****
We decided to pull Riley out of school the next day, wanting to be together as a family. We’d spent a perfect morning at the zoo followed by lunch at Francesca’s bakery and were now preparing to make our own pizzas for dinner. Riley’s giggles filled the air as she and Cash kneaded the dough, making an epic mess in the process. I couldn’t care less. Seeing them together was worth every surface being covered in flour.
Once the pizzas were baked, the whole house smelling amazing, we sat down to eat. Cash surprised me by producing two bouquets of flowers, one for Riley and one for me.
“So, tonight is a special occasion,” he stated, looking from me to Riley.
“Oh?” I asked curiously.
“It is. Because I have a very important question to ask. Two questions, actually.”
My heart galloped in my chest as I caught on to what he might be alluding to. But could I really be so lucky?
He pushed back his chair, getting on to one knee in front of Riley as I gasped in shock.
“Riley, I want to ask your mama to marry me. Is that okay with you?”
“Yes!” she shrieked in excitement as I blinked back tears.
“And I also want to be your daddy more than anything in this world. Will you let me?”
“Yes!” she shrieked again, making me laugh through happy tears.
He produced a necklace, showing her the charms. “There’s one for me, for you, and for your mama.”
“I want to wear it,” she breathed, her eyes wide with excitement. She’d always loved playing with my jewelry, and I knew it meant the world to her to have her own, especially something that meant so much.
Once her necklace was on, Cash moved to me, producing a velvet box and lifting its lid. I put my hands over my mouth, staring down at the exquisite three-stone diamond ring. “Layla, if there’s such a thing as love at first sight, you were that for me. And every day I love you more than the next—to the point that I can’t believe my heart could be that big. I want to love you, protect you, and support making all of your dreams come true. Will you marry me?”
“Yes,” I breathed as he slid the ring on my finger and kissed my knuckle. He pulled me up into his arms, kissing me soundly. “I love you.”
“I love you too.” He grinned.
“Yay!” Riley exclaimed. “Can I eat my pizza now?”
We both laughed, turning to look down at her. “Yes, baby. You can eat,” I answered.
Chapter 23
CASH
“Ithink they’re here!” Riley shrieked from the front window, where her nose had been pressed for the past thirty minutes waiting for Thorn and his wife, Roxy. Sure enough, the sound of an approaching Harley reverberated through the house.
It had been two weeks since Layla and I had become engaged, and in that time, Thorn and I had stayed in contact. Roxy had reached out to Layla, and the two had talked on the phone. When we’d made the decision to tell Riley that she had a new grandfather and grandmother, she’d been beside herself with excitement. Tonight, we were celebrating our engagement with a barbecue at our place and had invited them. Layla had suggested they come earlier to give us some time before everyone else joined us.
The last few weeks had been good. Great, actually. Having my ring on Layla’s finger felt right in a way not much else had in my life. We’d talked about having a small wedding, something soon. Though not as soon as I’d like. I would marry her tomorrow if she’d let me.
“Okay, baby. Well, let’s give them a second to get inside.” Layla laughed from the kitchen where she was prepping a salad.
When the doorbell rang, Riley let out a squeak, rushing over to me and grasping my hand. Clearly her earlier bravado had worn off now that they were actually here.
“Shy?” I murmured, remembering the little girl I’d first met. I was equal parts grateful that she’d come out of her shell for me as I was that she turned to me for comfort when she wasn’t ready to do that with new people.
She nodded as I opened the door, finding Thorn and Roxy, who was grinning from ear to ear and practically bouncing on her heels with excitement. She was an attractive older woman, and her red lipstick, high heels, and thick mane of brown hair was a bold look, but she wore it well.
“Come on in.” I gestured as Riley peeked out from behind my legs. “This is Riley. She’s feeling a little shy right now,” I explained.
Roxy looked down at her with such adoration, I could tell she was doing everything she could to hold herself back from squeezing her. I remembered what Thorn had said about them always trying for kids. Now here she was getting a son and a grandchild at the same time. Despite neither of us being her blood, I knew instinctively and by her obvious excitement that it didn’t matter to her. As I looked at her warm brown eyes, bright with unshed tears she was desperately blinking back, I realized it didn’t matter a lick to me either.