Broken (29 page)

I rolled over and kissed her lightly on the lips before I got up and started to take off my clothes. I watched as she looked my body up and down. As exhausted as I was—and my dick was—I was still hoping she would follow me into the shower.

After walking into the bathroom, I reached in and turned on the shower. I stepped inside and closed my eyes as I let the hot water run over my body. When I felt the warmth of her touch on my arm, I couldn’t help but smile. I turned around and saw the most beautiful woman standing in front of me. I picked her up as she wrapped her legs around my body. I leaned her against the wall and kissed her as she let out a small moan.

“God, Whit.” I moved her body over me.

The moment my dick sank into her warm body, I felt like I was going to come.

“Oh, Layton, faster,” she whispered.

I gave her exactly what she wanted. When she started to call out in pleasure, I captured her cries with my mouth. Nothing felt better than coming and feeling myself pour into her body. I couldn’t get enough of her.

As I slowly let her down, I grabbed a washcloth and washed her whole body. She took the washcloth from my hand and washed my body in return.

By the time we both crawled into bed, I was exhausted, and so was Whitley. She moved and threw her leg over my legs as she put her head on my chest. It wasn’t long before I heard her breathing slow down.

I closed my eyes and thanked God for this beautiful gift wrapped in my arms. As I listened to her breathing, I thought about tomorrow and how I couldn’t wait to introduce her to Jen and Kate. I knew they would love Whitley just as much as I did.

As I drifted off into sleep, I started to dream. All I could see was the sun setting, and someone walking toward me in a beautiful white dress. Just as she got close enough for me to see who she was, her face was blurred, and I heard Mike’s voice.

Go to her, Layton. She needs your help. She needs you to save her.

I woke up with a jerk and felt sweat dripping off my body.

What in the fuck? What was he talking about? Who needed my help? Was he saying someone needed to be saved?

I looked down at Whitley. She was sleeping so peacefully. I knew Mike couldn’t have been talking about Whitley. She would always be safe in my arms. She’d never have to worry about that asshole again.

I gently kissed her forehead. “You’re safe now, baby. I’ll always keep you safe.”

I made myself a cup of hot tea and sat on Layton’s back porch, which was probably bigger than my living room. The cool breeze on my face actually made me chilly.

I closed my eyes and thought about last night when I’d heard Layton whispering about keeping me safe. My heart swelled up with so much love that I could hardly stand it. I’d wanted to let him know so badly that I had been awake, but at the same time, I had been so damn sore. I didn’t think we could possibly have any more sex.

I looked up to see Courtney walking up from the barn. I’d been wondering where she had gone off to this morning.

She smiled at me as she got closer. Her eyes looked so empty and sad. I was so pissed-off at Reed for the things he’d said about her, but Layton had said Reed was so jealous from the idea of Mitch asking Courtney out that he’d just snapped and started talking shit about her, hoping to throw Mitch off. It didn’t matter. The things he’d said were terrible and mean-spirited. I’d never seen Court cry as much as she had last night. I hadn’t really realized how much she liked Reed.

“Hey, sleepyhead,” Courtney said with a fake-ass smile.

“Hey, yourself. Where were you?” I gave her a wink and a grin.

Her smile grew just a little bigger. “Mitch saw me out walking this morning and invited me to ride along with him as he checked on the fence in some pasture or something.” She shrugged.

She sat down next to me, and I bumped my shoulder against hers.

“Oh yeah? How did this ride go?” I wiggled my eyebrows up and down.

Courtney turned away and looked back toward the barn. I watched as the blush swept over her cheeks when Mitch walked out of the barn and waved to her. I looked between the both of them.

“Holy shit, Court. Did something happen between the two of you?”

Courtney snapped her head over and just glared at me. “What do you mean, Whit? Like, did I have sex with him? Contrary to what Reed might think, I’m not actually a whore.”

My mouth dropped open, and I sat up a little. “Holy shit, Court. I wasn’t thinking that you’d slept with him. I was thinking more along the lines of maybe kissing him!”

She looked back toward Mitch as he jumped into his truck and took off down the road, pulling a trailer with two round bales of hay on it.

She smiled as she let out a giggle. “Oh. My. God.” She looked back at me and shook her head. “I’ve never in my life been kissed so passionately. It was like he couldn’t get enough of me. God, Whit…I swear if he had told me to strip down and let him make love to me out in the open, I would have done it!”

I let out a laugh. “You’ve either just read a really good book, or you’ve gone too long without sex.”

She laughed. “I think it’s a little bit of both. But honestly, he’s such a gentleman. He never brought up what that fucker, Reed, had said last night. Mitch asked me about my job, how long I’ve been in love with reading, and how much I knew about horses. It was all about me. I didn’t have to hear about how he was master of the plant world and the king of two-stepping. He truly wanted to get to know me. It was amazing. He even told me he would read a book if I gave him one.”

I crinkled up my nose and giggled. “Mitch? Mitch said he would read a book that
you
gave him? Does he know what type of books you read?”

She threw her head back and laughed. “Yes! I was thinking of giving him
Knight and Play
!”

I just looked at her, and then we both busted out laughing. I looked up to see Layton walking toward us. He was covered in dust and looked sexy as hell.

“Holy shit. Damn…that boy is fine, Whit.”

