Beth Sampson could tell the exact moment he walked in. Nothing physical happened. Hairs didn’t stand up on her neck and she didn’t break out in goosebumps, but she knew. It was a strange feeling. Almost as if things that had been wrong were right again. Without letting on to her dance partner that anything had changed, she waited patiently until the slow steps turned her around. When her body was pointed towards the doorway she lifted her eyes and confirmed her suspicion.
Tyler Weston was home.
Her quick glance took in his new look including a brown leather jacket she’d never seen before. He stood just inside the Lonestar Bar and Grill looking around as if he was drinking in the atmosphere. He couldn’t see her, the crowd at the Lonestar Bar and Grill’s annual Christmas party was too thick. The dance floor was packed. She stared at him taking in the new beard and moustache and felt as if she was looking at a stranger. This wasn't the same man who had been her entire world for all twenty six of her years. Well twenty-four anyway. The last two years certainly didn’t count. As she watched she knew it would only take a few minutes for him to find her family and his at their usual table in the back of the room.
She followed her date’s lead and Tyler was out of her sight range. Cole Pritchard pulled her closer against his chest. She looked up at him and he winked. He was a handsome, wonderful man. Any woman would be thrilled to be in his arms. Unfortunately, she felt absolutely nothing but warm friendship for him. No matter how much he tried to change her mind.
The song ended on a resounding chord. Cole kissed her cheek. She forced a bright smile and tried not to pull away.
“How about another drink?” he asked.
She nodded and longed to follow him to the bar, but he expected she’d go to the table with the others. Her stomach churned and her heart raced as she forced herself to walk steadily across the room. Two of her sisters, and all three of Tyler’s brothers, along with several old friends were there. It was definitely a “home for the holidays” moment and she had been enjoying herself. Until now.
Lifting her chin she sank her gaze into Tyler’s back as he stood talking to his oldest brother, Cord. Cord was grinning from ear to ear, his hand clasping Tyler's shoulder as if he needed to touch him. Beth knew how happy he was to have his youngest brother home, even if it was only for a few weeks. Tyler hadn’t just left and broken her heart, he’d also walked away from his family.
She was studying the breadth of his shoulders and his narrow waist when he turned and caught her stare. The brown eyes that used to make her melt faster than snow in Texas bore into her own. Her breath whooshed from her as if she'd fallen out of a tree. Blindly she reached out for the back of the chair in front of her for support. Her lips were dry and she wet them before trying to speak.
“T-T-Tyler,” she began and then swallowed, “Welcome Home.” Her hands clenched the back of the chair tighter willing him not to hug her or worse kiss her cheek like she was an old friend. They weren’t old friends. Friends didn’t do what he did to her.