Page 46 of Blame It On Midnight

“Well, I’ve got a bunch of things to get done today, so I’ll head up to my room. Have a great day, everyone.”

“Nice meeting you,” Bunny replied. “Maybe I’ll get to meet your cowboy.”

“Let her be.” David shook his head and reached for his coffee cup. “You’ll have to excuse my sister, but she’s obsessed with romance.”

“It’s okay,” Collins replied. “So am I.”

Collins spent the rest of the morning and afternoon doing the things women do to make themselves feel beautiful. She had a long shower, exfoliated her skin, then slathered on an expensive cream she’d bought in Paris. She applied a mask to her hair and painted her toenails. She shaved all the things that needed shaving and took her time blowing out her hair until it shone and fell past her shoulders in a perfect, silken line. She applied her makeup carefully, using all the tricks she’d learned from the top makeup artists in the world, and when she was done, she stood back and studied the reflection in the mirror.

The face that stared at her was the same one she’d been looking at her entire life. Same nose. Same mouth. Same cheeks and jawline. And yet, there were subtle differences. Her eyes popped. Her mouth glistened. Her skin glowed. It wasn’t just the makeup. It was a state of being.

She was completely and utterly happy. Excited. Blissful was another good word to describe how she felt. She was also one thousand percent in love with Benton Bridgestone. She knew this. Would stand on the mountain and shout it if she could. It’s why she’d come to Montana in the first place. Yet seeing him the day before with his daughter, watching how this larger than life man treated his child with gentle hands…Hell, her ovaries exploded. Her heart expanded. Like the hopeless romantic she was, Collins could envision her future with him. Could see the children they’d make. The life they’d have.

All of which meant that she may or may not be in over her head because life wasn’t a romance novel. Not everyone found their happy ever after. She would guess it was a good number of folks that settled for what felt okay and safe. They accepted a life that wasn’t big or grand, but one that was quiet and stable.

There’s nothing wrong with that, she thought. But I want more. I want a big life. The problem was, she couldn’t see past Benton. He was her big life, and if this didn’t work out, what then?

Collins banished the negativity. She wouldn’t contemplate a bad ending. Because he did kiss like a tornado. She smiled. And I’m his storm.

By now, it was after three o’clock. She quickly dressed. Pulled on a pair of jeans and a cute pale green, sleeveless blouse. She slipped her feet into flats, grabbed her purse and cellphone, then headed downstairs. The lobby was empty. No sign of Bunny, David, or Willie, for that matter. With one last glance over her shoulder, she pushed out into the late afternoon sunshine and ten minutes later was driving out of town, headed for the Triple B.

This part of the world was beautiful. In fact, for a person who’d done as much traveling as Collins had, she could say, equivocally, that it was one of the prettiest places she’d been to. They called Montana Big Sky Country, and it was an apt description. The mountains followed her all the way to the ranch, and she enjoyed every minute of the ride.

She parked by Benton’s truck, checked her watch, four o’clock, and jumped from her rental. She headed for the porch and was about to knock when she heard an excited squeal and a tumble of laughter that could only belong to Nora. Collins turned toward the outbuildings and the large barn. She spied the little girl walking alongside her father, the two of them unaware of an audience.

Nora held something in her hands. Something furry and small. When they made it to the house and spied Collins on the porch, the little girl ran ahead of Benton.

“Collins! I get to feed a baby kitten.” Nora’s face was smudged with dirt. Her hair braids were loose, and her clothes were covered in bits of straw and coated in dust. “Look.” Carefully, she showed Collins the little ball of orange and white fur. “His mommy didn’t want him, so daddy said I could feed him.” The little girl shook her head while cradling the little bundle of fur. “I don’t want him to die, so I named him. Daddy says if you give a new kitten or puppy or even a horse a name, it has a better chance of not going to heaven before it should.” She looked up at Collins. “Do you want to know my kitten’s name?”

Benton had joined them. She felt his presence and met his gaze.

“What’s his name?” she asked softly.

“Hero. Just like my daddy when he saved him.”

Literally, the sweetest thing she’d ever heard.

“That’s a good name,” Collins replied, unable to take her eyes off Benton. The two of them stared at each other for so long that neither one noticed Nora had moved until she opened the door.

“Are you guys coming?” The door slammed shut behind her, and Benton finally took that last step up. It brought him close to Collins. Her heart fluttered. Her lungs constricted. She broke out in a sweat.

And he hadn’t even touched her yet.

“I’m glad you’re here.”

“Me too.”

“Is Ryland or Cole around?”

“Nope. Gone for a couple of days.” A pause. “Shall we?”

She nodded. Finally managed to exhale. And followed him inside.

Chapter Sixteen

Rosie had been around since before Benton had been born. She’d been in and out of this house in some form or another, had been a huge help when Nora was younger, and was as much a Bridgestone as any of them. Blood didn’t always mean family. Some folks were just meant to stay. And Rosie was one of them.

She was in the kitchen when he walked in with Collins.

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