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-f**king-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.

Chapter Ten: Layton

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 f**ker wanted to drive with me is because of Whitley and Courtney.

He better have his sights on the right f**king 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 f**king 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.”

Well, that caught my attention. “Really? What did she say?”

“Layton, please don’t do this to yourself.”

“I just asked a question, Reed. What was she saying?”

He shrugged his shoulders. “I don’t know. She was super pissed when Courtney told her Whitley’s been riding for years. Then, she just kept making comments.”

“Like, what kind of comments?” I wanted to grab him and shake it out of him.

“Dude, I don’t f**king know. Shit like, why were y’all taking so long to get back and what in the hell were y’all talking about. Layton, please don’t use Whitley. I like her. She seems really sweet. In a strange way, even Courtney is somewhat appealing.”

“She’s just a friend, Reed. I keep telling you that, and I’ve already told Olivia that. I can’t help what Olivia thinks. Are you staying here or going home to change?”

He looked down toward the floor. “Layton, it’s okay to move on. You know that, right? Mike would want you to be happy. And Olivia doesn’t deserve your love.”

I slapped him on the back and nodded. “I know he would, and I’m trying, Reed. I’ve only ever loved three people in my life since my mother died. Two of them left me, and I gave my heart and soul to Olivia. I just don’t think I can give it to anyone else.”

“Layton, you need someone to love. Everyone does. Just keep an open mind to it. That’s all I’m saying. I see how you look at Whitley, and I see how she looks at you. You’re both going to have to learn to let love back in.”

“What do you mean? What do you know about Whitley?”

Reed looked everywhere but at me as he started stepping back and forth.

“Reed!” I yelled.

“Fuck! Fine, but you can’t let her know that anyone knows. Please, Layton.”

“I won’t.” My heart was beating a mile a minute.

“I don’t know much, but I guess right when Whitley moved here, she went and saw Dr. Martin, and you know, Wes works there. Wes told me last night that Whitley had all kinds of bruises all over her body, including some really bad bruised ribs. She claimed she had been in a wreck, but Wes said it was classic abuse, and Dr. Martin questioned Whitley about it. I guess Whitley broke down and asked Dr. Martin not to tell a soul. She moved to Llano to get away from her ex and to start a new life.”

My knees about buckled out from underneath me, and I felt sick to my stomach. “Why in the f**k is your sister telling you that, Reed? That’s private information. Wes could get fired. Who in the hell else has she told?”

“Jesus, Layton! No one. The only reason she told me is because she saw me talking to Whitley, and Wes asked me to keep an eye on her and not to let her get hurt by some fuckwad. Wes was looking out for Whitley, Layton, that’s all. Wes told me she talked to Whitley. She really liked her and was just worried about her.”