Layer by Layer (Riggins Brothers Book 1)

by Kaylee Ryan

  I want to get to know her.

  Who am I kidding? I want her. But I won’t go there, not until I know that this, whatever it is, can work between the two of us. That means that my brothers, Jase, Gail, my family, they’re all going to find out, and I’m okay with that too.

  “Umm, I don’t know. I think you should ask your brother.” She listens, and then she smiles. The room is brighter just by her being in it. “Sure, here he is.” She hands the phone back to me as Rosie delivers our breakfast.

  “Listen, our food was just delivered, so I’m going to get off here and eat,” I tell Marshall.

  “I don’t know what’s going on, but if it’s what I think it is, I say go for it.”

  I glance over at Sawyer. “Yeah,” I agree.

  “Damn.” He chuckles. “This is not how I expected this call to go. All right, so are you and your girl in for the lake?”

  My girl. I really like the sound of that. “I don’t know. Let us eat, and I’ll see if Sawyer is up to it. What time are we meeting?”

  “Two.”

  “I’ll let you know.”

  “You better.” He hangs up, muttering her name, and I grin. It’s not often I can shock my brothers. I have no doubt that the others will know before I take my first bite of eggs. At least I got to shock one of them.

  “Everything okay?” she asks.

  I realize I’m staring off into space. “Yeah, Marshall’s being pushy about the lake. We don’t have to go if you don’t want to.”

  She swallows hard and takes a sip of orange juice. “Do you want me to go?”

  “Yes.” I don’t even think about it because I’m certain of my answer. Teasing from my brothers and best friend be damned. I want her there. With me.

  “We’re breaking the rules.” She offers me a huge grin.

  “There are no rules, Sawyer.”

  “No, but it’s deeply frowned upon.” She changes her voice to sound masculine and fails miserably.

  “All right, smartass. Are you in?”

  “You sure about this?”

  “Yes.”

  “Okay. I need to get my car and shower, but I’ve got nothing else planned.”

  “Good, right?” I ask as she takes another huge bite of her pancakes.

  “So good.” She holds her hand over her mouth. “I’m going to have to come here more often.”

  Hopefully with me. Instead of speaking the words aloud, I dig into my food as well. I’m going to need my energy for a day that’s sure to hold a lot of teasing from my brothers, and me trying to keep my dick from giving my true feelings for Sawyer away.

  Chapter 11

  Sawyer

  Royce dropped me off at my car over two hours ago. He insisted that he pick me up for whatever it is we’re doing today. Going out on a lake, on a boat, I think is what we’re doing. Honestly, when I was talking to Marshall, I was only half listening. I was waiting for broody Royce to make an appearance, but he never showed. I’m not exactly sure what’s going on, but a day on the lake sounded fun. I already know that Marshall and Conrad are fun to be around, and if the boss man himself is telling me I should go, well, that sure beats sitting at home alone in a new city all weekend.

  I don’t know why he was so insistent that he pick me up, but I conceded. As soon as I got home, I rushed to the shower and shaved everything. I slathered on about a pound of lotion and picked out my cutest bikini. It’s not too revealing but still makes me feel sexy. I throw on some cutoff jean shorts and a tank top, before deciding that I better pack a bag, just in case. I toss in a towel, some suntan lotion, another pair of shorts and a tank top, and a bra and panties. I don’t know that I’ll need dry clothes, but it’s better to be prepared. I add a brush, a couple of hair ties, and call it good. I want to be ready for whatever I’m getting myself into today.

  Pacing my small living room, I mentally go over what I’ve packed. If we’re just lounging, maybe I should bring my Kindle? I race back to the bedroom, grab my Kindle from the nightstand, pull the charger from the wall, and spy my cell charger, and decide to grab it as well. I don’t know that I’ll be able to charge them on the boat or at the lake, but as I said, I don’t know what I’m getting into so better to be prepared.

