Piece by Piece

by Kaylee Ryan

  “Did we come here to spend the day on the water or whine about your brothers?” Sawyer pulls her hand out of Royce’s and links her arms through Sam’s and holds the other out for me. I step out of Owen’s hold and we head off toward the boat that’s hooked up to Grant’s truck.

  The rest of the day is filled with much of the same. The brothers, and Jase giving each other a hard time, and loving every minute of it. Sam, Sawyer, and I laid out in the sun, swimming, and getting caught up. We helped Sawyer brainstorm ideas for the wedding while watching our guys in the water. I got up on the skis and lasted an entire minute before falling into the water, which is a win in my book. It was one of the best days I can ever remember having.

  “I’m exhausted,” I say as I place our wet clothes into the washing machine. “I’m ready for a shower and bed.”

  “You did great today, babe,” Owen says, carrying our bag into the kitchen.

  “I wouldn’t call a minute great, but I did it, and that’s more than I thought possible. I was sure I’d never make it to stand up on those things.”

  “You’ll get the hang of it.”

  I nod. “I’m determined to be able to ski next to you and your family and not look like a fool.”

  “You didn’t look like a fool.”

  “Oh, I did.” I laugh. “But I’m good with it. I had a great time. I can’t believe this is how you grew up.”

  He steps next to me and wraps me in his arms. “My brothers and I raised a lot of hell out on that lake.”

  “Raised?” I ask. “To hear Sam and Sawyer tell it, that’s an every summer occurrence.”

  “Maybe.” He smiles. “Ready for that shower?”

  “Depends. Are you going to help me?”

  “Am I breathing? You can bet your sweet ass if you’re in our shower naked, I’m going to be standing next to you.”

  “Race ya!” I say as I take off running toward the bedroom. His long legs catch up to me, and in no time, we’re both stripped naked, and standing under the hot spray. Owen roams his hands over every inch of my body and then makes sweet love to me before we fall into an exhausted sleep.

  The perfect ending to an already perfect day.

  Chapter 19

  Owen

  “I think that wraps it up,” Royce says as we come to the end of our weekly meeting. He scans over his list. “One final item. We need to decide who is going to the gala for the children’s hospital this year.”

  My three younger brothers groan, and normally I would be joining them, but not this time. An image of Layla all dressed up as we sway across the dance floor plays like a movie reel in my mind. “Lay and I can go,” I tell Royce.

  “Yeah?”

  I shrug. “I think she’d enjoy it. It’s something new for her. Besides, I don’t think it will be that bad with a woman I actually like on my arm.” That causes all four of my brothers to not only laugh but nod in agreement. We all hated finding dates for these things. The media always made them out to be more than what they were, and if you asked a clinger, it would sometimes take months to shake her until she got the message that it really was just a date.

  “Taking one for the team, I like it,” Conrad comments.

  “This year,” I tell him. “Mom and Dad went last year, and Royce the year before that, so you three better start duking it out or drawing for straws or some shit,” I tell them.

  “My prediction is one of them is going to fall ass over heels for a woman, and like you, will have no problem showing her off,” Royce says smugly.

  I try like hell to hide my laughter at the expressions on my brothers’ faces. Well, the younger two. Grant just looks… indifferent. Hmm, very interesting. I’m going to have to keep an eye on him. Maybe see if Layla has noticed anything since she’s working closely with all of us.

  “Now, get to work.” Royce grins at each of us, and I can’t help but send a silent thank-you to my future sister-in-law. Sawyer has been so good for him. She brought my brother back to life, and we owe her the world for that.

  Leaving the conference room, I head to the front of the office to see Layla. I need to break the news to her about the gala that I signed us up for. Then I’m going to call my mom and see if she will take her shopping. One, I don’t want her to pay for anything, and my mother will make sure that happens. Two, I don’t know what she needs for this thing, but my mom will. It’s a win-win for Layla and for me.

