She winced. “Sorry. I got caught up at the Painted Horse. But I’ve been dying to see y’all—and I’m in desperate need of some of Uncle Mike’s special creations.”
“Speaking of specials,” Sam said, his stomach apparently getting the best of him.
Ruby clucked her tongue and told the small group, “It’s folks like you that drove me to toss out the menu. Mike’ll make you anything you want, you know?”
“But what’s the special?” Caleb asked.
Sky laughed. Some things never changed. Her aunt had gone to the trouble and expense of having menus printed up, but when the devoted patronage stepped inside the restaurant and inhaled the evening’s prized dish, they were instantly sold. No need to consult a menu.
Ruby said, in her Saucy! tone, “I’m not even gonna tell you. I know you’re gonna want it anyway, so I’ll just put in the order without you having to waste my time.”
As it was, the place was packed, and more diners filtered into the large entryway. Sky asked, “Are the others here?”
“I’ve got you set up in the corner by the windows.”
“We’ll find our way.” Sky gave her aunt a peck on her plump cheek. “So good to see you.”
“Don’t you dare leave without popping into the kitchen to give Mike a hug.”
“Wouldn’t dream of it. In fact, that’ll be my first stop.”
She left her party and sought out her uncle. After a few minutes of catching up, she returned to the dining room—to the overwhelming greeting of everyone there. She made the rounds, hugs and kisses and all, until she reached the corner where several tables had been pushed together to make a long one that accommodated their group.
Ryan Bain swept her into a tight bear hug that lifted her off the ground a few inches.
“Good Lord,” she said. “How’d you get so big?”
“I eat my veggies.”
He set her on her feet, and she said to his new bride Ginger, “Damn, aren’t you still just the prettiest little thing?” All five-foot-two of her.
“Marriage suits me,” Ginger said with a radiant smile. “You should have seen the dress. Good Lord, I barely made it out the double doors to the event lawn at the inn, my skirt was so full!”
“I bet you were stunning. Sorry I missed the wedding.”
“You were on tour. I understand.”
Still, a hint of regret lingered that she’d missed so much of her friends’ adult lives.
Sky brushed aside the dismay and greeted Jess and George Mills. To Jess, she said, “I swear you’d never guess it by the looks of the reverend’s wife, but Lydia Bain and a pair of scissors is right up there with Michelangelo and a paintbrush. You have the most stylish hair in all of Texas.”
Jess beamed, but said in a conspiratorial tone, “It was touch-and-go there for a while. Lydia and the reverend rode a morality crusade that inadvertently caused some serious hardships in this town, and I had to make a coiffure truce with her, or go all the way to Austin for a cut and color. And you know the stylists in that city are not cheap.”
“Reese told me all about the trouble the Bains caused. I’m so glad they both came around.”
“Thanks to Ginger,” Jess said with notable relief.
Sky moved farther along, to where Jack Wade stood, a cocky grin on his devilishly handsome face.
She said, “Boy, you are one good-looking son of a gun. I can’t believe you got hitched before I came back to town.”
He gave her a tight squeeze, then released her. “Couldn’t wait forever, darlin’.”
She waved a dismissive hand in the air. “I suppose that’s for the best. I hear you found yourself the perfect woman.” Her gaze landed on a striking brunette. “You’re too damn beautiful for this scoundrel.”
Liza laughed. “I like you already.”
They hugged. Sky added, “There’s nothing more heartwarming than seeing good friends happy. And anyone who can keep Jack Wade in line is aces in my book.”