I smiled as I took a sip of tea and watched Layton moving closer. The way he was walking about had me ready to tell Courtney it was time for her to leave.

“How lucky am I? Two beautiful women are sitting on my porch,” Layton said with a wink.

I let out a giggle. I looked over at Court and winked before turning back to Layton. “So, this dinner on Monday night? Fancy?” I asked as I set my cup down.

Layton walked up, leaned down in front of me, and kissed me so sweetly that I almost let out a soft moan.

When he pulled back, he frowned. “It is fancy. It’s a dinner for an investment bank in Austin. I sit on the board of directors, and they’re hosting it.”

For one brief moment, a surge of panic rushed through my body as I thought of Roger.

Jesus, Whitley, calm the hell down. Roger is not going to be at an investment party in Austin, for cripe’s sake.

“Baby, are you okay? You turned white as a ghost.” Layton placed his hand on the side of my face.

My stomach dropped, and it felt like it was twisting and turning.

The things his touch does to me—will it always be like this?

I smiled as I looked into his eyes. “Yes, I guess I just realized I better get into town to go shopping for a fancy dress!”

Courtney laughed as she grabbed my hand and pulled me up. Layton stood and kissed me on the forehead, and then he smiled at me even bigger.

“Please, Whit, I have a closet full of dresses. Excuse us, Layton, but I’m going to have to take her away from you. We have prepping to do.”

Layton’s face dropped for a quick second before he leaned over and whispered into my ear, “I’ll be over around seven? Dinner?”

I smiled as I nodded, and then I let Courtney lead me back into the house. I turned back one more time and gave him the sexiest smile I could. He winked as he gave me the sexiest damn smile ever in return.

“Jesus, Courtney, you’re pulling my arm out of the socket. What the hell?”

She stopped and looked at me as she dropped my arm. “Didn’t you see the fucker walking up from the barn? No way do I want to be within ten feet of him.”

“Reed?” I asked.

She tilted her head and put her hands on her hips. “Yes, Reed. Do you know any other fuckers who would be walking up from the barn?”

“Well…” I laughed.

“Oh God, Whit. Just go pack up your shit. We’re going home to play dress-up!” She turned and walked toward the stairs and up to the room where she’d stayed last night.

By the time I was packed and ready to go, Courtney was already in her truck and giving me a hurry-the-fuck-up look.

I ran up to the truck, and as I jumped in, I saw Courtney glaring at someone. I glanced in the direction and saw Reed walking toward us. He looked like he was trying to get Courtney’s attention.

I looked back at Courtney. “He looks like he wants to talk to you, Court.”

She watched him as he walked around the front of her truck to the driver’s side. He stopped and knocked on the window. Courtney was staring straight ahead as she gripped the steering wheel tighter. She slowly looked over at Reed. The next thing I knew, she slammed her foot on the gas, and we spun out and took off down the driveway.

“Oh my God! Courtney! You could have hurt him by doing that. What in the hell were you thinking?” I spun around and saw Reed standing there, watching the truck speed away.

“Is his ass still standing?”

I turned and looked at her with my mouth hanging open. “Um…yes, thank God.”

Courtney started shaking her head as she laughed. “Shit. I was really hoping he was standing closer, so I could have run over at least one foot.”

What? This girl has lost her damn mind!

“Courtney! What in the world is wrong with you?”

She turned and gave me an evil grin. “Come on, let’s go find you the perfect dress to wear for Monday night. No more talk of the plant-loving, dickhead asswipe.”

I shook my head and turned to look out the front window. I smiled, thinking about the most amazing few days I’d spent with Layton.

I can’t believe how much has changed in my life in just a few short weeks.
I closed my eyes and tried to picture myself in his arms. He made me feel so safe, so loved.

An image of Roger entered my mind, and my eyes snapped open. I instantly had a sick feeling in my stomach.

Thank God he has no idea where I am.

I pulled up outside of Whitley’s house and put my truck in park.

Shit! I really hate these benefit dinners. Mike was always better at this stuff than I was. The last benefit I attended, I talked more to all the wives and girlfriends than anyone else. I would much rather castrate a bull than spend a few hours with these city folks.

I took a look at myself in the rearview mirror. I was freshly shaven, and my blue eyes seemed to have life back in them. My messy brown hair was still messy, which caused me to smirk.

No way am I changing for anyone.
They can either take me or leave me.

I let out a long sigh as I opened the door of the truck and got out. My black tux felt awkward, and the fucking shoes were going to kill my feet by the end of the night.

As I walked up to the front door of Whitley and Courtney’s house, my heart started beating faster.

Why in the hell am I nervous? I spent the last few days with this incredible girl, so why in the fuck am I so jumpy?

Before I could even knock, the door flew open, and Courtney was standing there with a shit-eating grin on her face. I couldn’t help but laugh as I thought back to yesterday when Reed had told me how Courtney had nearly killed him when she pulled out of the driveway.

“Layton,” she said with a wink.

I smiled and returned her wink with one of my own. “Courtney, I heard you almost ran over Reed yesterday. I assured him it must have just been an accident.”

Her smile grew bigger, and she let out a small giggle. “Of course, it was an accident.” She stepped to the side to let me in. “Whitley should be down in a minute. She looks beautiful.”

I smiled, just thinking about Whitley.
She always looks beautiful.

“Does she ever not look beautiful?” I asked with a wink.