  As I approach her desk, I hear her soft voice as she answers the phone. “Riggins Enterprises, this is Layla.” There’s a pause. “One moment please.” She looks at me and smiles before buzzing Conrad and letting him know that the call he’s been waiting on is on line three. “Hey, handsome. How was your meeting?”

  I love that she’s opening up more and being free with her feelings and affection. “Good. Although, you and I have a date in two weeks.”

  “A date?”

  “Yep. Every year one of us from the company goes to represent at the Annual Children’s Hospital Gala. We get dressed up, eat some really expensive food, dance a couple of dances, write a big check from the company, and then we can head home.”

  “Is it really that boring?” she teases.

  “It won’t be with you there.” I lean down and kiss the corner of her mouth. “You’re going to need a new dress.”

  “What kind of dress?” she asks, eyeing me suspiciously.

  “A fancy one. Don’t worry. Mom will go shopping with you. She’s going to love every minute of it too. You don’t know how many times we heard growing up her saying she loves her boys but wished the good Lord would have blessed her with a girl to do girly things with. That’s why she’s always insisted on a dining table larger than life. She was sure each of us would find the perfect counterpart and bring them home to her. Then she would have five daughters and five sons,” I explain.

  “You really think she won’t mind? I could ask Sam or Sawyer.”

  “Trust me, she’s going to be hurt if you don’t ask her.” I pull my phone out of my pocket and dial Mom’s number, hitting the speakerphone button so that Layla can hear our conversation.

  “Hello, my second oldest,” she answers, her voice as chipper as ever.

  “Hey, Ma. I got a question.”

  “Sure, what’s up?”

  “Layla and I are the chosen ones for the Children’s Hospital Gala this year. I was wondering if—” I start, but she cuts me off.

  “We have to go shopping. Tell Layla to call me when she’s free. There is this cute little dress shop downtown where I usually find most of my dresses.”

  I look at Layla and grin. “She heard you. You’re on speaker.”

  “Layla, honey, what does your schedule look like? I’m ready when you are,” Mom tells her.

  “When is the gala?” she asks.

  “Two weeks.”

  “I guess we should start sooner rather than later. It might take some time to find something,” Layla suggests.

  “I’m paying,” I tell her. “You’re going to this event because of me, and I refuse to go without you.” Again, I leave out the fact that I volunteered us for the job.

  “Owen,” she starts, but I hold up my hand to stop her.

  “Nope. It’s on me. Mom, make sure you get her anything and everything she needs. I’ll give you my card.”

  “Oh, my son, don’t you worry. I have no problem spending your money.” Mom laughs.

  That’s the thing. Mom knows what we make and that this shopping adventure the two of them are about to go on is nothing but pennies in my bank account. That’s still hard for Layla to grasp. She’ll get there. One day what’s mine will be hers. Hell, it is now, just not in the eyes of the law. That will all change when her last name is Riggins.

  “Layla, how about we go this evening when you get off work? We can grab dinner just the two of us?” Mom offers.

  Layla looks to me, eyes wide and full of panic. I step closer and take her hand in mine while still holding my phone with the other. I n
od and watch as she swallows hard. “Thank you, Lena. I would really appreciate that.”

  “Sweetheart, you’re doing me a favor. I’m getting out of the house with a woman!” Mom says excitedly. “It’s been ages since I’ve gone shopping. I’ll meet you there at the office at five.”

  “Thank you,” Layla says as the line goes dead.

  “She’s excited. Thank you for humoring her.”

  “Me? She’s giving up her time to help me.”

  “Layla, she wants to do this. You heard her. She offered before I could even mention it to her. You’re not alone anymore, baby. You have my big, crazy-ass family and me behind you. We’re here for you, and it’s not conditional. We’re not going anywhere.” I lean down and press my lips to hers. Just a soft peck, but the spark I feel anytime I touch her is still there from the heat in my hand that’s holding hers, to the electricity that passes through our kiss.

  I hope it’s always like this. I hope we never lose the fire that seems to burn between us.

