Landon (A Next Generation Carter Brother Novel Book 3) Read online

  LANDON

  A Next Generation Carter Brother Novel

  Book Three

  Lisa Helen Gray

  ©

  Copyrights reserved

  2018

  Lisa Helen Gray

  Edited by Stephanie Farrant at Bookworm Editing Services

  Cover Design by Cassy Roop at Pink Ink Deisgns

  No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopy, recording, or any information storage and retrieval system without the prior written consent from the publisher, except in the instance of quotes for reviews. No part of this book may be scanned, uploaded, or distributed via the Internet without the publisher’s permission and is a violation of the international copyright law, which subjects the violator to severe fines and imprisonment.

  This book is licensed for your enjoyment. E-book copies may not be resold or given away to other people. If you would like to share with a friend, please buy an extra copy. Thank you for respecting the author’s work.

  This is a work of fiction. Any names, characters, places and events are all products of the author’s imagination. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business or establishments is purely coincidental.

  FAMILY TREE

  CHAPTER ONE

  CHAPTER TWO

  CHAPTER THREE

  CHAPTER FOUR

  CHAPTER FIVE

  CHAPTER SIX

  CHAPTER SEVEN

  CHAPTER EIGHT

  CHAPTER NINE

  CHAPTER TEN

  CHAPTER ELEVEN

  CHAPTER TWELVE

  CHAPTER THIRTEEN

  CHAPTER FOURTEEN

  CHAPTER FIFTEEN

  CHAPTER SIXTEEN

  CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

  CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

  CHAPTER NINETEEN

  CHAPTER TWENTY

  CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

  CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO

  CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE

  CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR

  CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE

  CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX

  CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN

  CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT

  CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE

  CHAPTER THIRTY

  CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE

  EPILOGUE

  AUTHOR’S NOTE

  OTHER TITLES by Lisa Helen Gray

  About the Author

  FAMILY TREE

  (AGES ARE SUBJECTED TO CHANGE THROUGHOUT BOOKS)

  Maverick & Teagan

  - Faith engaged to Beau

  -Lily

  -Mark

  -Aiden is with Bailey

  Mason & Denny

  -Hope

  -Ciara

  -Ashton

  Malik & Harlow

  -Maddison (Twin 1)

  -Maddox (Twin 2)

  -Trent

  Max & Lake

  -Landon (M) (Triplet 1)

  -Hayden (F) (Triplet 2)

  -Liam (M) (Triplet 3)

  Myles & Kayla

  -Charlotte

  -Jacob

  Evan (Denny’s brother) & Kennedy

  -Imogen

  -Joshua

  CHAPTER ONE

  PAISLEY

  Today had been a trying day. Not only had I woken up with high glucose levels, my vision blurry, and feeling tired and worn out, but the Family of the Year competition had taken place at Noah’s park.

  The family day, organised by the town’s council and other organisations, could have been a day to take my mind off my illness. However, my brothers used the potentially fun-filled day to compete with the Carter family, making the whole event stressful.

  Personally, I think their rivalry is a load of crock. If they got their heads out of their arses for five minutes, they’d see they have a lot in common.

  Smothering female members of their families, being one.

  Wyatt, one of my eldest brothers, snaps at the nurse to be careful. I sigh, giving the nurse an apologetic look.

  “Don’t give her those sorry eyes. She nearly took my eye out,” he growls at me.

  Today didn’t end up well for anybody. Bailey, a sweet girl I had met at Family of the Year, who was dating Aiden Carter, was badly beaten. Four girls had kept me from helping her—not that I would have been much help. With my glucose levels rising, I’d needed my insulin, so I was already feeling weak when the girls cornered us.

  Now, Bailey is upstairs, heading into surgery. Seven of my brothers are in the waiting room, in possession of evidence that will send the girls away for a very long time.

  I clutch my stomach, still feeling sick over the bits I heard them talking about when they thought I was out of earshot.

  Wyatt, my only brother not in the waiting room, is being treated for a watermelon incident. He had been part of a competition to see who could put the most elastic bands on their watermelon before it exploded. A group of women on the side-lines—according to Ashton—distracted him, so he missed his chance to duck before it exploded, and bits of the melon and its seeds got into his eyes. They were inflamed, red, and looked irritated.

  “You don’t need to be so rude,” I whisper-hiss, glancing at the nurse briefly. Her shoulders shake with silent laughter. Not that I blame her. Wyatt has been a grouch since he walked in, hating the fact they wouldn’t let him come with me until they treated his eye.

  “Whatever. This shit stings. Is it done?” he asks the nurse sharply.

  “Won’t be long,” she tells him softly, amusement in her tone.

  I smile inwardly. I like her. Anyone who doesn’t take crap from my brothers, I like. They tend to intimidate everyone around them.

  Placing a hand on his shoulder, I nudge him, forcing him to glance away from the nurse’s behind. “I came to see if you were heading home or going upstairs to waiting room and joining the rest of them.”

