Broken Dreams (Broken 2)

“If you love her, go after her, Reed. Don’t let her push you away, and don’t you push her away because you’re afraid of your feelings. Fight for it.”

I dropped my head and let out a sigh. “Thanks, Melissa. You have no idea how much I needed to hear that.”

“Go get her. I’ll see ya when you get back to work. Enjoy the last few days of your vacation.”

I thanked her again and said good-bye.

I hadn’t had the heart to tell her that I had no intentions of going back to work. Once I’d decided to become a partner with Layton, I’d made the choice to quit my job and focus on the ranch, so I had given my notice the other day.

I got dressed and headed downstairs. I looked around the kitchen and decided I was going to make spaghetti and homemade meat sauce. I had no idea where Courtney had gone, but I was banking on her being back for dinner. I pulled out my phone and sent her a text message.

Reed: Dinner plans were canceled. I’m cooking dinner. Will be ready at six.

I sat there, staring at the candles that were almost halfway burned down. I glanced at the clock. It was seven thirty, and I had heard nothing from Courtney. I hadn’t even eaten anything. The food was sitting in the middle of the table, cold and no longer looking good. Lulu and Midnight had been waiting in position for the last hour.

I glanced down and shrugged my shoulders. “I guess she’s not showing up for dinner, y’all.”

I heard the back door open, and both dogs jumped up and ran into the kitchen. I was hoping she would just walk right by the formal dining room and not see me waiting for her like a fool.

I was sitting with my back facing the entrance of the dining room, so I couldn’t see her, but I felt her the moment she walked in. The whole energy in the room changed. She walked up behind me and leaned in close as she set a new Kindle Fire HD down on the table. I couldn’t help but smile and let out a chuckle. Then, I felt her hot breath against my neck as she moved her lips up to my ear.

“I even put The Marriage Bargain on there along with some other books to help with your…swooning research.”

It felt like a bolt of lightning went through my whole body when her lips were against my skin. I got up and stood in front of her. The smile on her face about dropped me to my knees. She slowly began backing up until she hit the wall. I walked up to her and bent down, putting my lips up against her ear. I co

uld hear her breathing, and I swore I could tell what she was thinking with the sound of her breaths.

“I really love that fucking book,” I whispered.

She let out a laugh as she put her hand up onto my chest. I pulled back and captured her eyes with mine.

She smirked and asked, “Did you swoon?”

I smiled bigger. “I don’t think I’m ready to share that with you just yet.”

“Reed?” she asked.

“Yeah, angel?”

“I’m scared,” she said as a tear rolled down her face.

That single tear stopped my breathing as I used my thumb to wipe it away. “I am, too, Courtney. I am, too.”

I put my forehead against hers, and we just stood there in silence for a few minutes.

“Want to go two-stepping?” I asked as I pulled back and looked at her.

She busted out laughing. She looked up into my eyes and nodded her head. I leaned down and captured her lips with mine. As I gently kissed her, I tried to pour as much love into that kiss as I could, but the last thing I was going to do was push her into anything.

I pulled my lips away and whispered, “Court, I’ll wait forever for you. I’ll wait forever.”

I’d never had so much fun in my life as I was having with Reed tonight at Luckenbach dance hall. We’d been dancing for hours, and we’d laughed so much that I’d almost pissed my pants a time or two. The few times he’d kissed me, I’d thought I was going to need someone to tie my hands up to keep me from ripping off his clothes. No one had ever made me feel the way I felt when I was with Reed.

I was standing in the restroom, looking in the mirror, and I couldn’t help but laugh, thinking about how Reed had bought a Kindle and had been reading my favorite book. I shook my head as I pulled my hair up into a ponytail.

A dark-haired girl walked up next to me and smiled. “I have to tell you, you and your husband must be very much in love.”

I glanced at her with a confused look on my face. “My husband?”