by Kaylee Ryan
“Owen,” Layla pants as she buries her hands in my hair.
“I got you, baby.”
“How is it better every time?” she asks.
Honestly, I don’t know, but then it hits me. “It’s the magic, baby.” When I stand from the chair, she wraps her legs around my waist, and I move us to the wall. One at a time, I slide my arms under her legs, pressing her back against the wall, rock my hips and let loose, fucking her hard and fast. I feel her nails dig into my shoulders, but it only fuels my desire for her. To have her lose control on my cock, the way she makes me feel as though I’m losing control anytime I’m around her, and every time I’m inside her.
Her walls clamp around me at the same time a deep guttural moan falls from her lips. “Owen!” She calls out for me, and I snap, spilling over inside her. My legs feel like jelly, but I manage to walk to the bed, sitting down with her still wrapped around me, and my cock still buried deep inside her.
“I don’t know where that came from, but when can we do it again?” she asks through staggered breaths, making me laugh.
“I’m all yours, baby. You tell me when and where… I’ll take care of the rest.” I kiss her bare shoulder. “Come on. We need to shower and then get some sleep.” She climbs off my lap, and I’m already regretting my decision for a shower. Losing that connection of our bodies, the warmth of her draped around me, is a feeling I will forever crave.
We manage to shower, taking our time to let our hands roam over each other’s naked bodies. By the time we climb into bed, we’re both exhausted and sated. Layla snuggles close, her naked body aligned with mine, and my last thought before drifting off to sleep is I get to do this every night of our forever.
Chapter 22
Layla
I can’t stop smiling. I couldn’t control it even if I wanted to. I’ve never been this happy. I’ve never felt as though I belong as I do with Owen. Not just with him but with his family and my job. It’s like all of the shit I had to live through growing up, was my fight for my happily ever after—the one I’ve found here in Nashville.
“Hey, sis.” Conrad stops at my desk just as the phone rings.
Holding up a finger, I shrug and answer the phone. “Riggins Enterprises, this is Layla,” I say as chipper as ever. “Hello?” I wait for someone to speak. “Riggins Enterprises, how can I help you?” I ask again. I can hear someone breathing on the other end, but they’re not saying anything. Feeling a chill race down my spine, I place the phone back on the cradle. I’m overreacting. I can imagine Owen and his brothers doing the same thing as kids.
“No one there?” Conrad asks.
“No. Well, maybe. I could hear someone breathing, but they didn’t say anything.”
His brow furrows. “That’s odd.”
I nod. “Yeah, I’ve gotten one of those same calls every day this week.”
“Really? Have you told the others?”
“No. I’m sure it’s just some young kid playing games.” I wave off his concern. The phone rings again, and I smile with a roll of my eyes. “Riggins Enterprises, this is Layla,” I say into the line. I listen as the caller asks to speak to Conrad. “May I tell him who’s calling?” I ask politely. I listen as the caller relays their name. “One moment.” Parking the call, I look up at Conrad. “Joseph Bauer is returning your call,” I tell him.
“That’s what I was here to tell you.” He chuckles. “Give me a few to get back to my office and put him through.” Conrad smacks the desk lightly with the palm of his hands and heads toward his office.
Placing one earbud back into my ear, I get back to work on typing the letter that Royce dictated when the phone rings again. I swear, I’m not getting anything accomplished today. “Riggins Enterprises, this is Layla.”
“Baby.” Owen’s deep voice greets me.
“Yes, sir?” I reply, and he groans in my ear. The sound turns me on more than it should, and at work no less.
“Can you come and see me?”
“Sure. Let me just have Sawyer watch the phones.”
“Called her first. She’s on her way to you.”
“Okay, is something wrong?”
“Yes, something is wrong. We’ve been here for hours, and I’ve yet to lay eyes on you.”
“It’s two in the afternoon. We’ve both been busy, you know working, that thing that gives us our paycheck.”