  I startle at the knock at the door. I will my heart to slow its rapid pace as I take careful steps toward the door, giving it time to slow its tempo. Not only that, but I don’t want to look too eager. Hand on the knob, I turn and pull open the door, and my breath hitches in my lungs. CEO Royce is broody and sexy. Friend Royce, in his worn jeans and T-shirt, is every woman’s fantasy. Going-to-the-lake Royce, he’s… mouthwatering. He’s in a pair of cargo shorts and a sleeveless T-shirt. Not just any sleeveless shirt. No, this one is homemade. An old threadbare T-shirt that he’s cut the sleeves off; it not only showcases his arms and the gorgeous ink but his abs. His abs have abs.

  “Sawyer.” My name is a growl.

  Blinking hard once, twice, three times, I pull my eyes up his body to meet his eyes. “Hi,” I manage to croak.

  His heated gaze bores into me, and I have to shift my feet to ward off the arousal I feel from just one look. “Sawyer,” he says, his voice even sounds like sex. He reaches out and traces his index finger over my shoulder, causing goose bumps to break out against my skin. He slides his hand under the strap of my bag and gently removes it from my shoulder. “I’ll take this,” he says huskily.

  “Thank you.” I manage to find my voice. “I wasn’t sure what I was getting into, so I packed a towel and some different clothes.”

  “You’re perfect,” he says, letting his eyes roam over me.

  There is not one single part of him that’s touching me, but I feel him everywhere. “I’m all set,” I say, ignoring his statement. I don’t know what to say to that. Thank you? You’re too kind? You’re my boss, and we’re breaking the rules? Yeah, I should have gone with that last one, but to be honest, I like this Royce. He reminds me of the man I met on the plane, with an added edge of sexiness. Not that he didn’t give off the sexy vibe on the plane, but today he’s taking that to a whole other level. I’m kinda hoping he sticks around. At least for today.

  Stepping outside, I pull my door closed, making sure it’s locked. When I turn to face him, he gives me a lazy smile, laces his fingers through mine and leads me to his car. I slide into the buttery soft leather seats and try not to moan. Like his brother Owen, Royce drives a car that is sexy and sleek. I don’t know what model it is, but I do recognize the Jaguar emblem on the front. I guess what they say is true. You get what you pay for. I’ve never been in a car with the leather this soft. I was wearing jeans this morning, but now, the soft leather against my bare skin has me shifting in my seat. It feels more intimate. Then again, maybe that’s just Royce, and his laidback persona, and the sexy-as-fuck clothes. Definitely the clothes.

  “Your tattoos, do they have meaning?” I ask, staring at his sculpted arms, and the ink that adorns them.

  “Some do, some don’t.”

  “You and your brothers, you’re not your typical businessmen,” I state.

  “What makes you say that?”

  “The ink, for one. At least you and Grant. I don’t know if the others have tattoos.”

  “They do. You’ll see some of them today. Marshall, Owen, and Conrad all have theirs hidden, Grant and I are the only two who have gone far enough that they can be seen on a daily basis, no matter what we’re wearing.” He moves his arm so his hand rests on my leg. “You know you want to touch them,” he teases.

  More like trace them with my tongue. “You seem so… straight-laced at the office. These are a total contrast to that.”

  He shrugs. “I like them. Just because I have tattoos doesn’t mean I’m not a professional.”

  “No, I didn’t mean it like that. It’s just… another side of you. One that at first glance, if not for the obvious ink some people would miss, the artistic, carefree side that you seem to keep locked away.”

  “Another lay
er?”

  “Yeah, definitely another layer to add to my Royce Riggins list.”

  “Oh, you have a list?”

  “Yep.”

  His hand wraps around my knee, and it feels like a bolt of electricity. “Let’s hear it.” His eyes are on the road, but they might as well be on me with the way I’m blushing right now. “We’ve been over this.”

  “I guess we have. You think you’re going to see another layer today?”

  “Probably.”

  He chuckles. “I hope you’re writing these down. I’d hate for you to forget one,” he teases.

  “Oh, I have it right here.” I hold up my phone to show him. He throws his head back in laughter. The sound fills the car, and I would give anything to be able to bottle the sound and take it home with me. I could listen to him laugh for hours. The corners of his eyes are crinkled just a bit, and his smile is not only wide but genuine. Sexy Royce just got bumped to the top of the list as my favorite.

