Cold Highway: Ellie Kline Series: Book Four

by Stone, Mary

  The leather seat hugged his body as he settled in and turned on the engine. The Bluetooth connected with his phone automatically and he scrolled through the in-dash contacts list, stopping on Ellie’s name.

  He wanted to tell her about the Mount Pleasant property. His thumb hovered over the call button on his steering wheel as he sat in the parking space with his engine running, unsure of his next move.

  Was it too soon?

  They’d broken up the week before, but this was different from other people’s breakups. Through all their ups and downs, he and Ellie had remained close friends, and she had been happy for him when they spoke about his new project before. One phone call couldn’t hurt, could it?

  With a frustrated groan, he scrolled upward and away from Ellie’s contact listing. No, they were over for good, and it was unfair of him to expect her to be ready to chat like old friends right now. He’d give her another week then text her, leaving the next move up to her. That was the right thing to do. Giving her space to heal was what a good friend would do.

  Backing out of the space, he decided to use his drive to get another uncomfortable conversation out of the way. There was something about being in the car and on the road that made him feel insulated from the outside world.

  Scrolling again, he found the number he was looking for and pushed the select button before he could change his mind. His hands gripped the steering wheel a little too tightly while the phone rang through his car’s audio system.

  A familiar voice finally picked up, and Nick braced himself for what he knew was going to be the most difficult conversation he’d had in a while. With no other choice, he plowed ahead, committed to getting the conversation over with. He needed to focus on his own business now, and his father needed to let go.

  “Dad, we need to talk about the business.”

  12

  Ellie pulled up in her parents’ circular driveway, stopping her Q3 just past the wide staircase leading up to the double front doors. She took a deep, calming breath and let it out, put the vehicle in park, and shut off the engine.

  “You might as well get it over with.” Jillian pushed the passenger door open with her good arm, her other arm still in a sling. Hurrying around to Jillian’s side of the car, Ellie offered her friend help, but Jillian waved her away with a scowl. “It’s just my arm. I can get my own door.”

  Ellie held up her hands. “I’m just trying to be nice.”

  “I feel better than I have in a long time. I promise if I need help, I’ll ask.”

  Shrugging, Ellie moved toward the staircase. “Fair enough.” When Jillian didn’t follow her immediately, she paused, her hand on the railing, one foot on the first step. “What’s wrong?”

  “Nothing. I just wanted to ask you before we got to the door, what your plan is. Are you going to tell them about Nick?”

  “I have to. They’re going to wonder why he isn’t here.”

  “He wasn’t here last week, was he?”

  Ellie shook her head. “No, but neither were we. My mother probably assumed he was helping me take care of you.”

  Jillian wrinkled her nose. “I like how you used me as an excuse.”

  “I didn’t know what else to tell them, to be honest.”

  “It’s okay, really.” She gave a little nervous laugh. “If Helen was my mother, I wouldn’t want to tell her I broke up with golden boy Nick Greene either.”

  “He broke up with me.”

  “If you want to see it that way, sure.” Jillian waved a hand. “Seemed mutual to me, but that’s just my opinion.”

  Ellie frowned, but the gesture felt more like a pout than anything, so she straightened up her face right away. “We’ve broken up before, but this time feels different. I don’t have a plan for dealing with my parents, but I have to tell them.” Ellie’s stomach clenched at the thought. “Tonight.”

  Jillian paused, an expression of concern replacing the impish smile. “You thought you’d make up before now, didn’t you?”

  Ellie started to argue, but clamped her mouth shut and nodded. “I did. We always have before. We had a fight. Couples fight, and they move past it.”

  Jillian’s hazel eyes assessed her. “Not always.”

  “I know.” She let out a long sigh, trotting up the steps to get in front of Jillian so she could open the door for her friend. “If I’m being honest with myself, I knew it was over between us when he showed up last week.” Her hand wrapped around the ornate door handle, but she stopped, her throat tightening. She shook her head. “I was fooling myself. The sooner I get this over with, the better. I’ve been dreading Sunday dinner all week.”