“Bring your smart ass to my office.” He laughs and ends the call.
I look up to find Sawyer smirking. “Take your time.” She winks.
“Oh, that will not be happening,” I tell her, reading between the lines.
She shrugs. “Don’t knock it until you try it.”
“Sawyer!” I laugh.
“You’ve seen my man, right?” She grins.
“What about me?” Royce asks, stepping up behind her. He places a kiss on her cheek. It’s like they have roaming devices on us. It never fails Royce and Owen always knows where we are. If I didn’t love him as much as I do, I might find it creepy. However, coming from the life I lived, it’s nice to know I have people who care.
“Office sex.” Royce wags his eyebrows at Sawyer when she speaks. “Not us, Lay and O,” she tells him.
“We get next,” Royce quips.
“That,” I say, giving them a pointed look, “is not happening.”
“What did he do for you to cut him off?” Royce asks, and I can’t help but laugh because he truly believes Owen must have done something to upset me.
“Nothing. We’re at the office.”
“Don’t knock it until you try it,” Royce says.
“See!” Sawyer points at me. “Go, don’t keep your man waiting.”
Their laughter, combined with mine, follows me down the hall to Owen’s office. “You rang?” I ask, stepping into his office.
“Shut the door.”
“I think it’s better if we keep it open,” I say, taking a step further into the room.
“Babe, if you think that door being open is going to stop me from tasting you, you’re wrong.”
“Not here,” I hiss as he stands from his chair and meets me halfway.
“These lips, baby.” He grins as he traces my bottom lip with his thumb. “What did you think I meant, Layla? Huh? You thinking about me tasting your pussy? I could, you know. I could set you on the edge of my desk, hold your legs open, and soothe the ache with my tongue.”
“W-We didn’t lock the door.”
“Told you.” He smirks, placing a kiss on my lips. “I’ve missed you today.”
I push away from him and take a step back. “That—” I point to him. “We can’t be doing that here.” I shift my stance, rubbing my thighs together to quell the ache that is, in fact, strong as ever, at least until we get home from the office.
“It’s going to happen, baby. It’s like a rite of passage to fuck my girl on my desk.”
“Whoa.” I hear from behind us. I groan, covering my face with my hands. “Looks like I got here just in time,” Marshall jokes. I groan again, and the room fills with laughter from the brothers.
“Trouble. The lot of you Riggins boys are trouble.” I walk to Owen and pull on his tie until he bends to my height. “I’m going back to work. Love you.” I kiss the corner of his mouth.
His eyes are soft. “Love you too, Lay.” I turn to face the door, and he smacks my ass.
“Glad to see you happy, brother.” I hear Marshall say as I walk back to my desk and just like that my smile is back.
* * *
Owen keeps checking his phone, and it’s driving me crazy. “Are you waiting on a call?” I ask him.
“What?”
I point to his phone.
“Oh, no. Royce asked me to help him with something for Dad today. Something on the garage. He’s supposed to text me and tell me what time to meet him.”
“Good. I’m glad you won’t be home alone while I’m out shopping.”
“I left my card on the dresser. Did you get it?”
“No, and I’m not going to. I have money, Owen. You never let me pay for anything, and my salary at Riggins is more than generous. I can afford to go shopping.”’
“I want to spoil you.”
“You do. Do you need anything while I’m out today?”
“Not that I can think of. You should take my card in case you see anything you want for the house.”
“I have money,” I say yet again, wrapping my arms around his waist in a hug. A horn blares outside, which tells me Sawyer is here. “I’ll be back later. Have fun with Royce and your dad.” After a kiss that could be considered anything but quick, which is interrupted by Sawyer’s honking, I’m out the door for another day of shopping.
A couple of weeks ago, Sawyer asked me to go with her, and of course, I said yes. We had a great time and even met Sam and baby Aria for lunch. I assume we’re doing the same today. Either way, I’m sure it will be a fun time. Girls’ days are new for me. I could never afford it before, and really Linda was my only female companion, and one or both of us was usually working.
