Page 82 of Awakened by Sin

“Worried about me, Blade?”

“Lyla needs you. She can’t take another loss.”

She gave him an over bright smile to cover the yawning feeling in the pit of her stomach. She wouldn’t survive another loss either. “Nothing’s going to happen to me.”

She turned her back on him and headed outside. Beau barked in welcome, and Lyla smiled as she rushed toward the cabana. She gave Lyla a tight hug and a kiss on her temple before she took Nora who beamed at her.

“Oh, I missed you so much. Yes, I did,” she said as she bobbed the baby from side to side.

“I’m glad you came over. We’ve been playing phone tag for a couple of days now,” Lyla said.

“Yes.” She cast an eye over her cousin who was looking much more like her old self. “How’ve you been?”

“Sleeping a lot. Gavin’s working in the office, so I came out here. I went to see Mom yesterday.”

“How is she?”

Lyla grimaced. “She didn’t say a word.”

“Give her time.”

Lyla nodded and took in her outfit. “You look fab. What have you been up to?”

“I’ve been trying to look for a new place.”

“Why?”

“Mom’s engaged, and I don’t want to live in that house by myself.”

Lyla straightened. “Aunt Isabel’s engaged? How? When?”

“They’ve known each other for years, but they started dating six months ago. She didn’t know how I’d feel about it, so she kept it on the down low.”

Silver blue eyes locked on her face. “How are you taking it?”

“I want Mom to be happy.”

“Who is this guy? Did you check him out?”

“Of course. He’s clean as a whistle. Marvin Armstrong’s never even had a speeding ticket. I talked to several of his former employees. He used to run a mechanic shop, which he passed onto his son, but he goes in on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. He owns his house, goes on hunting trips once a year, and can’t golf even though he loves to watch it. His wife passed away from breast cancer eight years ago.”

“Is that all?” Lyla asked dryly.

“And he loves anything lemon flavored. I don’t want to stay in the house by myself. It was bad enough without Dad there.” She pressed her cheek against Nora’s and willed her restlessness away.

“Do you want to move back here?” Lyla asked.

“No. I need my own place.”

“Have you found a place you like?”

“No. I haven’t found anything. Charisse thinks I’ve gone off the deep end.”

“Give yourself time. There’s no rush.”

“There is a rush. I need to settle somewhere and not toss five thousand dollars shoes in a pile on the floor. I need a place to decorate and sleep and be. Vinny deserves a better place than my dresser.” She made happy faces at Nora even as her insides shriveled into a ball. “I need, but I don’t know what.”

Lyla leaned into her. “It’s gonna be okay. You’re gonna find exactly what you need.”

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