How on earth would that work? She didn’t want him. Layla had made that clear.
“Yeah. Can’t hurt to try and patch things up. It might not turn out the way you want it to but at least you might end up better friends than you are now and it looks like that’s all she wants from you. Not coming across like you’re enjoying that. Am I right?”
“I guess you are.” Now Tyson grinned, the possibilities racing through his mind.
Friends was better than enemies and they were so close to that now it scared him. He had to try and regain some ground with her.
“Reckon it would be worth it. I don’t have the money to take her to fancy restaurants or anything. It’s all tied up in the ranch.”
“What’s to stop you taking her on a picnic up the mountain or sending her a bunch of wildflowers?”
Because she doesn’t want that kind of relationship, that’s why.
“Chance, Pa, and I were talking too, since you mention the extra bedroom. We want to help you add a room to the ranch house.” He cleared his throat. “Kind of a good bonding experience for all of us anyway now that Chance and Pa are getting on better and we want to show you how much we have your back, even when some days it might not look like it.”
Tyson gaped at his brother. “Seriously? You guys would do that for me?”
“Of course we would. You’re family. Why wouldn’t we help you?”
Chapter Fifteen
“What on earth are you doing here?” Emily put down the phone and hurried from behind her desk when Layla opened the door to her business. “Doctor should have more sense than letting you come back to work after what you’ve gone through today.” She rushed over and took Layla’s arm, holding onto her as she led her boss into the office.
Once Layla sat down behind her desk, Emily let go of her and huffed out her breath.
“Don’t understand why you came back to work. You should be resting up at home.”
“Because I have appointments I have to keep. Days are short enough as it is now you shoo me out of the office early every afternoon, so I don’t have a choice.” She leaned back in her chair, rested her hands over her stomach and sighed. An afternoon nap sounded like a good idea but she couldn’t see that happening any time soon.
“Already canceled your appointments, filtered them through the next couple of weeks so you can pack your purse and head on home.” Emily stood with her arms folded and a no-nonsense expression on her face and Layla knew better than to try and argue with her. “Crease and Nate Hansen have both called to try and find out what’s going on too. Told them to mind their own business and leave it be. Poor Rupert isn’t dead yet and they’ll have to wait until he is to find out what’s in the will.”
“That’s one reading of the will I’m not looking forward to.” Layla closed her eyes and sighed.
Five minutes to home and her nice comfy bed, she was so there already in her mind but business came first. A flutter startled her and she sat up.
“You okay?” Emily leaned down and looked into Layla’s eyes, Emily’s hand resting on her shoulder.
“Yes, thanks. Baby moved and I wasn’t expecting it.” Tears filled her eyes. “It’s silly, I know, but I was kind of worried something would happen to him when I got knocked out.”
“Understandable and those tears tell me that you really should be lying down. Now, come on, let’s get you out of here so you can rest up.” Emily reached out a hand to help her up out of her chair.
“I have too much to do right now. Depositions to prepare for court.”
Emily tut-tutted. “Do I have to call Chance to come and take you home? I will you know.”
“You wouldn’t.”
“Try me. You might be the boss here, Layla, but you know I promised Chance I’d watch out for you and I will. Now, I say you should be home resting and taking care of yourself. I’ll deal with whatever comes up and I don’t expect to see you before tomorrow morning. Is that clear?”
Layla’s response was to burst into tears. Emily handed her a couple of tissues and waited while the crying jag petered out. “I’m sorry, I don’t know what’s wrong with me.”
“From memory, I’d say that’s hormones. I used to cry over the darnedest things when I was pregnant let alone being clobbered by a stupid idiot that doesn’t know his own strength. Seems to me having two burly men fighting over her is enough to send even the strongest woman on a little bit of an emotional charge, wouldn’t you say?”
“They weren’t fighting over me.” Layla sniffled and blew her nose before throwing the tissue in the bin.
