by Mia Knight
“It’s okay, Gavin,” she said quietly.
He splayed his hand on her stomach. “Can we still have kids?”
Lyla’s heart skipped. “What?”
“I want to have kids. We can adopt, but... Can you have children?”
“I-I don’t know. I didn’t ask,” she stammered, completely bowled over by this. A week ago, she had a hard time getting through each day and now Gavin was asking about children. Holy crap. Talk about life moving onward. She left a funeral and might have created a new life. She wasn’t on any type of birth control. Lyla sat up and ran her hands through her tangled, damp hair.
“We’ll go to a doctor,” he said, rubbing his hand over her stomach. “We should know if something was damaged or if we need to take extra precautions.”
“Mmm,” Lyla said distractedly, tugging at a big knot in her hair. “Let me brush my hair.”
Lyla ran to the bathroom where she grabbed her brush and attacked her hair. She couldn’t stand to look at her body so she grabbed a robe and put that on before she resumed taming the beast. Since she was in the bathroom, she brushed her teeth and was gargling mouthwash when Gavin leaned against the doorjamb. Lyla spit out the green liquid and because she needed something else to do, began to slather lotion on her body.
“You want some?” she asked Gavin.
“No.”
She was in the process of deciding whether or not to french braid her hair when Gavin spoke.
“You don’t want to have kids?”
Lyla’s eyes flicked to his in the mirror. He was stark naked and apparently, fine with it. Well, why shouldn’t he be? He could be Brad Pitt’s stunt double in Troy. Lyla played with the ends of her hair before she turned to face him. She loved the brutal, unapologetic lines of his face and the hungry look in his eyes whenever he focused on her. Gavin Pyre was a lot of man and he was hers legally and emotionally.
“My whole focus has been to get through each day and now you’re talking about kids.”
“You don’t want to have kids?” he repeated.
Lyla tapped her fingers on her thigh and imagined a little boy in Gavin’s image or a little girl with her father’s eyes and her knees went weak. “I do want kids. I just... didn’t realize that was on the table.”
“Everything’s on the table,” he said and pulled her against him. He ducked his head and kissed her. “I told you, I want everything that we promised each other before.”
“And you want kids?”
“We don’t have to have them right now, but I want to know if it’s possible or not. I’m not getting any younger and I’m out of the underworld so...”
“You want kids,” she said and blew out a long breath. Holy shit. She was married and her husband wanted kids. Most women would be jumping for joy. She felt as if she’d been slapped across the face. This was a huge step. They just slept together for the first time in almost two years and the first thing on his mind was kids. For some reason, she thought of Carlo and how he got his girlfriend pregnant to marry her. She considered Gavin, wondering if he had an ulterior motive.
“You don’t have to get pregnant tomorrow,” he said with an easy smile she didn’t trust. “I just want you to think about it.”
If she didn’t want to get pregnant, she needed to see a doctor for birth control. There were dozens of reasons not to get pregnant, but she didn’t want to think about them now. She wrapped her arms around Gavin’s neck and he carried her back to bed. He tore off her robe and they slid under the covers. Gavin pulled her against him and buried his nose in her hair.
“Dad would have been so proud of you,” Gavin said.
“Manny tried to protect me that day and my dad...” She closed her eyes and fought the tears always so fucking close to the surface. “My dad could care less about me. He’s a selfish bastard and doesn’t deserve your money or my concern. I’m done.”
“I’m glad.” His hand cupped her breast as if memorizing the texture and weight. “And you defended me.”
She looked at him when she heard the strange note in his voice. “Of course I did.”
“You’ve run from me twice.”
“For good reason.”
“And yet you defend me in front of your family.”
“You did what you’ve done out of loyalty, duty and love, which makes you ten times the man my father is. He cares for no one but himself.”
Gavin stared at her for a long moment. “So you forgive me?”
