Page 15 of Conner's Choice
“A bonus,” Allen explained. “You gave our daughter and her fiancé a fabulous engagement party, and we wanted to show our appreciation.”
“Thank you, Mr. Allen. That’s very kind of you.”
“You deserve it. Good night, Mrs. Warner.”
“Good night.”
Elizabeth followed Conner’s advice and waited until Lexi left the Grand before she headed toward her car. As she crossed the parking lot, Conner and Christian flanked her.
“You guys are too much. I’m perfectly safe.”
Conner took her elbow. “Don’t make assumptions, Elizabeth.”
When they reached her car, he took her keys, unlocked it for her, and he and Christian checked the front and back seats.
“All clear,” Christian declared.
Conner handed Elizabeth her keys and murmured, “I’m about to say something, and I hope you don’t think I’m crossing the line, but you look beautiful tonight.”
Strands of her dark hair had fallen loose from her French twist, and Conner gently tucked them behind her ears. One hand cupped the side of her face. “Really beautiful.” His eyes focused on her bottom lip.
Shocked by the expression on his face, the touch of his hand, and the feelings rushing through her, Elizabeth could only stare at him, her lips parted in an unconscious invitation.
As Conner lowered his head to answer that unspoken invitation, Christian intervened. “Con, it’s late,” he reminded his best friend, “and Elizabeth has an hour’s drive ahead of her.”
Conner dropped his hand from her face and backed away from her. “Drive safely, Elizabeth, and text me as soon as you arrive at your parents’ house.”
“Will do,” she promised, her voice a husky whisper. “Thanks, guys. Good night.”
As she pulledout of the parking lot, Conner turned toward Christian. “Thanks, man. I was about to do something stupid.”
Christian clasped his shoulder. “Yeah, I recognized the ‘I’m about to do something stupid’ look on your face.”
“I think I’m drunk.”
“You should have stopped when I told you to. Come on. You can sleep it off at my place. Just don’t puke on my hardwood floors,” he joked, recalling Conner’s admonition two months ago.
Conner shot him a look. “Unlike you, Chris, I can hold my liquor.”
“Not according to Surfer. He caught you throwing up in the bushes outside Stanford Hall a few times and threatened to tell your parents.”
“That was then. I’m a grown man now. I can drink you under the table anytime,” Conner bragged.
Christian laughed. “Whatever you say, Con-Man.”
Elizabeth didn’t relaxuntil she pulled into the driveway of her parents’ half-a-million-dollar home in an upper-class neighborhood of Colorado Springs. It was slightly after eleven o’clock. She sent Conner a quick text.
Elizabeth:I’m here.
Conner:Hey, it’s Chris. Conner is indisposed. I’ll give him the message.
She chuckled. She’d smelled alcohol on him when he leaned down to kiss her. Perhaps that’s what prompted his boldness.
Elizabeth:Please do. Tell him I’ll talk to him tomorrow.
Conner:Ok.
Elizabeth sighed with relief when she slid her key into the front door. A dim light glowed in the living room, and she called softly, “Mom? Dad? I’m home.”
