Page 18 of Blame It On Midnight

Head down, she got to work and though she glanced at the door now and again, Benton didn’t materialize. Probably for the best. He would have been a distraction, and she needed her wits about her. Slinging beer for a bunch of rowdy cowboys wasn’t for the faint of heart.

The evening flew by, and once the last patron was ushered out of the Sundowner, she sat down at the bar and took a swig from the glass of wine she’d poured herself. “Not bad,” she said to Jo, who sat across from her, a tumbler of whiskey in hand.

“Millie Sue keeps a few bottles of the good stuff for the out-of-towners.”

“Speaking of, I didn’t see them leave.”

Jo shrugged. “I think Vivian was tired, and she was the driver. Millie Sue said to thank you and to offer you a job.” Jo cracked a smile. “Kidding, of course, but man, I wish you were a local. You’re a natural.”

“Like I said, I grew up in a family that entertained a lot, and big crowds and loud people don’t scare me. Neither do drunk men.”

“Well, thanks for jumping in tonight. I’ll send your tips to wherever you’re staying tomorrow.”

“Duffer’s Place.”

“What?” Jo grabbed a rag and wiped down the bar top.

“I’m staying there for a while.”

Jo frowned. “I thought you’d be at Ivy’s.”

Collins didn’t reply to the question, instead, she had one of her own. “Are you serious about looking for help?”

“Dead serious.” She frowned. “Why?”

“I’m interested.”

“You don’t need the money, so why would you want to work in a bar?” Jo was confused.

“You’re right about that, so you can donate my wages and tips to the local food bank. But the thing is, I’ve decided to stay in Big Bend for a while. I’m not sure how long exactly, but I had fun tonight, and since you need the help I’m offering. It’s as simple as that.”

Jo’s frown deepened. She folded the cloth in her hand and placed it on the counter. “I’d need you Wednesday, Thursday, and Saturday nights.”

“I can make that work.”

Jo’s expression changed, and she reached for her whiskey. “Does this have something to do with Benton Bridgestone?”

Shit. Collins could deny it, but what was the point? “How’d you figure that out?”

Jo’s smile widened. “I saw him leave, and then you bolted like a bat out of hell. When you came back inside, you had a look about you.”

“A look.”

Jo nodded. “Like you’d just played tongue tag with one of the hottest men in Big Bend.”

Collins didn’t know what to say to that. She felt her cheeks burn and hot, glanced down.

“I bet he’s real good.”

Collins yanked up her head, and when she saw the sly smile on Jo’s face, she could only nod her head. “I’ve never been kissed like that before.”

“You guys know each other, I presume?”

“We met in Nashville a few months back and I…” There was no point in playing coy now. “I had the best night of my life with him. He’s the reason I came to Big Bend. I needed him to know how I felt, and I had to find out if he felt the same.”

“Does he?”

She touched her bottom lip and smiled. “Pretty sure he does.”

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