Piece by Piece (The Riggins Brothers #2) - Kaylee Ryan Page 0,25
she doesn’t like me? What if they don’t like me?” Her voice is soft as her insecurities shine through.
Standing from my seat at the table, I offer her my hand. She takes it and follows me to the bed. I sit and pull her into my lap. “They’re going to love you. You make me happy, Layla. I want to be with you, and that’s all they are going to need to know to like you on the spot.” I don’t know what I can say to convince her, then an idea hits. Reaching for my phone on the nightstand, I keep my arm tight around her waist and start a video call with Royce.
“Hey, O, what’s up?” he asks.
“I have someone I want you to meet. Is Sawyer around?” I ask him. I feel Layla stiffen in my arms, but my hold is tight. No way am I letting her run.
“Babe!” Royce calls out. “Owen’s on the phone.” I hear footsteps and then see Sawyer’s face appear on the screen next to Royce.
“Hey, you. How’s Florida?” she asks, her smile genuine.
“Good. I’m heading home in a couple of days. They’re still giving me the run around with the reports. Jase says he’s working on it. At this point, they can send them to me. I’ve seen what I need to see,” I tell them.
“Guys, this is Layla. She’s the one I was telling you about.”
Royce nods, a slow smile tilting his lips. “So, you’re the one that finally got my brother to come out of his shell?” he asks.
“Um, I guess so?” Layla asks, looking at me.
I laugh and offer her a reassuring smile. “I told you I was a workaholic. This is all new to me, baby.” I don’t bother to lower my voice or hide my term of endearment, and the way her eyes widen tell me she noticed.
“So, Layla, did Owen talk to you about our offer?” Royce asks.
I watch as her head slowly turns toward the screen of my phone. “We need the help. This one won’t stop taking on projects from my idiot brothers.” Royce grins, pulling Sawyer into his lap.
“He just told me.”
“Good. Are you joining the Riggins family?” Royce asks.
I don’t miss the way his eyes flash to mine. His words have a double meaning, and we all know it. Well, maybe not Layla. She’s still uncertain. I know this is all fast, but I know what I want. I want Layla.
“It would be nice to keep my future husband off my back in regard to working too much.”
“He used to be the same way before he met you,” I tell Sawyer. It’s not news to her, but I like seeing the way her eyes soften when she hears the way my big brother has changed his life for her. He’s a better man with Sawyer in his world, he knows it too.
“I’ve never done that kind of work,” Layla tells them. Her eyes are still glued to the screen of my phone. “I’ve only ever been a waitress.”
“Pfft.” Sawyer waves her hand in the air. “If you can keep up with a bunch of whiny customers, the Riggins brothers will be a breeze.” She laughs when Royce tickles her side. “No, really, you can do it. It’s nothing crazy, and Royce and I have talked a lot about this. You could take over the reception desk while I continue on with my support projects for each of them. It would be answering phones and taking care of their schedules and other minor tasks. We will eventually train you so that you are more support for me as well.”
“You don’t know me. How can you just offer me this job so easily?”
Royce and Sawyer give Layla their full attention. Sawyer opens her mouth to speak, but Royce beats her to it. “I know my brother. I know that if you weren’t important to him in some way, that he wouldn’t be bringing you into our family. We’re more than just a corporation. Riggins Enterprises is our family. The five of us have devoted our lives to this company just as our father did before us. If Owen wants you there, if he believes in you, then we believe in you too.”
I see the tears as they begin to well in her eyes. “I have