Page 3 of Layla

“No. I’m not talking about that. I’m talking about the way he responded. He got onto you like you’re a child or something!”

Layla smiled softly. She was careful to keep her demeanor calm. She placed a gentle hand on her best friend’s arm. “Courtney, we’ve been over this. He doesn’t treat me like a child. He treats me like the submissive wife I am. Well, like I’m going to be. After the wedding.” She giggled in excitement before returning to the conversation. “He’ll be the head of our home. We have a taken-in-hand relationship. Remember?”

“Oh, I remember,” Courtney said, rolling her eyes. The beautiful, curvy woman with long, silky brown hair continued to look annoyed as she shook her head. “How could I forget?”

Layla studied Courtney for a moment. The woman looked as if she’d just swallowed something sour. Layla couldn’t blame her. It was tough for the uninitiated to understand. But even as disgusted as Courtney seemed by it all, Layla suspected there was a fair amount of jealousy influencing the woman’s attitude. She’d seen the way Courtney watched Kirk and his dealings with Layla. It wasn’t as if Courtney wanted Kirk for herself. She’d never try to steal someone’s man. No, it seemed as if she wanted what he represented.

A strong man.

A man who knew how to treat a lady.

A man who would protect, cherish, and yes, even discipline.

Courtney certainly wasn’t going to let it show, though. She kept right at her protests, too.

“And you’re sure you want to move to that…weird…community? Brennan County or whatever it’s called.”

Layla couldn’t help but chuckle. “Just because you don’t understand it doesn’t mean it’s weird.”

“I’m sorry.” The apology seemed genuine, as did the remorse in her eyes. She hardened once again, though, as if realizing she was revealing too much. “But you’re absolutely sure you want to move to a community of fr—friends who are all like you.”

Layla arched an eyebrow. “Friends? Or did you mean freaks?”

Courtney just rolled her eyes and offered a dismissive wave.

“Look, Courtney, just because I’m moving away doesn’t mean we won’t still be friends. Best friends.

“And this is all exactly what I want. The dynamic I have with Kirk. The community we’re moving to. I wouldn’t have it any other way.”

Courtney’s stance and facial expression eased once more. A few seconds ticked by before she finally nodded. “If you’re happy, I’m happy,” she said. “I just wanted to make sure.”

She cut off the conversation when Kirk’s boots fell heavily on the old hardwood floor behind her.

It was hard for Layla not to shift her focus to the tall, broad, strapping cowboy as he approached. But she kept her gaze upon Courtney a few moments longer.

There it was again.

Something in Courtney’s eyes.

Something that looked a tad like jealousy and a whole lot like longing.

Was Courtney feeling the call, too? Was she a submissive longing for a strong man who would take her in hand?

Layla supposed time would tell—that is, if her friend was honest enough to admit her desires, even to herself.

For now, though, Layla would have to be content with the way things were. After all, she was about to marry the love of her life.

And then they would start anew.

In Brennan County.

Chapter Two

Brennan County

Sheriff Wyatt Stone didn’t like what he saw.

He loved the mountains that surrounded him. The towering Davis range was majestic and breathtaking. He loved Mountainville, that unique community for Bigs and Littles that lay to the west. It was the inspiration for his own burgeoning community, after all.

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