Broken (19 page)

“Yep, I totally want to win this bet! You up for it today?”

I took a deep breath.
Am I really going to do this? Could I do this?

Yes, I totally can because I don’t want another man in my life…at least not now.

“What time do you want me at your house?” I asked before I lost the nerve.

“Have you gotten your car back?”

“Yep. It runs great. Thank you again by the way.”

“I didn’t do anything but call the tow truck.”

I smiled and stood as I started to put my laptop in its case. “Well, thank you for calling the tow truck.”

“You’re welcome, honey. How about you head out in about an hour? Will that work? I’ll pack us a picnic, and we can eat at one of my favorite places on the ranch.”

I sat back down in the chair. I couldn’t catch my breath.

Oh my God. If he does this for just his friends, how in the hell must he treat someone he dates? He’s probably unbelievably romantic.

“That sounds amazing, Layton. I’ll be there in about an hour.”

“See you soon, cowgirl.”

I could practically hear the smile in his voice.

“Okay, bye.”

I hit End and flew up out of the chair. I grabbed everything in one scoop. Even though I just lived a few blocks from the coffee shop, I was thanking God that I’d driven there this morning.

I flew into the house and dropped everything on the sofa before turning and running up stairs.

“What in the hell, Whit? Where’s the fire?” Courtney yelled.

“I’m leaving for a few hours,” I called down.

Do I have time to shower?

It would take me a good twenty minutes to get to his place. I still needed to change, put makeup on—

Oh shit! I have to shave!

After I quickly shaved my legs, I grabbed a pair of jeans. I figured if I was going to be sitting in a deer stand, I better have on jeans. I threw on a T-shirt and pulled my hair back into a ponytail.

“You better get a change of clothes,” Courtney said.

I looked up and saw her standing in the doorway, watching my craziness.

“What? Why? And how do you know where I’m even going?”

She threw her head back and laughed. “Please, Whitley, I’m not stupid. Obviously, Layton’s back and calling in his bet. Should you, um…take care of yourself before you go?” She nodded toward the drawer holding the vibrator.

I stopped dead in my tracks. “Oh. My. God. You have problems! You have serious problems, Court. Gesh…oh wow. I can’t even believe you would go there.”

She started laughing as she walked in and up to my closet. She pulled out a white sundress that we’d bought the day before yesterday at Ruby Cowgirls. Then, she walked over to my dresser drawer and pulled out a pair of white lace panties with a matching bra.

I just stood there, staring at her. “Why the fuck do you think I need a change of underwear?”

“Oh, Whitley, you should always carry a change of clothes with you.
Always.
I know y’all are just going to hang out at the ranch, but what if you decide to go somewhere for dinner? A girl can never be too ready to spend an evening with her, um…
friend.
”

“Did you just say y’all?”

Courtney rolled her eyes and walked out of my bedroom. I finished getting ready. Then, I grabbed my things and threw them into my bag. I glanced down and saw the dress.

“Ah hell.”

I grabbed the dress, panties, and bra and placed them in my bag as well.

A girl can never have too many outfit options!

I sucked in a deep breath at the sight of Layton’s house. I would never get tired of looking at his place. It was breathtaking. I grabbed my bag and purse out of the backseat and made my way to the front porch. I’d already buzzed him to let me through the gate, so he knew I was here. Right before I walked up the steps, he opened the front door.

Holy mother of all things good, he’s trying to kill me.

He was dressed in a tight-ass gray T-shirt, jeans, and boots. The smile on his face almost knocked me off my feet.

“Hey, cowgirl! Look at you, dressing very appropriately, I see, for our little bet.”

I laughed and shook my head. I pushed his shoulder back as I made my way into his house.

“Jesus, I forgot how beautiful it is in here. I’d never want to leave if this was my house.” I turned back to him and smiled.

“Yeah? You’d like living way out here in the country?”

I laughed and nodded. “I’ve already put an offer in on fifty acres about three miles from here. I actually found it a few days after we’d moved here, but they’ve been dicking around with me. I’m just waiting to hear back.”

“No shit?” He had a serious look on his face.

I smiled and winked at him. “No shit. So, I’m ready to get this bet going. How long do I have to stay in the stand?”

He gave me that damn crooked-ass grin of his. “Two hours. If you can last two hours, you win.”

I bit down on my lower lip and thought about this. “What happens if I make it to the end of the two hours? Do I win something?”

He threw his head back and laughed as he started to walk toward the kitchen. “My respect isn’t good enough?”

“Sorry, but no. I want something else.”

He turned and looked at me. “I’ll give you your surprise this evening instead of tomorrow.”

I smiled and bit down on my lip again. His smile faded as he walked up to me.

He used his thumb to pull my lip out from between my teeth. “Don’t do that, Whit.” He spun around and started toward the refrigerator.

My lip was on fire from where he’d touched it. I’d never thought just a simple touch would drive me insane.

