Piece by Piece

by Kaylee Ryan

  I can’t control the tears as they race down my cheeks. “Th-Thank you. I’m sorry.” I smile through my tears. “I’m a mess.”

  “You’re human,” Lena says, stepping back toward the stove.

  “What are you, ladies….” Owen’s voice trails off when he sees me. “What’s wrong?”

  “Nothing.” I shake my head, wiping at my eyes, trying to hide the tears that I know he’s already seen.

  “Lay,” he says, his tone telling me he’s not going to give up until he finds out.

  “Girl talk,” Lena chimes in. “Leave her be. All women deserve a good cry every now and then.”

  “That.” Sawyer points at Lena. “What she said.”

  “Baby?” Owen bends his knees to bring himself eye to eye with me. “You okay?”

  “More than okay.” I smile, and it’s genuine. I’m not just saying that I’m fine to placate him. Lena and Sawyer eased my fears, and I’m not going to fight this, fight him, or the connection we have. I may end up with a broken heart in the end, but I’d rather know that I tried than to always ask myself what if.

  He exhales, stands to his full height, and pulls me into his chest. I feel his lips press against my temple, and I know this is exactly where I’m supposed to be.

  “We’re starving out here,” one of his brothers, I think Conrad, says, joining us in the kitchen. He spots Owen and me and grins. “Layla, if I would have known you needed me, I would have been here.” He moves toward us, but Owen is faster, pushing me behind him.

  “Get your own woman.” Owen laughs.

  Conrad chuckles. “Ma, what can I carry?”

  “Grab that basket of rolls and stop pestering your brother,” Lena says, not bothering to look up from where she’s pouring gravy into a dish.

  “Yeah, Conrad. Stop pestering me,” Owen taunts.

  “Owen Riggins, you hush. You three go ahead and make your plates.” She turns to face us and sets the gravy on the island.

  “I knew I was your favorite.” Owen laughs.

  “Don’t tell your brothers.” Lena winks, causing Sawyer and me to throw our heads back in laughter.

  * * *

  Hours later, Owen and I are lying in his bed. The room is dark, and the only sounds are our deep, even breaths as we start to fall asleep. “Owen?” I whisper.

  “Yeah?”

  “I want to stay. Here, I mean. I want to stay here with you.”

  “You sure?”

  “Just me and you, right? We’re exclusive?” I ask, feeling nervous.

  “You’re damn right we are,” he assures me, pulling me a little closer. Something I would never have thought possible a few seconds ago. “I want you here, Layla. In my arms, in my bed, in my heart.”

  “I don’t know why you came into my life, Owen Riggins, but I will forever be grateful that fate brought us together.”

  “It’s the magic, baby.”

  “Maybe, but I think it’s all you.”

  “There goes another piece,” he says, kissing my shoulder.

  “What?” I turn to look at him, even though it’s dark. When he doesn’t answer, I roll over and blindly reach out, placing my hand against his cheek, running my fingers over his beard. “What did you mean?”

  “Another piece of my heart belongs to you.”

  I don’t know what to say to that. This man robs me of my words. Unable to speak, I bury my face in his neck and breathe him in. A flash of what our future together has the potential to be streaks through my mind. I want him, and all the pieces he’s willing to give me.

  Chapter 15

  Owen

  My eyes pop open when I feel a soft hand wrap around my hard cock. Layla. Her eyes are watching as she strokes me gently, and she doesn’t realize that I’m awake. Biting down on my bottom lip, I try to remain still, but when her grip tightens, I can’t hold back. She’s snuggled up to my chest, so I pull her close. “What are you doing, baby?”

  “I wanted to touch it.”

  Fuck. I swallow hard, letting her do her thing. I’ve imagined her hands on me for weeks, and my imagination didn’t do justice to the sensations she’s causing inside of me right now. “Tighter,” I murmur. Moving my hand to lay over top of hers, I guide her strokes, and it doesn’t take long for her to gain a rhythm of her own that causes my eyes to roll back in my head. “Lay-la,” I croak out. “Babe, you need to stop.”

  “I don’t want to stop.”

  “Things are about to get real messy, beautiful,” I murmur, running my fingers through her hair, trying not to think about how incredible it feels to have her hands on me—trying not to lose control.

  She continues to stroke me from root to tip when her head lifts, and her eyes meet mine. “Life is messy, Owen. If anyone knows that, it’s me. There are good messes and bad messes. I think this is going to be a good mess.” The corner of her mouth tilts up in a grin, and I have to kiss her.

  Sliding my hand behind her neck, I fuse my lips to hers. I want to fucking devour her, but with each stroke of her hand on my cock, she leaves me breathless. “You don’t have to do this,” I pant. I don’t want her to stop. Fuck me, I never want her to stop touching me, but I want her to do it for her. Not for me.

