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“And the second?”
“When I met you. I used to be just like Royce, working long hours, throwing all I am at my job. I keep to myself. I’m the quiet Riggins brother.” He smiles. “I’ve never wanted more with a woman, not until you limped into my life.” He winks, and I can’t help but smile. “I think we owe it to ourselves to see where this goes. I know you feel it, Lay. I can see it in your eyes, in the way your breathing changes when I’m close.”
I nod. “What if it doesn’t work out? What happens when I give up my steady job to take yours and follow you to Nashville, and you decide it’s not the magic, and the feeling is just a bad case of indigestion?”
He throws his head back in laughter. It’s a deep rich sound that I could listen to all day. His white teeth shine through his thick beard, and I wish I had a camera, or a cell phone I could use to take a picture of him. I want to remember him this way.
“That’s not going to happen. If it makes you feel better, we can draft a contract that ensures your job security.”
“I might suck at it.”
He nods. “You might at first, but you’re a fighter, Lay. I’ve seen you, and from what you’ve told me, you fought to be where you are today. I want to give you a better job, a safe place to live, and share my family with you. I want to give you all that I have to give. I just need you to take a leap of faith and trust the magic.”
My heart pounds so loud I’m sure he can hear it. My eyes sting with tears from his words. I believe him. He wants to be with me. I don’t know why, but I trust him and his words. I just don’t know if it’s the right choice for me. I knew when I left Indiana that I was going to be on my own. I planned for years. I had a plan. This isn’t a plan. This is me leaving the safe haven I’ve made for myself and running off to a land unknown, for all intents and purposes, chasing the fairy tale. That’s exactly what he’s offering me—a fairy tale. A chance to be a part of a family and have my own in him. Maybe not right away, but he claims that’s his end game.
He calls it magic.
“I’ll be here to pick you up after your shift,” he says. He must see the turmoil his words have caused. I don’t know what to do.
“I’d like that,” I confess.
He stands and hands me money. “Lunch is on me, and before you say you get a discount, that’s fine. You use this to pay and keep the rest for the incredible company.”
My legs tremble as I stand and face him. “I’ll see you later.” There is hope in my voice. I know he’ll be here, but I still have that fear of not having a set of strong shoulders to lean on.
“I’ll be here, baby.” He presses a chaste kiss to my lips. “See you soon.” With that, he’s gone, walking out the door, and taking a piece of me with him. He’s offering me everything I’ve ever dreamed of. I’m just worried it’s too good to be true.* * *After Owen left, I was just simply going through the motions. I avoided Linda as much as possible, needing time with my thoughts. The trouble with time is that I’m even more confused than when I clocked in this morning. My heart tells me to take the leap that Owen Riggins is my savior, and my head is telling me that I can only trust myself.
Glancing at the clock, I know he’s going to be here in an hour to pick me up. He’s going to want an answer, he leaves tomorrow, and I don’t know what I’m going to do.
“You done hiding?” Linda asks from behind me.
I sigh and continue to wipe the bar. “I’m not hiding.”
“Avoiding me is hiding, Layla,” she says in what I could imagine would have been her mom voice had she had children. “What’s going on with you?”
“He offered me a job.”
“So you’ve mentioned. What are you thinking?”
“It’s in Nashville. He and his brothers own some kind of logistics company. They need office support.”
“Have you talked about salary?”
“It’s four times what I make here.”
“Wow,” she breathes, leaning against the bar next to me.
“Yep.”
“Tell me where you’re at. What are you thinking? Have you made a pros and cons list?” she asks.
“Cons, leaving you and Ronnie. Pros, just about everything else. Including more time with Owen. At least, I think that’s a plus.” It’s a good thing if we work out. If not, I’m starting over again in a new city with no one.