“You’d kill yourself before letting harm come to Manny or me,” she said solemnly. “Maybe the hit would have come even if you didn’t go after Vinny’s killer. We’ll never know. I understand why you didn’t want to let go of the underworld. I don’t like it, but I get it. But you’re out, now, right?”
“Yes.”
“Then we don’t need to talk about it.”
Gavin kissed her long and deep and positioned himself between her thighs. “I love you.”
“I know.”
He lifted her thigh and slid inside of her. She moaned in delight and he closed his eyes in ecstasy.
“I’ve been wanting to make love to you for over a year. I’ve wanted to apologize, to touch. I didn’t know if you would ever let me in again.” He moved gently as his eyes opened and drilled into hers. “I won’t take you for granted.”
“You better not,” she said breathlessly.
“You won’t run from me again,” he stated.
“No.”
“Promise me, Lyla.”
She wrapped a hand around his neck and pulled him down for a kiss. “You’d find me if I ran away.”
He shook his head. “No, baby, I need the words.”
“I won’t run,” she said.
“Just give me a chance. I’ll make you happy.”
“I’ll make sure of it,” Lyla said.
CHAPTER SEVEN
Lyla
“I don’t have to go to work today,” Gavin said at the door.
Lyla went on tiptoes and kissed him. “You have to go back sometime and Marcus has been calling you a couple of times a day.”
“He can figure it out.”
“Gavin.” She clasped his face between her hands. “Go. I’m going to have a girl’s day with Carmen and Aunt Isabel. I’ll be back before you get home.”
“I’d rather you stayed home.”
“I need to apologize for causing a scene at the funeral in person.”
“Take your phone and don’t go out of Blade’s sight,” Gavin ordered.
“I know. Maybe he should get a pedicure with us,” she teased. She felt extremely lighthearted and carefree. Last night Carmen accused her of being in a sex coma. Maybe she was right. Gavin spent the past three days making up for lost time. He was an insatiable beast and she loved it. She had been worshipped to the point of exhaustion, but the real world was calling and they both needed to answer.
“I don’t care if he gets a pedicure, as long as he’s armed,” Gavin said.
“I’ll be fine.” Gavin hesitated and she took pity on him. She wrapped her arms around his waist. “Do you want me to call you?”
“Every hour.”
“Every hour?” she echoed. “Isn’t that a bit much?”
“After losing you twice and with a killer on the loose? I don’t think so.”
“Aren’t you going to be busy today? You don’t want me interrupting—”
“That’s exactly what I want you to do. It’s the only way I’ll be able to get anything done.”
“Okay,” she conceded. “Once an hour. Be expecting eight phone calls.”
“Looking forward to it.” He kissed her deeply and then met her eyes. “Be here when I get home.”
“I will be.”
He gave her another kiss before he strode towards his Aston Martin. The guards got out of his way. When he opened the driver’s side door, he eyed Lyla over the roof of the car. He pointed at her before he got in and peeled out of the driveway. Blade walked up to her with a gri
n.
“So you got him to go back to work. That’s good.”
Lyla raised a brow. “He had to go back sometime.”
“I thought he would go back in a month or two.” Blade shrugged. “What are you up to today?”
“I’m going to have a girl’s day with Carmen and her mom. I’ll leave in an hour?”
“We’re ready when you are.”
Lyla nodded and rushed upstairs. Gavin’s staff was coming in today. Gavin gave the staff strict orders to stay away since he brought her back. The mansion was in dire straits, thanks to their activities. Lyla took the time to put on makeup and do something with her hair. They were going to get the works today—hair, nails, wax. Lyla proposed it as a way to spend time together and get their minds off of Uncle Louie’s death. Carmen grudgingly accepted. Lyla was armed with an unlimited credit card from Gavin.
