Chapter 9 #2
Nolan, she found, was a real stand-up guy. Plainspoken and funny, especially when he told stories about his kids. He had Laylee laughing out loud several times. He was also no-nonsense and courteous in an old-school way, especially toward his wife.
When Knox’s mom went to the kitchen to get the food, his dad jumped up to help—and then so did Knox’s brother and sister and Knox himself.
It was amusing, especially since Jenny took their solicitude in stride.
After a few instructions, she left the chore to her husband and kids and sat down beside Laylee to “get better acquainted.”
“Knox told us you were a model, but I still didn’t expect you to be so perfect.”
“Oh, no, I’m not,” Laylee protested. “You should have seen me this morning when Knox and I first woke up—” Too late, she realized what she was saying and who she was saying it to. Her mouth snapped shut as her face got hot. “I mean, I, um …”
Jenny laughed. “Moms are very worldly when it comes to their children, believe me.” She added in a whisper, “Plus, I know their dad.”
Laylee snickered. “Sometimes my mouth gets ahead of my common sense. Honestly, though, usually my dates don’t bring me home to meet their families.”
“You’re more than just a date though, right?”
She bit her lip. “Maybe? We haven’t really discussed the future.”
Jenny didn’t put her on the spot—at least not more than she already had. “Now you know what you’re in for. We’re a close family and I don’t want that to change, so if I ever make you uneasy, please just let me know.”
“You couldn’t,” Laylee promised. Then thought to add, “Thank you.”
As Nolan came in carrying a big dish, he said, “You’re in for a treat, Laylee. Jenny made her famous ham and cheese casserole.”
“It smells delicious.”
“If you like it,” Ashlee said, “have Knox make it for you. Mom made sure we could all cook.” She set a fruit platter on the table.
“Knox is better at it than I am,” Jacob claimed, as if selling the merits of his brother. He carried two different pitchers of juice. “I can get by, and Ashlee does okay—”
Ashlee deliberately bumped him, almost making him spill the drinks.
“—but Knox could be a chef.”
“Thanks,” Knox said, “but you’re still doing the dishes.”
Laylee could have been overwhelmed, especially with all of them joking and including her as one of their own, but instead she just enjoyed herself.
Toward the end of the meal, Nolan and Knox were discussing a roofing job, and Ashlee chimed in.
“Do you do roofing, too?” Laylee asked.
“I’ve pitched in, but I don’t love it the way Knox does. If I had your looks, I’d be a model. That sure seems easier.”
Nolan immediately protested. “You should know better,” he scolded. “No job, when done well, is easy.”
“I don’t know,” Laylee said. “It does seem easier than laboring in the hot sun, but you’re right, modeling does have its challenges.
Long hours, forced smiles, really uncomfortable shoes, travel when it’s not convenient, constant criticism …
Once, when I hadn’t slept well, the photographer kept complaining and asking for more and more and more makeup because I was washed out.
All I wanted to do was go home and sleep. ”
“I didn’t know that,” Knox said.
She shrugged. “We’ve never really discussed my work.” The idea of her modeling seemed silly sometimes. Most of the men she’d dated had made it out to be a big deal, carrying on as if they’d scored something special. But not Knox.
He definitely made her feel special, but not because of her looks, or because she modeled.
With him, she was just herself.
Knox frowned, as if lost in thought.
Nolan broke the sudden silence by saying, “I raised my daughter much like my sons. I wanted her to be self-sufficient so that she’d never ‘need’ a man. I’ll be happy when she finds a keeper, but it will be because she loves him, not for any other reason.”
“He tells me that all the time,” Ashlee said. “Mom just tells me to be happy.”
“I want you all happy,” Nolan protested.
“Happily independent,” Jacob countered.
“Stop,” Jenny said. “You’ll have her thinking we only wanted to be rid of you.”
Jacob leaned over to hug his mom. “Nah. Mom cried when I went off to college, but then Dad almost did, too.”
“Tears of happiness,” Nolan insisted. “I didn’t think you’d ever make a decision.”
From there, the mood lightened again, and they all talked for another hour. Honestly, Laylee could have stayed and visited all day, but she knew they needed to get home to the animals. Paul, awesome as he was, probably had his hands full and was ready for a break.
She’d couldn’t have been more wrong.
“A harness for a cat.”
Knox gave Laylee a hug. “Hey, I never considered it, either.”
Paul grinned at both of them, his gaze going back and forth. “I knew I was right about you two.”
Knox gave him a light shove, then laughed. “How much do I owe you?”