  “Not me.” Jillian licked her lips dramatically, clutching the rail as she did a fake swoon. “There’s nothing like Sunday dinner at the Kline house. If we ever break up, I’m going to keep coming over.”

  Ellie snorted, covering her mouth as laughter bubbled up and chased away the tears that had threatened. “You’re ridiculous.”

  “I made you laugh, didn’t I?” Jillian continued up the stairs. “It’s nice to see you smile. You’ll get through this, and you’ll find the right man for you. One who isn’t intimidated by your intensity and really gets you. Nick is a good guy, but not everyone is cut out to be a law enforcement spouse. If you have to change who you are to make a relationship work, it’s not the right relationship.”

  “You sound like Jacob.”

  “Then he must be right.” Jillian gestured toward the door and inhaled deeply. “Quit stalling. Let’s get this over with. I can already smell what the chef is cooking.”

  “I can see where your priorities are.”

  Jillian beamed at Ellie. “If you’re surprised, you haven’t been paying attention.”

  They were laughing as they made their way through the grand foyer and into the formal dining room. Helen was already at the table with her husband, heads close together as they chatted in soft voices.

  Ellie sighed and glanced at Jillian. “That’s what I want in life.”

  Jillian nodded, her gaze on Ellie’s parents with their hands intertwined under the table. “A love like that is worth the wait.”

  The words hit her hard, but something inside her broke loose. Suddenly, the dread that had lingered all day faded. Jillian was right. Her relationship with Nick hadn’t been right for either of them. There was nothing wrong with acknowledging that and moving on, before they wasted any more time.

  Pushing her shoulders back and lifting her chin, Ellie strode over to her parents and sat down across from them.

  Helen smiled warmly, but she was also looking over Ellie’s shoulder. “Where’s Nick, dear?”

  Ellie forced a pleasant smile. “I’m not really sure. Probably busy with his new property investment partnership with Paul Strong.”

  Daniel sat up a little straighter. “Paul is back in the game? I didn’t realize he was branching out. Good for him. Nick is learning from the best. What a fantastic opportunity.”

  “That’s wonderful.” Helen clapped her hands together with a brilliant smile. “You must be so proud.”

  “I am. Having something of his own to put his energy into will be good for him.”

  The smile slid from Helen’s face. “I’m not sure I like the way that sounded.”

  Ellie lifted one shoulder as she took a handful of grapes from the platter of fresh fruit and cheese and tossed one into her mouth. By the time Ellie finished chewing, Helen had her hands on her hips, scowling at her daughter.

  Might as well get this over with.

  Breaking the news as gently as she could, she kept her voice soft. “We decided things weren’t working out between us. We’re still friends, and once we’ve both had time to adjust to how our relationship has changed, he’ll be back at Sunday dinner if you’ll have him. But for now, we’re both working on our own projects.”

  Helen remained silent for a long time, her lips pinched into a straight line as she studied her daughter. Finally, she shook her head and ble
w out a breath so hard her bangs lifted from her forehead. “Honestly, it’s his loss. He had a good thing, and he was so upset about the incident with that girl…” Helen waved her hand in the air, searching for the name.

  “Valerie?” Ellie offered.

  “Yes, Valerie. He didn’t seem to understand why that one woman was so important that you would risk your life. I wasn’t thrilled that you put yourself in harm’s way for a stranger, but I understood why you did it.”

  Ellie recoiled a little. “I didn’t realize you knew about that. Did he talk to you about it?”

  Helen waved her hand in a flippant gesture. “Please. I’m your mother. Nothing happens in this life I don’t notice. He quit coming around shortly after you got involved in protecting Valerie, and he was a bit aloof when we saw him at the children’s hospital ball.” Helen snapped her mouth shut, her eyes widening dramatically. “Seeing him at charity events is going to be quite awkward for a while, Eleanor. Maybe it’s best if you don’t attend for a little while. People are going to talk, you know.”

