The Sheriff's Mail-Order Bride (The Watson Brothers #2)(37)
Together they walked over and waited for the bags to appear. “There it is, the red one.”
Rory reached for it and swung it off the belt. “We’re staying at Chance’s place while the contractors attack my place. He said there’s a room for you there too and he wouldn’t hear of you staying in town.”
“That sounds like him. Still telling me what to do.” She pulled a pair of sunglasses from her handbag and slipped them on as they walked out the door to the car park. “Such a great sense of family, your brother.”
Layla kept up a brisk chatter as he led her to his waiting truck. “I can’t wait to meet Gina.” She smoothed her skirt down over her shapely legs and hooked in her seatbelt. “How long have you guys been dating? You never did answer that question.”
*
Her hand shook when she opened the porch door. When Rory had called to say Layla was flying out to see her, her mind had gone into panic mode. The house had to be clean, a meal prepared, and the spare room aired out. She’d abandoned her plans for clearing the front garden at the cottage and headed back to Chance’s. There was nothing she wouldn’t do for this woman if it meant she could keep her son from people she’d never met. As her sweaty palms connected with the cold door handle, she said a prayer and plastered a smile on her face. Rory opened the truck door for the lawyer and she slid out and strode purposefully toward the house.
Gina stepped out onto the porch, her heart pounding. So much rode on this meeting. Layla held out her hand. “Hi, Gina, I’m Layla Cox. Thank you so much for having me over.”
“It’s good of you to come all this way. I really appreciate this.”
Layla waved a hand as if it wasn’t a big deal. “Anything for Chance. What a magical place, you’re so lucky to live out here in the wilds like this.” She glanced around and breathed deeply. “Ah, that cool mountain air. Makes me wonder why the heck I still live in the city sometimes. Get sick of fighting the traffic and the smog.” She gave Gina a grin and shrugged her shoulders. “Anyway, let’s get down to business and see what we can do, shall we?”
Rory walked up behind her with the suitcase. “How about we get you settled first and when Chance gets in which won’t be too long, we can get started. He asked if you wouldn’t mind waiting for him to give us what you’ve got.”
Layla turned her baby blues eyes in his direction before nodding her head. “Sounds fair enough to me and saves me repeating myself. Gives me a chance to get changed out of my city clothes. I came straight from the office. Hopefully my secretary packed jeans like I asked her to.”
“Let me show you up to your room then.” Gina led the way inside and up the stairs, listening to the comments on how much their visitor liked the house on the way. Once she was settled, Gina left her alone and hurried back down to Rory. She glanced at his face to gauge his mood before she threw herself into his arms, shaking uncontrollably when her nerves finally got the better of her.
He stroked her hair, waiting for her panic to subside and she was grateful for that. “I’m sorry, I thought I could hold it together and I’m failing miserably. I’m so damned scared of what she’s going to say.” She sighed and took a deep breath. “I don’t know how I’ll ever be able to repay you for what you’re doing.”
“Honey, settle down and stop worrying about that. You’ve given me more happiness in the last couple of weeks than I’ve had in three years. I’ve told you, I love you and I’m not giving up, no matter how hard this gets. You and Fisher are my family as much as Chance and Callie are. None of us expect payment, it’s how families work.”
Rory bent his head and took her mouth with his, stilling the emotions rising in her throat and instead, giving her other sensations to think about. Last night when they had lain together, neither had made the advance toward sex. It had been a night of consoling and it hadn’t seemed right to take it to that level. Now he ignited the passion as easily as flicking a switch.
“Oops, sorry to break up you two lovebirds. I did try to take my time upstairs to give you a moment.” Layla walked into the kitchen wearing a pair of tight blue denim jeans that hugged her shapely butt and a white button-up blouse loose at the throat. Her short bobbed hair swung around her rose-tinted cheeks like a wave of liquid gold.
“Can I get you anything? A coffee or tea?” Gina stepped away from Rory, regretting it as soon as the warmth moved with him.
“I’d love to take a walk if that’s okay. Nothing like seeing what Chance does up close. Kind of hard to get a picture of the real cowboy when he’s in the city taking care of business.”
“Let me show you around then.” Rory took Gina’s hand and together they walked Layla down to the barn where Fisher chased chickens in the hay and Callie was busy getting the feed ready for Tiny and Sultan.
“Well, look at you, cute little thing.” Layla crouched down beside Fisher and watched him tottering around on his pudgy little legs. He looked from his mother to the stranger and went closer to investigate.
“Callie, this is Layla, a friend of Chance’s who is going to help with the summons. Layla, meet Callie, Chance’s wife.”
“Wife?” The perfectly shaped eyebrows rose a notch or two. “Well now, how lovely is that? I must say I’m surprised. I didn’t know he was thinking of marriage. Last time it was mentioned he ran a mile.” Layla stood up and held out her hand to Callie as she stepped forward.