6 MONTHS LATER

LAYLA ABRAHAM

When she glanced up, he was quick to avert his eyes, blinking innocently as if he hadn't just been staring at her chest, finding that more interesting than the club sandwich she had made him for lunch.

"Are you wearing a bra underneath that?"

Layla glanced down at she was wearing; a cute red cropped cardigan that was tied together with thin strings into a tiny bow. Seeing a she wore an apron in the kitchen and when serving tables or working behind the counter, she didn't feel it was inappropriate at all.

She struggled to keep the smirk off her face. "No."

"I can see your nipples." He raised his coffee, resting the edge of it against his lip as he ogled her chest, not even bothering to hide it anymore.

She glanced down. "No, you can't."

"Of course, I can. You're not wearing a bra."

"What has a bra got anything to do with it?" She questioned and when he clamped his mouth shut, short of a valid answer, she smirked. "Do you not like it or something?"

"No, it's beautiful." He exhaled. "I'm just worried that one of your boobs will pop out at any time."

"I should put up a sign outside saying there's a free show available with every cup of coffee purchased." She teased.

"Very funny." He replied dryly.

Finished with her meal, Layla stood up and grabbed their plates. "I need to get back to work." She said before leaning down to place a quick kiss against her mouth. "Don't you have a bodyguard business to get back to?"

Alejandro shrugged and took the plates off her before leading her into the kitchen. "I'm the owner. I can afford to be ten minutes late. You might have to make it worth my while though."

Layla smirked. "How about you make it worth my while?" She flung a dish towel at him before turning her back and getting started on their dishes.

He came to a stand next to her, his eyes watching her every move, obediently wiping down the dishes she washed.

When she turned off the tap and turned around to face him, wiping her hands on a cloth, she couldn't help but coo internally at the sight of him pouting.

"Does it really bother you that much?"

He frowned. "Not really." He tried for her sake, but she wasn't convinced.

Layla paused for a second. Jax wasn't working today and Hailey was stationed at the counter outside, tending to the few customers that came in for a late lunch. The kitchen door was closed and there wasn't any one in the room but them.

Alejandro didn't see it coming – like how he didn't see most things coming with her as she tended to keep him on his toes – as her fingers made quick work of the thin string that kept the cardigan together. When she loosened it, the material fell open on both sides, proving her point that she wouldn't suffer from an embarrassing nip slip at some unexpected point during the day, many thanks to the nipple covers that she had placed over her areolas.

"Satisfied?" She teased, tying her top back up.

A lazy smile crept onto his face, his eyes still lingering on her breasts even though she had already covered up. "I might need another look."

"Get back to work." She shoved him playfully before they both carried away.

"I'll see you at home." He swooped her into his arms and planted a hard kiss on her mouth, but before she could loop her arms around his neck to pull him down to deepen it, he pulled her away and held her waist to keep her at arms distance. "I can't wait to unwrap this later." He teased by tugging on the string between her breasts, but not pulling hard enough to undo it.

"Who says you're going to be the one to take it off me?"

"That's cute." He snorted and lay another quick kiss on her mouth before he began his departure from the kitchen.

Layla giggled to herself and fixed her hair before she walked out after him, quick enough to catch the wink he shot her before he walked out of the bakery, the bell chiming as he did, almost as if to signal that he was gone.

She worked on cleaning some tables and greeting a few customers before she retreated behind the counter to help Hailey with some of the drink orders that had piled up, especially since they now took orders through their app as well.

"How was it?" Hailey saddled up next to her as she poured some black coffee into a couple of cups.

"How was what?" She asked, confused.

"The quickie in the kitchen."

Layla almost choked on her own spit but was quick to cover it up with a cough to not alarm any of the customers.

"We didn't have sex." She denied truthfully, but felt her face heat up anyway.

"That's not what the grin on his face said."

"Maybe he's just happy." She shrugged, but the large smile on her face wasn't helping her case.

Hailey hummed and looked like she wanted to say something, but was holding it back. She wanted to ask about it but Hailey's phone chimed and before she could turn it off or swipe away the message, Layla snatched it off the worktop and held it away from them both.

If there weren't customers currently in the bakery, Hailey would have lunged at her; best friend or not.

Layla, fully aware of the advantage that their situation gave her, scurried away to the kitchen as she glanced at all the messages and missed calls on Hailey's lock screen. All from the same number. Unknown.

"Who's left you 6 missed calls this morning?"

Hailey closed the door behind her. "No one."

"These messages don't sound like no one."

She sighed dramatically and held out her hand, her expression reluctant.

Layla smirked and hid the device behind her back. "Tell me who those messages and calls are from."

"Max." She sighed.

"Max?" Layla questioned, confused at first but when realisation dawned on her and she connected the dots, her eyes widened and her lips stretched into a wide grin. "Maximiliano Serrano? Alejandro's brother?" She questioned, her grin widening as Hailey nodded.

"Can we talk about this later, please?" Hailey pleaded.

Layla smiled softly and returned the phone, but had every intention of bringing it up later.

So, when they found themselves hanging around after hours – once the bar scene had started – she looked at her friend expectantly.

Chris smirked at both women and slid 2 martinis in front of them before returning to work.

"Why are you acting weird?"

"I'm not." Hailey avoided her eyes. "I just want to have a drink with you. I feel like I haven't seen you much these days."

