Landon (The Love Family Series Book 5) (10 page)

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Authors: KATE ALLENTON

BOOK: Landon (The Love Family Series Book 5)

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Chapter 16

Landon smiled for the pictures at all the right times during the rehearsal dinner and ignored the onslaught of love that floated around the room. His brothers and sisters were all happy and it wasn’t that he begrudged them their relationships. It was that he envied them and what they had, and had found. He’d had it too...once.

“You know you’re a stubborn ass,” Avery said, sliding up next to him at the bar.

“I’ve been called worse,” he mumbled, lifted the beer to his lips, and took a long, hard pull.

“Have you heard from her?”

Landon shook his head. “No, and I checked the hotels; I don’t think they plan to come for the wedding.” He glanced at Avery. “Nice try, though. I knew you meant well, and I love you for that.”

“Are you going to go get her?”

Landon gave Avery a lopsided grin. “I’m going to do more than that, but not until after the wedding. I’m not sure the family would survive if I bailed on another.”

Landon pulled the ring box out of his pocket and slid it across the bar, making Avery squeal in delight, a sound he rarely heard from his soon-to-be sister-in-law. “That was a new sound. I think Sky and Olivia are rubbing off on you.”

Avery gave a playful bump to Landon’s shoulder and opened the box. Her eyes smiled with approval and delight. “It’s okay, if you like big diamonds,” Avery teased. “Personally, I love mine more.”

“As you should,” Reed announced, walking up behind her and wrapping his arms around her waist. “So, do you think she’ll take you back? You know it’s been a month. She may have gotten over you already and moved on.”

“Don’t listen to him, Lan. I have a feeling you might be surprised.” Avery turned in Reed’s arms and kissed him on the lips.

“You two need to get a room and let me drink my beer in peace.”

Avery closed the ring box and handed it back to Landon. “You know, I believe giving her that ring will be the smartest thing you’ve ever done.”

Landon chuckled and turned to face his family. “You know, I’ve trampled through the jungle, dodging bullets at my back. I’ve fought some of the baddest of the bad, and during those times, I wasn’t scared in the least bit.” He lifted the ring box. “But this…” He shoved the box into the pocket inside his coat. “The thought of waiting for her answer…scares the shit out of me.”

“Well, you know Mom will have a fit if you don’t follow tradition and propose like the rest of us…in the backyard.”

Landon chuckled, he officially felt at home for the first time in a long time. “Sorry, bro. I have to grab the opportunity wherever I can. I’m not sure she’s ever coming back to the island, and to be honest…I’d go with her to the ends of the earth.”

Edward pulled the SUV up behind all of the other cars in front of the Love family house. Alice twisted her sweaty palms in her lap as butterflies did the tango in her stomach.

“Are you sure they said we were invited?” Alice asked nervously. “Maybe we should just wait till the wedding.”

“Don’t be ridiculous,” he answered.

“I already spoke to Avery,” Emily answered. “She’s expecting us.”

Alice gave a slow nod and let out a shaky breath. “I don’t know if I can do this.”

“Of course you can. We’re both with you.” Edward reached for Alice’s hand and gaze a slow squeeze.

Within a second, the passenger door flew open, and Avery popped her head in. “Too late to make a run for it.” She grinned and reached in to unbuckle Alice’s belt. She pulled her out and hugged her. “Thank you for coming.”

“I wouldn’t miss it.” Alice smiled at her friend.

“Landon is in the back. You can go around the house if you want, and I’ll take Edward and Emily inside. I’m sure Landon and you have plenty to talk about, and I’ll keep the others at bay until you’re ready.”

“Thanks.” Alice smiled and headed into the yard to round the house, leaving her siblings to fend for themselves.

She stepped around the corner and found Landon at one of the tables nursing a beer. His eyes cut to her, and he slowly rose from his seat.

“What are you doing here?”

Alice closed the distance, stopping a foot away before she answered. “Avery threatened sure death if I…we didn’t come.”

Landon’s lips turned down at the corner.

“I can go…” She hitched her thumb over her shoulder. “If you don’t want me here, I can leave.”

Landon’s brows dipped. “I want you here, but if you’d rather go…I hope you say no.”

Alice’s heart lifted at that moment as she stared into Landon’s blue eyes. “I want to stay.”

Landon reached for her waist and pulled her flush against his body and wrapped his arms around her. “Thank God.” He kissed her hair. “I was coming for you after the wedding.”

“You were?”

“Yeah, I had to ask you a question.”

“Why didn’t you just call?”

Landon looked down into her confused face and kissed her lips in a kiss that made her body relax into his. “I wouldn’t have been able to do that.”

She smiled. “So you wanted to play kissy face?”

“I want more than that. I want forever.”

“What?” she asked breathlessly.

“I love you, Alice Page, and letting you go was the worst decision of my life. I plan to rectify that if you’ll have me.”

Landon released her, dropped to his knee, and pulled out the ring box, not one for wasting time. “Alice, all this time I’ve told you that I had you, that all you had to do was call. Well, the truth was you’ve got me. You’ve always had me, and I hope that I’ll have you.”

Hope blossomed and filled her heart. A tear gathered in her eye.

“Marry me. I don’t care where we live, where we go, none of that matters if I can have you by my side. You’re better than my fantasy of the flower rain. You’re my everything.”

Landon pulled the ring out and held it up. “Please say yes.”

“You’re sure about this?” she asked, her voice a whisper.

“Absofuckinglutely.” He grinned.

Alice nodded and grinned, holding out her hand. Landon slipped the gold into place and rose, pulling her into his arms in a kiss that was long and well overdue. He spun her around and rained kisses on her face before he put her back on her feet.

“Wait…how did you know I’d be here? How did you plan the ring?”

“I bought it my first day back, and I’ve carried it with me ever since. I didn’t lie when I said I was coming for you. I had every intention of finding you and whisking you away. Nothing would have stopped me from trying to win you back.”

“You never lost me, Landon.” Alice cupped his cheek. “I’ve always got your back. I love you, Landon.”

“I love you more, baby. Be my family.”

She nodded through the tears that slipped free. “Absofuckinglutely.”

Landon smiled, and cheers broke out from both the families that had moved and waited patiently on the patio. Hoots and hollers from his brothers and squeals from the girls came from the direction of the house. This day had been about Avery and Reed, and now…they truly had a reason to celebrate. Landon was one hundred percent in love and whole once again.

The End.

Thank you for taking the time to read my stories. As always I appreciate each and every one of you. If you liked it and have a moment, please leave a review on Amazon.

I hope you enjoyed Landon’s story as much as I enjoyed writing it. Stay tuned for the Love cousins coming soon. Alexis, Gabe, and Jackson have their own stories to tell, and I can’t wait to share them with you. If you’d like to continue reading, you can order Alexis by clicking
HERE.

Text KATE to 313131 and get a text message on release dates!

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