Thief at Heart [On Hold.]

Chapter 4

I couldn't help myself. I just had to go on with my incredibly romantic view of love.

"There's one thing - just one thing," I said to Landon, "that could tear and bring people together - love."

"Why am I not surprised?" drawled Landon.

"Shutup," I told him, "I'm talking - so you don't talk."

"Yes, ma'am." He snapped a salute.

I rolled my eyes and continued: "As I was saying, it really just - "

"Excuse me, master, lunch has been prepared." Lyndsy stepped into the room, curtseyed, shot me a hateful look and left.

"Great. I love how you people just continuously cut me off. It's almost like you don't want to hear about love and it's beauti - "

"Oh," Landon said loudly, "lunch! Great!"

My mouth knotted and I said nothing, just stood and left the room. I was halfway down the stairs when I realized that Landon was following me. I stopped abruptly, expecting him to fall down the stairs. No such luck. Instead, he gave me tiny push. I toppled forward and lurched three steps down. I squeezed my eyes shut and prepared myself for the falll.

I felt the cool grasp at my wrist before I realized that I had stopped falling. Opening my eyes one at a time, I saw Landon smirking. One of his arms was spread wide, as if waiting for a hug. I realized he expected me to thank him for catching me.

MY ASS.

Especially not after that idiot pushed me down the stairs!

I slapped his arm with all the strength I could muster.

Landon jumped back, as if scalded. "Ouch! Damn! That hurt!"

I gave him my most sarcastic look. "No shit, sherlock. Not like that was my intention. I could have fell to my death with you pushing me down the stairs. Landon Tane, you should be ashamed of yourself, shoving a young woman - "

"Did I just hear a curse word?"

I paused, looked around, saw nothing, and continued. "As I was saying - what was I saying?"

"Did I, or did I not hear a curse word?"

Looking around again, I noted where the voice was coming from. The round, old woman who had told me to cut up meat in the kitchen. I glanced at Landon incredulously. He was looking at the woman with a smirk.

Then he raised his arm and pointed a finger directly at me. "It was her, Janice."

I shrugged. "So?"

The woman looked at me like I had a demon peeking out of my mouth. "What on earth... Young lady, you had...Wait! I remember you!"

I put a hand to my mouth in a gasp. "Do you? I'm honored."

She glared at me, no longer looking like the sweet, apple-cheeked old woman I had seen yesterday. Then she raised her weapon. For half a second, I flinched back, then I saw it and laughed out loud.

"A fly swatter? Really? You're going to kill me with a fly swatter?"

Landon brushed past me. As he did, he muttered in my ear, "Don't provoke her. Don't argue. Just apologize. And when she threatens to wash your mouth out with soap, don't fight it."

I turned around to him incredulously, hissing, at his back, "Wash my mouth out?" He just kept walking to the dining room. I scowled and faced the old woman again. "What is it?" I asked her, irritated.