He held his hand out for me and helped me up and into the truck. He shut the door and strolled around the front.
I didn’t want to admit that I was glad I’d made him smile. The idea of him being sad bothered me for some reason.
“You’ve got your purse and laptop?” He looked me in the eyes.
“Yep, got ’em. ”
“Good. I wouldn’t want you needing an excuse to come back and take another peek around my house. ”
And there was the asshole I’d met a bit ago.
I rolled my eyes and turned away from him. “Don’t worry. I won’t be gracing you with my presence ever again, Mr. Morris. ”
He laughed as he took off down his driveway. “It’s a small town, Miss Reynolds. I wouldn’t make promises you can’t keep. ”
I glanced over at him and saw that smile again.
Ugh. Bastard.
I just needed to get away from him and get to my first client. The start of my new life was waiting for me, and now, I was going to have Layton Morris breathing down my throat as I tried to sell myself as the best party planner Mrs. Pierceson would ever hire.
“How will I get home? I forgot to call Courtney. ”
He didn’t even waste a second. “I’ll drive you back into town. I have some business I need to take care of anyway. ”
“Fine. But don’t utter a word. I’m doing business, and the last thing I need is you making some crack about me being from the city. ”
He laughed as he looked over at me. “Oh, don’t you worry your pretty little self now. I promise not to let Mrs. P in on my nickname for you, CG. ”
“Ugh…just don’t talk. Better yet, just wait in your truck. ”
As he laughed and shook his head, I had a strange feeling that Layton Morris was going to be nothing but a pain in my ass.
Chapter Four: Layton
Whitley did nothing but fiddle with her damn hands the whole way to Mrs. P’s. She seemed nervous as hell.
“Just relax, CG. Be yourself, and you’ll do fine. ”
I saw her head snap over toward me as she let out a sigh. I knew calling her CG was getting on her nerves, which only made me do it even more. I quickly glanced at her, only to see her shooting me a dirty look.
“Why do you insist on calling me that?”
I shrugged my shoulders as I turned into the driveway. I rolled down the window and hit the call button.
“Hello?”
“Mrs. P, how are you today? It’s Layton. ”
“Layton! My Lord, boy, where in the hell have you been? I’ve missed you. We’re neighbors, for God’s sake!”
I laughed and shook my head. “I’m delivering a Miss Reynolds. She has an appointment with you, and her car broke down. Jack is coming to pick it up. ”
The giant iron gate started to open.
“Come on up, sweetness. ”
“My God, everything in Texas really is bigger. I think her entrance is bigger than yours,” Whitley said as we headed down the driveway.