Sawyer looks up, and her teeth are digging into her bottom lip. “Say it, Sawyer,” Hadley prompts.
“I love it,” she says so low we can barely hear her.
“Buy it,” Hadley says immediately. “It’s perfect, and you look gorgeous.”
“A winter angel,” I say, voicing my earlier thoughts.
“I don’t know,” she says. I pull my phone out of my pocket. “Don’t make me call Royce,” I threaten.
“It’s so much money.”
“You’re only doing this wedding gig once. Might as well go all out,” I tell her.
“Right, like you wouldn’t think the same way if you were standing in my shoes.”
“We’re not talking about me,” I fire back, making her laugh.
I can see the indecision warring in her mind. I tap the screen of my phone and call Royce. Making sure to leave it on speaker so that Sawyer can hear, he asks, “Layla?”
“Hey, Royce, sorry to bother you. I know you and Owen are helping your dad today. I just wanted to tell you that your girl found the perfect wedding dress.”
“Did she buy it?” There’s excitement in his voice.
“No. She's—” I start, and he talks over me.
“Sawyer, baby, you’re getting the dress. Layla, send me the details of the store, and I’ll call and take care of it.”
“Royce—” Sawyer calls out, but he talks over her too.
“Nope. You want it. It’s the dress you want to be wearing when you become a Riggins. It’s yours. I’ll take care of it. Layla, thank you.”
“Anytime,” I say, sticking my tongue out at Sawyer. “You boys behave,” I tell him, ending the call.
“I can’t believe you did that.”
“Layla, if I was there, I’d be high-fiving you,” Hadley says.
“Looks like you got yourself a dress.” I grin at Sawyer. The smile that tilts her lips tells me she’s thrilled, and I couldn’t be happier for her. I say goodbye to Hadley with the promise to have Sawyer call her once we’re back on the road. As I look around the room, I can’t help but imagine myself being the one looking for a dress.
Layla Riggins has a nice ring to it.Chapter 23OwenWalking into my parents’ house on Sunday, we’re the last to arrive. If the vehicles in the driveway weren’t indication enough, the sounds when I open the door would have been. With Layla’s hand held tight in mine, we follow the laughter of my brothers to the kitchen.
“There they are. The celebrity couple,” Grant boasts.
“What the fu—” I glance at Mom as she gives me the side-eye. “—heck are you going on about?” I ask.
“Layla, you’re apparently breaking hearts all over Nashville,” Marshall speaks up.
“Explain,” I say, my voice quiet and low.
“This.” Conrad passes me what appears to be this week's paper.
“What’s that?” Layla asks.
“You two made the paper,” Grant explains.
“Is that a bad thing?” Layla asks.
“No, sweetheart,” Dad assures her. “In fact, it’s good for business.”
Grabbing the paper from the table, I open it, and sure enough, there we are on the front page.Hearts are breaking all over NashvilleIt appears Royce Riggins isn’t the only Riggins bachelor who’s off the market. Pictured above is his younger brother by two years, Owen, and his date. Sources tell us that Owen didn’t let the beauty out of his sight the entire night, and when they left, it was to a room upstairs. I know, I know, the Riggins brothers of Nashville’s Riggins Enterprises are dropping fast, but don’t worry, ladies. There are three more brothers, and our sources tell us that they are indeed single and ready to mingle.The article goes on to talk about the gala and the support it receives every year from Riggins Enterprises and is accompanied by the picture taken of Layla and me as we were leaving the gala. Her hand is on my chest, and my arm is around her waist, holding her close to me. The picture is intimate in the way we’re standing, but what takes it to another level is the way I’m looking down at her. I’m not surprised. I couldn’t take my eyes off her all night long. I do know for a fact the photographer also got a shot of me looking at the camera. I guess the paper thought romance would sell. I wonder if I can get a copy of that picture? I make a mental note to call the paper and find out.
“Well?” Grant asks.
“They’re not wrong. Well, I don’t know about the hearts breaking across Nashville part, but I am indeed off the market, and you jokers are as single as they come.”
“The final three stand-strong brothers,” Conrad says, puffing out his chest.
“Just wait,” Dad tells him. “You can’t stop the magic.”
“Here we go,” Marshall whines. “More of the magic. I get it, you and Mom had a connection. That’s not going to happen for all of us.”
Dad gives him a pointed look. “Ask your brothers.”