Broken (15 page)

So am I—more than I want to admit.

“Oh, cowboy, I’m sure I can do just about anything you can do…and do it just as well, if not better.”

“You want to make that a bet?” Layton said as he looked over and winked at Courtney.

She busted out laughing, causing Reed, Kevin, and Olivia to all turn and look at her.

I couldn’t help but smile as I remembered that I’d told him I didn’t like to lose bets. “What’s the bet?”

He looked around and then back toward me. “If I win, you have to sit in my deer stand with me, but I bet you won’t last two hours. There’s no talking, no moving, nothing until we see a buck walk up.”

“I’m not killing a deer!” I said as my heart started pounding.

Layton threw his head back, laughing.

Damn it, I swear the feeling between my legs is going to drive me insane.
Why do I want him so much?

Fuck! Don’t let him do this to you, Whitley. He’s only a friend.

“It’s not even hunting season, CG. I win, and you have to sit with me in my stand until we see a deer. You win…and I’ll let you decide what you want.”

I smiled. I didn’t really think my quarter horse was going to beat Layton’s, so I pretty much knew I was going to lose. I was only playing this game to annoy Olivia.

Shit. How hard could it be to sit in a damn deer stand? I’ve seen at least fifteen deer a night in my front yard. I’ve so got this. Plus, it would drive Olivia nuts to know I’d be spending time alone with Layton in his deer stand. That’s what the bitch gets.

“You’re on. Where are we racing to?”

Layton turned and looked out in the open field. “You see the third oak tree down there—the largest one you can see from here?”

I glanced over toward where he was pointing and saw it.
Shit.
That had to be at least a half a mile away. I had no idea how this horse would run.

“Yep, I see it.”

I walked the horse up next to Layton. I quickly glanced over at him, and his beautiful blue eyes captured mine. I couldn’t even think. He seemed to be locked into our trance just as much as I was.

He smiled and leaned closer to me. “I know you’re a fast reader, CG. I don’t know how fast you are at self-satisfaction…yet.”

My smile dropped, and I felt my cheeks blush.
I can’t believe he just said that to me!

“But let’s see how fast you are on a horse.” He winked, and reaching up, he tapped my nose with his finger.

When he touched me, I instantly felt a hot tingle travel throughout my body.
What in the hell? I can’t let him do this to me. I will not fall for him.
I shook my head to clear my thoughts.

He laughed and winked at me.

That fucker knows what he just did to me!

“Get ready to eat my dust, asshole.” I gave him a dirty look.

“On three then?” he asked with a wicked smile.

“On three.”

As soon as Layton hit three, I kicked the shit out of my horse and took off. For most of the time, I stayed neck and neck with him. He looked over at me and smiled as he did something to his horse, and the next thing I knew, he was gone.

Holy shit! That’s a fast horse.

By the time I reached the third oak tree, he was already there, waiting for me.

“Holy shit! Why is that horse not training for racing?” I tried my best to catch my breath from all the excitement.

He laughed and winked at me as he ran his hand up and down the neck of the chestnut Thoroughbred gelding. “Buck here is a retired winner. He actually won me close to a million dollars in the few races he was in.”

My mouth dropped open.
Oh. My. God. He totally just played me.

“You are such a jerk, Layton Morris. Ugh!” I turned the horse and started to head back toward everyone.

I heard him laughing behind me.

“Oh, come on, CG. You walked right into that one! Didn’t I tell you I raised and had racehorses?”

I rolled my eyes. “Yes, you did tell me that, Layton.”

He came up, riding his horse next to mine. “I’m impressed at how well you ride, Whitley. I think I’m going to have to change the meaning of CG from city girl to country girl,” he said with a sweet smile.

I couldn’t help but smile back at him. “Thank you. I actually love riding. I always have, and I’ve always been a cowgirl at heart.”

Layton smiled. “Why do I get the impression that Olivia was surprised by the fact that you could ride?”

“Ha! Why do I get the impression that she
knew
you would be out riding, and somehow, she was trying to show me up?”