Emily handed her the box with a grin. “Oh, yes, they were but for different reasons. Those two have been going head-to-head over everything from cookies to school prom dates ever since I can remember. Makes sense that Jethro would have a go at you considering whose baby you’re carrying.”
Layla made a strangled sound in her throat and grabbed another tissue.
“Yes sir, those two will be at each other from now until you make up your mind about your future, just mark my words.”
“No. You’re going too far. Jethro is mad because I won’t tell him about what’s in the will. You know that, Emily.”
Her secretary shook her head and gave her a knowing smile. “I know those two. Because Tyson wants you, Jethro will make it his mission to dig himself in between the pair of you even if he only wants information and a little bit of pillow talk about his grandpa. Him going off at you was his version of foreplay – made you stand up and take notice.” The older woman laughed. “Darned silly boy. Handsome as he is, he doesn’t get it. Flowers make more of an impression than out of control testosterone and a fistfight.”
“Are you serious? He’ll hit on me because of Tyson?” Layla found it hard to believe but she hadn’t lived in Marietta her whole life, so how could she make a judgment?
“Yep, that’s the way it usually works with him. Gotta go and ruin whatever he can if he can’t have it. Seems to me he’d be better off trying to make a go of things for his grandpa instead of spoiling for a fight all the time but I guess losing their ma so young threw them out. Rupert did his best but he never could rein those three boys in. Spoiled rotten if you ask me and look where that got them.” She shook her head. “You know they’re distant cousins of the Watson boys?”
“No, I didn’t. How come nobody told me that before?”
“Old Jock married Rupert’s only son’s sweetheart. So in turn, he married the first girl he laid eyes on and that was Jock’s niece. Fat lot of good that did him, marriage didn’t last beyond the birth of those three boys. He up and left, and I hear tell he got killed. Rupert took the family in and I guess you know about how they lost her to cancer when she was only young. From memory, the youngest was only about five years old.” She leaned on the edge of the desk. “Always been a bit of bad blood between the families but most of the time everyone ignores it. That is except Tyson and Jethro. Seems to be their mission in life to carry on as much as their fathers did when they were young ones.”
“Well, I guess that explains a lot then.”
“Yes, it does. Let’s get you out of here then.” She stood up, slid her hand through Layla’s arm and helped her out of her chair. “You go on and rest now, I think that’s all the excitement you need.” She gripped her arm harder when Layla stumbled.
“Sorry, just a bit light-headed. I’ll be fine in a minute.” Layla lifted a hand to her cheek and closed her eyes.
“I’ll take you, leave your car here. I can pick you up in the morning too, on my way.”
“Thanks, Emily, I don’t know what I’d do without you.”
The front door slammed as they walked out of the office. Tyson stood at the door with a bunch of home grown roses in his hands, a bashful look on his face.
“What are you doing here?” Layla stopped and stared at him.
*
The tears on her cheeks made him pause. “Why are you crying? Tell me what’s wrong. What did Evan say after I
left?” He stepped forward ready to grab a hold of her in case she fell down. The paleness of her skin scared him half to death.
“I’m taking her home, Tyson. She’s had a big day and it’s all too much in her present state.” Emily looked at him, her eyebrows raised.
“No. I’ll take her.” Layla glared at him, fire lighting up in her eyes. “If that’s okay, I mean.” He held out the roses he’d cut from his father’s garden. “I brought you these to try and cheer you up and to say I’m sorry for scaring you.”
Layla reached out a hand to touch the petals before taking the roses from him and raising them to her nose. Tyson’s stomach dropped when she started sobbing. He looked at Emily for guidance, totally out of his depth with a crying woman.
“It’s alright. Just hormones giving her a hard time after what happened this morning. Nothing a good rest and a cup of coffee won’t fix, I’m sure. Take her home and settle her down in bed with a hot drink and she’ll be fine.” She patted Layla’s arm and nudged her toward Tyson.
