Page 70 of Wild Highway (Runaway 2)

“You too.” Normally, I’d make polite conversation, but my mind went blank.

Liz wore a fitted sweater dress. It was far from scandalous with its long sleeves and turtleneck, but paired with her knee-high boots, she looked beautiful and sexy. Her hair was pinned up in a pretty knot and her makeup was elegant.

I was in black jeans and a plain sweater that was far from sexy. I hadn’t even worn heels.

“Liz, welcome.” Carol breezed past me and pulled Liz into a hug. “What are you drinking tonight?”

“Wine, please. Thanks for having me.”

“You’re always welcome. I’m just glad JR ran into you at the store yesterday.”

“Me too.” Liz laughed. “This is much better than a chicken pot pie at home alone.”

So she was here, a guest like me, who would have been alone for Thanksgiving if the Greers hadn’t come to her rescue.

The door behind us opened, forcing us all deeper inside as Cash walked in with Katherine following close behind.

Hugs and greetings were exchanged as Jake and JR came in from the den where they’d been playing pool. Each carried a tumbler of whiskey in their hand.

Unless there were more guests, everyone was here except Easton. The others had barely removed their coats when the door opened and he stepped inside.

His eyes found mine immediately and hope bloomed that he’d be different tonight. But then his eyes flickered straight to Liz and a broad smile stretched across his handsome face. “Hey, Liz. Glad you could make it.”

Wait, he’d known she was coming? And he hadn’t mentioned it to me?

Nice.

The group shuffled toward the kitchen, everyone collecting drinks and sampling the pre-dinner smorgasbord. I stuck close to Katherine, not wasting any time as I drained my first glass of wine.

Easton was kind enough to pour Liz’s glass.

I refilled my own.

“Did your parents make it to Texas?” JR asked Liz.

“They did. And they’ve already inundated my phone with photos of the baby.” She took out her phone and pulled up one of the photos, earning a sigh from Katherine and Liddy as they took in the pink bundle.

“That’s my new niece,” Liz told me. “My brother lives in Austin and he and his wife just had a baby on Monday. My parents flew down to spend the week with them.”

Leaving her here alone for Thanksgiving.

“She’s beautiful,” I said, honestly. There was something about a baby’s pout that always melted my heart.

I wasn’t sure if I’d get to be a mother. At the rate I was going, it was unlikely, but I’d be a good aunt. Londyn’s daughter, Ellie, would be loved beyond measure.

“I wanted to go”—Liz set her phone aside—“but someone had to be around to run the bar.”

“Liz’s family has owned the Clear River Bar for, what?” JR asked her. “Thirty years?”

She nodded. “Started by my grandfather.”

“He and I went to school together,” Jake added. “A hell of a long time ago.”

“Remember that time your granddad came out here and tried to steal my horse?” JR chuckled. “Swore up and down that I’d been so drunk at the poker tabl

e the night before that I’d forgotten I’d bet my horse and he’d won.”

She giggled. “He was such a goof.”