  I don’t dare tell him I’m leaving because then he’d feel inclined to come with me. And I need a breather. They’ve been smothering me far too much lately, and I just want some freedom. They don’t think I can take care of myself, and I admit, there have been times in the past when I’ve forgotten to check my levels or take my insulin. But none of it was ever intentional. I genuinely lost track of time. But with my brothers, you’d think I did it on purpose and, therefore, needed to be put on suicide watch—so to speak.

  They took over the role of guardian when our dad died in a boating accident. He had left for a stag weekend with his long-time friend, Larry. The fishing trip took a turn for the worse, and only one out of eight men survived that day.

  Our mum was a little lost for the first few years after he died, so my eldest brother, Jaxon, raised me. I had only been ten at the time and was struggling to cope with the loss; so, they stepped up. I’ll always be grateful to them for it. I loved my dad, was a complete daddy’s girl.

  When my mum got better, their protective instincts didn’t lessen any. They just got worse as I grew older and began to develop.

  “I’m going to head up. Did you want to grab something to eat before we do?” he asks, rubbing my arm.

  “I already ate and all my tests are perfect. I was fine not long after having my injection,” I tell him.

  “Reid said he had to give you a higher dosage,” he tells me, something I already know.

  “I don’t want to talk about this,” I tell him grumpily.

  He grins, then hisses when the nurse runs a cotton swab along the bottom of his eye.

  I inwardly smile. I shouldn’t enjoy it, but it’s bringing me satisfaction to see him act like a baby.

  “I’m g
onna head upstairs. Those Carter’s are unpredictable. It will be worse if they’re grieving.”

  I scoff. “She’s not dead, Wyatt. And don’t you always say they’re predictable and that’s why they can never beat you?”

  He watches me for a moment, reading me. “If I didn’t know any better, I’d say you were sticking up for them. You know we don’t like them.”

  “Doesn’t mean I have to dislike them,” I argue, feeling myself getting worked up.

  “Which one do you like?” he asks sharply, trying to sit up.

  I roll my eyes and push him back down on the bed. “Just let the nurse do her job. I just came by to tell you I’m leaving.”

  He relaxes back into the bed. “Good. That means you won’t be around them. Are the twins going with you?”

  My youngest siblings are both mentally challenging. They have such high IQ’s, their teachers didn’t know what to do with them when they were at school. They also can’t sit still, always needing something to do—mostly getting into trouble since living like normal people bores them to death.

  My shoulders slump. I should have brought them with me. Knowing the twins, they’ll impersonate doctors and treat someone, or worse, try to operate on each other.

  It wouldn’t be the first time they’ve wandered off and caused mayhem at a hospital. They’ve had plenty of chances to get imaginative with the amount of times I’ve spent inside one.

  “No. My taxi will be here soon. Mum is waiting for me,” I explain. The taxi isn’t booked, but if I tell him that, he’ll wait with me, and I just want to go home.

  “You can’t go alone,” he starts to refuse.

  “I love that you care, but I just want to get back. And you’re right, it was getting pretty heated upstairs before I left,” I half lie. It had started to get heated upstairs, but there were people there who had it under control.

  My body warms as I think of Landon Carter. He and my brothers got into it upstairs, but it soon calmed down.

  Before Wyatt can answer, I lean down and kiss his cheek. “See you at home,” I call over my shoulder, waving.

  “Paisley, wait!” he yells, but the nurse shoves him back down on the bed. “Paisley?”

  I ignore his calls and skip down the hall with a satisfied smile on my face.

  My mind wanders back to Landon Carter, the guy who had been my crush for so many years it was a joke. After years of watching, of being envious of his ex-girlfriend, my crush turned into love.

  My heart races a mile a minute whenever I see him, and my stomach flutters with butterflies. He’s all I ever think about.

  His silent treatment towards outsiders—and by outsiders, I mean anyone who isn’t his family—is legendary. He can scare grown men into running away with just his stare and silence. But to me, his silence is deafening. When I look at him, I see anguish and pain. I see a guy who’s inwardly screaming for someone to help him.

  He had always been quiet, kept to himself. But after his girlfriend died, he changed. There’s a solid wall of rage behind those beautiful chocolate eyes, and so much pain it can choke you.

  There have been times I’ve seen them dim, all of them whenever he’s been with his cousin, Charlotte Carter. The bubbly woman can bring light to anyone’s darkness. Her soul shines bright upon the world.

  Still, I get jealous. My crush on Landon has been my secret. Not even my best friend, Adam, knows, and we share everything.

  Sometimes it feels like Landon sees me, too. Other times, he looks right through me. But in those moments he does see me, I feel so many emotions I become dizzy with them and end up making a fool out of myself. It’s why I keep mostly quiet around him, happy to just observe the fine specimen he is.

  Walking outside, the sun is beginning to set. I need to ring a taxi. If we didn’t live in the middle of nowhere, I would walk. But the farm is at least a fifteen-minute drive.

  Looking down at my phone, I’m about to call for a taxi when a cloud of smoke blows into my face.

  I cough, waving the smoke out of my eyes, and gasp at who I come face to face with.

  “Landon,” I greet, my voice raspy. I’m surprised to see him smoking. I didn’t think any of his family did.

  His dark eyes run over me with appraisal, making a shiver run down my spine. With just that one look, he could ask for anything he wanted from me and I’d happily give it to him.