He put his arm around her shoulders, feeling the tremble as she fought back her tears. Having her in his arms brought back memories he’d tried to put away. He sucked in a breath and walked her out to his truck.
“Let’s get you home and into bed.” Idiot. As soon as the words were out of his mouth, he could have kicked himself. “You know what I mean. Let me get you settled so you can rest.” He opened the door of the truck and helped her in, passing Layla the seatbelt when she reached for it. He didn’t like the way her face had paled even further, her already light complexion and fair hair only adding to the look. He’d get her settled into bed, make sure she was okay and then leave her alone.
The short drive to her place didn’t take long and the thought of leaving her alone when she wasn’t feeling the best didn’t sit well with him even though he knew it would be the wise thing to do. Tyson pulled into the driveway and helped her from the truck, his conscience fighting with his heart.
“Thank you.” He kept his hand on her arm as she picked up the roses from the front seat. They walked up the path and when Layla took her keys from her handbag and fumbled for the door latch, he took them them, slid the key home, and opened the front door.
Together they stepped into the cottage Layla had rented. Straight away the differences between them hit Tyson head on. The decorating was feminine and clean, with an aroma of money his home would never have. The fluffy rugs in front of her cream leather couch looked deep and soft to the touch. White on white with pale colors mixed in to give the place a spacious clean feel. So unlike his little ranch house with old furniture and seventies gold-flecked shag carpet. They were polar opposites and it hit home here more than anywhere else.
“I’m not leaving until you’re tucked up in bed with a drink and a snack and anything else you need so you don’t have to get up until the morning.”
She glanced at him and he could see the moment she decided to give in and not fight him.
Her shoulders drooped and she let out a heavy sigh. “Fine. Kitchen’s through there. I’ll go and get changed if you want to make tea. I’ve gone off coffee of late, a pregnancy thing.” Her eyes closed and for a moment he worried she was going to fall in a heap. Just as he reached, ready to catch her, she opened them she seemed more in control. “There’s a fruit cake on the counter in a blue tin. I couldn’t eat anything more than that right now.” Layla withdrew her arm, passed him the flowers, and walked away, leaving him feeling like a fish out of water in her neat, pretty little home full of furnishings that would never look right in his.
Giving himself a mental shake up, Tyson walked in the direction she’d indicated, placed the roses in the sink and found the kettle. He filled it with water before he convinced himself that looking through her cupboards for a cup and saucer was nothing like going through her lingerie drawer. The delicate gold edge china felt paper thin in his hands and just carrying it from the cupboard to the counter where the kettle blew steam was fraught ridden with nerves for him. He was certain if he held it too tightly, it would shatter.
Tyson took a moment to look past the breakfast nook out the window to the small backyard. Large green trees hung over a small deck where pots of colorful plants brought color to the green landscape. It looked as though Layla had settled in here well. He should be thankful for small mercies. He was happy she was living here and not back in the city so he would at least get to see his son grow up.
But it still wouldn’t be enough for him. Would she let him take the boy camping up in the mountains to teach him basic life skills or would she try and bring him up like a city kid, too scared to go and get himself mussed up in the dirt or explore the wilderness like Tyson had been allowed to. Tyson wanted to teach him how to track and hunt too, just as his father had done for him before he found solace in the bottom of a bottle and all of their lives had changed. Dirt never hurt anyone – he was testament to that fact. But would Layla put her foot down where that was concerned?
Just one of the many thoughts that raced through his mind when he couldn’t sleep at night, when he lay in the bed they’d made love in, wishing she was there with him so he could hold her while she slept. In his dreams, Layla faced away from him when she slept, her cute butt tucked into his crotch, her hands resting under her cheek on the pillow.
Tyson cupped her breast in one hand and the other had rested on her belly, a belly that now held his child. What he wouldn’t do to have that opportunity in real life. To feel the ripple under her skin as their baby stretched its little arms and legs, fumbled in his mother’s womb with his hands and grew into the little boy Tyson couldn’t wait to meet.