  * * *

  The house is empty without her. I’m used to her riding home from work with me, us fixing and eating dinner together, and tonight, I’m all alone. I hate it. Layla has brought so much into my life. I didn’t realize how lonely I was until this moment.

  I miss her.

  Pulling my phone out of my pocket, I scroll through social media. An ad pops up for a jeweler, and I click on it. Over the next hour, while I wait for her to come home, I look through pages and pages of engagement rings, but none of them are what I want. Hell, I don’t really even know what I want, but none of them scream Layla to me. Closing out of the screen, I pull up Royce’s number and hit Call.

  “What’s up?” he asks.

  “I was hoping to call in a favor,” I say, clearing my throat.

  “Anything,” Royce replies.

  “I need a ring.” I don’t need to say more. I don’t have to explain what kind of ring, or that I know it’s soon, but I love her. I don’t have to tell him that I’ve never felt this way before and that I know with a feeling deep in my soul that she’s the one for me. Now and forever.

  “Tell me when and where.”

  “She’s out with Mom now, shopping for the gala. She should be home soon, but she knows my schedule. I was kind of hoping we might be able to get Sawyer in on it. Maybe tell her to invite Layla shopping or to a movie, or whatever it is that they do?”

  “Babe,” Royce says. “Can you get Layla out of the house this weekend?”

  “Sure, what’s going on?”

  “Owen and I have a mission,” he tells her.

  “Is he going to propose?” Sawyer’s excited question filters through the line.

  “O, you’re on speaker,” Royce says, and I can hear the background noises better, including Sawyer.

  “Is he?” she asks.

  “Hey, sis. Yeah, I’m going to propose.”

  “Eeek!” she shrieks. “Tell me what you need.”

  “I was hoping you could get her out of the house this weekend. Saturday. Royce and I can go shopping.”

  “You have to take her to a different part of town,” Royce tells her.

  “I know that,” she replies, and I can imagine her rolling her eyes at him. I love that she doesn’t put up with his shit.

  “Done. I’ll talk to her about it tomorrow at the office.”

  “Thanks, sis.”

  “Are you kidding me? You helped Royce pick out my ring, and now I get to be involved. I’m so excited for both of you.”

  “Thank you.” There is a warmth in my chest with the knowledge that Layla is going to be my wife. Be by my side forever. That is if she says yes.

  “She’s going to say yes,” Sawyer adds.

  “What? You’re a mind reader now?” I ask her.

  “No, but I speak Riggins. I know the five of you almost as well as I know myself. Layla loves you. You have nothing to worry about.”

  The garage door opens. “She’s home.”

  “We’ve got you, Owen,” Royce replies.

  “What he said,” Sawyer agrees.

  “Thanks. I’ll see you both tomorrow,” I say, ending the call and sliding my phone back into my pocket. I don’t even bother to try and look busy, or like I didn’t miss her. I’m on my feet, standing, and heading toward the garage when she walks in. Her face is lit with a smile, and I know, without a doubt, my mom took care of her for me. “I missed you,” I say when she reaches me, wrapping my arms around her.

  “I missed you too, but I had a good time with your mom. She’s so sweet, and exactly what I imagine a mother should be.”

  There is a ping of sadness that hits me when I think about her childhood and everything she had to endure, and everything that she missed out on. “We have a lot to make up for,” I tell her.

  “No, that’s not why I said that.”

  “I know, but I want to give you the world. When we have kids, you’re going to be an amazing mother.”

  “When?”

  “We talked about filling all these bedrooms, remember?”

  “Yeah.” A slight blush coats her cheeks. “I remember.”

  “So, did you find a dress?” I have to make myself pull away from her and ask the question. All I want to do is drag her to our room and start working on those kids we were just talking about.

  “I did. But your mom took it with her.”

  “Why?”