Lyla examined the thigh length gray ruffle wrap dress. She gave an experimental twirl in the mirror and realized she was smiling. It was amazing the difference a week could make. A week ago, she was contemplating whether her life was worth living. Now, she was married and looking forward to her future. Gavin made an appointment with a gynecologist who had been horrified when she took in Lyla’s scarred abdomen. The doctor requested Lyla’s hospital records and verified that no vital organs had been damaged. She should be able to get pregnant, but they would monitor her closely to make sure everything went okay. Despite this reassurance, Lyla requested oral contraception. Gavin didn’t comment, but his expressionless face said it all. Lyla didn’t want to rush into anything and was going to pick up the prescription tomorrow.
Lyla was halfway down the stairs when her phone rang. She filched it out of her purse and shook her head when she saw the name on the screen.
“Hello,” she said.
“It’s been an hour,” Gavin said.
“I haven’t even left the house yet.”
“We agreed, every hour.”
“I’m surprised you didn’t insist we video chat,” she said as she made her way to the foyer.
A pause and then, “That would be even better.”
“Gavin, I’m walking out the door. I’ll call you in an hour.”
“Tell me,” he said.
She knew what he wanted. He demanded she say it several times a day. “I love you.”
“I love you too, baby girl.”
Lyla walked down the steps and climbed into the back of the SUV. She had to resist the urge to look in the trunk to see if there was any sign of their consummation. She would never be able to ride in this SUV without remembering... Lyla distracted herself by texting Carmen that she was on her way and got an unpleasant text in return—her mother was at Aunt Isabel’s house. Lyla ignored the knots in her stomach. She hadn’t changed her mind about taking away her parents allowance. It wasn’t Gavin’s duty to provide for them. Her father embezzled and if he couldn’t get a job as an accountant, he had to find another career. How many times had he dragged Lyla and her mother down with him? He would never change. Lyla’s connection to the Pyres made her father feel entitled to money, as if Gavin should pay him a dowry or something.
Blade helped her out when they parked in Aunt Isabel’s driveway. Lyla walked up to the front door with three guards. The door was answered by Carmen who looked annoyed. She reached out and dragged Lyla into a tight hug.
“You’re really okay?” Carmen asked.
“Yes. Are you ready to go?”
Carmen gave her a put upon look. “Your mother’s been here since six, crying and carrying on.”
Lyla straightened her shoulders. “Where is she?”
Carmen led Lyla into the kitchen while the guards stayed in the living room. Her mother sat at a small dining table. She looked awful with puffy eyes, unbrushed hair and a pile of used tissues in front of her. When her mother spotted Lyla, she rushed over.
“Lyla, Daddy told me you took away our money. How are we going to live?” her mother asked.
“He needs to find a job.”
“But you know it’s going to be so hard for him after the misunderstanding at Pyre Casinos.”
Lyla cocked her head to the side. “Misunderstanding? It wasn’t a misunderstanding, Mom, he stole half a million.”
“Daddy said—”
“He’s a liar and a gambling addict,” Lyla said succinctly, shocking her mother into silence. “I asked Gavin to let you two live off of a generous allowance. He didn’t have to do that. He never asked Dad to repay anything, either. At the funeral Dad asked for more money so he can gamble.”
“He needs something to do,” her mother said imploringly.
“Gambling isn’t a hobby. It’s an addiction. If he needs money to gamble, why hasn’t he tried to get a job for side income?”
“He’s still recovering from when they beat him up,” her mother said a bit indignantly.
Lyla shook her head. “He insulted me and the Pyres. He has no respect for anyone so why should I have respect for him? You and Dad need to figure it out.”
Her mother’s mouth dropped open. She was clearly stunned by Lyla’s calm delivery.
“But, what if he can’t get another job?” her mother asked.
“That’s his problem. If you need a place to stay, you can always come to me, but Dad isn’t welcome.”
“He’s your father, Lyla.”
“Calling me a slut and a whore doesn’t make me feel charitable towards him, especially when I gave up everything to save his ass when he embezzled.”
“He can be callous sometimes, but—”
“No, Mom, I’m done.” Lyla looked at Aunt Isabel who was clearly fascinated. “Hi, Aunty, you ready?”
“You can’t just do this to us!” Mom burst out. “You have a responsibility to take care of us.”