  “I want to do this. I’ve never felt comfortable enough to explore. Men, well, they make me nervous, but not you. You make me feel at ease, and I want to experience this with you. I want so many things I’ve been too afraid to reach for.”

  “Come here,” I murmur, pulling her lips back to mine. I kiss her like she’s the air that I breathe. I kiss her until I feel my spine start to tingle. Pulling away, I rest my forehead against hers.

  “I want to watch you let go,” she says softly.

  As if her words have a direct line to my cock, I bite down on my bottom lip as I spill over into her hand, and onto my belly. I hear her suck in a breath and force my eyes open to watch her witness my embarrassment as if I’m a teenager all over again. Instead, what I see steals the breath from my lungs and causes my cock to remain hard as steel. “Layla.” I all but growl her name. She ignores me as she swipes her index finger over the head of my cock and brings the now wet digit into her mouth.

  I watch as her nose scrunches up. “Not as bad as I thought, but not exactly yummy,” she says quietly, almost as if she’s talking to herself.

  Her words have laughter bubbling up inside me. “Come here, you.” I pull her into me, and she squeals.

  “Now, we’re both messy.”

  “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.”

  “It’s all set,” Grant says, slapping his hands against the counter. “Noon?” he asks.

  “Done,” Marshall and Conrad say at the same time. “We got the drinks.”

  “I’ll work on the food,” Sawyer tells the group.

  “I can help. Just let me know what we need,” Layla offers.

  It’s a simple statement, but it has my heart flipping over in my chest. She so easily fits into the fold of my family and me. I can imagine us years to come, our kids playing with their cousins just as my brothers and I used to out on the lake. It’s clear to me—every piece of the future I want for us.

  “Get back to work,” Royce says. He steps around the desk and plants a kiss on Sawyer’s lips. “Love you,” he whispers, but we all hear him. Not that he cares. He would shout it from the rooftops if he had the chance.

  He steps back, and I take his place, leaning in to kiss the corner of Layla’s mouth. It’s on the tip of my tongue to repeat Royce’s words to tell her that I love her.

  Wait.

  I’m in love with her.

  It’s crazy to think that she just came into my life, but I know without a doubt that this feeling, the fluttering in my chest, the way she’s always on my mind, I know that it’s love. Crazy or not, it is what it is.

  I want so badly to whisper those words to her. I’ve never been envious of my big brother, but here and now, I wish I had the freedom with my emotions as he does. I don’t want to scare Layla away. I know she needs time, and I’m determined to give it to her. She’ll get to where I am. I’ll make sure of it. “I’m glad you’re here,” I say instead.

  Those baby blues sparkle when she looks up at me. “Get to work, Riggins,” she teases.

  Unable to resist, I place another kiss on her lips and pull away. “Yes, ma’am.”

  “Hey, I only got one.” Royce winks as he leans in and kisses Sawyer again. “There. That’s better.” He pulls away and turns, stalking toward his office. I do the same, even though the pull to stay near her is strong. So strong, in fact, that I get not a single thing accomplished the remainder of the day.

  By the time five o’clock rolls around, my computer is shut down, and I’m standing next to her desk, waiting to take her home with me—our home. So much has changed in my life in such a short span of time, but they’re all for the better. Instead of going home alone to work, I’m going home to hold her. To kiss her soft lips. There is nothing in this world I’d rather do.

  Chap
ter 16

  Layla

  “That man…” Sawyer plops down in the chair next to me. “I swear he’s got a corncob shoved up his ass today,” she huffs.

  “Trouble in paradise?” I ask, raising my eyebrows. Sawyer and I have gotten close over the last month. We work side by side here at Riggins Enterprises, and we spend a lot of time out of the office together too.

  “He’s just being broody Royce today.”

  I can’t help but laugh at her. I learned quickly that Sawyer claims there are many layers to Royce. At first, I thought she was exaggerating, but as time passes by, I can see it. He wears many different hats, and running the company is a lot of stress on him. More so than his brothers, next to Owen, of course. He has the financials. My man is hella smart. “What did he do this time?”

  “I simply suggested he was burnt out. He’s been working endless hours the last three months trying to get the new location in Michigan up and running. He bit my head off and said there was no time for breaks. I know he’s stressed, and he’s going to apologize once how he spoke to me settles into his mind, but damn, it’s been a while since I’ve dealt with broody Royce. He’s been my sweet, loving fiancé for so long I almost forgot this layer of his personality existed.”

  “We should go out to dinner tonight, maybe grab a drink,” I suggest. “Maybe the two of you just need a break.”

  “We do spend a lot of time with them, don’t we? How are things with you and Owen?”

  “Good.” Sawyer grins, and I know I can’t hide the dreamy tone of voice. It’s just something that happens when I think or talk about Owen. I can’t control it.

  “Ah, the honeymoon phase. Royce and I had that as well, once he pulled his broody head out of his ass,” she says, smirking.

  “Dinner?”

  “Yes.”