Page 40 of Blame It On Midnight

“Calm down,” Collins teased.

Ivy blew out a long breath and giggled. “I’m calm. Now spill.”

“Kip never said anything?”

Ivy shook her head.

Her brother was a vault. She wasn’t surprised. “I met Benton a few months back.”

“Where?” Ivy frowned. “You’ve only been to Big Bend once, and that was last Christmas.”

“Nashville.”

“Cal’s concert.” Ivy pushed up her glasses. “I don’t remember seeing you there.”

“I didn’t go to the concert, but I ran into Benton at a bar and…well, we had a night.”

Ivy’s eyes widened. “So you two…”

“Yes.”

Ivy glanced over Collins’ shoulder and then whispered. “So, how was he? I mean, I’ve heard things about him and you know, always wondered.” She giggled, clearly enjoying the thought of Benton and Collins together.

“Well, if the things you heard made it seem like he knows his way around a woman, then they’d be right.”

“Jesus. Don’t tell Mike Paul, but I had a crush on him when I was in high school.” She frowned. “Pretty sure every girl did. Cal was hot, though he was always like a brother to me, but not Benton.” Her eyes widened comically. “He was intense.”

“I don’t think he’s outgrown that phase.”

“And you two are…”

“We’re figuring it out.”

“I’m happy for you then.” Ivy hugged her. “He’s had a tough time lately, you know? He had an accident a few years ago and it took some time for his recovery, and now with all the custody stuff, well, it can’t be easy for him.”

Uncomfortable with the direction of their conversation, Collins said nothing.

“Speak of the devil,” Ivy murmured.

Collins turned and spied a woman standing next to Benton. His head was lowered, like he was listening intently to what she was saying. She was petite, with golden skin that looked great in a baby blue, strapless dress cut at mid-thigh. Her hair was long, blond, and curly, and her profile showed lovely bone structure.

The woman nodded, then glanced over to Nora, giving Collins a view of a very pretty face, with big eyes that matched her dress. Nora looked so much like her that there could be no mistake, and yet she found herself asking.

“Is that?”

“Yeah.” Ivy sighed. “Daisy Mae and Benton go way back, but a lot of it wasn’t good. She’s had some issues, but is working on fixing them.”

Collins’ heart took a tumble when Nora ran over to her mother and gave the woman a big hug. They looked like a family. An attractive, happy family.

She could hear Nora’s excited chatter, but wasn’t prepared for the girl to point her way. Daisy Mae glanced over to her and Ivy, and the woman’s face froze into a smile that was as frosty as a northern wind.

“Shit,” Ivy muttered. “Here comes the boyfriend. I think his name is Mason or Mark, or something like that.”

A man approached, holding two drinks. He handed one to Daisy Mae, then stood awkwardly off to the side.

“Complicated situation,” Ivy said.

“Yes.”

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