Page 5 of Never Fall Again

Was Landry’s husband/Eliza’s father the reason for her fear? It didn’t matter. They were potential clients. Members of the community. Soon-to-be neighbors. Maybe someday they would be friends, but that was all they would ever be.

With his thoughts firmly corralled, he answered her question. “Carla’s married to my oldest brother, Connor. They have four boys. My other brother, Chad, has three boys and one girl. They’re all awesome. And, as a matter of fact, between you and me, Iamtheir favorite uncle.”

Landry mimed zipping her lips.

“But my nephews are so loud that a recording of them could be used to torture political prisoners to great effect. My niece has this high-pitched squeal...” He shook his head at the thought of it. “Thirty minutes of that chaos, and the terrorists would be begging to spill all their secrets.”

Landry laughed. “Not exactly the best way to wind down at the end of the day.”

“Definitely not.”

“But electrocuting trees is?” Her eyes widened. “Seems a bit dangerous.”

“It can be, but that’s only a small fraction of the work that goes into each piece. I spend hours sanding and finishing after that. It’s a long process and quite therapeutic.”

Her eyes shone. “I feel the same way when I’m at my wheel. Sometimes it’s hard work. But sometimes it’s exactly what I need to rein in my emotions and scrub off the day.”

“Do you have a pottery...what’s it called? A studio? And a kiln?”

“Yes. At The Haven. Eliza and I live in a cabin on-site, and my pottery is stored in a small building where my wheel and kilns are set up. We sell the pieces at Favors—that’s the name of the gift shop at The Haven—and they’ve done so well that I’m in a position, financially and otherwise, to have my own place.”

Cal didn’t miss theotherwise.

“What I have at The Haven is wonderful. But I want our own house, a studio I can set up exactly the way I want, more roomto create, and maybe, theoretically”—she stopped talking and mouthed the words—“for a dog.”

Cal zipped his lips and threw away the key.

Landry grinned. “Eliza started kindergarten a few weeks ago. And while The Haven is lovely, it takes a long time to get to town from there. I want to live in a location that’s still private but a bit closer to town, school, and activities. She wants to play soccer in the spring, which means multiple trips to town on certain days.”

“That all makes sense.” Or did it?

The Haven, the source of the feud between the Pierce and Quinn families, was a lush getaway for the rich and famous. With only twenty cabins, the exclusivity appealed to the upper crust of society. The Haven had a zero-tolerance policy for anyone who violated their nondisclosure agreements. Rumors abounded, of course, but few knew for sure which A-list movie stars, musicians, and politicians had found solace at The Haven.

While there, guests could do absolutely nothing, or they could take private classes on everything from rappelling to pottery. That was where Landry Hutton came in. She’d joined The Haven staff three years earlier, and her pottery had quickly become the talk of the town. Her pieces sold for astronomical amounts, and the patrons of The Haven were happy to plunk down their money to have her work shipped to their LA and NYC homes.

Within a few days of Landry’s arrival, Cal had heard about the pretty art teacher who taught pottery, sculpting, and painting lessons. He’d heard she had a little girl. And with the way people gossiped in small towns, he’d heard no husband was in residence.

His interest had been limited to her art, and he wasn’t lying when he told Landry he appreciated her work. The vase he owned was extraordinary, and he’d used the shape to design a similar piece out of wood.

Other than that, he hadn’t given her much thought. But now,with Landry sitting across from him and Eliza doing her best to win Maisy’s heart, he couldn’t help but ask himself what would bring a single mom to an exclusive enclave in the mountains of Western North Carolina, and what would still be haunting her three years later?

Landry Hutton wanted him to build her a house where she could get to town easily but also stay hidden forever.

Why?

Three

Landry couldn’t shake the sensation that Cal Shaw still wasn’t happy about the prospect of having her as a neighbor. The way he looked at her. It wasn’t...unpleasant. But it was intense. Like he was trying to see behind her walls.

There was curiosity in his eyes, and even though he kept his questions to himself, she was certain he would be asking them. Sooner rather than later.

She’d closed that door and rarely spoke of what lie behind it. Nothing in the past needed to be pulled into the present.

“So, Landry.” Cal retrieved a legal pad and pen from a small table between them. “What do you have in mind for your home?”

Whatever questions he had about her personal life, he’d obviously decided to leave alone for now. Landry pulled a sketch from her purse. “I’m not an architect, but this is a general idea.”

Cal took the paper from her and opened it. He didn’t speak, but his face reflected a series of responses that shifted from mild interest to intense scrutiny until he lifted his gaze to hers. “Landry. This is extraordinary. It’s functional and practical without sacrificing elegance and beauty. We’ll need to talk to an architect about a few of these design elements, but I’m sure she can figure out how to make this work.”