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I pause.

“Sam?”

If I go out with Tommy, are people going to think I’m basically jumping from one brother to the next with no thought?

The Landens are one of the most well-respected families in Greenstone. Quite possibly the one with the most influence.

Everyone’s going to think I’m—

No. You didn’t date Jacksy. You were each other’s helper and you carpooled a couple of times. And Tommy hasn’t asked you out, Sam.

“Everything okay?” Tommy asks, his brow knitted in concern.

I mentally give myself a shake and plaster on a smile. “Never better, I just thought I left my highlighters back at my place.”

“We can head back so you can get them. We won’t miss anything vital, I can promise you that.”

Pushing down the guilt that wants to surface, I wave him off as best I can while holding two drinks. “No, they’re in my case, I remember now.”

“Okay, then let’s see if Sharon has music this year to help keep us all awake.” He gives me a warm smile, but there’s a little concern lingering in his eyes. Not judgment. Lord knows I’m an expert at spotting that in a man’s eyes.

Tonight isn’t even a date. We’re going out with a group after a council meeting, seriously, Sam. It’s time to focus on the meeting that’s about to start.

The conference room door is propped open for everyone and this time we’re in a smaller one with only one table instead of two pushed together.

“I’ll grab chairs for us,” Tommy says as he sets down his drinks and nods his head for me to set my things down next to his.

“Thank you,” I tell him, remembering my manners.

Stop trying to panic over nothing, Samantha Davies.

Plus, you didn’t date Jackson. You went to things together so you could network and he didn’t look like a grump in the corner. But what if people think I’m taking advantage of the Landen brothers somehow? My gaze darts around the room, trying not to get too paranoid.

Tommy is already talking to Mr. Barnett as I smile at Hank and give Sharon a wave. Taking a slow breath, I focus on unpacking my things and laying them out neatly on the table.

Without interrupting my organizing, Tommy tucks a chair under the table for me before he sits down. He even situates things so I can be in the front. I glance back at him, still chatting with Mr. Barnett who puts his chair on the other side of Tommy.

As usual, Tommy pulls out three different color pens and his hardback and travel-sized notebook. I have to bite down a little on my lip to not smile at how organized he is. This isn’t the first time I’ve noticed he always seems to have a notebook in his front pocket and from our work with Avery on our co-op, I know that he color-codes notes and reports.

“Sam?” Tommy’s voice pulls me back into the conversations happening around me.

“Pardon?” I ask reflexively, my feet shuffling a little so I’m facing him as I hope I didn’t miss anything too big.

He gives a little smile. “Have you tried these?” He holds up a Barnett’s Farm jar filled with pepper flakes. Just the thought of the spice they’re packing has my gut twist in warning.

“Oh sorry, my mind was elsewhere. No, I haven’t. They look incredible. How long do you have to process them before they’re ready to go out?” I ask Mr. Barnett, diving right into engaging in the conversation.

“It’s pretty efficient now that we have special trays so we can do them in big batches in our ovens,” he replies.

“That’s a great system to have in place.”

He beams at me. “That was Chase’s idea.”

“Smart son,” I say.

“That he is.”

“If I can have your attention, I’ll get this show on the road,” Sharon calls out to the seven of us.