Page 89 of Wild Highway (Runaway 2)

She nodded and set her wine aside, then she walked out of the kitchen, not headed toward the group, but straight for the door. She paused with her hand on the knob and looked back. “Thanks.”

“You’re welcome.”

I stayed put, watching as she slipped out.

“Damn.” Easton sighed, appearing at my side. “She’s upset.”

“Yeah.”

He put his arm around my shoulders, pulling me close. “How are you?”

“Full. Tired.” I leaned into him. “Ready to go home.”

“Okay.” He kept hold of me as he called into the dining room, “We’re taking off. Kat’s headed home too.”

After a round of goodbyes and a plastic container of chocolate chip cookies, we drove home with the windows down, savoring the fragrant spring air.

“Katherine’s going to drive the Cadillac to Oregon,” I told him.

“Alone? When?”

“Well . . .” I took a deep breath and told him my plan.

My whole plan.

What I’d told Katherine had only been a part of my grand scheme.

“You sure this is a good idea?” he asked as we walked into our house and he tossed his keys on the kitchen island.

/> “Positive. This will work.”

“For Katherine’s sake, and Cash’s, I hope you’re right.”

“Me too.” I rubbed my belly, feeling the baby kick. “Ooh. Come here.”

Easton came closer and I took his hand, positioning his palm on my side. We stilled, waiting, then another kick jabbed in just the right spot.

“Did you feel that?”

His eyes softened, his palm never moving as his free arm wrapped around me and he dropped his cheek to my head. “It’s going to be okay.”

“Yeah. It’s going to be okay.” I sank into his side.

I’d work the boring front desk and let Cash handle the expansion. I’d stop spending late nights in our home office. I’d take up reading or crochet or prenatal yoga. And if needed, I’d go on the medication.

Because this baby was worth every sacrifice in the world.

“It’s going to be more than okay.”

* * *

Two and a half months later, our son was born. Jake Easton Greer joined the world in perfect health with a mat of my brown hair and his father’s dark eyes.

And that real life I’d been searching for . . .

It had been in Montana the whole time.

Waiting for me to come home.