Piece by Piece (The Riggins Brothers #2) - Kaylee Ryan Page 0,24
her to slow down not take on more. He wants a family, they both do, and you coming to work for us, taking some of the workload from her shoulders will help everyone out.” I pause, letting my words sink in. “And I’ll get to see you every day.”
“Owen, I can’t even process this. You want me to come and work for you? In Nashville? In Tennessee?” she asks.
“Yes.”
“You want to see me every day?”
“More than anything.” I watch as her eyes widen at my response. “I have plenty of room, you can stay with me, but—” I start when I see her mouth open to object. “If you’re not ready for that, you can stay in Sawyer’s old apartment. It’s still furnished, and it’s just sitting empty. It’s in a good neighborhood, and it’s close to the office.”
“A-Are you ready for that?”
“Ready for what, baby?”
“Me moving in?” she croaks.
“Yes.”
“How? How are you so sure? You barely know me.”
“I know enough, and we have the rest of our lives to discover the rest.”
“The rest of our lives? Are you feeling okay?” she asks, her eyebrows raised in concern.
I can’t keep the chuckle inside. “I’m fine, Layla. I admit this isn’t me. I’ve never done this, and normally I need my space, but the thought of having you in my space, well, that’s a game changer.”
“This isn’t a game, Owen. This is my life,” she says, her voice raised.
“I know it’s not a game.” I pull my hand back, running my fingers through my hair. “I will give you as much space as you need. However, I do have one request.”
“What’s that?” she asks hesitantly.
“We date. You give me a chance to show you who I am while I learn more about you. Exclusively,” I add.
“You want to date me?”
“Yes.”
“You want to give me a job?”
“Yes.”
“Who are you?”
“Owen Riggins.” I smirk.
“You know what I mean.” She rolls those big blue eyes of hers.
“I’m a man who never gives up when there is something he wants. My brothers and I took over my father’s company and have watched it grow into more than we ever could have imagined. We wanted it, and we made it happen. I want you, Layla.”
“I have a job and an apartment. I can’t just pick up and move to Tennessee.”
“You have a job making minimum wage and a shitty apartment. You’ve picked up and moved before. Why not now? Why not with me? This time you’re not going to be alone. You have my family and me there to support you.”
“Your family?” she asks, shocked. “They don’t even know me. You don’t know me.”
“They know that you’re important to me, and that’s enough. And I do know you, Layla. I know that you’re a fighter. That you fought to give yourself a better life, and you’re still fighting and struggling. I know that this job alone will change things for you, not to mention a nice clean apartment in a good neighborhood. I know that you and my future sister-in-law will get along great, as she’s feisty just like you.”
“I’m not feisty. I’m cautious.”
“That—” I point at her, not able to hide my grin. “—that’s the feistiness coming out in you. I’m going to lay it out for you, baby. If I had my way, we’d be packing up your things and moving you into my place where I could hold you every night, just like I did last night. I know it sounds utterly insane, but that’s how I feel. I’m a man of my word. I think I’ve proven that to you. You can trust me. You can trust my family. Please, come home with me.”
“You realize this is crazy, right?” she asks. “I mean, we just met, and you want me to uproot my life for you?”
“Not just for me, Layla. For you.” I go on to tell her how much she’ll be making as an assistant for Riggins Enterprises and her eyes bulge. “That’s not just a special salary for you, that’s what the position pays.”
“I don’t know how to be an assistant, Owen.”
“You’re smart, and Sawyer is amazing. She’ll help you.” I love Sawyer like a sister, and I’ve never been more grateful than I am at this moment that she loves my broody-ass older brother. Well, I guess he’s not so broody anymore. Not since Sawyer came into his life. Knowing that she has another woman there other than my mom to support her is a huge selling point.