Broken Dreams (Broken 2)

Anna cleared her throat and said, “Well, I see now is not a good time to talk, Reed. Maybe later. Lunch or something?”

Oh. No. She. Didn’t.

Reed pulled me tighter against him, and I instantly felt calmer.

“I think now is as good of a time as any, Anna. I don’t keep secrets from Courtney, so what you have to say, you can say in front of her.”

Anna shot me a dirty look and stood up straighter. “Fine. I just didn’t like the way we ended things. I mean, I think we both overreacted. I thought maybe this thing you have going on with Courtney would have played out by now, but I see it hasn’t.”

“You bitch,” I blurted out. I tried to make my way over to her, but Reed was holding me back.

She rolled her eyes at me and let out a small laugh. “Nice, Courtney. Really classy. Are we in high school?”

I balled up my fists. I was ready to knock the shit out of her. “What? You just—”

Reed pulled me back and stepped in front of me. “Anna, I broke up with you because I love Courtney. I’ve loved her from the moment I first saw her, and I’ll love her until I take my last breath. I don’t appreciate you talking to my fiancée like that, so please, I think it would be best if you just left.”

My stomach did a little dip when Reed said his reason for breaking up with her had been because he loved me. Then, I took great pleasure in watching Anna’s jaw drop to the ground when she found out we were engaged.

“Wait, you’re engaged? When?” Anna asked as she stumbled on her words.

“That’s what this party is for, Anna—to celebrate Court and me getting engaged and Layton and Whitley expecting their first child.”

Anna shook her head and looked around. She looked back at me and then at Reed. She finally came to her senses and gave him a smirk. “You just made the biggest mistake of your life.”

Reed let out a small chuckle. “No. The biggest mistake of my life was not admitting my feelings for Courtney from the very beginning.”

Anna let out a huff as she turned and stomped away toward all the cars and trucks. I watched as she stormed

off, and I prayed that would be the last time she would try to cause problems.

Brett Eldredge’s “Mean to Me” began playing, and Reed grabbed my hand and brought me out to the dance floor.

As we began dancing, he leaned down and brushed his lips against my neck before whispering in my ear, “I love this song. I think of you every time I hear it.”

I was silently cursing that I couldn’t remember how the song had started, but as we were dancing, I listened to the words. I buried my head into his chest and just took it all in. I’d never felt so loved in my entire life.

I’m engaged to my Prince Charming.

“You’re so beautiful, Courtney. I have to control my temper right now, and let me tell you, I’m being tested big time.”

I pulled back and looked up at him. “What do you mean, you’re being tested? Why do you have to control your temper?”

Reed looked around and then back down at me. “All these cowboys are drooling over you. The moment I saw you walking up, dressed like that, I wanted nothing more than to leave and have my wicked way with you.”

My heart started to pound in my chest, echoing in my ears, and I was pretty sure Reed could hear it. He ran his knuckles down my face, and I wanted him to take me right there, to hell with all the people.

“I love you,” I whispered.

He reached down and brushed his lips against mine, causing me to let out a soft, low moan. I pushed my hand through his hair and grabbed a handful, and he let out a moan of his own. It moved over my body like a warm blanket, and I needed him more than ever before.

“Courtney…” he whispered in such a seductive voice that I trembled. “I need to make love to you…right now.”

I pulled on his hair more, and before I knew what was happening, he picked me up and started walking toward his truck. It took a few seconds for it to sink in that everyone was whooping and hollering. I buried my face into Reed’s shoulders and started giggling.

“Reed, everyone knows why we are leaving.” I peeked over his shoulder and saw Layton and Whitley watching us with the goofiest smiles ever on their faces.

I waved good-bye to Whit, and she threw her head back and started laughing. Layton pulled her to him and whispered something into her ear. If I knew those two, it wouldn’t be long before they left as well.