  Ellie clenched her jaw, trying hard not to laugh. “Mom, you don’t think I care what anyone says about me, do you?”

  “I suppose not.” Helen’s mouth tipped up into a smile that was more genuine than her typical movie-star-perfect one. “They’ll probably be so happy he’s a bachelor, they won’t care why.” A laugh escaped Helen’s lips. “Can you imagine how ridiculous it will be, having the women who’ve been pining for him throw themselves at him now that he’s a single man? Of course, those vapid debutantes don’t hold a candle to you, but he couldn’t handle you anyway.”

  Ellie’s mouth went slack. “Wow. I didn’t know you felt that way about, well, any of this. I’m glad to know you’re on my side.”

  “There are no sides.” Helen gave a flip of her wrist. “You’re our daughter, and no matter how good a family he comes from, the bottom line is if he doesn’t support your career and share in your passions, then he’s simply not good enough for you.”

  Daniel nodded, silently agreeing with his wife. She finally paused long enough for him to speak, and he said, “Strong women like you and your mother are a gift. Nick wasn’t worthy. Better to find that out now than down the road.”

  The tension melted from Ellie’s body. Her parents’ reactions were touching, and more than a little surprising. After years of pushing an engagement between her and Nick, Ellie had expected them to be disappointed at the news.

  “I’m relieved to hear you say that. I don’t know what the future holds or if we’ll work things out like we have before. But the most important thing is your support.”

  “Their support in what?” Wes, her twenty-two-year-old brother, walked into the dining room, followed closely by older brothers Dan Jr. and Blake. Of all her siblings, she and Wes looked the most alike, sharing their auburn locks and green eyes. Wes was the comic relief of the family, Blake and Dan Jr. both so serious that they barely tolerated their younger brother.

  “Nick and I broke up.” Ellie stiffened, bracing herself for more questions.

  The three brothers traded glances, and Wes rolled his eyes. “It’s about damn time. No offense, sis, but Nick wasn’t half the man you deserve. Good guy, though. I hope you let him down easy.”

  A twinge of pain shot through her, but Ellie forced a smile. She’d decided against sharing that, technically, Nick had broken up with her. At this point, it didn’t matter, and dinner was going to be uncomfortable enough without having to talk Wes out of confronting Nick for breaking his sister’s heart.

  “The decision was mutual. We talked about it, and we both agreed that the relationship wasn’t working for either of us.”

  Wes winked at her. “Way to be gentle with the man’s heart. I’m sure he’s crushed.”

  Me too.

  Ellie didn’t give voice to the thought. Her elation over her family’s unwavering support had given way to a wave of grief, the empty chair beside hers almost too much to bear. She nodded, forcing a smile. “Life goes on. I’m sure we’ll both be fine.”

  “I’m sure you will,” Helen agreed.

  Jillian took a seat to Ellie’s right, but instead of sitting across from her, Wes sat in the chair on Ellie’s left, where Nick once sat. The staff appeared with dishes of food, hot from the kitchen, serving with the precision of a choreographed dance. In the flurry of activity, Wes took Ellie’s hand under the table and gave her fingers a quick squeeze. She met his gaze and promptly turned away. He held her hand for a moment longer, then elbowed her playfully.

  “Thank you,” she whispered as serving spoons clinked against china plates.

  “Any time, sis.”

  Ellie inhaled the rich aroma of slow-roasted meat and grilled vegetables, her growling stomach distracting her from the sadness that had settled on her heart. Conversation rose and fell around her in an easy cadence, as if her family sensed what Ellie needed most was for dinner to be normal while she worked through her complicated feelings.

  Jillian caught her eye, smiling as she stabbed a sweet potato wedge with her fork. When the morsel touched her tongue, she closed her eyes and gave a soft moan. Dabbing her mouth with the linen napkin from her lap, she said, “I told you dinner was going to be delicious. We really need to talk about a personal chef for our apartment.”

