“You started it,” I say, kissing her softly.
“Thank you, Owen.”
“Um, babe, after that, I’m the one that should be thanking you.”
She rolls those baby blues and a smile tilts her lips. “I mean it. I feel alive. Like I’m really living for the first time in my life, and I have you to thank for that.”
I sober my features. “I was living, and I have a great support system, but I didn’t really feel like my life was my own, not until I found you. I work for the family business, and I love it, but it was just something I kind of fell into. Don’t get me wrong, I would never change that, but you, you’re just for me, you know?”
“I’m all yours, Owen Riggins.”
“All mine?” I raise my eyebrows. “Then I should get to do with you as I please,” I say, running my hands down her back to cup her ass.
“Oh no, you don’t, mister. We have to work today. My first day. I can’t be late.” She climbs out of bed and makes her way to the bathroom.
“Hey, Lay,” I call out for her. She sticks her head out the bathroom door. “What if we made other plans?”
“Other plans?”
“Yeah, you know, the ‘stay in bed all day’ kind of plans.”
“Nice try.” She grins.
“Can’t blame a man for trying.” I climb out of bed and gather clothes for after I’ve showered in the bathroom down the hall. I want nothing more than to join her and repay her in spades for what she just gave me, but I know I need to take things slow with her. In fact, I want to. I don’t want to scare her away. If I have my way, she’ll be changing her last name, so we have all the time we need.
I’m sitting at my desk trying to think of a reason to go see Sawyer and, by default, Layla. I can’t concentrate for shit knowing she’s here. It’s not that she’s distracting me. No, she’s been busy with Sawyer all morning in training. A few times I’ll hear their voices or laughter filter down the hall, and I have to force myself to sit here and not go to her. I want to see her smile, catch a glimpse of the way her eyes sparkle and her entire face lights up. I want all of her smiles.
“You look busy.” I hear Royce say from behind me.
Spinning around in my chair from where I’ve been staring out my office window, I nod. “Can’t seem to get my head in the game today.”
“It gets easier,” he assures me. “Took me some time when Sawyer started working here.”
I don’t bother to ask him how he knew what was wrong. I had a front-row seat to him and Sawyer and the push and pull between the two of them. “Yeah, well, you fought it. I’m not fighting her, brother.”
“No.” He chuckles. “I’m glad you learned from my mess-up. But I still know what it’s like to know that your woman is in the building, and all you want to do is get your hands on her, be next to her, but there’s work that needs to be done.”
“That about sums it up,” I admit. I’ve been gone for a few weeks, and the amount of paperwork on my desk is daunting, but I can’t focus.
All I see is her.
Layla.
“Stop!” I hear Sawyer’s laughter ring out. Royce immediately turns and leaves my office, and I know he’s going to her. I understand the pull better now than ever. I know he loves her, but it never really clicked for me until I met Layla. If he can go see them, then so can I. It’s the excuse I’ve been waiting for all damn day.
I’m hot on his heels as we round the corner and find Marshall and Conrad leaning against the desk, their hands waving wildly with smiles on their faces.
“I shit you not,” Conrad says, holding his hands up in front of him.
“H-He s-screamed like a girl,” Marshall barely gets the words out through his laughter.
“What did we miss?” Royce asks, standing with his arms crossed over his chest.
“What are you two? The Men in Black?” Marsh asks.
I look over at Royce and then at myself. I’m standing the exact same way, and we’re both in black suits today.
“No, I’m your boss,” Royce fires back.
“CEO big brother, not my boss.” Marshall wags his finger at Royce.
My eyes find Layla. “What’s so funny, baby?” I’m aware of the stares of my brothers, but I ignore them, keeping my eyes on my girl.
Layla’s eyes soften at the endearment. “Oh, you know, Conrad and Marshall were just telling us about a skiing expedition out on your family’s lake.” She grins.
“It’s been years since I thought about that,” Grant says, joining us.
“Do you all not have work to do?” Royce asks, trying to pretend to be annoyed, but there is zero annoyance in his tone.
“In a minute.” Conrad waves him off. “You remember the one, right, O?” he asks me.
“I remember.” I nod, barely able to keep from cracking a smile. It’s been years, and I can laugh about it now. Back then, I wasn’t impressed.
“So it’s true?” Layla asks.
Another nod. “Unfortunately,” I tell her.
“Why am I just now hearing this one?” Sawyer asks our group.
“We have so many stories,” Grant tells her. “We have to save the really juicy ones to embarrass the others when the time is right. You know, like in front of your new girlfriend.” He gives me a pointed look. He’s baiting me to bite back that she’s not mine, but those words will never pass through my lips. Not when it comes to Layla.
“I was young, probably nine or so, but I still remember O’s white ass shining in the sun, with his shorts around his ankles,” Marshall recalls.
“I’ll give you credit, brother,” Grant chimes in. “You never let go of the rope.”
“Owen’s always been the best skier between all of us,” Royce says, throwing me a bone.
“I’ve never even been on a boat,” Layla tells them.
“What? We need to fix that. Stat,” Conrad tells her.
Her eyes find mine. “Maybe we can go sometime?”
“Baby, my parents have a lake. We can go whenever you want.”
“This weekend?” she asks with hope in her voice.
Again, I feel the stare of my brothers. The lake is sacred, and I know they’re waiting to hear my answer. “Yes. The water will be cold this time of year since it’s early May, but we can take the boat out on the water. You’ll need to wait a few more weeks before we can get you on some skis. You’re used to Florida weather.”
“You’re right. It took me some time coming from Indiana but it was a nice change of pace for sure. We can wait if that’s better.”
“Nah,” Royce chimes in. “We’ve all been itching to get the boat out on the water. You two want some company?” He looks over at me.
“Yeah, I think a day on the water is just what we need.”
“We should call Jase and Sam and see if they want to join us.”
“What about the baby?” Marshall asks.
“Are you kidding me? Between Jase’s mom and his sister, Logan, they will have no trouble finding a sitter.”