“Any good? He’s gifted!”
“I know. He met Jilly, fell in love with her and they’ve been together ever since.”
“And now they’re married?”
“No. But they are a permanent couple nonetheless. And, this being Virgin River—meaning it’s very small and very nosy—people ask them constantly when they’re going to get married. They’ve been together in that big house for years. I don’t know why they haven’t married and as far as I’m concerned, it doesn’t matter. Kelly, Jilly’s sister, is married.”
“To a film writer, I was told,” Kaylee said. “She’s very proud of him.”
“Then there’s the preacher,” he went on, giving her the scoop on how Noah came to town to fulfill the needs of a church he bought on eBay and how he fell in love with the church secretary, a former exotic dancer.
“This town doesn’t look nearly as interesting as it really is at first glance,” she said, laughing.
* * *
Three days later, after only seeing Landry on the porch or in the yard, she asked him if he was interested in joining her for dinner and he readily accepted. They had drinks on her porch at sunset before dinner and then coffee on the porch afterward. She always sat on the swing and he lounged in the porch chair, a rocker, next to the swing.
The next day Kaylee could see that he was busy and she watched as the owners of his three dog trainees came to pick up their pets. Landry spent at least an hour with each of them in the yard, going through the training commands, directing the dogs to heel, turn, sit, down, stay in place. She watched it all from her porch—from a safe distance, while trying to write. She noted that the owners didn’t leave without handshakes and hugs. There was such a sense of joy around their well-behaved dogs.
She was surprised when there was a knock at her door at about eight that evening. She opened the door to Landry, who held up a bottle of wine. “Care to see the stars come out?”
“Look at you, armed with incentive!”
“I was paying attention to what you like,” he said.
“Then let’s open it and watch for the stars. Have you eaten?”
“By the time I finished with the dogs I was starving so I stuffed down a sandwich. Have you eaten?”
“A couple of hours ago.”
They took their usual seats on the porch. The sun was just sinking below the horizon.
“I have an arts festival in Oregon this weekend,” Landry said. “I’m going to stay over but the following weekend I’ll be in Grace Valley for their Art Walk. That’s close enough that I’ll be coming home at night, but late. You should consider checking it out. You might like it.”
“I’ll plan on it.”
“I have four shows in a row. September and October are my busiest months; there’s a lot to get ready and pack up. But with the dogs gone, I hope we can still fit in the occasional dinner. And I think it’s time, Kaylee. Time for you to get a little closer to Otis.”
“Oh, I bet Otis doesn’t mind that I haven’t been in his bubble…”
“Tomorrow. I’ll make spaghetti. My father’s recipe, which is open the jar and heat it up. Can you come over at four? You and Otis will meet and I’ll reward your courage with dinner.”
Her first thought was that she probably wouldn’t have much of an appetite if she was sharing space with a dog.
“Be brave. You’ll be so glad you did.”
“I wouldn’t be too sure.”
In the end, she agreed. But she wasn’t doing it because she wanted to conquer her fear of dogs. She was doing it because she loved spending time with Landry.
* * *
Kaylee knew she was wound a little too tight when she knocked on Landry’s door. He opened it and immediately pulled her hand into both of his.
“Sweaty palms,” he said. “I think we’ll begin to end that now. There is Otis.” He pointed to the mat behind him where Otis sat, alert and patient. “I told him you have a nervous condition and to wait on his mat until he’s called.”
“I’m sure he understood every word.”
“Sometimes it seems so. Now I want you to look at him and say his name and that he should come.” She was frozen silent. “It’s okay, Kaylee. I’m right here.”
“Otis, come,” she said very softly. The dog slowly walked toward her.
“You might want to give him a soft pat and tell him he’s good.”