Damn you, Layton Morris!

He pulled something out and slipped it into a picnic basket. “You ready?”

With the way I nodded, I felt like a high school girl going on her first date.

Jesus, Whitley, calm the hell down!

We drove through the pastures in Layton’s Jeep until he found his perfect spot. It was an open field looking out to the hill country. I jumped out of the Jeep and just stood there, staring at the horses in the pasture.

“I’ve never seen anything so beautiful in my life,” I barely said.

He walked up and stopped next to me. “I have.”

I turned to look at him. He stared out at the horses for another few seconds before turning and winking at me.

What or who is he talking about?

Probably Olivia.

He pulled out a blanket and laid it down on the ground while I grabbed the picnic basket. I sat down with the basket as he smiled and nodded for me to open it. When I did, I busted out laughing.

I reached in and grabbed the container of chicken nuggets from Chick-fil-A. “Layton, how did you even remember I said I loved these?”

“I make it my business to pay attention to what people like, what they love. Besides, when we were talking on the phone the other day, I promised you that I’d buy you a shitload of Chick-fil-A nuggets. When you said you had eaten there and had died and gone to heaven, I knew I had to bring some home to you.”

“You big at keeping promises?” I asked with a laugh.

His smile faded, and he looked out toward the horses. “Yes, I am. I never go back on my promises
—ever
.”

I could almost feel his pain. My heart broke for him, and I was wondering what in the world he was thinking about. I wanted so badly to ask him about his brother, but I didn’t.

“Well, I’m glad. These nuggets are so good, especially cold! I would have never thought they would be good cold.”

He looked back at me and smiled, but I saw the hurt in his eyes.

We ate in silence until he clapped his hands, scaring the shit out of me.

“Time to hit the stand, sweetheart!” he said with a wink.

I jumped up and started to clean up our picnic. After I was done, I hopped up into the Jeep and sat there, waiting for him. I turned, and he was just standing there, staring at me.

“What?”

“Babe, the stand is right there.”

He pointed to a giant deer stand that I hadn’t even noticed was there.

“Holy shit, you want me to climb up that?” I just looked at him.

He smiled and nodded.

“How high is that, Layton?”

“It’s just ten feet, Whit, that’s all.”

“Ten feet! Layton, I’m afraid of heights!”

He walked up to me and grabbed my hand. He led me over toward the stand. The whole way there, he rubbed his thumb up and down along my index finger, and the butterflies in my stomach were going crazy. I wasn’t sure if it was from the idea of being that high or the fact that he was holding my hand or a combination of both.

After he got me to climb up, I got settled into a seat. He sat down and then reached into his back pocket.

“Here—now, the outfit is complete.” He put a camouflage hat on me.

When I laughed and pulled it down, my hand brushed against his. The look in his eyes told me he felt the same thing I felt every time we touched.

I sat there for a good forty minutes, perfectly still, and it was killing me.

Come on, you stupid bucks! I see you every damn night in my front yard. Where in the hell are you?

Layton reached over and put his hand on my leg. I looked down to see I was swinging my legs.

Shit!

After another fifteen minutes went by, he slowly turned and looked at me. I peeked up at him, and he laughed.

“Jesus, Whit…stop humming!” he whispered.

“Oh shit, am I?”

“Yeah, you are.”

I smiled. “Sorry, I thought I was being quiet.”

With his finger, he pulled my chin to look me in the eyes. “Honey, stop sniffling, too.”

“But my nose is running.”

“Let it run,” he whispered.

“Eww, gross, Layton. I’m not letting my nose run.” I shuddered at the thought and turned away from him. I quickly wiped my nose and prayed it would stop running.

Why in the hell is it running in the middle of July anyway?

I glanced over at his watch.

Yes! It’s almost been two hours, and I haven’t asked to get down yet.

I slowly looked back out the window, and I saw a huge buck walking up. It was beautiful, the most breathtaking creature I’d ever seen. I counted really quickly. It was a big twelve point.
He is huge.
As he got closer, I felt the excitement building. He walked right up toward us, and when he glanced up, I swore he looked me right in the eyes. I let out a gasp and brought my hands up to my mouth. The buck snorted and ran off.

Oh…shit.

I turned to see Layton glaring at me.

He was shaking his head. “If I’d been hunting, do you know how pissed-off I’d be right now?”

I felt the heat move across my cheeks. “Oops.”

His mouth dropped open. “Oops? That’s all you’ve got? You’re never going hunting with me—
ever
. That was a heavy twelve point, Whit. A twelve point!”

“Yeah, I counted. He was big!” I smiled.

My smile quickly faded as he took his hands and rubbed them down his face.

“Oh, for Christ’s sake, Layton. It’s not even hunting season. Why are you getting all upset?”

“Let’s go.” He started to make his way down the ladder as he mumbled something about it being a huge, heavy twelve point that would look awesome on his wall.