  He leaves his hand on my knee the remainder of the drive, and I open my mouth a hundred times to ask him what’s going on, but close it, only to repeat the process over again. He’s my boss, but there is an underlying attraction there. Has been since the day we first met. I know it’s not breaking the rules, but I love my job, and I don’t want this, whatever this is to interfere. Then again, if I had to choose, Royce or the job, I’d choose Royce. I can work anywhere, but I’ve never felt this overwhelming attraction before in my entire life.

  We pull onto a long drive. “Where are we?” I ask, taking in the lush trees and the beautiful landscape that surrounds us.

  “My parents’ place.”

  “Wait.” My hand goes to his arm. “I thought we were going to the lake.”

  “We are. They have a lake on the property.”

  “Are your parents going to be there?”

  “They live here.”

  “I know but—” He pulls his car to a stop outside of a large building. “What is this, Royce?” I point to his hand on my knee, then to my chest, and then at him. “What’s going on?”

  He leaves the car running, thankfully, because it’s a scorcher here today in Tennessee. Unbuckling his seat belt, he turns to face me. “I can’t answer that, Sawyer. Not really. I know that ever since the moment I laid eyes on you, you’ve been all I can think about. I know that I don’t like that you hung out with my brothers. I know that I like you in my car next to me, in my house, in my arms. I like it all. I know that you work for me and that complicates the hell out of things, but the way you make me feel when I’m with you….” He shakes his head, averting his gaze.

  “Tell me. How do I make you feel, Royce?”

  He lifts his head, and those hypnotizing eyes of his seem as though they are peering into my soul. “Alive. You make me feel alive.”

  “I’ll start looking for a new job,” I blurt.

  “What? No. You’re not looking for a new job. Look, let’s just… spend the day out on the lake. We’re friends and coworkers, right?”

  “And this?” I ask, placing my hand over his.

  “This is me not able to resist you, but I promise you, once we step foot out of this car, I’ll be on my best behavior. We’re peers, who are getting to know each other better.”

  I raise my eyebrows, and he laughs. “Fine, we’re more than that, but today I’m going to be good for you. Who knows, by the end of the day we may be ready to kill each other. We’ve only ever really hung out on the plane.”

  “I’ve been with you all day today.”

  “Not all day. This will be good. We can test the waters, so to speak. What do you say?”

  “I’m here, aren’t I?”

  “You’d really look for another job?”

  I nod. “I feel it too, and I don’t know exactly what it is, but I know it’s like nothing I’ve ever felt before.”

  “Come on then.” He gives me a boyish grin. “The lake is calling our name.”

  “Wait.” I pull on his arm to stop him. “Who is going to be here today?”

  “My brothers and us. Sometimes Mom and Dad come along, but I don’t know if they are today or not.”

  I swallow hard. “So your entire family is here?”

  “Yes, but you’ve met everyone but Mom and Dad.”

  “Royce, I should go.”

  “No. What you should do is climb your sexy ass out of this car. We’re going to have a great day. I promise you.”

  “Okay. Coworkers, right? That’s our plan and our story.”

  “Yeah, baby,” he says, his voice soft. “That’s our story. Now, come on, you.” He reaches for his handle, and I do the same. He pops the trunk and grabs both of our bags, and reaches his hand out for mine. I shake my head, and he frowns.

  “Really, Royce?” I shake my head.

  “Fine,” he grumbles. “This way.”

  I follow along behind him and into the building. As soon as we walk in, I hear voices, which sounds like a lot of people cutting up and having a good time. We walk down a short hallway and through another door that leads us to an open space and a huge boat. It’s big enough for at least twenty people and nicer than anything I’ve ever been on.

  “There they are,” Marshall calls out. He jumps down off the boat and walks toward us. He doesn’t stop until he has me in a hug. “Glad you could make it.”

  “Let her breathe,” Royce snips.

  Marshall grins.

  “Sawyer!” Conrad comes walking around from the other side of the boat. “Bring it in, woman.” He holds his arms open wide, and only when he’s close enough to hug me does Marshall step back, releasing his hold on me. “You ready for some fun in the sun?” he asks.