“So, are we looking for anything particular?” I ask, putting on my seat belt as she pulls out of the driveway.
“What? Do we need an excuse to go shopping?” She chuckles.
“Not at all, just wasn’t sure if we had an agenda.”
“Nothing certain. I’d like to stop at the wedding store across town and look at dresses. Not trying anything on today, but I want to see what’s out there. Maybe they have a book or something that I can look through.”
“Eep! Yes, I am so excited for you and Royce. A winter wedding at the lake is going to be so romantic.”
“What about you? Are there wedding bells in your future?” she asks.
“We haven’t talked about it specifically. He says things like when we fill up the bedrooms with kids and changing my name and stuff, but that’s about it.”
“So, Owen drops to one knee, what’s your answer?”
“Hell, yes,” I say, and we both laugh.
“That’s what I thought.”
“It’s crazy. It’s so soon, but I’ve never felt like this. I love that man with all that I am.”
“You’re good for him. He’s more open and spends less time working and by himself. They say when you find the right person, you just know. I knew with Royce. Sure, I didn’t know if he was there, but I was certain of my love for him. Look at us now.”
“Getting married.”
“Getting married,” she echoes. “And my man isn’t near as broody now that we’ve set a wedding date.” She chuckles.
The rest of the drive we talk about ideas for the wedding. It’s going to be freezing cold that time of year, and Sawyer wants the service to be short and sweet, considering it’s outside. “Let’s go to the dress shop first,” I suggest. “All this talk about dresses and wraps has me itching to see what you pick.”
“I’m just looking,” she reminds me.
“You say that but what if you find the dress? We have to buy it.”
“Most brides look for months before they find their dream dress for their weddings.”
“Maybe, but I’m feeling lucky.” She throws her head back in laughter as she parks her SUV outside the dress shop. “Let’s do this,” I say, reaching for the door handle.
“Layla,” Sawyer breathes my name. Reaching out, she grabs my arm and stops me. “There are so many.”
She’s right. This bridal shop is huge, and there are rows and rows of dresses. “I’m thinking we’re going to need some help.”
“What can I help you find today?” an older lady asks as she approaches us.
Sawyer just stands there in awe of our surroundings. “Hi, I’m Layla, and this is Sawyer, the bride. She’s having a winter wedding, so we would need something long-sleeved, and thicker, I’m guessing.”
“Of course, it’s nice to meet both of you. My name is Mary. Sawyer, congratulations.”
“Thank you,” Sawyer says, finding her voice.
“Now, are we having an indoor or outdoor wedding?”
“Outdoor. Just for a quick ceremony. Then I’m hoping we can rent tents and heaters for the reception.”
“Perfect. Right this way.” She leads us to the back of the building where we see a sign indicating Winter/Outdoor.
“Wow, you’re really organized,” Sawyer says.
“We have to be,” Mary replies. “With a building this size and over five thousand dresses to choose from, we need all the organization we can get. Now, tell me what you’re thinking.”
We spend the next ten minutes or so telling Mary all of the elements that Sawyer and I discussed on the way here. Mary leads us to a private dressing room and excuses herself to bring us a few options.
“I should FaceTime Hadley. She’s going to be pissed that she missed this.”
“Hey, it’s not your fault she’s on vacation.”
“Right? We’ll have to remind her of that.” She pulls her phone out of her pocket and initiates a video call with her best friend. “Hey, Had.” She turns the phone so that I can wave. “This is Layla, Owen’s girlfriend.”
“Nice to meet you. What are the two of you getting into?” Hadley asks.
“Well, I’m at a bridal store, dress shopping.”
“No way! Layla, how did you get her to do that?” Hadley asks.
“It was her idea. I’m just moral support,” I manage to answer, still reeling by being referred to as Owen’s girlfriend. I love the sound of it.
Hadley’s laughter fills the air. “Sawyer, give Layla your phone. I’m settling in for this.”
