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Was there nothing that she could say that would scare Layton away? “You’re asking me to trust you”

“I am”

“I’ht now” Her voice a tre everything seeerous to her heart

He brushed a kiss across her lips “Then let me help restore your faith”

And there it was She had to take a leap to find out if there was fir when she landed Riker had been a painful life lesson, one she was determined not to repeat, but as far as she could tell, Layton and Riker were nothing alike So as holding her back?

“I’m scared”

He gazed at her so tenderly that her heart nearly broke fro like Riker How could she even think that he was?

“We don’t have to ive yourself permission to enjoy whatever this isat whatever pace we deem appropriate but just know that I’m ready for the real deal with you”

“But what about Erik?” she asked, a little fearful of her brother’s reaction And ould her parents say? Ugh She could already see herher eyes at another one of her impetuous decisions

“Erik isn’t your warden,” he said fir between usit’s private No need for anyone else to weigh in with their opinions”

She liked Layton’s no-wavering stance He didn’t back down at the hint of pressure A man like that was handy to have around A et ahead of yourself There’s no picking out the linens just yet

Layton tapped her behind and she lifted off hiled at the ht “We can never let Erik know that we’ve had sex all over his house He will freak out He’s a bit of a germophobe”

“And he lets his messy sister live with him?”

Alexis shrugged a shoulder “He loves me”

“Yes, he does He’s a good ht be pissed at first but he’ll come around”