Page 21 of Blame It On Midnight

“I didn’t know who she was?—”

“How could you not know who Collins Lafferty is? Not only is her face everywhere, but she was here last Christmas. In your house. At your dinner table.”

“There were a lot of folks at my place over the holidays and I don’t pay attention to that other shit. I don’t read magazines, and in Nashville, she wasn’t wearing makeup. Her hair was down, and I don’t know…it was dark in the bar.” It sounded lame, even to his own ear.

“God, men are dumb.”

“Hey,” Dallas dropped a kiss onto his wife’s cheek. “Don’t lump me in with your brother.”

“Do you want to hear the story or not?” Annoyed, Benton got to his feet and walked to the edge of the deck.

“Damn right I do,” Vivian replied.

Benton looked up at the sky and wondered why he’d opened this particular can of worms. No way he could close it now.

“Like I said, I ended up in a bar, and she walked in and sat down. We got to talking and the next thing I know we’re back at a condo and uh…”

“You didn’t.” Vivian’s eyes were huge.

“I think he did, honey.” Dallas flashed a grin.

“It was supposed to be anonymous. A one-night stand in a town neither of us was from.”

“Except it didn’t stay that way.” Vivian leaned forward, clearly invested.

“She showed up here yesterday and, well, I’m not sure how to handle things. She’s a bit of a firecracker and seems to have a problem with the word, no.”

Vivian glanced from him to her husband. “If you’re not interested in Collins Lafferty, then tell her. But if you are, then why the hell are you standing on my deck when you could be getting busy with the most popular, famous model in the world? That’s some kind of flex you’re not taking advantage of.”

“I’m not saying I’m not interested, but…” He swore and looked away.

Vivian slipped off Dallas’s lap and walked over to him. She stood by his side, her shoulder touching his, and then bumped him. “Talk to me, Benton. What is it about this woman that’s got you all tied up in knots?”

He gave her a dark look. “I’m not tied up in knots. I’m just…”

“Just what?”

“She’s too young. Hell, I bet she’s barely twenty-five.”

“Benton, that girl don’t look or act twenty-five. I think you’re good there.” Dallas was on his feet now and joined his wife.

“It’s not just her age. It’s the rest of it. She’s not from here, so she won’t be sticking around longer than it takes for her to get bored playing with a cowboy. Then there’s Nora. I have to think about her. I don’t want to introduce some woman into the picture when she’s not going to be around.” He sighed. “With Daisy Mae and our situation, I’m spread real thin.”

“You deserve to be happy,” Vivian said, linking her arm through his.

“Deserving something doesn’t mean it’s owed to me.”

“You like this woman.”

He glanced down at his sister and considered an answer. He wanted Collins. But he didn’t know her well enough to know whether he liked or disliked her.

“He wants sex, Vivian.” Dallas looked at his wife and raised his eyebrows.

“I don’t know,” Vivian replied, turning to Benton. “I think this is more than just sex.”

“Look, whatever it is, can’t happen. I told her a much but she’s so damn stubborn it doesn’t matter.”

“So you pushed her away and she’s not listening,” Vivian said slowly.

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