  Wes choked on his water, shooting a glance at Jillian. “Don’t hold your breath on that one. Ellie insists she is more than capable of cooking at home.”

  “Capable is a far cry from being a master chef.” Jillian laughed at her own joke. “I’m kidding. Ellie’s cooking isn’t half bad, but this is heaven on a fork, and I need more of this nirvana in my life.”

  “I’d be happy to hire you a part-time chef, Eleanor, if you’d like.” Helen beamed, eager for any way to treat her only daughter to the life of luxury she was accustomed to.

  Ellie was already shaking her head. “No. Thank you. If Jillian wants gourmet cooking, we’ll take a class or something.”

  Five pairs of eyes went to Jillian, forks frozen in midair.

  Jillian shrugged her one good shoulder. “It was worth a shot.”

  Wes was the first to laugh, breaking up the tension and setting the conversation back to its easy rhythm again. If anyone was thinking about Ellie’s breakup, they hid it well.

  By the time dessert was served, Ellie’s pain had faded to a dull ache, and she found herself looking forward to parts of the single life. Trying to work Nick into her busy schedule outside their regular dinners at the Kline house had started to take a toll on her, which she hadn’t realized until her schedule was wide-open. There was no need for excuses, avoided calls, or texts left unanswered. Their relationship had ended months earlier, it had just taken both Nick and Ellie a little longer to see it.

  Maybe a cooking class wasn’t a bad idea. Ellie made a mental note to find a class. With so much time on her hands, Jillian had become more and more antsy. Getting out and having a goal would be good for her, and a welcome distraction for Ellie. It was a win-win.

  After dessert, Wes walked them to Ellie’s SUV, holding his elbow out for Jillian, who slipped her arm around his with a smile. Wes opened Jillian’s door and helped her in, then went around to Ellie’s side and leaned in the open window. His smile sobered when their eyes met, his usually lighthearted attitude replaced with a more serious air. “Are you all right?”

  Ellie nodded. “My heart hurts, but I’ll be okay.”

  “If you need anything, let me know.”

  “I will, Wes. Thanks.”

  “Of course. You might be my older sister, but I’m not above stepping in if someone needs their attitude adjusted.” Jillian huffed from the passenger seat, turning away when Wes glared at her. “I’m serious.”

  “I know. I promise, if I need you, I’ll call.”

  Wes kissed her cheek, stepped back, and waved as she drove off.

  “He means well.” Hot tears suddenly welled in her eyes. “Dammit.” She swiped them away with the back of
her sleeve. Biting down on her lip, she tried to focus on the road ahead of her.

  “I know what you need.” Jillian shifted in her seat until she was facing Ellie.

  “What’s that?” Ellie sniffed, wiping away fresh tears.

  “Ice cream and a movie night. One with a twisty plot.”

  Ellie chuckled through the tears. “I’m not sure how much that will help, but I’m always up for a good mystery.”

  13

  Ellie was dragging when she finally turned her key in the lock on her apartment door late Monday afternoon. Pushing the door with her foot, she yelped, “No!” at Sam, who skidded to a stop mid run, whimpering as she sat on her rump just inside the doorway.

  “Good dog.” Ellie patted Sam’s head on her way to the living room, unloading the laptop bag on the low coffee table in front of the sofa as Jillian’s perky nurse cleared out. She plopped down beside Jillian, careful not to bump her friend.

  “You look like hell.”

  “Could be worse, I guess.” Ellie yanked on the hair tie holding the end of her tight French braid and sighed as she unwove the strands with her fingers. “Have Mondays gotten longer?”

  Jillian snorted and leaned back against the sofa. “You should try being stuck here all day. I’m not going to last another month.”

  “I don’t know how you’ve lasted this long.” Ellie stood, kicking her shoes off and across the entryway so they landed beside Jillian’s shoes near the door. “Want a drink?”

  “Water. I’m not allowed to have anything stronger with my meds.”