Broken (34 page)

I quickly opened the door and walked outside, looking around to make sure Whitley wasn’t nearby. I had no idea where she could have met this client of hers. I put my hand in my pocket and held on to the ring box as I jogged the two blocks to my truck.

When I got to my truck, I jumped inside, pulled out my cell phone, and hit Reed’s number.

“What’s up, dude?” Reed asked, breathing heavily.

“Hey, what’s up? What in the hell are you doing?” I asked.

“Do you really want to know?” Reed laughed.

“Well, I don’t know, Reed. I’m assuming you’re at work, so fuck, I don’t know.”

Reed let out a laugh as I heard him talking to someone. It sounded like a girl.

“Dude, do you want to, um…call me back? Are you busy?” I asked as I looked at my watch.

“Nah…I’m finished. I just got laid at work. That was a first,” Reed said.

My mouth dropped open. “
What?
What in the hell, Reed? With who?”

“Some cute little secretary that just started,” Reed said.

“Ah hell, Reed. Really? So, are you going to just fuck girls until you forget about Courtney?”

“To hell with Courtney. I told you, I don’t give a shit about whom she’s dating or what she’s doing. Shit, Layton…this damn blonde has been flirting with me for two fucking days, so I gave in. Don’t act like you’ve never fucked a girl just to do it.”

I let out a sigh and shook my head. “Anyway, guess who I just ran into?” I said, hoping to change the subject.

“I don’t know, Layton. Who?”

“Anna MacBeth,” I said with a smile.

“No shit. Is she in town visiting or something?” Reed asked.

“Better. She moved back to town and is working at her grandfather’s jewelry store—Jim’s. I just left there, and she told me to tell you to give her a holler.”

Reed let out a laugh. “First off, what in the hell were you doing in Jim’s? And second, I thought she was getting married.”

“Nope. Turns out the guy was a cheat, and she missed Llano, so she moved back. And I bought Whitley an engagement ring.”

“Wait—what? Dude…no fucking way! Are you for real? You’re going to ask Whit to marry you? When?”

I laughed as I started up my truck. “I think on her birthday next week.”

“Jesus, Layton. That is huge. Congratulations, man. I mean, I knew the two of you were pretty damn serious, but…dude, marriage? Are you sure?”

“I’ve never been so sure of anything in my life. Anyway, I think you need to pay a little visit to Jim’s. Anna really perked up when I mentioned your name.”

“Really? Awesome. I think I might head on out and make my way into town for lunch. I’ll ask her if she wants to go to the game with me tonight.”

I shook my head. “You fuck a girl at work and then go to lunch to make plans to take another girl out tonight? Real nice.”

“Fuck off, asshole. You’re just jealous. Hey, I’ve got to run. I have a meeting to get to. I’ll see y’all tonight at the football game, right?”

“Yeah, we’ll see ya there, and, Reed…trust me, dude, I’m not jealous.”

Reed let out a gruff laugh. “Yeah, I know you aren’t, you lucky bastard. Later.”

I hung up the phone and put my truck in drive. I was about to pull out and head home to put Whitley’s ring in my safe. There was no way I was going to walk around with it. Right before I pulled out, someone knocked on my window. I turned to see a young guy standing there, staring at me.

I rolled the window down and smiled. “Can I help you?”

The way he was looking at me was almost like he wanted to rip my eyes out before he slowly let a smile play across his face. His green eyes were filled with contempt, and I was almost wishing I had just driven off. I looked him up and down. He was dressed in dress pants and a button-down shirt with a light jacket. His brown hair was perfectly in place, but he looked completely out of place.

“Thanks so much, dude. I’m actually looking for a hotel. My cousin is getting married right outside of town, and I lost the paper she’d sent me with the hotel names on it. I just flew into Austin and drove straight out here. My cell coverage is hit or miss here in the middle of nowhere.”

I let out a laugh.
Yep, city folk.

“Where you flying in from?” I asked as I threw my truck back into park.

