I hear the breath leave his lungs before his whispered request, “Can I hold you?” he asks, his voice soft and gruff. “Nothing else, you can trust me.”
“I-I’ve never done this. I’ve never slept with anyone else,” I confess, giving him a piece of me that no one else has. What he doesn’t know is that my statement has a double meaning.
“Come here.” He doesn’t give me a chance to object as he moves in closer, and I find that I’m drawn to him, and I easily turn to give him my back, letting him wrap his arms around me. “Much better,” he says over a yawn.
As each minute passes, my body relaxes further into his. For the first time in my life, I feel safe and protected. Seen. I owe that to the man who slumbers peacefully behind me. He’s been asleep for a while, but his hold on me is tight. Even in his sleep, he’s keeping me close. It’s with that thought I finally let sleep claim me.
There have been many times in my life where I’ve woken up startled by the feeling that I’m being watched. This time, the feeling is different. I can feel his eyes on me, and his hand that rests on my hip. There is no panic or even regret for sleeping in his bed last night. It’s the best night’s sleep I’ve had in my entire life.
“Morning, beautiful,” he murmurs as my eyes flutter open.
“Hi,” I say, closing my eyes and burrowing into him.
His deep chuckle vibrates his chest. “Do you work today?”
“No. I’m off.”
“Good. I want to spend the day with you, and there’s something I need to talk to you about.”
That has me lifting my head to look at him. “Everything okay?” I ask hesitantly.
“Yes. Everything is perfect. I’m going to order us some room service and grab a shower.”
“You don’t have to do that—”
“Stop right there,” he says before I can continue. “You’re mine for the day, Layla. Let me order us some food, and we can talk while we eat.”
“Okay.” I nod, because when you have a man like Owen who insists on spending the day with you, you don’t pass that up. It’s something I’ve quickly learned.
After a swift press of his lips to my forehead, he climbs out of bed. I watch as he calls to order room service, and again he orders way more food than the two of us could possibly eat before he disappears into the bathroom. My mind races with what he could want to talk about. Knowing Owen, it’s going to be something he feels like is good for me. Something else that has him helping me. I’m grateful for him, but at the same time, I know that I can’t lean on him too much. I can’t get used to him being there for me day in and day out. He’s only passing through. He’s going to be leaving soon, going back home to Nashville, and I’ll be here all on my own again.
Distance.
No matter how much I want to spend the day with him today, I just can’t. I’m already letting myself get attached to him. I’m getting used to having him to lean on, and I can’t do that. Jumping out of bed, I gather my things, and I’m almost to the door when the bathroom door opens.
“Layla.”
I freeze at the sound of my name. “Thank you for everything,” I say with my back toward him. “I’ve taken up enough of your time and generosity,” I say, hoping my voice sounds strong and confident when I feel anything but.
I feel his hands land on my hips, and the smell of his body wash surround me. “Where are you going, baby?” he asks, his lips next to my ear.
“H-Home. I was going home.”
“We have plans.” He presses his lips to my cheek, and the scratch of his beard against my skin causes me to melt into him. It’s a feeling I will always associate with Owen, long after he’s out of my life.
“I’ve leaned on you enough. Thank you, but it’s best if I go.”
Before I know what’s happening, he’s stepping in front of me, and his big hands are cupping my cheeks. “I want you to lean on me, Layla. I want you where I am, and I never want you to leave.” His voice is raw, as if his confession took extreme effort.
There’s a knock at the door followed by “Room service.”
“Go sit down. I promised you breakfast and conversation.” His lips press to my forehead, and it’s familiar. Forehead kisses are his thing.
My heart tells me to do as I’m told while my head is telling me to run. My heart wins as I turn and walk back to the small table in his suite and take a seat. I don’t know what he wants to talk about, but he’s adamant. I’ll give him his chance to talk and get whatever it is off his chest. Then I’ll go back to my small rundown apartment and dream about the best night of my life.
Chapter 9
Owen
I open the door to accept the room service, all while my heart is beating like a bass drum in my chest. One more minute and I would have missed her. She would have slipped out quietly, and I would have lost her. Sure, I know where she lives and where she works, but something deep in my gut tells me that if she had walked out of the door, that would have been it. Her walls would be up, and my chances of knocking them down would be slim to none.
“Thank you.” I tip the young man delivering our food and close the door. “You hungry?” I ask her.
She nods. “Thank you. I’ll never be able to repay you for all that you’ve done for me.”
“Eat,” I say, handing her a plate. “Starting now, no more thank yous. No more how will I ever repay you. From this moment forward, you accept that I do what I do because I want to. I’m on your team, Layla.”
“I’ve never had a team,” she replies softly.
Fuck. “Now you do.” Grabbing a plate, I begin to pile it up. We eat in silence for several long minutes until I can’t take it a moment longer. I need to talk to her about this. “So, I have a proposition for you.”
“You’re not getting my bacon,” she says, pointing said strip of bacon at me. It makes me smile to see her happy and indulging.
“I won’t take your bacon,” I assure her. “It’s actually a job opportunity.”
“What? Is this some kind of Pretty Woman set up? I hang out with you while you’re here, and then you leave?” she asks. I can hear not only the pain but the disappointment in her voice.
“Not even close.” Reaching across the small table, I cover her hand with mine. “I want you to come and work for me and my brothers at our company.”
“What?” she breathes.
“Come work for us. I’ve already talked to my brother Royce. He’s the oldest and the CEO. He’s on board. His fiancée, Sawyer, she’s taking on more work from me and my other three brothers, and Royce hates that she’s working so much. He wants her to slow down not take on more. He wants a family, they both do, and you coming to work for us, taking some of the workload from her shoulders will help everyone out.” I pause, letting my words sink in. “And I’ll get to see you every day.”
“Owen, I can’t even process this. You want me to come and work for you? In Nashville? In Tennessee?” she asks.