Layton’s smile faded as he looked away. We rode for a bit in silence.

“What are you doing this evening?” I wasn’t even sure why I had asked.

He let out a sigh and shook his head. “Heading into Austin. Kevin and Reed want to check out some club.”

I snapped my head over to him. “Really? Court and I are going to Austin! I’ve never been. We’re going to look at a few stores for Olivia’s engagement party.”

Layton’s smile faded for one brief second before another one of his amazing, panty-melting, dimpled smiles returned.

His eyes lit up. “Can I take you out to dinner tonight in Austin?”

Jesus, between his eyes and that smile, he could drive a girl mad.

I smiled and nodded. “What about Courtney?”

“That was an open invitation for both of y’all,” he said with a smirk.

For some reason, it disappointed me that he didn’t want to spend time alone with just me. I grinned and looked away.

“What time are you planning on heading into Austin?” he asked.

I pulled out my cell phone and looked at it. “Probably around three. That way, we’ll have a few hours to look around.”

“Perfect. How about I call you around six? I have the perfect place to take y’all for dinner.”

I heard Courtney laughing, so I looked up, and I saw Olivia glaring at Layton and me.

“Do me a favor, cowgirl?”

I smiled and looked at him. I loved hearing him call me that. “Of course.”

“Don’t mention Austin in front of Olivia, okay?”

I frowned and then gave him a small smile. “Okay. Wait—dress code for this place?”

He started to look me up and down, and I couldn’t help it, but I licked my lips. The sight of him looking at me like that turned me on so damn much. His eyes landed on my lips, and I swore I heard him let out a small moan.

His eyes locked onto mine. “Don’t change, cowgirl. You look beautiful. I mean, you look perfect.”

I felt the blush instantly warm my cheeks. I looked away and grinned at Courtney. She winked and smiled back.

“So, Whitley, Courtney here enlightened us all about your riding experience,” Olivia said, looking pissed.

I shrugged my shoulders. “I really need to head back now, Olivia. I have a ton of things to do to get ready for both parties.”

She gave me a fake smile and turned to Layton. “Are you free later?”

Layton quickly gave Reed a look. It was almost like a keep-your-fucking-mouth-shut look.

“Sorry, Liv, guys’ night out tonight. Maybe another day.”

He turned and made his way back to the makeshift gate. I hadn’t even noticed before how the three of them had gotten on to Mimi’s property.

Courtney leaned over and whispered to me, “How in the hell did she know where they would be?”

I rolled my eyes. “Who in the hell knows? Her powers must be stronger than we thought!” I winked and turned the horse around.

We followed Olivia, and this time, we pretty much galloped all the way back to the barn.

Courtney and I said our good-byes and made our way to Courtney’s truck. Once we got in and started to head down the driveway, we both busted out laughing.

“My God, she is the biggest bitch I’ve ever met in my life, and believe me when I say that I’ve met a lot of bitches,” Courtney said.

I laughed as I shook my head. I was just about to tell Courtney the plans for this evening when I felt my phone go off in my pocket. I pulled it out and saw I had a text from Layton. My stomach did a little flutter.

Layton: Thank you for this morning. And last night. I haven’t smiled this much in a long time.

Whitley: I could say the same thing. I’m looking forward to dinner.

Layton: Me, too, cowgirl.

I leaned my head back in the seat and closed my eyes.

“Spill it, Whit.”

I looked over at my best friend and smiled. “Spill what?”

“That goofy-ass grin on your face. Who was the text from?”

“Layton.”

“Really?”

“I guess they’re going into Austin tonight to some club or something. He said he wanted to take you and me out to dinner. I asked him what to wear, and he told me not to change.”

“Shit. Where exactly is he planning on taking us to dinner? Cheap bastard!”

I laughed so hard I almost peed my pants. “Let’s just go home. I need to get some things together before we head into Austin.”

“Is Reed going? God, please tell me he isn’t going, too.”

“Um…Layton mentioned both Reed and Kevin, and he did say it was a guys’ night out, so I’m sure Reed will be with him.”