“Denver, Colorado.” He extended his hand and smiled. “The name is Pete, Pete Miller.”

I reached for his hand and gave it a good shake. “Well, Pete, welcome to Llano, Texas. Layton Morris. There’s a Days Inn on Bessemer Avenue and a Best Western on West Young Street.”

I quickly glanced down at his rented convertible. I wasn’t surprised to see he had the top down.

“I guess, being from Colorado, this type of weather feels good for you.” I gestured toward the car.

He looked back at the car and then turned back to me and smiled. “Yeah. Well, I’m also picking up my fiancée. She was staying here for a bit, but it’s time for her to come back home now. I’ve missed her…if you know what I mean,” he said with a wink.

I let out a laugh. “Oh hell yeah, I’m ready to see my girl tonight as well, if you know what I mean,” I said, giving him a wink back.

His smile faded for a quick second before he replaced it with another look, one I wasn’t too sure how to read.

“Thanks for the warm welcome. I look forward to getting to know this little town.”

“How long are you in town for?”

“Oh…not long. Long enough to get back what was mine and head out on the road.”

I nodded. I didn’t like this guy at all. Something about him was throwing up warning flags in my head.

“Okay, well, enjoy your stay, Pete.”

“I will. Trust me,” he said with a shit-eating grin on his face.

I watched as he turned and got into his rental car. He punched something into his phone and took off.

As I watched his car drive off, something came over me—anger. Something about that guy didn’t sit right with me, and I was hoping that was the first and last time I ever ran into him.

As we walked into the stadium, Kate was begging Layton to let her sit on his shoulders. I couldn’t help but smile at how she totally had him wrapped around her little finger. Jen, Kate’s mother, had told me since Mike had passed away that Layton had pretty much stepped in as the father figure for Kate. It showed. There wasn’t a thing he wouldn’t do for Kate to make her happy.

I let myself wander into a daydream as we stood there, waiting to pay to get in. I imagined Layton at the ranch on top of the hill at sunset. He was swinging our little girl around and around in circles as she laughed and cried out for him to go faster.

I felt someone tug on my shirt. “Whitley, why are you closing your eyes? Are you tired?”

I looked down at Kate and laughed. “I guess I was lost in a daydream, sweetheart.”

I glanced up at Layton and winked. He’d been acting so strange ever since he came to pick me up. He had been nothing but a nervous Nellie.

As he smiled back at me, he leaned down and put his lips right up to my ear. “What were you daydreaming about?”

His hot breath instantly turned me on, and I felt the blush moving up my cheeks.

I was just about to answer him when Kate started laughing.

“You were sleeping while you were standing up, Whitley? Uncle Layton, she must be really tired to sleep and dream while standing up, huh?”

Reaching down, Layton picked up Kate and swung her up and over his head until she was sitting on his shoulders.

“Yay! I can see everything now!” Kate called out.

He pulled me closer to him and gently kissed my lips. He smiled as he pulled slightly back. “Maybe we should get her home and to bed right away.”

I giggled and shook my head. “I think I’ll be okay for now. But we might have to leave early.”

Layton laughed and grabbed my hand as we paid and made our way into the stadium.

“My God, it’s been forever since I was at a high school football game,” I said as we headed toward the stands.

“It’s gonna be fun. The Yellow Jackets are gonna kick some ass tonight,” Layton said with a laugh.

“Uncle Layton, you said a bad word. You owe me an ice cream!”

Layton laughed. “I’m sorry, sweetheart. I’ll get you an ice cream. I got a little carried away ’cause I love football, and I love Llano high school football even more.”

Layton reached up and took Kate off his shoulders. As he set her down, she looked between the two of us.

“Do you love Whitley?” Kate asked as she giggled.

Layton snapped his head up, looked at me, and gave me the most panty-melting smile ever.

“Yeah, baby girl, I love Whitley more than anything. She’s my honeybee.”

Kate jumped up and down and clapped her hands. “Oh, like Mommy’s song she plays all the time.”

I laughed. I leaned over and kissed Layton.