“Consider it a gift. I enjoyed getting to know River, and I always enjoy visiting the dogs.”
“But you’re a professional,” Laylee protested. “It’s your job, so we have to pay you.”
“True, but I was here as a friend, not an employee.”
Laylee crossed her arms. “Fine, but I’m keeping the harness.”
Paul grinned. “It’s a gift, too. I knew once I put it on River, I couldn’t take it back.”
“But—”
He put a finger to her lips, silencing her. “This is where you say, ‘Thank you, Paul. Friends like you are a blessing.’”
Dutifully, she said, “Thank you, Paul. A friend like you is the very, very best blessing a girl could ever have.”
“I know.”
Laughing, they all turned their attention to the animals.
May-belline and Tank were running around the yard, constantly finding things to bring to River—a twig, a dandelion, or one of their many toys.
From a lawn chair, River regally watched over them.
He wore his harness as if it had always been on him.
The attached leash was secured to the arm of the chair.
If the cat decided to escape, he wouldn’t get far, but this way he could enjoy the yard with the dogs.
“I’ll need to set up a lead for him,” Knox said. “Maybe something hooked to that biggest tree so he can lounge in the grass when he wants.”
“We took a test walk,” Paul explained. “Just around the perimeter of the combined backyards. It was hilarious. Maybelline kept checking that River was still there, and Tank ran circles around us. The dogs loved it, but we’d only finished half of the walk when River decided he’d rather be carried.”
“He looks happy,” Laylee said softly.
“So do you.” Paul drew her in for a tight hug. “You’ve quickly become one of my favorite people, now more than ever.” He put a loud smooch on her forehead. “Thank you for being awesome.”
Knox saw the expressions shifting over her face, pleasure and modesty, a touch of embarrassment over the praise.
“Thanks, but I’m not—”
Before she could reject the compliment, Knox said, “Yes, you are. And then some.”
It struck him that she truly didn’t realize how others valued her.
This drop-dead gorgeous woman who would do anything for her sister would also risk herself during a robbery to protect a youth she didn’t know.
She was polished and manicured but hadn’t hesitated to wade into a muddy creek to rescue a stray cat.
She mingled easily with his friends and family, while also being a high-demand local model who easily supported herself and an independent lifestyle.
She had all that going for her and yet she compared herself to her twin sister and somehow found herself lacking. Remarkable.
Of course he’d fallen in love with her. How could he not?
This time, Paul shoved Knox, interrupting his deep thoughts. “She’s a catch, and don’t you forget it or you’ll answer to me.”
“Yeah, she is.”
“You’re the whole package too, Knox. Rugged, handsome, and smart.” He winked at Laylee. “Treat him right.”
She nodded and said far too seriously, “I’ll try,” which had both men laughing.
After that ridiculous exchange, Paul announced that it was time for him to go.
Once he’d disappeared around the gate, Laylee said to Knox, “He endorsed us both.”
“Paul likes to play fair.” He put his arm around her and after another fifteen minutes, they brought the animals inside and fed them.
Knox considered putting the pets outside again while he showed Laylee, once more, just how perfect they were together, but he knew she’d worry. And honestly, so would he.
The backyards were securely fenced, but Tank could be tricky, and it was still hot enough that neither of them wanted to leave the animals outside unattended for more than a few minutes.
And he didn’t plan to be quick.
Instead, they went for another long walk to visit the park, where everyone was fascinated by the cat walking along with two dogs. The pets got a lot of attention and, hopefully, enough exercise to make them sleep soundly that night.
After dinner, he and Laylee played with the animals in the yard. River chased lightning bugs and the dogs chased River. By the time they called it a night, all three were ready to sleep.
In Knox’s view, it had been a long, productive day with plenty of insights and more than enough reason for him to cement his relationship with Laylee. Did she feel the same?
He’d ask her—after he spent a few hours showing her how much he loved her.
It wasn’t until after they’d taken turns showering and the animals were conked out in a pile together on the couch that the humans were finally able to sneak down the hallway. Knox left the TV on to help hide any noise they might make.
Giggling, Laylee said, “You know this isn’t going to work.”
“Shh. It will if you’ll be quiet.”
“We’re going to have sex, right?”
He silently closed the bedroom door behind them, turned to her, and said, “Most definitely.”
She was already stripping off her clothes. “Then we’ll both need to be quiet.”
Knox peeled off his shirt. “I’m up for the challenge.” When she started to laugh, he tumbled her to the bed and covered her mouth with a searing kiss. In seconds, they’d both forgotten about being quiet, but thankfully, the pets slept on undisturbed.