“Ugh, shit! He gets on my nerves. He has no damn sense of humor.”

“Court, I think he’s just never met anyone like you before. I mean, did you see his face when you said Blow Pops were your favorite lollipop? I thought he was going to pass out!”

We both started laughing again.

Court started saying all this shit about Reed, and I couldn’t stop laughing.

“Oh shit! I think I might have just peed in my pants!”

Courtney hit the brakes, and I was slammed back into my seat by the seat belt.

Fuck!
My ribs were still killing me from when Roger had kicked them.

“What in the hell, Court!”

“Get out!”

I looked at her, shocked. “What?”

“Get the hell out of my truck, pissy-pants.”

“Oh my God, you freak! I didn’t really piss in my pants. You’re insane, do you know that?”

“Sorry, I might have panicked just a little.”

“A little, Court? More like a lot!”

We drove the rest of the way home almost in silence. I could tell she was deep in thought—about what, I didn’t know. I thought back to my short ride with Layton on the horses. I wasn’t sure what it was that had me thinking about him, but I couldn’t get him out of my mind.

Maybe I shouldn’t go to dinner with him?

Every time I was around him, I needed to remind myself that we were only friends.

Friends. Just friends. Nothing more…ever.

I sat at my kitchen island and listened to Kevin and Reed talking. My mind kept drifting back to the horse race with Whitley. I hadn’t been the least bit surprised she could ride as well as she had. I knew deep down inside she had a bit of a country girl in her. I smiled, thinking of the look on her face when I’d called her cowgirl and how she’d clearly enjoyed it.

“Layton? Hello? Earth to Layton?” Reed was snapping his damn fingers in my face.

I pushed his hands away and stood.

“What in the hell are you thinking about?” Reed asked.

“It’s more like,
who
are you thinking about?” Kevin asked with a smile.

“I’m thinking about the horse Lucky talked to me about earlier. Looks like I’m going to Kentucky to buy me a new racehorse.”

“Shit. I wish I were out of the corps. I’d totally go with you. That was the one thing I loved about Mike being…” Kevin stopped talking as he looked away and then back at me.

I smiled. “Kev, you can talk about him. I want to talk about him. He’ll always be a part of our lives.”

Kevin gave me a weak smile. “So, what are the plans for tonight? Hitting Austin, right?”

Reed jumped up. “Hell yeah! I already called Bill and Richard. They’re in for heading to Austin.”

I wanted to cringe when Reed had mentioned Richard. I hadn’t asked Whitley about going to a club, but I figured with them being in Austin, they’d be up for it.

“Are they going?” I asked.

Reed just looked at me. “Hell yeah, they’re going.”

“Listen, I told Whitley I wanted to take her and Courtney out to dinner tonight since they’re heading into Austin this afternoon to do some shopping for the parties she’s planning.”

I noticed Reed stand up a little straighter.

“Really?” Reed asked.

Kevin shook his head and laughed. “I’m gonna take off. Thanks for letting us crash and for the ride, Layton. I’ll meet y’all in Austin. Reed, you riding with me or heading in yourself?”

Reed glanced back at me. “Nah, I think I’ll drive in with Layton.”

I tried not to smile, but I knew the only reason the fucker wanted to drive with me is because of Whitley and Courtney.

He better have his sights on the right fucking girl.

Shit! You’re not interested in Whitley. She’s only a friend. Only a friend, Layton, that’s all.

“Okay, see y’all later.” Kevin grabbed his bag and headed out the front door.

I turned back and looked at Reed. “Which one?”

“What?” he asked, looking confused.

“Which one of the girls do you have your sights on, Reed? Courtney or Whitley?”

He grinned that big ole grin of his. “I don’t know what you mean. Dude, I don’t have my sights on either one. Plus, it’s pretty fucking clear you like Whitley. Olivia even saw it, and let me tell you, it drove her nuts. She was damn near chomping at the bit while y’all were just riding back slower than molasses after the race.”