to include Meredith in that group but didn’t know if that would happen if she was believing whatever Josh was spouting. He glanced around but didn’t see her.
“Thanks, Cruz.” Hope touched his arm and smiled at him. “I’ll let you get back to all of your admirers.” She winked. “You, sexy beast, you. It was great to see you.”
Cruz laughed, gave her a parting hug, and watched her go get in line for food. Most of the crowd was going through the line or sitting down and eating. Cruz searched everywhere for Meredith. He was going to find her and talk to her to dispel any lies Josh may have told.
He didn’t see her anywhere, so he walked around the yard, through the house, and around the front yard to the driveway. Meredith wasn’t anywhere to be found, and neither was Josh. He felt his stomach lurch. Rushing back to the party, he slapped hands, took hugs, and exchanged greetings, while searching desperately for Meredith, but she was gone.
He finally made his way to Cat and crouched down next to her seat. She and Stetson were eating across from Devon and Iris. He greeted them all and then said into Cat’s ear, “Have you seen Mer?”
Cat shook her head. “She was chatting with some good-looking guy, and then they disappeared around the corner. Why? Are you jealous?”
Cruz blew out a breath as his neck prickled with concern. And okay, he could admit he was jealous, but he was more worried. Josh wasn’t a guy he would trust alone with an innocent sweetheart like Meredith. “Can you call her and see if I can come pick her up? The ‘good-looking guy’ is one of my camera crew, and I don’t trust him alone with her.”
Cat’s eyes widened. She stood quickly as Cruz straightened and backed up. “Excuse me,” Cat said to the table in general.
“Everything okay?” Her boyfriend Stetson stood also.
“Yeah.” She put a hand on his arm. “You eat. I’ll be right back. Cruz and I are just going to find Meredith.”
“Okay,” he said, and she gave him a quick kiss.
Cat and Cruz made their way around the side of the house and were interrupted a few times by friends and family.
It was darker here in the shadows of their large cabin without all the lights from the patio and the party. Cat called Meredith’s phone as Cruz impatiently tapped his fist on his leg and watched his sister.
“Mer!” Cat greeted her. “Where are you? You okay?” Cat sounded anxious for her friend. Cat acted like the kidnapping last month didn’t affect her, but Cruz wasn’t completely convinced of that.
Cruz leaned closer but couldn’t hear Meredith’s softer voice.
“You’re home? By yourself? Are you feeling okay?”
Cruz relaxed a little bit as Cat nodded to him and listened to Meredith.
“Okay, love you. I’ll see you tomorrow. Bye.” She slid the phone off, and Cruz held up his hands while waiting for answers. “She got a headache, and your camera guy ran her home. She’s alone and headed to bed.”
Cruz didn’t like her being gone, but at least Josh hadn’t hurt her or kissed her or … maybe he had. He fought wanting to rush to her side. “Would she lie to you?”
“Mer?” Cat’s eyes widened, and she pressed a hand to his forehead. “Are you feeling okay? Meredith’s never told a lie in her life.”
“So, you think she’s alone and has a headache?”
“I believe she’s alone and has a headache, but I also believe you should go check on her.” Her face split into a smile. “I have a definite beat on what’s going on here. You’re jealous! You desperately love my darling friend Meredith, and after all these years of me trying to push you two together, you’re finally ready to listen to your smartest sister.” She started doing a little dance. “Oh, yeah, oh, yeah. Cruz loves Mer. Life is good!”
Cruz wanted to smile at his adorable sister, but he was so stirred up inside, worried if Meredith was all right, and worried about what Josh may have told her. Maybe Josh was at her house threatening her, and Meredith had been forced to lie to Cat.
“I’d better go check on her.”
“Yes!” Cat shimmied in another dance. “This is the best day of my life. Well, okay, twentieth best day. The first nineteen were all the days Stetson has kissed me.”
Cruz did laugh then. Stetson and Cat hadn’t been dating very long, but they were perfect for each other.
A man