  “She thinks it’s going to be fun to have a big reveal, and me get ready at their place. She said that you should have to come and knock on the door for me,” she says over a giggle. I love hearing her happy. “We were talking about how fast we fell, and she said that’s how it happens sometimes, but because we missed the ‘dating’ portion for the most part, and because I never went to my high school prom, this is the perfect opportunity for me to experience getting all fancied up. Her words not mine. And have a young man just as fancy knock on the door to pick me up.”

  I love my mother. The excitement in her eyes, tells me she’s on board for this, and I’m thrilled to be able to give this to her. “Done. Although, it’s not going to keep me from asking questions. Like what color is it? Or, does it show off these legs?” I ask, letting my eyes rake over her.

  “Nope. Owen Riggins, you’re just going to have to wait.”

  “This isn’t our wedding day.” The words slip before I can think better of it. She cocks her head to the side, studying me, and my palms begin to sweat, worried that my slip of the tongue gave me away.

  “No, it’s not.”

  “It will be though. One day soon, I’ll make you my wife.” What the hell? Might as well plant the seed and let it take root. That way, when I do get down on one knee, she’s not completely taken by surprise.

  “I want that, Owen. More than anything.”

  My posture relaxes as I pull her into my chest. “Me too, baby. Me too.”

  Chapter 20

  Layla

  I haven’t seen Owen since I left the house earlier this morning. Lena arranged for my hair and makeup to be done at her salon. It’s been years since I’ve gone to something other than one of those hair-cut-only places that have specials for ten dollars. The end result of today’s visit has me not recognizing myself.

  “Gorgeous,” Stanley says when we enter the house. “My boy’s not going to know what hit him.” He smiles warmly.

  “Which one?” Lena laughs. “You know, if the youngers are here when this goes down, they’re going to give him a hard time.” Lena shakes her head, talking about her sons’ antics.

  “Yep,” Stanley agrees. “Owen’s going to have to put his foot down.”

  Lena points at me. “Not thinking that’s going to be an issue, dear.”

  “Maybe I should just go back home. I mean to Owen’s and get ready.” I feel my face heat. I still feel self-conscious over the fact that I just met him, moved across the country with him, and moved in with him in a matter of weeks.

  “That’s not happening. We have a pla
n, and you’re going to stick to it, missy.” Lena points her finger at me. “Besides, I want to see my son’s expression when he sees you all fancied up.”

  “You’ll learn to read between the lines, Layla girl, that means she wants to take a thousand pictures just like she did when the boys were in high school.”

  “That’s my right,” Lena fires back. “Now, how about a late lunch before we put you into that dress?”

  “I’m not sure that’s a good idea. It’s tight.”

  “And you’re a tiny thing. Trust me. You’ll be nervous enough tonight around all those stiffs. Eating now is important. We don’t need you passing out on us.”

  “Don’t think my boy could handle that.” Stanley chuckles.

  I follow them into the kitchen where I help Lena make us some chicken salad sandwiches with chips. “Thank you both for everything,” I say as we sit down to eat. “The boys are lucky to have had the two of you growing up.”

  “You have us now too. I don’t know the extent of what your childhood was like, but I do know that you are a part of this family. We’re always here if you need us,” Lena says sweetly.

  “Remember that, darlin’,” Stanley adds. “No matter what, we’re here for you. That’s what family does.”

  Not all families, but I keep that to myself. They already know that this is new to me. “I’m nervous,” I admit. “About tonight. I’ve never been anywhere fancy. What if I use the wrong fork or say something wrong? I don’t want my lack of experience with these kinds of things to look bad on you or your company.”

  “It’s the boys’ company now.” Stanley chuckles. “Besides, there is nothing you could say or do to damage anything.”

  “Just be you, Layla. Let Owen guide you, and you’ll be fine. There will be some stuffy people who will tip their nose up at you. But remember, if we were there, they would be doing the same thing. It’s not you. It’s them. They think the zeros in their bank account give them the right to be rude. They live in a fantasy world. They are no better than the rest of us but pretend to be,” Lena explains.