“How did you know I was standing here?” she asks, her voice moving closer.
“I could feel you.”
“Feel me?”
Pulling the bacon out of the pan, I place it on a plate lined with a paper towel, a trick I learned from watching my mom cook for us growing up. Turning off the burner and sliding the skillet to the back, I turn and wrap my arms around her. “Yes, I could feel you. I don’t know how, but I knew the moment you walked into the room.”
“Is this more of that magic you were talking about?” She smiles up at me.
“This is you, Lay, all you, baby,” I say, pressing a kiss to the top of her head.
“How did you know I love bacon?”
“Room service. That’s the first thing you went for. Bacon, and toast and jelly.” I nod to the island where I have several slices of toast sitting on a plate.
“Be careful, Riggins. You keep spoiling me like this I might never leave,” she teases.
Two things cross my mind. First, I love that she’s teasing and happy. I love the fact that she’s opening up and being herself around me. Second, I plan to spoil the hell out of her, and if that helps my case to get her to stay with me, so be it. Hands on her hips, I lift her up onto the counter. “Strawberry or grape?” I ask.
“What?” She cocks her head to the side, a smile playing on her lips.
“Strawberry or grape jelly?”
“Both.” She grins.
“Coffee?”
“Yes, please,” she says, swiping a piece of bacon off the plate as I set it on the counter next to her. “So, what are we doing today? I assume we need to drop my things off at the apartment so we can take the rental back?”
“I thought we’d just put your things in the garage here, and then I’ll have you follow me in my car to turn the rental in. If we get there before noon, they won’t charge me for another day.” I’m not worried about the charge. The money isn’t the issue. I’m not ready for her to leave, and I’m hoping with time she’ll just stay with me and forget about Sawyer’s apartment.
“Can’t we just drop my stuff off on the way?”
“Yeah, but I don’t have a key. It’s not much, so it will be fine,” I assure her as I hand her a cup of coffee. I busy myself cutting a piece of toast in half slathering one side with strawberry jelly and the other with grape. “My queen,” I say, holding the jelly-covered toast to her lips. She giggles and takes a huge bite. I add grape to another piece and step between her thighs where she’s still sitting on the counter. Together, we eat breakfast in the most unconventional method, but it’s ours. I couldn’t think of a better way to start this day or our time together.Chapter 12LaylaI’m living in a fairy tale. I know that at any moment, I’m going to wake up and be in my shitty apartment in Florida. This can’t be real—this new life that literally just developed over a matter of weeks, all from meeting a handsome stranger.
“Layla.” Owen’s deep timbre pulls me out of my thoughts. “Where did you go?” he asks, cocking his head to the side.
“Pinch me,” I say, holding out my arm.
“What?” he asks incredulously.
It’s not like I told him to kick a puppy. “Pinch me so I’ll wake up. I have to be dreaming.”
“What’s going on in that head of yours?”
“You just told me that you want me to drive that.” I point to the shiny car that costs more than I’ll probably ever earn in a lifetime.
“Yes, that’s my car. I assumed you didn’t want to drive my truck or my SUV since you are used to driving a car.”
“Why does one man have three vehicles?” Three! Who needs three vehicles?
“A man has to have a truck, and I take the SUV grocery shopping, it holds more, and the car, it’s just a luxury. I usually drive it back and forth to work.”
“Three, Owen. You have three. All of them probably nicer than anything I’ll ever own, and you want me to drive that one,” I say, pointing at the car again. “The shiny one that looks super expensive. I can’t do it. I’ll drive the rental.”
“Babe, you’re not listed on the rental.” He smirks.
“Since when are you a rule follower, Owen Riggins?” I ask, my hands braced on my hips.
He throws his head back and laughs. “Ask my brothers, I am the rule follower, trust me. Now, this is just a car. I have insurance, so if you wreck it, I don’t care. What I do care about is you being safe. The car can be replaced. Do you think you’re going to feel unsafe driving? I can call one of my brothers.” He’s already reaching into his pocket for his phone before I can reply.