The click of the kettle switching off startled him and he reached for the jar of teabags, grabbed one and dropped it into the cup. He poured the boiling water over it and while it sat brewing – Lyla had shown him that weekend how to make the perfect tea for her – he opened the cake tin and cut her a couple of slices and put them on a matching delicate plate.
A blue tray sat on the counter and he placed the cup and cake plate on it, took a steadying breath and walked out of the kitchen towards the room Layla had gone in when they arrived. He paused outside the door, trying not to peek in the gap in case she wasn’t ready for company.
“Okay if I come in?” He waited for her to give the okay.
“Sure, come in.”
The bedroom décor didn’t surprise him after being in the kitchen and he’d poked his head into the living room, giving it a quick glance over. White on white with a couple of bursts of color to brighten it up. Expensive and nothing like what he was used to.
He stepped over to the huge bed and placed the tray on the cabinet beside it, pushing a book out of the way. Then he stood self-consciously looking around the room before she nodded her chin. Tyson sat on the edge of the bed.
Layla had her head back resting on the overstuffed pillows. Her skin had a see-through tone to it, lines under her eyes competing with the purple shadows. Instead of the woman in charge, she now came across as frail and exhausted and it terrified him. The white nightie she had on did nothing to add color to her face.
“Don’t fret, Tyson. I’m okay.” She reached out and patted his hand and before he thought about it, he linked his fingers through hers.
Gina had never looked this frail. Nor had Denver. He was convinced there was something wrong with Layla and it left a hollow feeling in his gut.
The more she protested the more he became convinced. “Funny, I don’t agree. What happened today was enough to upset anyone and you being pregnant and all…”
“Evan said I was okay. You were there, you heard him.” She closed her eyes and he could see her throat working and he wondered if she was fighting tears again.
“Okay, I’ll believe you for now. Why not drink your tea while it’s hot and then snuggle down and close your eyes?”
“You don’t have to stay. I’m in bed and I won’t be going anywhere or doing anything. I’m too tired to even think of g
etting up anyway.” Layla gave him a halfhearted smile, one that didn’t quite reach her eyes.
“I’ll go when you’re asleep. Now drink this.” He handed her the fine china cup and watched while she sipped it.
“Perfect. Thank you.”
“You’re welcome. Now, where can I find a vase or whatever you call them for the roses?”
“They’re from your father’s garden?” When he nodded, she smiled again. “They smell so much nicer than shop brought ones. Make sure you tell him I said thank you.”
“You can tell him yourself, said he was coming over tomorrow to mow your lawn. Now, that vase?”
“Sorry. Under the kitchen counter you should find a few.”
Tyson stood up, letting go of her hand reluctantly. “Right, drink the rest of that tea and then slide down and close your eyes while I sort out the flowers. I’ll get back to the ranch when you fall asleep.” He walked out of the room, cursing his overzealous libido.
Even pale and tired, her belly swollen with their child, she was all he wanted. There had to be something he could do to change her mind. Be damned with their differences, he had to have her in his home, in his bed. They could be a team if they both worked at it, Tyson was convinced of it. The battle to convince her was going to be hard fought because there were so many reasons she’d given him why they couldn’t be together.
Chapter Sixteen
Tyson sat on a chair in the corner of her bedroom, watching Layla sleep. Her mouth open, a hand thrown up above her head, she looked like a snow angel lying amongst the white bedding. He’d made up his mind and even called Rory to talk things over while she slept.
“About time you came to your senses. Hell, if that’d been me, I never would have agreed with what she decided you two needed to do. You gave in too easily, Tyson.”
“I know I shouldn’t have but you know what Layla’s like. A force of nature that many a man would find hard to fight. Probably why she does so well in the courtroom. Anyway, we’ll just have to see if we can sort through our problems. I’m not going to let her go that easy.” He’d need all the resolve he could muster to stand up to her.
Her Favorite Cowboy (The Watson Brothers #4) Page 10