  “Come on, we’ll show you the boat.” Grant swoops in and takes my hand, guiding me to the other side of the boat. “Watch your step,” he says, climbing up behind me.

  “Wow. This is incredible.”

  “You spend much time on a boat?” he asks.

  “No. Not really. I mean, I’ve been on one but nothing like this.”

  “Dad’s pride and joy.” Grant grins.

  “Other than Mom, of course,” Conrad says, joining us on board.

  “It’s incredible.”

  “You ever drive a boat?” Marshall asks, climbing on board with two large bags in his hands.

  “Uh, no.” I laugh. “I’m not sure I should be trusted at the helm of a boat.”

  “Oh, come on, it’s fun. I’ll show you.”

  “Don’t pressure her,” comes from Owen as he climbs on, bags in hand.

  “Hi, Owen,” I greet him.

  “Sawyer.” He gives me a grin, which is not very Owen-like.

  “You need anything before we head out to the lake?” Royce asks, stepping off the ladder with our bags in his hands.

  “Um, I should probably use the restroom before we leave.”

  “We have one below deck,” he assures me. “Unless you need to go now?”

  “No, just thinking ahead.” I laugh nervously.

  “It’s clean too,” Marshall adds. “Mom makes sure of that.”

  I look around to see if maybe their parents are going to join us. “Is it just… us?” I ask hesitantly.

  “Yep.” Conrad smirks.

  “Oh, I should let the five of you do your thing.”

  “No,” Royce speaks up before anyone else can. “You’ll have fun,” he says, his tone lighter.

  “You’re an invited guest,” Owen assures me.

  “Okay. Well, what can I do to help? We could run out and get food, and I can cook,” I offer.

  “Food is covered, and we just brought the rest of it on board.” Royce points to the bags that his brothers just carried on board.

  “Okay, well, um, I don’t really know what to do?”

  “You have a bathing suit on under that?” Conrad points at me.

  “Yes.”

  “That’s all you need. We’ll take care of the rest. Just enjoy some sun and a relaxing day on the water.”
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  “That I can do.” I move to one of the side seats and perch on the edge.

  “Hey.” Royce stops next to me. He bends and places his index finger under my chin, bringing my eyes to his. “Today’s going to be a good day. Just relax and have fun. Oh, and try to imagine it’s just the two of us.” He winks.

  “Yeah, not a good idea with your brothers on board.” The words are out before I can stop them. His eyes smolder, and he leans in a little closer, but the spell is broken when Grant walks behind him and smacks him on the ass.

  “Get moving, big brother.”

  “How are we getting to the lake?”

  “It’s just about a mile out on the property. We’ll ride back here, and one of these guys will drive the truck.”

  “That would be me.” Owen raises his hand. “These goons have already cracked open a beer.” He shakes his head, but there’s no malice in his tone. “Sawyer, you’re welcome to ride in the truck with me. In the air conditioning.” I look up at Royce for direction, but he’s looking at his phone. “Sure. Thanks, Owen.”

  “What?” Royce’s head pops up.

  “She’s riding in the truck with me.”

  “You can ride there.” Royce points to where I’m sitting.

  “Yeah, but Owen offered to let me ride in the truck.” I stand and glance over at Owen. It’s hard to tell what he’s thinking with that beard covering his face, but it doesn’t hide the twinkle in his eyes. He was being nice by offering me solace in the cab of the truck with air conditioning, but he also seems thrilled to be getting under his big brother's skin. I don’t see this side of Owen at the office. I smile; it’s good to see him opening up.

  “Ready?” he asks, reaching for my hand.

  Something that sounds like a growl comes from Royce, but we both ignore him as Owen goes down the ladder first, so that he can “spot” for me. Again, I’m assuming this is another dig at his brother.

  I shouldn’t encourage him, or any of them really, but I’m secretly thrilled to see Royce and his reaction to me with his brothers. It’s yet another layer of him. I don’t know that I would go as far as calling it jealousy, but he definitely doesn’t like the current situation.