“I know you’re on vacation. I just wanted you to know.”
“We’re lying on the beach. Derek is sleeping next to me.” She pans the phone so we can see a tanned Derek sleeping on a towel under the umbrella next to her. “I was too engrossed in this book to fall asleep,” she says, closing her Kindle and tossing it into her bag. “This… the two of you have my full attention.”
“Here you are,” Mary says as she enters the room, pushing a rolling cart with several dresses hanging. “Sawyer, have a look and let me know what you’re thinking.”
Grabbing her phone, I point it so Hadley can see what’s going on. Sawyer walks up to the cart and begins to sift through the dresses. When her eyes light up, Hadley squeals, and I know she’s found the one. You don’t get that look for just any dress.
“Try it on,” Hadley and I say at the same time.
Sawyer looks over at me, and I nod. I watch as she carefully takes the dress from the cart and disappears behind the changing curtain.
“Layla?” I turn the phone so I’m now facing the screen. “You can’t let her back out. She’s going to look gorgeous, and she’s going to try and talk herself out of it. Don’t let her. I’m not there to kick her in the ass.”
“I’m all over it.” I chuckle.
“She’s going to say it’s too much, but we both know Royce will have other ideas about that.”
“For sure. If she balks, I’ll call him.”
“Perfect,” Hadley says just as Sawyer calls out that she’s ready.
I turn the phone back around, and when she appears, Hadley and I both gasp and tell her that she looks beautiful. She does. The dress has a fitting bodice that flares at the hips, long-sleeved, and a white faux fur shawl wrapped around her shoulders. It’s perfect, and she looks like a winter angel.
Sawyer looks up, and her teeth are digging into her bottom lip. “Say it, Sawyer,” Hadley prompts.
“I love it,” she says so low we can barely hear her.
“Buy it,” Hadley says immediately. “It’s perfect, and you look gorgeous.”
“A winter angel,” I say, voicing my earlier thoughts.
“I don’t know,” she says. I pull my phone out of my pocket. “Don’t make me call Royce,” I threaten.
“It’s so much money.”
“You’re only doing this wedding gig once. Might as well go all out,” I tell her.
<
br /> “Right, like you wouldn’t think the same way if you were standing in my shoes.”
“We’re not talking about me,” I fire back, making her laugh.
I can see the indecision warring in her mind. I tap the screen of my phone and call Royce. Making sure to leave it on speaker so that Sawyer can hear, he asks, “Layla?”
“Hey, Royce, sorry to bother you. I know you and Owen are helping your dad today. I just wanted to tell you that your girl found the perfect wedding dress.”
“Did she buy it?” There’s excitement in his voice.
“No. She's—” I start, and he talks over me.
“Sawyer, baby, you’re getting the dress. Layla, send me the details of the store, and I’ll call and take care of it.”
“Royce—” Sawyer calls out, but he talks over her too.
“Nope. You want it. It’s the dress you want to be wearing when you become a Riggins. It’s yours. I’ll take care of it. Layla, thank you.”
“Anytime,” I say, sticking my tongue out at Sawyer. “You boys behave,” I tell him, ending the call.
“I can’t believe you did that.”
“Layla, if I was there, I’d be high-fiving you,” Hadley says.
“Looks like you got yourself a dress.” I grin at Sawyer. The smile that tilts her lips tells me she’s thrilled, and I couldn’t be happier for her. I say goodbye to Hadley with the promise to have Sawyer call her once we’re back on the road. As I look around the room, I can’t help but imagine myself being the one looking for a dress.
Layla Riggins has a nice ring to it.
Chapter 23
Owen
Walking into my parents’ house on Sunday, we’re the last to arrive. If the vehicles in the driveway weren’t indication enough, the sounds when I open the door would have been. With Layla’s hand held tight in mine, we follow the laughter of my brothers to the kitchen.
“There they are. The celebrity couple,” Grant boasts.
