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“Um, I guess so?” Layla asks, looking at me.
I laugh and offer her a reassuring smile. “I told you I was a workaholic. This is all new to me, baby.” I don’t bother to lower my voice or hide my term of endearment, and the way her eyes widen tell me she noticed.
“So, Layla, did Owen talk to you about our offer?” Royce asks.
I watch as her head slowly turns toward the screen of my phone. “We need the help. This one won’t stop taking on projects from my idiot brothers.” Royce grins, pulling Sawyer into his lap.
“He just told me.”
“Good. Are you joining the Riggins family?” Royce asks.
I don’t miss the way his eyes flash to mine. His words have a double meaning, and we all know it. Well, maybe not Layla. She’s still uncertain. I know this is all fast, but I know what I want. I want Layla.
“It would be nice to keep my future husband off my back in regard to working too much.”
“He used to be the same way before he met you,” I tell Sawyer. It’s not news to her, but I like seeing the way her eyes soften when she hears the way my big brother has changed his life for her. He’s a better man with Sawyer in his world, he knows it too.
“I’ve never done that kind of work,” Layla tells them. Her eyes are still glued to the screen of my phone. “I’ve only ever been a waitress.”
“Pfft.” Sawyer waves her hand in the air. “If you can keep up with a bunch of whiny customers, the Riggins brothers will be a breeze.” She laughs when Royce tickles her side. “No, really, you can do it. It’s nothing crazy, and Royce and I have talked a lot about this. You could take over the reception desk while I continue on with my support projects for each of them. It would be answering phones and taking care of their schedules and other minor tasks. We will eventually train you so that you are more support for me as well.”
“You don’t know me. How can you just offer me this job so easily?”
Royce and Sawyer give Layla their full attention. Sawyer opens her mouth to speak, but Royce beats her to it. “I know my brother. I know that if you weren’t important to him in some way, that he wouldn’t be bringing you into our family. We’re more than just a corporation. Riggins Enterprises is our family. The five of us have devoted our lives to this company just as our father did before us. If Owen wants you there, if he believes in you, then we believe in you too.”
I see the tears as they begin to well in her eyes. “I have a lot to think about. Thank you for your generosity.”
“Call me if you want to talk about the job,” Sawyer tells her as her eyes flash to me. “Or Owen. I know a little bit about handling the Riggins brothers. Owen, give her my number, will you?” she asks sweetly.
“Yeah.” I chuckle. “I’ll give her your number.”
“You coming home soon?” Royce asks.
“Yeah, day after tomorrow.” He nods.
“It was so nice to meet you, Layla. I hope you’ll be working with us,” Sawyer says, waving at the camera.
“You as well. Thank you again,” Layla replies.
“I’ll see you two soon,” I say with a wave, ending the call, and tossing my phone on the bed.
“They seem really nice,” Layla comments.
“They are. So, what do you say, Lay? You coming home with me?”
“Can I think about it?”
“You can. I leave the day after tomorrow. I hope that you’re on the plane with me. Hell, we can rent a car and drive back so that we can bring your stuff with us, or we can ship it, whatever you feel like you want to do. I don’t care as long as I know you’re coming home with me.”
“What about Ronnie and Linda? They gave me a job and their time and friendship when I had no one.”
“We can come back and visit them as often as you want. They can even come and stay with us in Tennessee. I have five bedrooms in my house. There’s plenty of room.”
“Five?” She gasps. “Why do you have five bedrooms when you live alone?”
I brush her hair back out of her eyes. “Because I want a family one day. I had almost given up hope that I would find someone I’d want to spend all of my days with, then I found you.”
“Those are strong words, Owen Riggins.”
I place her hand over my heart. “I know they are. I’m not a man who says things he doesn’t mean.” Leaning in, I kiss the corner of her mouth and her breath hitches. No matter how badly I want to devour her and have her taste on my tongue, I need to remember to take things slowly. Without a doubt, Layla is worth it.
