Kiss by Kiss (Riggins Brothers #3) - Kaylee Ryan Page 0,58

two flavors?” I suggest.

“That’s a lot of work for you,” Layla says, chewing on her bottom lip. I can tell she likes this answer to our little dilemma, but she’s worried about me.

“Pft.” I wave off her concern. “This is what I do. Besides, I have the best assistant ever. We can do this, no problem.”

“Are you sure, sis?” Owen asks.

I open my mouth to reply but shut it, fighting back my emotions. I nod instead. “Yes,” I say, finding my words. “I promise it’s nothing.”

Owen stands and comes to me, bending. He hugs me tight. “Thank you, Rory.”

I try, I really do, but a stray tear slides over my cheek. “You’re welcome.”

“Thank the lord,” Marshall says, sitting back in his seat. “That was seriously stressful. I don’t need that kind of negativity in my life,” he says, making us all laugh.

I give him a watery smile, and he winks at me. Today has been full of tough talks and not so tough decisions, and somehow, I feel lighter. The weight of worry is no longer weighing on my shoulders. Instead, there is hope in my heart for what the future can hold. Layla and Sawyer gave me hope. They didn’t tell me anything Grant hasn’t, but I’ll be the first to admit trusting men isn’t something that comes easy for me, but I do trust him. Now, I need to trust in him, that this is what he wants. That I’m what he wants, and we can move forward. Who knows, maybe one day we’ll all be sitting around our living room trying to decide on our wedding cake flavors.

A girl can dream.

Chapter 21

Grant

This is the second wedding I’ve been to in less than a year. As I sit here in Owen’s living room, watching as he vows to love Layla for the rest of their lives, I feel it—the magic that Dad and my two oldest brothers keep preaching about. It’s this moment watching two people who love one another so deeply that nothing else seems to matter or even exist. If I’m being honest, I saw it at Royce and Sawyer’s wedding too. I was just too dumb to see it for what it is.

Leaning over, I press my lips to Aurora’s temple. She’s sitting as close to me as I can get her without her being in my lap. Our fingers are entwined resting on her thighs, and I know without a doubt that she’s my magic. I wasn’t looking for my forever, but it found me all the same, and the universe was looking out for me when they brought Aurora into my life. She’s everything I never knew I wanted.

She glances over and mouths, “Are you okay?”

I nod, mouthing back that I love her. I do so completely that I don’t even know who I was before she came into my life. As I watch my brother place his hand over his unborn child and lean in to kiss his wife for the first time, I know that is what I want. The wife, the kids, and Aurora. I want it all with her, and the crux of it all is that I’m not going to tell her. Not yet.

I don’t know what happened last weekend when the girls were here all alone, but whatever we walked in on, it changed my girl. She’s more open and affectionate, and even though the worry is still there lingering in the back of her mind, it doesn’t stop her from pushing forward.

Today is Saturday, which means she’s off tomorrow. That also means that I get her with me tonight, in my bed. I get to hold her all night long and wake up next to her in the morning. I tried like hell to get her to stay with me over the past two weeks, but she insists that it’s just easier, and she gets to sleep a little longer staying above the bakery. I let it go, but we’re going to have to do something about that. About her hours. The bakery is doing well. Aurora claims business is better each month, and I love that for her. Maybe I can drop a hint that she needs to maybe hire someone. I need more time with her. I need her next to me at night. I could stay there, but then Aspen is around, and I love her little sister, but I’m sure she doesn’t want to hear her sister calling out my name in