"I miss you too." Layla pouted at her friend before wrapping her arms around her. "You and Max should come over tomorrow after work. We could eat pizza and have a movie night. You know Alejandro loves Max. He's been wanting to see him again."

Hailey smiled softly and nodded. "Speaking of Max, I gave him my number at the barbeque and we've been talking since."

"That's great!" Layla cheered. When she noted the torn look on her friend's face, her smile dimmed slightly. "Is that not a good thing?"

"I don't know." Hailey sighed. "He's asked me to go out to dinner with him a couple of times but I've said no every time. He even said I should bring Max along and we could all get to know each other but I don't know. I think I'm confused. I'm not sure what I want."

"Have you tried telling him that?"

She shook her head.

When Hailey's phone chimed, she reacted fast this time and snatched it up off the bar before Layla could glance at the screen.

"Is that Max?"

"It's my mum." Hailey had never been good at lying.

When Layla sent her a pointed look, she ignored her drink and asked for a bottle of water instead. She smiled graciously when Chris handed it to her. "She needs me to come home. Something has come up."

"You know I know you're lying, right?"

"I'm not lying." She lied. How ironic. "I need to go home. Since Alejandro isn't here, why don't I give you a ride? You can collect your car tomorrow." She offered since she hadn't taken a sip from her martini yet. Even though Layla had consumed only one drink, Hailey still would never let her drive like that. If something happened because she let her friend drive home while buzzed, she would never be able to forgive herself. Especially on a day as special as this.

Layla nodded cautiously and finished her drink before she grabbed her bag and they were ready to leave.

When Hailey dropped her off in front of her apartment building a short while later, her mood had drastically changed. She squealed with glee and pulled her into a hug before shoving her out of the car.

"Call me later, okay?"

Layla barely had time to nod before she pulled out of the driveway and speed off down the road.

Why had Hailey been acting strange all day? There was definitely she was hiding from her and Layla intended to find out what but first, she looked forward to dinner. Her mind wandered to what Alejandro could have prepared for them that evening, but none of her ideas even remotely close to what he actually had in store for her.

She tripped over her own feet as she eyed the rose petals that scattered the floor in front of their apartment. She glanced up and down the hallway, but she was alone. None of the other doors had been decorated the same, which piqued her curiosity further.

Layla had to remind herself to breathe when she stepped into the apartment. If she were to faint in this moment due to lack of oxygen, it would ruin everything and she would never be able to forgive herself.

She was barely able to close the door behind her as she took in the magnificent sight before her. She had been astounded by the rose petals outside the apartment door and now that she was inside, her breath had been stolen from her.

Alejandro kneeled down in front of her, shaky hands clasped around a navy velvet box with a nervous smile on his face. It was one of the few times he had been outwardly worried about something, so much so that it showed in his face and to her, that just made everything a whole lot more special.

"Layla. Beautiful." He exhaled when she remained unmoving in her spot, taking in the apartment which he had spent all afternoon decorating. Rose petals were scattered all over the floor and furniture. The lights were turned off, the room lit by the multiple candles which ran around the perimeter of the room.

When her eyes returned back to his deep grey orbs, he flicked open the box to reveal a vintage super ideal halo cut 18K white gold engagement ring with a 1.35 carat round diamond in the centre. Blue bounced off the diamond when the light reflected off it and once again, she had to remind herself to breathe.

"Layla Abraham," his voice wavered slightly, but he was quick to clear his throat before continuing. "People might think we're rushing into things, but I don't give a signal fuck." He paused with a small smile on his face when she laughed at his choice of words.

"The day you agreed to be my girlfriend, was the happiest day of my life. Now I hope that day to be replaced by today."

His tears only further proved how much this meant to him. Her big strong alpha male was crying over her, the love and hope evident in his eyes as he gazed up at her.

"I need you to know that what I feel for you isn't just love. Love is a one-dimensional word and what I feel for you, is out of this world. I have never been in love before and I will never love another after you. Everyone and everything dims in comparison to you. No one else will ever compare to you, my love. I know I don't deserve you, but if you choose to accept, I will spend the rest of my life showing you how much I love you. Will you do me the honour of spending the rest of eternity by my side, as my equal, my best friend, my love, the mother of my future children and my wife?" He asked.

When a sob escaped her, she giggled and wiped her tears before dropping to her knees in front of him. She grabbed his face and lowered it to plant a hot, hard kiss against his mouth.

How could anyone say no to that?

"I need a verbal confirmation, beautiful." He laughed as he pulled away only an inch, his lips brushing against hers sensuously as he spoke.

She nodded her and grinned widely. "Yes. Of course, I'll marry you. You're stupid if you have to ask."

He threw his head back and laughed. "I think it's standard practice to ask a woman for permission before you can assume that she's agreed to marry you."

"I love you. So much!" She nodded happily and pressed another kiss to his mouth.

"I love you too." He whispered against her mouth and slipped the ring onto her finger before lifting her into his arms and making his way over to her room, ready to get in some practice for when they get married.

She pulled away from his mouth to hold her hand between them, gazing adoringly down at the ring. He couldn't have made a better choice even if she had gone with him to pick one out.

It was perfect. He was perfect. Everything was perfect.

Or so they thought.

-

To read the other books in this series, check out my INKITT and PATREON:

INKITT: https://inkitt.app.link/RA__illuminating_

PATREON: https://www.patreon.com/LaylaKnight

Layla Knight