Page 67 of Pretty Wild

“Thank God,” he mutters, giving me a sheepish grin. “Anyway, how are you getting home?”

“Oh, I was just going to have one drink early and then switch to water. I’ll be fine to drive home later.”

“I’ll come get you.”

“That’s not necessary,” I insist, but anything else I’m going to say is cut off.

“It is. Have fun with the girls. They don’t do that often, so I know they’re all ready to cut loose. You should too.”

“Oh.”

“Call me, Ryan.” His gaze is intense, as if he’s not going to take no for an answer.

“All right.”

He nods before whistling for Buddy. “Let’s go, boy. Time to head home.”

Buddy looks up at me, waiting for one final pet. As soon as I reach down and scratch behind his ears, he takes off toward the path, where Marcus is heading.

Just before he disappears from sight, he hollers, “Have fun, Princess.”

“Thanks. I will.” I can’t help but smile, and as I climb behind the wheel of my rental, it’s still firmly on my face.

That smile accompanies me to Blair and Gabe’s gorgeous home on the outskirts of town, not too far from where myrental cabin is located. They’re not along the lake though, their backyard butting up against the acreage of timber and trails. I park in their driveway and slowly climb out, wishing I had something to contribute to tonight’s festivities. But they insisted I didn’t need to bring food or drinks, and I graciously accepted.

Climbing out of the driver’s seat, I see the front door open and Hallie step out. “You made it!”

I nod, excited to be included in tonight’s gathering. Sure, I have friends. Lots of them. But are any of them real? It sure as heck doesn’t feel like it now.

“Come on,” Hallie says, linking her arm through mine and leading me into the house.

“This house is amazing,” I start, taking a look around as we enter.

“When my brother bought it, it was in need of a lot of TLC. He’s done most of the work himself, slowly remodeling it room by room. Blair will give you a tour. She loves showing off my brother’s work.”

We enter the kitchen and find four more women. “She’s here,” Hallie declares to Blair, Ellie, Ava, and Jillian, the woman who owns the bakery and coffee shop.

“So happy you came,” Blair says graciously.

“Your home is beautiful,” I tell her.

“I’ll give you a tour, but first, let’s eat. I’ve been smelling this food since it was dropped off, and I’m starving,” she replies.

“Me too. I skipped lunch just so I could gorge. But I wasn’t expecting this. Where did you get all this Mexican food?” Ava asks, taking in the spread on the kitchen island.

“Kameron,” Hallie says with a big grin.

Ava stops and glance toward Ellie. “Kameron? Kameron Markley? The man who owns the steakhouse?”

“I didn’t realize he added Mexican food to the menu,” Ellie says, reaching for a chip and dipping it in salsa.

Hallie grins widely. “He didn’t. He did it for Jillian,” she informs the group, waggling her eyebrows as she hands me a margarita.

Jillian groans. “Stop it. It’s not like that. He owed me a favor.”

“For sexual favors rendered?” Hallie asks, taking a sip of her drink.

“No!” Jillian declares, her face turning beet red. “It’s not like that. He needed a dessert one evening at the restaurant after his order didn’t arrive on time, so I whipped up a few cheesecakes. It was nothing.”

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