Wilde at Heart (Completed)

Chapter 38

A couple of days later, Layla hopped in the shower while Canon was still asleep and quickly washed herself. It was early in the morning and Canon was going to be released sometime that afternoon. He was still weak; very weak in fact. But it was nothing that regular exercise and gradual use of the muscles wouldn't fix, the therapist told them. He got tired easily and needed help with such things as dressing right now. He could get his pants on, but his fingers might not work for the buttons for example. The therapist assured that gradually that would go away and he'd be fully functional once again. However, he did need to avoid very strenuous activity from now on; such as a triathlon or something of that nature. His heart wouldn't be able to handle the strain.
Layla got out of the shower and walked back into the room, towel drying her hair as Canon hurriedly got off the phone. "Who was that?" asked Layla curiously as she walked over and pecked him on the cheek.
Canon grabbed her hands and pulled her to him so he could kiss her properly before saying, "No one."
Layla knew he was lying to her, but let it go. He'd tell her when he was ready. "So how's it going?" she said abruptly, motioning to his laptop sitting on his lap, and the papers scattered around his bed.
"I need you to set up meetings for me with my management team. I need you to contact them and rehire them if they are available. If not, we need to interview others. Get me a list of potential applicants," said Canon briskly, "And we need to fly to Mexico as soon as possible. And we need to go to the distributing center in Canada too. And the manufacturing warehouse in Salt Lake City, Utah."
Layla was scribbling all the things she needed to do on a scrap of paper. "I guess this means I'm still your PA," she said smiling as she pulled out her cellphone and prepared to dial.
"You did sign the contract," grinned Canon, "Besides, you are the best PA I ever had. No way am I letting you go."
"Good," grinned Layla before asking, "How soon do you think you can fly to Mexico?"
Canon hesitated and Layla said, "Can I make a judgment as your girlfriend and not as your PA?"
Canon slowly nodded and Layla said, "You are not flying or going anywhere for at least another week. You're too weak still and need to rest a bit more."
"Oh so I'm weak now am I?" chuckled Canon shoving his computer out of his way and pulling Layla into his lap.
"Very," teased Layla, before meeting his lips halfway.
"Back to the issue at hand," she said once they broke the kiss, "No flying until next week. I'll have everything ready for next Monday and we will head to Mexico."
Canon sighed but nodded as he said, "You know best I guess."
"Of course," grinned Layla cheekily, her wet hair soaking Canon's shirt.
He frowned playfully at her as she pulled away and got up to make the phone calls. "Now see what you did," he complained, "My shirt's wet. I don't want to wear a wet shirt."
"Take it off," retorted Layla, dialing the number of Canon's pilot.
"You did that on purpose," grumbled Canon as he pulled the wet shirt over his head and watched as Layla's eyes roamed appreciatively over his paler skin.
"Maybe," said Layla cheekily, "You'll never know."
A few hours later, Layla looked up as the door opened and the whole family filed into the room Donna included. Even Jason was there, looking exhausted from his overnight flight from Barcelona where he talked to the authorities there, trying to discover where Eaton had gone. He was met with failure, just like Niko who had gone a couple of weeks earlier. Canon shut his laptop down and moved the papers out of the way as everyone exchanged greetings.
"What are ya'll all doing here?" questioned Layla.
"Don't know," shrugged Rose.
"Boss said he wanted us all here," added Carter.
"Canon?" asked Layla, ignoring the wink Donna sent her way.
He ignored her question and asked, "Jester, did you bring it?"
Jester smiled smugly; the only one in the room not looking mystified and then said, "I did."
Canon pushed the covers off of his legs and began to get up out of bed. "No, no," gasped Layla from her seat at his feet as she tried to pull him back on the bed. He wasn't supposed to try to walk yet. His legs were too shaky and he would fall. She stood up as he shook his head and said, "Well, at least let me help you up."
Canon smiled at her and said, "Darling this requires me to be on my knees."
He rose on shaky legs and was thankful he was in pajama pants and not those floppy hospital gowns. If he was, his whole rear would be on a free show for the others in the room. You could have heard a pin drop as Canon went down on his knees in front of Layla and she asked shakily, "Canon what are you doing?"
He smiled up at her nervously and said, "I've planned to do this for a while, but our crazy lives got in the way. I knew from the first time I saw you, that I'd have to have you. Your beauty attracted me, but it was your personality that I fell in love with. The first time we met, you weren't afraid of me like everyone else; or trying to seduce me. You were just you. You helped me through some of my darkest moments and stood by me through everything, even when I was in a coma for a whole month. I can honestly say, no one in this world will ever love you the way I do. I want to spend the rest of my life with you, Layla Kelly. I want to have kids with your eyes and your hair running around our house. I love you, and I always will."
Layla's hands flew to her mouth at the start of Canon's speech as she realized what he was doing. By the end, tears were streaming down her cheeks. Jester walked over to Canon and handed him the ring box which Canon opened and held, his eyes staring into her own earnestly. "Layla Kelly," he said softly, "In the presence of our family, will you make me the happiest man on earth and marry me?"
Layla looked at the sapphire ring. It was the same one Mary had found among Jester's belongings earlier and had shown her. She glanced over at Mary to see the woman watching her with surprised, yet extremely happy eyes. She looked back down at Canon who was anxiously waiting for her answer on his knees and frantically started nodding her head as she choked, "Yes, of course, yes!"
The room erupted in cheers and Canon grinned and slipped the ring on her finger before pulling himself to his feet with the help of Layla and swooping her into his arms for a kiss. Layla was laughing and crying all in the same breath and she glanced into Canon's eyes and saw they were teary as well. He bent down and captured her lips with his as everyone starting cheering again. "I love you," he breathed, his breathtaking smile showing his dimple.
"I love you more," giggled Layla ecstatically.
Rose jerked her best friend into a hug and squealed, "I can't believe you're getting married!"
Hugs, slaps on the back, and congratulations filled the room as Layla caught Canon's eyes as he sank down on the bed, his legs no longer willing to hold him up. His blue eyes were filled with so much love and adoration that it made her heart ache. She glanced down at the ring on her finger and admired its simplicity. Canon motioned her to look at it before turning back to Jason and Carter, laughing at something they said.
Layla slid the silver band off her hand and words caught her eye. Engraved on the inside of the band were the words:
Wilde at Heart



                      THE END

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