Her Unlikely Family Read Free Page B

back.”
    â€œCould he have come back for Lisa today?”
    â€œWell, she was here at dinnertime. But she lit out once she saw you.”
    He breathed in through his nose, trying to control the urge to yell. “You mean to tell me she was at the diner, and while you chatted and stalled, she snuck away again?”
    â€œNo, I—Do you think she could have gotten to that town in Georgia in the three hours since you got here?”
    â€œI have no idea.”
    She clicked her fingernails on the leather interior, then opened her door. “Let me run and get a phone directory, then make some calls.”
    He reached over her to close the door. “Wait just a moment.”
    Josie, who’d been jerking him around all evening, was trying to make an awfully sudden exit. And now she acted as if she feared Lisa had run away again? Well, he would bet the last dollar in Throckmorton’s Bank that Lisa wasn’t in Georgia with her car.
    â€œI want you to tell me the truth, and tell me right now,” he said.
    â€œI have told you the truth. She’s most likely still here. Then again, I’m not positive.” She reached for the door handle. “Let me try to find her and talk her into meeting with you.”
    â€œNo. You’ve had your chance. Tell me where to look.”
    â€œCome on, Mike, I promised her. You’re putting me in a tough position.”
    â€œIf you think you’re in a tough position now, wait until I have you arrested for kidnapping.”

Chapter Two
    T hink, Josie, think.
    Mike looked so imposing in the dimly lit car. All angles and shadows. If she hadn’t heard from his niece that he was a law-abiding citizen, she would be pulling out her pepper spray right about now.
    She forced a carefree laugh. “Kidnapping? Now you’re being ridiculous.”
    â€œI’m dead serious. You’re keeping a minor away from her legal guardian.”
    â€œOkay, I admit I was uncooperative at first. But she’d told me she was eighteen. And, for the record, I didn’t have anything to do with her sneaking out of the diner this evening.”
    With his dark brows drawn together, he glared at her. “You could have told me as soon as you noticed her missing.”
    â€œShe’s not necessarily missing. She said something about having plans tonight. I imagine she’ll show up later either here or at my house.”
    â€œShe knows where you live? Let’s go check there.”
    Josie tentatively touched his forearm, surprised at the warmth against her cold fingers. “I can’t betray her. I promised I’d protect her from you.”
    â€œProtect?” He jerked his arm away. “What on earth did she tell you? That I beat her?”
    Josie hesitated.
    â€œCome on. I would never do a thing to hurt Lisa. I just want her safely at school.”
    â€œMike, she’ll come around eventually. But right now you need to do what’s best for Lisa.”
    â€œI know what’s best for my own niece.”
    â€œI’m not so sure about that.” Before he could argue, she said, “I need time to talk her into meeting with you. Promise me you won’t ambush her, or she may truly run again.”
    He gripped the steering wheel so tightly it was a wonder it didn’t bend. He shook his head and exhaled. “Why are you doing this for a runaway teenager—a stranger?”
    â€œBecause I was in her shoes once.”
    â€œYou ran away?” he said as if surprised.
    â€œYep. Twice.”
    â€œDid your parents find you?”
    â€œThey did the first time. The second time, I had just graduated from high school, so they didn’t do anything about it.”
    As he digested her story, she relaxed against the seat and said, “I guess I should head home and wait. Lisa has about two hours before her midnight curfew.”
    â€œCurfew? Is she living with you?”
    Forget relaxing. She had almost let that