Free Randall Pride by Judy Christenberry Page B

snugly.
    “Damn, are you trying to drive men crazy, tempting them?” he demanded, moving forward to take hold of her again.
    She struck at his hands, turned and left the dance floor.
    Toby swore he’d never understand women, but he followed her through the crowd, ignoring those whohadn’t spoken to him yet and wanted him to stop a minute.
    When he finally reached the table, his cousin Russ was sitting there, talking to Abby and Elizabeth.
    “Hey, Toby, did you notice they refinished the dance floor?” Russ asked. “It’s nice, isn’t it?”
    Toby stared at him. “No. I didn’t notice.”
    “He’s too busy trying to run everyone’s lives,” Elizabeth put in. “He thinks I should join a nunnery.”
    Abby stared at him. “Why?”
    Russ, too, seemed dumbfounded. “Yeah, why?”
    “I just thought she ought to give herself time to—to adjust to—she had a tough time last night!”
    “Toby, I’m not fragile. And I won’t let Cleve make me afraid of my own shadow.”
    “Not afraid, honey, but a little slower to get back to the water trough.” Toby thought he’d put that delicately enough. But apparently Elizabeth didn’t.
    She glared at him. “If you’re going to sit at our table, stay out of my business.”
    Since Joe, with the new music starting, appeared at her side, she said nothing else until she’d stood and taken Joe’s hand. “You’ll excuse me, won’t you, Toby?”
    He saw the line drawn in the sand. “Sure. You two enjoy yourselves. I’ll wait right here.”
    And that was where he drew his own line.

Chapter Seven
    Elizabeth had always seen Toby as her hero, her protector, her…whatever. She wasn’t feeling quite so appreciative now. By the time the evening ended, she was ready to slug him if he even spoke to her.
    She’d never danced so much in her life, but she accepted every invitation just to show Toby Randall he couldn’t run her life. So it was his fault she thought she was rubbing a blister with her new boots.
    “Finally ready to go?” Toby asked, glaring at her, his hands on his hips. “Or did you want to spend the night here?”
    “What difference does it make to you? You have your truck. You can go home whenever.”
    “Come on, Lizzie,” Caroline intervened. “You know he’s trying to take care of you. Give him a break.”
    “It’s amazing how I managed the past six years while he was away earning fame and fortune, hanging out with all those models!”
    Russ and Abby left the dance floor as the last songended and arrived at the table. “Ready to go?” Russ asked.
    “I think so if we can get these two to stop fighting,” Caroline said with a chuckle. “Maybe I’ll ride with you so they can sort things out.”
    Elizabeth wasn’t about to agree to that. But she didn’t have a good reason until Russ called good-night to someone named Bill. This nudged her memory about the job with Bill Johnson. She couldn’t believe she’d forgotten to tell Russ at once to call the accountant.
    “Oh! Oh, Russ I have to talk to you. You come ride with me and Toby can see Caroline home.” She assumed they’d all agree and started toward the door.
    “Ride with my brother?” Caroline protested. “He’ll give me the third degree!”
    “I’m serious,” Elizabeth promised her cousin. “I was supposed to have Russ call—call someone. I promise.”
    Caroline accepted her excuse and managed to get them all outside to the vehicles. Toby stared at Elizabeth as she slipped behind the wheel.
    “We’ll follow you,” he growled, as if he expected her to run away from home.
    “Right,” she agreed and shut the door. But she couldn’t leave yet. Russ was saying goodbye to Abby. Elizabeth frowned. She’d thought Abby was interested in Toby, but after initially greeting him, Abby hadn’t paid much attention to him tonight. Of course,who would? He’d been a real bear. He hadn’t danced even once after he’d interrupted her dance with Joe.
    Russ opened the door and slid in.