Page 23 of Blame It On Midnight

Benton glanced at the old digital clock on his bedside table. “You’re early.”

Big blue eyes watched him closely. She nodded. “Nora missed her daddy, but I think she missed her bunny even more.”

He smiled at that because Daisy Mae was probably right.

She got up from the cedar chest and walked toward him with slow, deliberate steps. Her scent was a delicate floral, not unlike herself. Waifish, beautiful, with eyes that dominated soft, feminine features, she was the kind of woman who made a man want to protect. And Lord knows he’d tried.

“Bent,” she said, voice husky.

Alarm bells rang somewhere, but he ignored them. Something dark tugged at him. Something hot. God, she looked pretty and small and... well, then he remembered how she was trying to take Nora from him. Remembered that she was living with another man. How she’d hurt and disappointed him in the past. Over and over again.

He was done with all of it.

Maybe his sister was right. Maybe it was time to move on. Try new things.

“What was that?” he asked, because her mouth was moving and he had no idea what she’d just said.

“I was just saying that the church picnic is next week, and I think it would be good for our daughter if we took her together.”

“Won’t Gareth have a problem with that?”

Her expression changed. It was subtle, but he noticed.

“He’s away for business.”

“I wasn’t aware he had a job.”

“Don’t be an asshole.”

“That’s a bad word, mommy.”

They both turned as Nora walked into the room, her beloved rabbit tucked safely against her chest. His heart squeezed at the sight.

“I was just telling your daddy about the church picnic.”

Nora’s little face lit up, and she squealed. “Daddy, can we go? Mommy said that there will be rides and ponies and little cows and cotton candy and?—”

“Hold on, sweets. Take a breath.” His daughter stood at his feet, her sweet face and eyes trained on him with all the intensity a six-year-old had.

“Can we go, Daddy?”

“With me,” Daisy Mae inserted, a slight frown on her face.

“Pretty please?”

“Now, how can I say no when you asked so nicely?” He ruffled her curls and smiled down at her until she skipped out of the room because her bunny needed to eat.

Benton took a moment before he met Daisy Mae’s eyes. “I’ll bring her to town and we can meet up at the church.”

“Not gonna pick me up?” A small smile curved her bottom lip, and he slowly shook his head. Not a chance.

“No,” he replied, nodding toward the door. “Close it behind you.”

Something flashed in her eyes, but she kept her expression neutral. “Can’t we be friends, Benton?”

“I’m not sure.”

She chewed on her bottom lip and then, with a small sigh, headed for the door, where she paused and looked over her shoulder. “I suppose that’s better than nothing. I’ll be in touch.”

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