“Court’s in the kitchen. Chat for a second,” I called over my shoulder.

I ran into Whitley’s room and came to a stop when I saw her sleeping in bed.

She’s so incredibly beautiful.

I walked up and looked down at her. She had a small smile on her face, and she was mumbling something. I bent over, trying to hear what she was saying.

“Layton…please…”

I stood back up and started walking backward.

She’s dreaming about me. Shit. Shit. Shit.

I went to head into the bathroom, but then I stopped and turned back toward her. I slowly walked up to her, bent down, and lightly brushed my lips against hers.

Motherfucker…her lips are so soft. I want more.

“Hmm…Layton.”

I smiled, knowing I was the one in her dreams.

When I stood back up, she opened her eyes. She instantly smiled and then looked me up and down.

“Am I dreaming that you’re standing next to my bed…wearing nothing but a towel?”

I let out a laugh. “Nope. I’m really standing here next to your bed in a towel.”

She smiled slightly and then raised her eyebrow. “Why?” Then, she sat up quickly. “Oh my God! Did we—”

“No! Jesus, Whitley, I would never take advantage of you like that. We’re friends, for Christ’s sake.”

She fell back down to her pillow and grabbed her head. “Oh…my…God…I feel like shit,” she whispered.

“Give me two seconds, honey.” I turned and ran into her bathroom. I slipped on the jeans and the clean shirt Reed had brought me.

I heard my phone go off with a text message, but I ignored it as I walked out of the bathroom and up to her.

“Layton, why are you here? And why are you half-naked?” she asked.

I leaned down and brushed the hair away from her beautiful green eyes. “Honey, you were so drunk last night that I had to bring you home. You actually threw up…a lot,” I said with a wink.

“No…that’s impossible. I only had a few beers.” She rubbed her temples.

“Whitley…can I ask you something?”

“Sure, of course.”

“Who is Roger?”

Her eyes snapped open, and she looked at me with fear in her eyes. “Why?”

“Well, you told me someone had given you shots to drink, and when I was trying to find out who it was, you got angry with me and called me Roger.”

The moment I saw the tears welling up in her eyes, I hated myself for asking. I already had a feeling who it was—the f**ker who had beaten her.

I really want to kill that motherfucker for hurting her.

“He’s no one, and I’m so sorry. You’re nothing like him, Layton. Nothing.”

I smiled, leaned over, and kissed her forehead. “I have to go. I have a meeting. What are you doing a week from today?”

The smile spreading across her face caused my stomach to drop. I wanted to make her smile like that always.

In a friendship kind of way.

“Um…I think I’m free,” she said with a wink.

I stood and laughed. “Good. You’re going to pay up on our bet.”

She sat up and shook her head. “Wait! What? You mean the deer stand?”

I turned and grabbed my phone, keys, and wallet off of her nightstand. “Yep. I’m leaving tomorrow for Kentucky to look at a racehorse, and I won’t be back until Wednesday afternoon.”

I opened up the text message waiting for me. It was from Kevin, and I started to read it.

Son of a bitch. I’m going to kill that a**hole.

“Layton? Did you hear me?”

I looked down at her, still sitting up in bed. “Sorry, cowgirl…I’ve got to go. I’m already so late for a meeting. Next Thursday? Keep it open for me?”

She smiled and nodded before I started to leave her room.

“Hey! Layton?”

I turned and looked at her.

“Thank you so much for bringing me home and taking care of me. I’m really lucky to have you as a friend,” she said with a slight smile on her face.

Yep…friends. Friends only.

“Always, Whit. Bye, sweetheart. Have a good week.”

As I walked down the stairs, my heart started hurting. I didn’t want to leave her. I wanted to spend the day with her and make sure she was all right and felt better. I wanted to take her to the ranch and baby her.

Fuck, this is not good. I can’t get attached to her.

My phone went off again, and it was another message from Kevin. When I read it, I got even angrier.

“Reed! Let’s go!” I called out as I opened the front door and made my way to my truck.

Reed came running out behind me. “Finally. Dude, we only have a few minutes to get there.”

“I’m going to be a little late. I need you to start the meeting and just tell them I’m held up with another meeting. I will be ten minutes late.”

Reed grabbed my arm and pulled me to a stop. “What? Jesus, Layton, I know about cattle, but I don’t know shit about racehorses.” He made a face as he leaned in to smell me. “You smell like…a girl!”

I rolled my eyes at him. “Just small talk, Reed. You’re good at that shit.”

I jumped into my truck, started it, and rolled down the window.

“Layton, what in the world is more important than this?”

“Richard was the one giving shots to Whitley. This morning, he told Kevin that he had tried to get her drunk. I guess he wanted to hook up with her last night.”

Reed shook his head. “What a f**king a**hole. What are you going to do?”

