Her body relaxed into him and she placed her head against his chest. “Mum and Daddy have been fighting a lot. I hate it when they scream at each other.” The forlorn expression on her face tugged at my heartstrings. Her sad eyes begged me as she continued, “Please don’t tell Uncle Tim I fell down, because if he tells them, I’m scared they’ll start fighting again.”
Alarm bells went off in my head. Carmen had also mentioned that her mother was at the doctor earlier. Caring for a disabled or injured person could put a huge strain on any relationship, no matter how stable. I made a mental note to speak with Carmen’s mother the next time they came to therapy. Maybe she needed extra help coping with her daughter.
Grayson’s gravelly voice interrupted my thoughts. “Layla, I understand that you want to have strong words with Uncle Tim, but leave this to me, okay? You keep Miss Brightside busy and I’ll have a talk with the man and explain how to care for his niece when she is under his supervision. Is that okay with you?”
My eyes misted up and a frog lodged itself in my throat, so I just nodded. It would be hard to hide my anger in front of Carmen. I guess Grayson understood her fears as much as my need to not have anything like this happen to the little girl again.
“Thank you,” I said simply.
“Always,” he said softly.
God, Grayson’s an angel.
“And by the way . . . you looked amazing taking care of Carmen. You’ll be a wonderful mum one day to some very lucky kids.”
I laughed. “I’d need a husband first.”
His eyes shone with something I couldn’t name. “Lucky, lucky man. I wish it could be me.”
Really? My mouth opened and closed again. I was speechless.
Stunned, I stood watching his wide back as he strode off with Carmen in his arms into the restaurant in search of her uncle. My cheeks were on fire as I followed him, not taking my eyes off his ass.
7: Layla
“Thanks for helping me with Carmen and her uncle. You handled that so professionally.” I smiled up at him as we quickly made our way back to our table. Everyone would be wondering why we’d been gone for such a long time.
Grayson laughed. “You’re welcome. It’s all part of my training and compared to some of the things I need to tell family members that was easy.”
My stepbrother was nothing short of amazing. In a firm and authoritative manner, he’d explained to Tim that his niece could not be left to her own devices under any circumstances. When the uncle came up with the lame excuse that he wasn’t a female and couldn’t go into the ladies room, Grayson reminded him that the wait staff would most probably have been happy to assist Carmen if he’d only have asked.
For a moment his expression grew serious. “I’m so proud of the way you settled Carmen so quickly. You really have a knack with your patients. Carmen loves you . . . nearly as much as I do.” He stopped in his tracks, gripped my shoulders and gently pulled me to him before brushing his lips over the top of my forehead, sending shivers down my spine.
Relax, Layla. It’s just a Grayson thing. He kissed Carmen’s forehead too. It’s what he does to settle people, he’s done it to you a thousand times before. It doesn’t mean anything.
He pulled away and in a playful voice, he added, “I wish I had a sexy physiotherapist like you when I had those sports injuries at school. I may have actually looked forward to the treatments. Instead it was like damn torture with Miss I’ll-fix-you-even-if-I-kill-you.”
Sexy? Don’t read anything into it, girl.
Miss Watson’s reputation for being a sergeant major style physiotherapist was still a joke around campus.
“Luckily she’s retired and gone off to Scotland.” I laughed and carried on walking back to our table.
“Well, I’m almost tempted to play sport again just so you can be my therapist.” His voice was low and husky, as if he really meant it.
I turned and swatted his arm. “Don’t be silly. And I can be tough too when I need to be. Don’t test me,” I warned, both hands on my hips.
“Lala, you are too sweet to ever be mean. I have no doubt you can be firm when needed, but there’s a difference to being bitchy just for the sake of it and telling someone what they need to hear and do. Miss Watson had a score to settle with the male population.”
He cleared his throat. When he spoke, his tone of voice had changed. “Promise me something?”
Shrugging, I eyed him suspiciously. I hated making promises I wasn’t able to keep, so it was a motto of mine to never make agreements idly.
“Depends on what it is.”
“Promise me to stay as sweet as you are. Your innocence is refreshing.”