Page 44 of Slumming It

But Reese Murdock did none of these things.

I watched in open-mouthed disbelief as the vehicle pulled slowly away, easing forward as if the driver were exiting a church parking lot after Sunday service. My mouth remained open as the vehicle grew smaller in the distance and disappeared around the bend.

Seriously?In the crisp autumn air, my face burned like a flaming sundress as I stood there staring at the now-empty road.

And those shorts werestillriding up my ass.

Terrific.

But at least I had my cellphone. And I knew exactly who to call, assuming it came to that. I mean, there was as leastsomechance that Reese Murdock would change his mind and turn around.Right?

Wrong.

Ten long minutes later, I clutched my cellphone a little tighter as I asked, "You'rewhere?"

My mom laughed. "At a hotel in Livonia. Your dad and I both are. Can you believe it?"

Oh, crap."Um…no, actually."Livonia was what? Four hours south of here?"So, what's going on? You're on vacation?"

"Don't sound so shocked," she laughed. "Wehavetaken them before, you know."

Sure. Ages ago.But I didn't say this out loud because it was actually kind of depressing. For years now, arthritis had beenslowly eating away at my dad's left hip. The past few months had been particularly bad, and he was finding it difficult to work.

He needed to have the hip replaced, but first, he needed the money for health insurance, which was nearly impossible to afford with him working limited hours and my mom's online craft store going belly up just last month.

So my dad had been hobbling along, putting off the surgery month after month – even as he started needing a cane to get around. Between this and the resulting money problems, it had been forever since my parents had taken a real vacation.

No wonder my mom was excited.

As she starting telling me about the hotel, I didn't have the heart to interrupt her, much less give her a reason to worry by telling her why I'd called.

So, instead, I kept my mouth shut and eyes open as I considered who I should call next. It couldn't be Vivian – not this time – but I did have three brothers. One of them would surely come if I asked.

After all, I was no hitch-hiker, and I didn't plan on becoming one any time soon. Besides, even if Iwerethat desperate, my odds of hitching a ride weren't terrific, considering that not a single vehicle had passed since I'd left the jerkwad's car.

As my mom chatted happily away, I tried to look on the bright side. Maybe the lack of vehicles was agoodthing. The last thing I wanted now was to be seen in my current state. Not only was I dressed like a lusty bumpkin, I looked like a total dumb-ass, considering that I wore no coat.

The warmth in my face had already faded, leaving it just as cold as the rest of me. I stifled a shiver as my mom described the hotel's breakfast buffet which included champagne cocktails and omelets made to order.

Now that I thought about it, shedidsound a little tipsy – and not from the omelets. If I weren't stranded on the roadside,I would've loved every minute of this conversation. The way my mom talked, she was having the time of her life.

Iwasn't.

As further proof of my own stupidity, I'd waited too long before making the call. But that's what I got for thinking that Reese Murdock might actually return.

Asshole.

It didn't help that my first choice for a ride was currently four hours away. Knowing my mom, she would still come and get me, even if she had to drive eight hours round-trip.

But waiting was no kind of option, and besides, I would never ask such a thing. In fact, I was now determined to act like everything was just peachy to avoid ruining her fun.

With my cellphone pressed to my ear, I started walking – if only to get warm – as I mentally rehearsed all of the rude things I would say to Reese Murdock if I ever saw him again. Or maybe I would just stuff his pillowcase with dog poop and call it good.

I did have a key to his room, after all.The jerk.He wouldn't smell so sexy afterthat, would he?

On the phone, my mom suddenly stopped talking.

My steps faltered, and I tried to think.Had she asked me a question?If she had, I had totally missed it.