That's not exactly what I meant. 

Those words and the way Dawson's voice sounded when he said them--so steady, yet so...vulnerable--replayed over and over in Layla's mind on the drive to Red View. They were still taunting her when she, Kenzie, and Annie walked inside Tilted, the chic restaurant just down the river from Rushing Waters.

The atmosphere here was clearly more adult, thanks to the dim lighting, sleek bar, and the sultry jazz music that was coming from the live band on the stage in the back. But the classy, upscale ambience of the restaurant barely even registered with Layla. She may as well have been back at the orchard, still standing frozen in front of Dawson, letting his words sink in.

Kenzie and Annie were talking about Kenzie's return to work now that the schoolyear was approaching, and Layla did her best to nod at the right times, making periodic hums of understanding. She even managed to smile at the hostess who brought them to their table.

"It's nice we came on a night with live music. They have musicians here at least once a week," Kenzie explained to Annie and Layla once they were seated. The place was busy, most tables occupied by groups of friends or flirting couples. "It's too bad it was built after Cliff left, or I'm sure he would have performed."

"Cliff?" Annie asked as she opened the small, glossy menu in front of her. She was dressed in a simple black turtle-neck dress, one that seemed too harsh and closed off for the delicate blonde. It seemed to be wearing her, as opposed to the other way around.

Kenzie explained about her older brother with an excited smile, but Layla's thoughts remained occupied by the younger one.

He hadn't been referring to a fling of any kind. No, it was obvious from his words and the evenness of his hushed voice that what he meant was something much deeper. The look in his eyes, that steady gaze... there was no joke, no challenge. Just pure honesty. He wanted her in all the ways she'd been denying she wanted him.

This is crazy, she told herself, opening her menu and mindlessly scanning the cursive. So they'd opened up to each other, shared their secrets and revealed they had more in common than either of them knew. It didn't have to mean anything. She didn't have to fall for him just because he was the first person who knew the truth, who cared enough not just to ask, but to listen.

But she was. She was falling for him, and it wasn't just because of that. It was for reasons she couldn't explain, feelings she couldn't articulate. It was the way her pulse picked up around him, the way her body had melted when he took his hand in hers. It was because it kept her up at night knowing he was sleeping just a few rooms away, and that despite all the animosity, she wished for the distance to disappear.

It was all too much, and it was way too soon. I barely know him, she reminded herself. Then, she barely knew Colin, and yet was ready to spend her life with him.

And she would. She would go back to New York and marry Colin, and she wouldn't get hurt. She'd keep it so that there was only one sad story to tell, only one reason for her icy heart.

"Layla?" Kenzie's voice drew her from her thoughts, and she looked up to three expectant faces—Kenzie, Annie, and the waiter who was standing there with his notebook in hand. "Are you ready to order?"

"Oh—" her face flushed as she scanned over the menu, picking out the first thing that caught her eye, "Yes. Sorry."

Annie's apartment was cozy and subdued, a much better match for the woman than the stuffy dress she had on. Most of the walls were brick, apart from the wall of glass blocks that divided the living room and the kitchen, which showcased pale pink cabinets and outdated appliances. It had definitely been a few decades since any remodeling, but it gave the place a charm that wasn't present in an apartment like Layla's.

She blamed the fact that she was so busy with work all the time. The modern apartment didn't have to be so sterile, but what was the point of decorating when she spent most of her time away from home anyways? Besides, soon she'd be moving in with Colin, and if she got her way she'd be busy with Bride and Groom Bootcamp, away from New York as much as possible.

"Mom's letting you keep all this furniture, right?" Kenzie ran her hand over the back of the leather sofa, which faced a small TV that had yet to be plugged in.

"Thankfully." Annie nodded, sitting on the ottoman to remove her heels. "She said it's accumulated over the years from the various tenants. Just a collection of pieces people left behind. I kind of like it that way—gives it a lot of character. Makes it feel more like a home."

"Knowing my mom, she kept it in good shape all these years, so there's that at least. She always wanted this place to look nice for potential renters, but most of the people who move to Red View are families looking to buy a house by the river. The few younger or single people who do come through here usually just go straight to the apartment complex up by the lodge."

"Oh, I looked there, first, but—" A redness rushed to her cheeks. "Well. Jack told me his mother had a place in town, and... Your mom gave me a really good deal. I couldn't believe the price."

Kenzie laughed. "The way she's so excited to finally have someone living here, you'd think you're the one doing her a favor. The Riverview apartments are so new and fancy, she thought she couldn't compete."

Layla's eyes traveled over an a-frame bookcase that held a few of Annie's books—Layla recognized the names of a few romance authors—and knickknacks—a little figurine of a brown bear, an abstract glass piece, and a skinny vase filled with fake flowers. The cardboard box on the floor beside the shelves was filled with more books and a large collection of sketchbooks, messy palettes, and oil paints. "How do you like your job so far?"

"Yeah, Jack's being an okay boss, right?" Kenzie's voice made it clear that if he wasn't she'd be quick to take care of the problem.

"Oh, he's great," Annie was quick to answer, shaking her head at Kenzie's worry. "He lets me work my own hours, and he isn't overbearing like some clients can be. He trusts that I know what I'm doing and that I'll get it done."

"Who did you manage before?" Layla asked, wondering if she might be familiar with any of the companies, or if Foster Fitness's social media manager might have ever crossed paths with her.

"Oh..." Annie looked down to fiddle with her other shoe, tucking the hair that fell in front of her face behind her ear. "I— Well— this is my first time with a title, really. I've been doing freelance work for the past few years, and when I saw Jack's ad, I figured I would give it a shot even though my resume is... not very impressive. I didn't expect to get the job, really."

"Well I'm glad you did," Kenzie plopped down on the sofa with a giggle. "Personally, I'm surprised he didn't hire a clone of himself. I love him, but the last thing we need at the orchard is two Jack's running around."

Layla smiled as she sat with the girls, but her mind wandered as they shifted the conversation back to decorating. What would her life be like if she hadn't had her built-in career?

There was no doubt in her mind that fitness was her passion. It was where she belonged in the working world, and she had no desire to do anything else. But would she have ever found that out? Would she have gone to college, or struggled with different pointless jobs, trying to find the one that fit? And if she had discovered her love for training, how would she have gotten started? Would she have even had the courage to try?

Annie was quiet and timid, but clearly more brave than Layla had been giving her credit for. To put herself out there even in the face of expected failure...

Could Layla do that? Could she be so scared that something would go wrong, that she might end up dejected, and still go forward anyways? As the image of Dawson's long, silent look played back in her thoughts again, she wished she could say she thought so.

I want Annie's apartment so bad 😩 I LOVE glass blocks so much, I just had to include them lol. I hope you guys feel like you're getting to know her and Kenzie better!