“When you can’t take care of yourselves, I will, out of duty,” Lyla said dispassionately. “But right now, if he can run his mouth as easily as he does, he can make a living.”
“You’ve changed,” her mother said accusingly.
“Yes, I have,” Lyla agreed.
“I don’t know what you’ve become, but you aren’t the daughter I raised.”
Lyla stared at her mother. “You haven’t asked where I’ve been for the past year and a half.”
“What?”
“You haven’t asked how I am, where I’ve been, if I’m happy. Parents who cared would ask.” Lyla waited for her mother to say something, but she’d been struck dumb. “Let’s go, Aunt Isabel.”
Lyla walked out of the house and was joined in the back of the SUV by Aunt Isabel and Carmen. Aunt Isabel took Lyla’s hand and squeezed.
“Your parents care... in their way,” Aunt Isabel said.
Lyla gave her a weak smile. “That’s not important. How are you?”
“Getting on. I’m glad Carmen’s here. I haven’t been good company.”
“It’ll take time,” Lyla said and then, “I’m sorry for what happened between me and my dad. I shouldn’t have—”
“I heard what he said. If you hadn’t done something, Gavin would have and he had every right to,” Aunt Isabel said crisply. “If Louie heard your father, he would have whooped his ass too.”
“I don’t know what came over me.”
“Years of pent up frustration, probably,” Aunt Isabel said. “Pat never treated you right and you’ve always been so sweet.”
Carmen snickered. “That was awesome. He’s been begging for it for years. Dad would have been proud.”
They chatted until they reached the salon. Carmen air kissed the cheek of the owner and Lyla did the same. It seemed like a lifetime since they had been here last. The hairdressers clucked over the state of their hair when Lyla’s phone rang again. Lyla picked up the phone and leaned into the large lit up mirror.
“Hi,” she said.
“You’re frying my nerves here,” Gavin growled.
“Sorry. We just got to the salon.” She surveyed herself and fluffed her hair. “You
think I’ll look cute with pink hair?”
“Come again?”
“Pink hair? Short hair?”
“Don’t dye your hair. It’s gorgeous and I like it the way it is. Blade said your mom was at the house. Trouble?”
“No. I took care of it.”
“You okay?”
“Yes.”
“Call me in an hour. I love you.”
“I love you too.”
They hung up and she set an alarm on her phone. A hairdresser with bulging breasts barely contained by her apron dragged her fingers through Lyla’s hair.
“What can I do for you, darling?”
“I’m going to be boring. Just trim and condition, please,” Lyla said.
“You sure? I can do great things with your hair.”
“My... husband likes it as is,” Lyla said, stumbling over the h word.
“I can see why,” the hairdresser said and held her hair up to the light. “Women would kill for this shade.”
Aunt Isabel dyed her silver hair an auburn shade and paired the color with a short cut that wouldn’t take much time to style. Lyla was speechless when Carmen dyed her blonde hair black. The stark color against her pale skin and blue eyes was a startling contrast that changed her whole demeanor. During her blow dry, Blade came over with the phone. Lyla apologized to Gavin and tried to convince him that she set an alarm, but didn’t hear it. He wasn’t pleased. When they went to get their mani and pedi’s, Carmen chose pointed maroon nails that went with her biker chick vibe. Lyla went with modest rose-colored nails while Aunt Isabel got a French tip.
“How are you?” Lyla asked Carmen.
“I’m fine,” she said loftily.
“Carmen.”
“What?”
Lyla took in Carmen’s drastic new look and saw beneath the nonchalant attitude to the pain beneath. “What are your plans?”
“Can’t make any without money,” Carmen said archly.
“You’re right. I’ll talk to Gavin about it.”
“Did you know Mr. Important wants to pay for Dad’s funeral?” Carmen asked with a sneer.
Lyla tried to hold onto her temper. She left the house this morning with a great attitude, which was deteriorating rapidly. She wished she asked Gavin to stay home and hibernate for another day in their love nest.