The Naughty List Bundle - Kylie Adams [209]
A short, humorless laugh nearly choked her…and drew the three women’s attention. Elizabeth mentally shook her head as she stepped forward with a feigned smile. None of it mattered; she still wanted him, wanted to experience everything he could show her, teach her. She wanted to really truly feel once again. Since her mother’s death and the appearance of the harsh, dragging guilt, it seemed as if she hadn’t really been living, that anything heartfelt or lasting had been blunted by the need to make amends, to understand her weakness.
Her heart hurt, but pride would keep her from showing it. She’d accept Gabriel Kasper on any terms, and he’d never know that she dreamed of more. She’d enjoy herself, without regrets, without demands.
Despite her past, she deserved that much.
The waitress, looking cautious, indicated a chair. “Hey, there, Elizabeth. Remember me?”
Again, Elizabeth smiled. “Ceily, from the boat docks, right? Yes, I remember. I hadn’t realized you worked here.” She carefully lowered herself into her seat and nodded at both sisters. Honey and Misty looked guilty, and Elizabeth tried to reassure them by pretending she hadn’t heard a thing. “I hope I’m not too late?”
“Not at all,” Misty said quickly. Her baby was sitting beside her in the booth on a pumpkin seat. “I hope you don’t mind that I brought Amber along.”
Elizabeth leaned over slightly to peer at the baby. “How could anyone ever object to that darling little angel?”
When she’d been a young girl, still fanciful and filled with daydreams, Elizabeth used to imagine someday having a baby, coddling it as her mother had coddled her, but she’d set those fantasies aside when she’d accepted her shortcomings.
Misty beamed at the compliment. “Strangely enough, she looks just like Morgan.”
Ceily snorted at that outrageous comment. “Come on, Misty. I’ve never seen that little doll manage anything near the nasty scowl Morgan can dredge up without even trying.”
Honey laughed. “That’s true enough. But if Misty is even two minutes late to feed her, she has to contend with scowls and grumblings from both father and daughter. And I have to admit, they do resemble each other then. It sometimes seems to be a competition to see who can complain the loudest.”
Misty slid a gentle finger over her sleeping daughter’s cheek. “Morgan can’t stand it if she even whimpers, much less gives a good howl. I swear, he shakes like a skinny Chihuahua if Amber gets the least upset.”
Ceily made a sound of amused disgust. “I never thought I’d see the day when the brothers started settling down into blissful wedlock.”
Honey nudged Elizabeth, then quipped in a stage whisper, “Not that Ceily’s complaining. I think she’s the only female in Buckhorn County who isn’t pining for our men.”
Being included in that “our men” category made Elizabeth blush, but no one noticed as Ceily broke loose with a raucous laugh. “I know the brothers far too well. We’ve been friends forever and that’s not something I’d ever want to screw up by getting…romantic.”
“A wise woman,” Honey said, between sips of iced tea. “I think they all consider you something of a little sister.”
Ceily bit her lip and mumbled under her breath, “I wouldn’t exactly say that.” But Elizabeth appeared to be the only one who’d heard her.
Ceily took their orders and sauntered off. Elizabeth watched her surreptitiously, wondering just how involved the woman had been with the brothers. She was beautiful, in a very natural way, not bothering much with makeup or a fancy hairdo. She looked…earthy, with her light tan and sandy-brown hair. And Elizabeth remembered from seeing her in her bathing suit at the boat dock that Ceily was built very well, with