Broken Dreams (Broken 2)

I looked at him, confused. “What are you talking about?”

“Baby, you never even told Whitley?” he asked.

The concern in his voice and the knowledge that I’d actually told someone hit me like a brick wall, and I began crying hysterically.

“No. You’re the…first person…I’ve told,” I said in between sobs.

He grabbed me and pulled me onto his lap. He held me as he gently ran his hand up and down my back. He didn’t say a word. He didn’t have to. I just needed him to hold me right now. I felt so incredibly safe in his arms.

I wasn’t sure how long Reed held me while I cried. Something happened though, and the more I cried and the tighter he held me, the more free I felt. That dark, dirty secret I had held on to for so long was finally lifting away.

“Courtney, I’m so sorry that happened to you, baby. It kills me to know that you’ve been hurting for so long. I…”

I heard him hold in a sob, and my heart started pounding. I couldn’t look at him, or I would start crying again.

“I want to love you forever, Courtney. I want to give you what you deserve and do nothing but make you feel my love for you every single day.”

I slowly pulled away and looked at him. I just stared at him as I took in everything he’d said. This is what I’ve always dreamed of. Reed, my Prince Charming, was going to rescue me and love me for the rest of my life.

He pushed a piece of hair behind my ear and gave me the sweetest smile. “I love you, Courtney. I’ll always love you…forever,” he whispered.

“I love you, too, Reed. Forever.”

He started to move me off his lap, and I instantly missed his warmth. He stood up and reached down for my hand. As he helped me up, he whistled, and both horses began walking over to us.

I looked at the horses and then back at Reed. “Holy shit, that was awesome. Will that work for you, too?” I said with a wink.

He smiled bigger as he placed both hands on my face, and he brought me in for the most amazing kiss of my life. It was so gentle and filled with so much love. I’d never in my life experienced anything like it.

“I want to give you what you deserve, Courtney,” he said as he moved his thumbs gently across my cheeks.

All I could get out was, “Okay.”

The ride back went by quickly once Reed had picked up the pace, and we let the horses trot back the whole way. By the time we got back to the stables, I was exhausted from the whole evening. I leaned against Tink as Reed took care of the saddles and the horses. The dancing, the laughing, the lovemaking, the crying while telling Reed about Noah—all of it just hit me at once. I moved to a hay bale and drifted off to sleep.

When I felt Reed’s arms around me, I couldn’t help but smile.

“Shh, go back to sleep, angel,” Reed whispered into my ear.

I wrapped my arms around his neck and nodded off to sleep again. My dreams were filled with nothing but my Prince Charming.

My cell phone vibrated, and I looked down at it sitting on the counter.

Layton: Hey, dude! Did you survive three weeks with Court? We landed a little bit ago and will be there in a couple of hours.

Reed: Welcome home! All I can say about the last three weeks is that I’ve never been this happy in my entire life.

Layton: No shit! Y’all together?

Reed: Dude…I don’t kiss and tell.

Layton: About damn time. Whit is screaming next to me right now. I have a feeling they will want some girlie time when we get home.

Reed: Probably. What about you? You enjoy your three weeks?

Layton: One word—heaven. Getting in my truck now. See ya soon.

Reed: Awesome. Drive safe.