Kate pushed us apart. “Now, me! I want kisses, Uncle Layton! You love me, too, right?”

Layton leaned down and scooped up Kate. He started giving her small little kisses all over her face as she laughed.

“You’re my number-one girl, Kate. Don’t you ever forget that. Now, come on, let’s go find Reed and Anna,” Layton said as we headed to the bleachers.

“I still can’t believe Reed and Anna are here together! I just saw her today at the jewelry shop.”

“Whatcha doing at the jewelry store, Whitley?” Kate asked as Layton put her back down.

“Well, you see, I know a little girl whose birthday is tomorrow. I had to pick up her present.”

Kate started jumping up and down, and then she saw Reed. She took off running, calling out his name. He jumped up from his seat and bent down to catch her in his arms as she slammed into him.

Layton shook his head. “Poor Anna. Kate has a massive crush on Reed, and I’m sure she’s not going to like the idea of Anna being on a date with him.”

I laughed as I got a glimpse of Courtney and Mitch walking toward us. I waved as she smiled and made her way over to me.

“I’m going to say hi to Court. I’ll be right there.”

Layton stopped and talked to Mitch for a few seconds before he invited Mitch and Courtney to sit over by us. I thought for sure Mitch was going to say no, so I was shocked to see him turn and follow Layton.

Mitch and Reed shook hands, and then Mitch hugged Anna. They all sat down with Mitch sitting on the other side of Layton.

Courtney had watched the whole thing play out. She slowly turned to me and gave me a weak smile. “Looks like we’re sitting with y’all. Um, who’s the girl with Reed?”

“That’s Anna. They all went to high school together. I guess she just moved back to Llano from Dallas. Layton said Reed had a massive crush on her and was devastated when she left for college.”

“Did they date in high school?” Courtney asked as she turned back to look at Reed and Anna.

“I’m not really sure. It doesn’t sound like it though. I got the impression that they both maybe liked each other in school.”

“Huh.” Courtney started looking around. “I’ve had the strangest feeling that someone’s been watching me all day.”

“Oh my God! Me, too, Court. I can’t shake it. Then, to top that off, Layton’s been acting all weird since he picked me up, like he’s freaked out about something.”

“Pesh, that’s normal for Layton.”

I hit Courtney in the arm and laughed. “So, how are things with Mitch? Have you…”

Courtney’s face instantly turned bright red.

“Oh. My. God. You’ve slept with him? When, you bitch? I can’t believe you haven’t told me!”

Courtney laughed. “My God, Whitley. Announce it to the whole damn town. I would have told you, but you’re never home anymore. It just happened last night.”

“Wow. Y’all held out a long time. Was it worth the wait?”

Courtney turned back to look at Mitch before looking back at me. She didn’t even need to answer my question. The smile on her face said it all.

“Holy hell, Whit. He’s amazing. I mean…the things he does with his lips.”

I held my hand up in Courtney’s face. “Ugh! Stop! Oh my God, Court. I won’t ever be able to look at him again.”

“Really? Like I didn’t feel that way when you told me about the little fun you and Layton had with the vibrator at your back-door party.”

Just then, someone cleared their throat, and Courtney and I both looked down at a mom sitting there with her two young daughters.

“Really? Can you take this conversation somewhere else?” she asked as she pointed to her girls.

“I’m
so
sorry. Please excuse us.” I grabbed Courtney and started making my way up the bleachers toward Layton and Mitch.

I turned and gave Court a dirty look. “Jesus, Courtney! You talk about me being loud.”

Courtney started laughing.

Before we sat down, I leaned toward her ear and said, “I want to hear all about last night though.”

She pulled back and smiled as she nodded. Her smile faded as she looked over at Reed and Anna. I turned to see the two of them snuggled together, and Anna was whispering something into Reed’s ear. My heart instantly dropped.

Is Courtney still hung up on Reed? Shit, I hope not since she just slept with Mitch.

As Courtney and I went to sit down between Mitch and Layton, Reed looked up and smiled at Courtney.