“No shit?” He had a serious look on his face.
I smiled and winked at him. “No shit. So, I’m ready to get this bet going. How long do I have to stay in the stand?”
He gave me that damn crooked-ass grin of his. “Two hours. If you can last two hours, you win. ”
I bit down on my lower lip and thought about this. “What happens if I make it to the end of the two hours? Do I win something?”
He threw his head back and laughed as he started to walk toward the kitchen. “My respect isn’t good enough?”
“Sorry, but no. I want something else. ”
He turned and looked at me. “I’ll give you your surprise this evening instead of tomorrow. ”
I smiled and bit down on my lip again. His smile faded as he walked up to me.
He used his thumb to pull my lip out from between my teeth. “Don’t do that, Whit. ” He spun around and started toward the refrigerator.
My lip was on fire from where he’d touched it. I’d never thought just a simple touch would drive me insane.
Damn you, Layton Morris!
He pulled something out and slipped it into a picnic basket. “You ready?”
With the way I nodded, I felt like a high school girl going on her first date.
Jesus, Whitley, calm the hell down!
We drove through the pastures in Layton’s Jeep until he found his perfect spot. It was an open field looking out to the hill country. I jumped out of the Jeep and just stood there, staring at the horses in the pasture.
“I’ve never seen anything so beautiful in my life,” I barely said.
He walked up and stopped next to me. “I have. ”
I turned to look at him. He stared out at the horses for another few seconds before turning and winking at me.
What or who is he talking about?
Probably Olivia.
He pulled out a blanket and laid it down on the ground while I grabbed the picnic basket. I sat down with the basket as he smiled and nodded for me to open it. When I did, I busted out laughing.
I reached in and grabbed the container of chicken nuggets from Chick-fil-A. “Layton, how did you even remember I said I loved these?”
“I make it my business to pay attention to what people like, what they love. Besides, when we were talking on the phone the other day, I promised you that I’d buy you a shitload of Chick-fil-A nuggets. When you said you had eaten there and had died and gone to heaven, I knew I had to bring some home to you. ”
“You big at keeping promises?” I asked with a laugh.
His smile faded, and he looked out toward the horses. “Yes, I am. I never go back on my promises—ever. ”
I could almost feel his pain. My heart broke for him, and I was wondering what in the world he was thinking about. I wanted so badly to ask him about his brother, but I didn’t.
“Well, I’m glad. These nuggets are so good, especially cold! I would have never thought they would be good cold. ”
He looked back
at me and smiled, but I saw the hurt in his eyes.
We ate in silence until he clapped his hands, scaring the shit out of me.