wanted to talk to Dani’s parents and take a few days to ourselves before we told everyone else.”