  I swallow past the lump in my throat. He has a round face with high cheekbones, a shadow of hair on his jaw, and the most amazing lips I’ve ever laid eyes on. They’re plump, the lower slightly fuller than the top.

  His biceps bulge against the short-sleeved, black T-shirt he’s wearing, and I know underneath he has washboard abs. I’ve seen this guy play sports with no shirt on. I’ve even seen him down at the lagoon in just his swimming trunks. His body is hard all over.

  “Paisley,” he drawls, glancing behind me. Surprise flickers across his expression before he wipes it. “No entourage with you?”

  “I’m not always with my brothers, you know,” I fire back.

  He grins. “What has you out here? Were you looking for me?”

  God, his voice is sexy, deep, lazy… I shake myself out of it.

  “No. I’m heading home. Just about to call a taxi.”

  “You won’t get one at this time. It’s a Saturday night.” I grumble a curse under my breath. I don’t want to go back upstairs to my brothers. I just want to go home. “Come on. I’ll give you a lift.”

  He wraps his meaty hand around my bicep and pulls me towards the carpark. Once the shock of him touching me wears off, I pull my arm back. “I didn’t agree to that.”

  He stops, turning to give me a pointed stare. “Did you want to go run back to your brothers and ask for a lift home?”

  I narrow my eyes. He’s goading me. Why? I can’t figure that out. This is the most I’ve ever heard him talk. And I’ve known him most of my life.

  “Just show me where your car is,” I mutter, giving in.

  And the only reason I’m giving in is because it’s Landon. If not to spend the fifteen minutes alone with him, then to stare at him whilst he drives.

  He leads me over to a black BMW. I’m not at all surprised by the colour. For some reason, it suits him.

  I hadn’t expected him to open the door for me, so when he does, I begin to swoon. I can feel my cheeks heating and quickly duck into the car before he sees. For once, I want Landon to see the real me. Not the naïve girl who blushes and runs when she’s spoken to.

  I rub my hands up and down my arms. The air has gotten cooler and goose-bumps rise on my arms. I shouldn’t have worn a dress but it’s one of my favourites. It doesn’t make me feel confined like my jeans and tops do. Not that I’d give up my jeans, hell to the no. But sometimes, I just like wearing comfortable clothes.

  “You cold?” he asks, no emotion in his expression.

  “I’ll be fine. It’s not too far away.”

  He grunts, reaching into the back and pulling out a hoodie. He passes it over to me, not even glancing at me once as he continues to start the car.

  I pull the hoodie over my head, sniffing in his scent as I do—a woodsy, spicy smell. I love it.

  Not wanting him to know I’m being creepy by sniffing his jumper, I push my head and arms through and pull it down my body.

  It swamps me.

  I try to take sneaky glances at him, but he must feel my gaze because he turns towards me with a knowing smirk.

  “I’m surprised your brothers let you leave. Don’t they have a tracker on you?” he muses.

  I roll my eyes. “You aren’t any less protective of the females in your family,” I point out.

  He grunts, not denying or admitting it. “Are you going to let them rule your life forever?”

  I shift in my seat so I’m facing him. “Look, I get you have this rival thing going on with my brothers, but don’t pretend to think you know them. You don’t.”

  He gives me a sideways glance, his eyebro
w raised. “Is that right? Your brothers don’t let you have a life. Hell, you even work for them. Isn’t there anything you want to do? Aren’t you bored of being good little Paisley? Don’t you want to let your hair down, just once?”

  Not liking his tone, I grip the door handle. “Stop the car.”

  His grin turns into a snarl. “You don’t like me pointing out the truth?”

  “No, what I don’t like is you thinking you know me.” It hurts to hear he sees me as a boring, submissive girl and not as the woman I am. Yeah, I might not have an extremely interesting life, but I’m still a person.

  He pulls the car over to the side of the road. Thankfully, it’s a deserted one that rarely gets any traffic down it. I don’t even care that I’m still feeling a little weak and tired. Walking the five minutes back home will be worth getting away from him.

  He shuts the car off before glancing in my direction, leaning into my space. My breath hitches and I suck on my bottom lip.

  He tucks a strand of hair behind my ear, and my eyes close briefly. “Paisley, I’m not insulting you.”

  “Yes, you are. I know I’m boring, Landon. I know I’m nothing like the other girls who hang on your arm,” I tell him, hating the times I’ve seen them all over him. “But I’m still a person.”

  Come to think of it, I don’t think I’ve ever seen him kiss a girl other than his ex-girlfriend. It doesn’t mean he hasn’t slept with them though.

  His gaze bores into me. “Thank fuck. I can’t be around them for more than two minutes. You, Paisley Hayes, are different.”

  My cheeks heat at his comment, but I choose to ignore it and instead tease him, hoping it will deflect is compliment. “Two minutes? You don’t last long, then.”

  Lust and the dark promise of something naughty passes across his expression. “Trust me, I last a lot longer than two minutes,” he rasps, running his finger lightly across my jaw. “But I don’t fuck virgins.”

  I blink, wondering if I heard him right. “I’m not a virgin,” I blurt out.