I smiled and put the truck in drive. “I’m simply going to ask that he stay away from Whitley.”

I hit the gas and headed toward the bank.

I walked into the bank and saw Richard talking to one of the tellers.

Bastard.

I walked up and tapped him on the shoulder.

He turned around and smiled. “Hey, dude, where did you go last night? Everyone left.”

“Did you give all those shots to Whitley?”

His smile faded a little. “Uh…I might have given her one or two to, um…loosen her up some.”

I reached back, and before he even knew what was happening, I punched him. His head snapped back, and he lost his balance. I watched him tumble to the ground.

“Oh my God, Layton! What are you doing?” Susie yelled from behind the counter.

I bent down and grabbed him by his shirt. “You ever try something like that with her again, and I’ll do more than just punch you. Do I make myself clear, Richard?”

He wiped the blood from his mouth as he just stared at me.

“Do I make myself clear, Richard?” I asked again.

“Yeah, Layton…crystal clear.”

I pushed him back down and stood. “Sorry, Susie, I didn’t mean to cause trouble.”

I walked out of the bank as I made a vow that I would never let another man hurt Whitley. I’d rather die than see her hurt.

Chapter Eleven: Whitley

I’d been sitting at the same table since six this morning, just staring at my notebook. Courtney was editing a book at home, and I needed to get out, so I told her I was heading to Fuel for a bit.

I tried to concentrate on work, but my thoughts were all over the place today. After two hours of sitting here, my mind was blank. I pretty much had Mimi’s party planned. She was so easy to please, and I’d had so much fun with her this week while we had been planning the party.

Olivia’s engagement party was another story. Every idea I’d given to her, she had turned down. I was beginning to think she hated me. No matter what I’d said, she’d turned her nose up to it.

Bitch! It’s a damn engagement party in Llano, Texas, not New York City.

I threw my pen down and closed my eyes. That was when I saw his eyes…and felt his lips on mine. I brought my fingers up to my lips and lightly touched them. At first, I thought I had dreamed he kissed me, but the more I thought about it, the more real it became. The fact that he’d stayed with me through that night made the butterflies take off in my stomach.

The way he called me honey, cowgirl, and sweetheart made me feel so special. No one had ever called me things like that, except for my dad.

I opened my eyes and thought about Layton holding me while we’d danced.

Damn it! I really wish I could remember what it was like to have him sleeping next to me.

Damn it all to hell, Whitley. Stop this! He even said…we are friends. We’re just friends.

I shook my head to clear my thoughts of Layton. It was easier said than done. He was coming home tonight, and all I could think about was our bet. I couldn’t wait to see him, just to be near him.

While he had been in Kentucky, we’d talked on the phone every night, and we’d texted at least ten times during each day. And now, I was sitting here, counting down the hours until I could see him.

Ugh! This has to stop. I’m done with men, including those who have incredibly sexy bodies, irresistible lips, and breathtaking smiles. Oh, that dimple—paralyzingly handsome Layton Morris.

Maybe I should tell him I can’t make it tomorrow.

When I looked up, I saw Richard walking in. I raised my hand and waved at him. He took one look at me and quickly hustled up to the counter. He’d been avoiding me for almost a week now. I’d gone into the bank once, and he’d actually gotten up and walked to the back.

I remembered we had danced a lot at that club in Austin. I kind of even remembered doing a little dirty dancing with him, but every time I tried to remember anything else, I could only see Layton turning down my kiss and then me puking outside of the club. I still cringed when I thought about calling Layton by Roger’s name.

I picked up my pen and started making notes about Olivia’s party. Just when I finally got my thoughts redirected, my phone started to ring. I glanced down and saw Layton’s name. I almost fell out of the chair when I reached for it.

“Hello?”

“Hey, cowgirl! Did you miss me?” he asked with that sexy-ass Southern drawl of his.

Oh good Lord, I really need to stop thinking about him like this. He only wants to be friends, Whit.

“Um, I’m sorry. Who is this?” I tried to hold in my giggle.

“It’s Layton!” he said, sounding offended.

I started laughing.

“You bitch! And here, I brought you back a present.”

I sat up straight. “A present? Really? Layton, I love presents! I’m sorry! I totally knew it was you. I was kidding.”

“You’re gonna have to make it up to me now.”

I couldn’t help it, but I smiled with excitement. “Oh yeah? Like how?” My heart was beating a mile a minute.

“Have lunch with me today?”

“Are you home? I thought you weren’t getting home until later this evening.”

He laughed, and I felt my stomach doing crazy flips from the sound of his laughter.

“I missed my new best friend, so I came home a day early. I got in late last night.”

His new best friend? Wow. He is really making sure that I know we are nothing more than friends. Fine by me.

“You just want to win that bet a day early, don’t you?” I started packing up my things.