Layer by Layer (Riggings Brothers 1)

“Royce.” Mom waves her hand in front of my face. I shake out of my thoughts to look at her and realize it’s just the two of us.

“Where did everyone go?”

“I was about to ask you the same thing.” She gives me a pointed look.

“Just going over my day tomorrow in my mind.”

“Uh-huh.” She shakes her head. “There is nothing wrong with what your brothers did.”

“She’s our employee.”

“Gail was our employee and my best friend,” she reminds me.

“That’s different.”

“How?” She’s giving me that mom look, the one that says we both know she’s right and she’s trying to hide her glee and look stern at the same time.

“It just is.”

“You like her.”

“No. I mean, yes, I have to on some level to work so closely with her.”

“No, you like her more than just your assistant.”

“Mom,” I sigh. “I know you want me to settle down, but that ship has sailed. After Jennifer, I’ll never go down that road again. I have the company, you and Dad, those knuckleheads you tell me are my brothers. That’s enough for me.” I’m not against love and happily ever after. In fact, I once thought that I had it all. Then I found out it was all a lie. I’ve had my fill for a lifetime.

“Oh, Royce.” Mom stands and makes her way to where I’m sitting. She wraps her arms around me in a hug, and suddenly, I’m a ten-year-old boy all over again. I might have given up on the romance of my life, but I have my family, and my mother’s hugs, they’re still one of a kind.Chapter 5SawyerI’m more nervous about going to work today than I was my first day. Was that really just a week ago? I managed to start a new job, get drunk with my bosses, and I’m sure I’m either getting fired, or getting my ass chewed today. It was stupid, and I knew better. I have no one to blame but myself. Sure, Hadley was encouraging, but if I stood my ground, she would have gotten the hint. I barely put up a fight.

The kicker to all of this? I had a good time. Conrad and Marshall are fun to be around. They’re flirts, and other than dancing, kept their hands to themselves. It was nice not to have to fend off advances, to just cut loose and have a good time. Maybe after Royce fires me, we can still be friends?

“Good morning, Sawyer,” Gail greets me.

“Good morning.” I give her a bright smile, and hope like hell she doesn’t see the nerves.

“What’s wrong?”

Shit. Might as well face the music. “I think I made a mistake.”

“You think?”

“I know I did?” It’s more of a question. I’m still not sure if I did or not.

“Well, whatever it is, I’m sure we can fix it. There is nothing that we can’t trace your steps and put it back.”

I nod. “That’s good to know, but I didn’t make it here.” I wring my hands together in my lap.

Gail walks around the desk and takes the extra chair she’s been occupying while training me. “Sawyer, what’s going on? Are you in some kind of trouble?” She places her hand over mine that are still twisting and knotting together. The act is motherly, and the pang of loneliness and missing my own mother hits me so hard it takes my breath.

I stop the movement of my hands and slowly exhale before taking a deep breath and look into her eyes. “I’m okay, but I have a feeling I’m getting fired today.”

Her eyes widen, but that’s the only tell that I’ve surprised her. “Tell me what’s going on.”

So, I do. I tell her about how Hadley and I were having a girls’ night and ran into Conrad and Marshall. I tell her about the drinking and the dancing—all of it. I don’t leave anything out. I’ve never been one to shy away from my truth or my responsibilities. This is on me. I made a choice, and I need to take the consequences.

“And?” Gail asks.

“And, I know I was wrong.”

“Why was it wrong? You weren’t on company time or even company property.” She’s looking at me like she truly doesn’t understand.

“Isn’t there some kind of rule or something? Employees shall not drink and dance with bosses?” I ask.

“Not currently, but we’re going to fix that,” a deep voice says from behind me. Slowly, I turn to see Royce standing there, and his hard stare is laser-focused on me. “Gail, can I see you in my office?” he asks. He moves his gaze to her.

“Sure. Sawyer, grab your tablet,” she instructs as she stands.

“Just you,” Royce says, stalking off to his office.

“I’ll just be a minute.” Gail pats my shoulder.

I watch her as she disappears into Royce’s office. Panic starts to rise, and I hate that my poor decisions are going to cause me to lose my job. “You made it a week, Sawyer,” I say under my breath.