Free Broken by Kelly Elliott Page A

to the front of me. The look that Richard had given me wasn’t lost on me.
    “My God, there are two beautiful creatures. Layton, what did I do to deserve this?” Kevin asked when he saw Whitley.
    I smiled as I took in Kevin. He was as fit as ever. He was the same height and build as me. He’d always been known as the black stallion with the local girls. All the girls would go crazy for him. I didn’t think I’d ever seen him with just one girl.
    I introduced Whitley and Courtney to Kevin and explained to them that he was home on leave from the Marine Corps.
    After talking for a few minutes, Reed finally noticed Whitley and Courtney. I knew it was going to be a long night when I saw his face light up as he looked them both up and down. I’d never in my life wanted to punch my best friend in the face before, but the way he was looking at them caused me to ball up my fists. He got up and walked over toward us.
    Whitley was standing so close to me that I could smell her perfume.
    Jesus, her scent is driving me fucking nuts.
    “So, are you the city girl Layton here rescued today?” Reed asked with a smile and a wink as he extended his hand.
    Whitley shook Reed’s hand. “The one and only.” She gave a wink of her own.
    I glanced over and noticed Courtney eyeing Reed up and down.
    Reed could pretty much look at any girl, and she’d be his. Almost every girl at every bar we had gone to would tell him he looked exactly like Colin Farrell.
    Reed started laughing. “Don’t worry, Jack will take care of your car. He’s the best. Welcome to Llano. What in the world made you want to move here?” he shouted over the music.
    Whitley’s smile faded for a quick second before she flashed that beautiful smile at him. “New town, new life.”
    Reed smiled and shook his head. “Folks normally say they want to leave Llano to start a new life.”
    Whitley winked. “To each his own.”
    “Amen, sister,” Reed said.
    I leaned over and said, “Whitley Reynolds, this is my best friend, Reed Moore.”
    Whitley grinned. “What? That’s your name—Reed Moore?”
    Reed gave her his big ole country-boy smile. “Yes, ma’am. You like to read, do you?”
    Whitley threw her head back and laughed. “No, no, I really don’t. I hate reading. Sorry.”
    Reed laughed as he turned his attention to Courtney. He stood there and just stared at her as she talked to Kevin.
    Whitley leaned up, close to my ear. “If you were any kind of friend, cowboy, you would reach over and lift his jaw off the ground. He acts as if he’s never seen a girl before.”
    I laughed as I looked at Reed practically drooling at the sight of Courtney.
    “Courtney is going to love his name!” Whitley said with a giggle.
    Her hot breath on my neck was driving me insane.
    I rolled my eyes and shook my head. “God, he tries to use that to his advantage all the time. If a girl loves to read, he plays it up. Why will Courtney like it?”
    Whitley turned and gave me an evil smile. “She’s a freelance editor. She edits books for a living. She loves to read. It’s her damn life. Her last name is Will. She is constantly saying, ‘Oh, Courtney will …’ It drives me nuts how she stresses the word will .”
    I laughed as I said, “No shit?”
    “No shit!”
    Kevin must have seen someone walking by who caught his attention because he excused himself from talking to Courtney. Courtney turned and smiled when she saw Reed standing there, and Whitley jumped into action.
    “Courtney, this Layton’s best friend, Reed,” Whitley said with a huge grin on her face.
    It was almost like she couldn’t wait for Courtney to find out Reed’s last name.
    Reed reached out and shook Courtney’s hand. “Reed Moore,” he said with a smile.
    Courtney’s smile spread from ear to ear. “Oh, Courtney Will .”
    Both Whitley and I busted out laughing. Reed looked confused as hell and then laughed.
    “Nice last name I have, huh?” he said with a wink.
    Courtney nodded.