Page 46 of Red Hot Rancher

Brigit tensed. The water she’d drunk churned in her stomach. God, she didn’t want drama. “Hello, Maisy.”

“I suppose Justin told you? You’re going to be an aunt?”

Brigit almost glanced at the table they’d been sitting at, but maybe she had an icicle’s chance in hell that Maisy hadn’t noticed Justin was here. “I hear it’s a possibility.”

Irritation flushed Maisy’s face. “It’s more than a possibility. I know who the father of my kid is.”

“Right. You’re feeling well then?” She wanted to run. To keep from giving away Justin’s presence despite it being inevitable, she scanned the bar.

Priya, with her glossy black hair, her designer purse, and that damn med school degree was smiling at Caleb. Her hand was on her hip, and her head was tilted as if hanging on every word coming out of his mouth.

Maisy followed her gaze. “They make a cute couple.”

The woman’s smugness laced Brigit’s spine with steel, but she wasn’t going to feed the jealousy beast. “Caleb would look good with anyone.”

“Especially Priya, though. She’s so…petite.” Maisy didn’t even bother to look her up and down to make her point. She was too practiced at hitting her target.

Don’t take the bait. “Yes, she’s very cute. Excuse me.” She attempted to sidle past, but Maisy’s vise grip on her bicep stopped her.

“Tell Justin I need to talk to him.”

“I’ll let him know.” She tugged on her arm.

Maisy’s grip tightened to painful. “I’ll just come with you.”

“It’s best if you don’t.”

“Maybe you didn’t hear me around those hips of yours, Bridge. I’m coming with you.”

At first the comment stung, like always. No. She’d had enough and didn’t need to tolerate Maisy’s insults. “Maisy, grow up. Comments about my weight were childish and immature when we were kids. They’re still rude and petty. You have business with my brother? This isn’t the time or the place. Now, I’m going to meet up with my boyfriend. He loves my hips.”

Maisy’s face turned stony. Fire flashed in her eyes, but there was enough sanity in her to know that what Brigit had said was true. Brigit gave her arm a little twist. Maisy snapped her hand back, her gaze assessing.

As Brigit barely managed not to run away, she couldn’t help but wonder if she’d taught Maisy a lesson, or made the woman fortify her defenses.

Caleb’s smile widened when she approached. The way he looked at her eased the constant anxiety she had being out with him. Her constant fear of being judged. They weren’t teenagers anymore. And she’d finally spoken her mind to Maisy without stooping to her level.

Caleb pushed off the counter and held out her beer. When she took it, he tucked her into his side. His easy smile and friendly presence were in place.

Priya blinked and took a sip from her glass, her gaze bouncing between them.

Brigit swallowed her frustration with the fizz of her cold beer. Why so surprised?

Caleb tightened his arm as if sensing her need for a little extra support. “Priya here is Moore’s newest OB/GYN.”

“Wow. Congrats.” Brigit reflected on herself. Nope. No jealousy.

Priya smiled, pride radiating from her. “I honestly thought I’d never reach this point. And come back home on top of it.” She cocked her head. “Weren’t you going to go to med school?”

Brigit studied the other women but detected no malice. Her tone was curious, not catty, unlike her friend Maisy. Had Priya been like that in school too? Had Brigit assumed the worst because of who Priya associated with?

“No, law school was my initial plan, but I changed my mind in college.”

“Oh.” Priya shrugged her delicate shoulders. “And here I saw you back in town and thought maybe there’d be two of us young docs charging into Moore Community Health and… Well.” She gulped the rest of the liquid in her glass.

If Brigit could pick one girl from her past to vote Ms. Perfect, it’d be Priya. But the woman didn’t chug her drink out of perfection. “Isn’t your dad still a doctor there?”

“He is.” Priya grimaced. “Which will come in handy when a colleague or patient wants to second-guess me. They can go straight to him.”

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