Page 70 of Blame It On Midnight

Benton slowly nodded. “I see that now.”

She was too close to tears to speak, and Collins counted to five. Then ten. Then she looked up at him. “What do you mean?”

He slid his hand up along her cheek, and she leaned into his touch, eager for more, hungry for him.

“I’m sorry that communication hasn’t been good these past few days. That’s on me. I don’t know how to say the things I want to say on a damn phone. I was dealing with Daisy Mae, and that was a lot. But I got her settled. Now I’m here because I’ve got some things to tell you. And I should have told you sooner.” He inched closer, and she held her breath.

“My dad said something to me a few nights ago. He told me to picture next week. Next month. Next Christmas with you. Then he told me to think about how it would feel without you. It’s not real sophisticated, this thing I’m trying to say. But what it is, is simple. I don’t want a future if you’re not in it. I love you.”

She sagged against him, and he smiled as his arms crept around her waist. “I love your nose and the freckles that cover it. I love your laugh and the dimple on your right cheek when you do. I love how you chew on your bottom lip when you’re thinking real hard. And surprisingly, I don’t mind the globs of toothpaste you leave in my bathroom sink. I think I love pretty much everything about you, and I guess I’m asking if you’ll consider relocating to Montana so that I can continue finding new things to love every day.”

That big old lump was back, and it took some for her to finally be able to talk. “I think I’d like that.”

“Which part? The relocating or the reciting of things I love about you?”

“All of it.” She shook her head and grabbed his hands between her own. “This is going to sound dumb and cliche, but I’ve loved you since the moment I saw you last Christmas.”

“Not dumb,” he murmured.

“How are you here?”

“I knew the things I needed to say couldn’t be done over the phone. Once I got Daisy Mae settled, I called Ivy. She got hold of your brother, and the Bridgestones managed to snag a table.”

She glanced toward the room. “Who’s here?”

“All of us. Mike Paul and Ivy. Vivian and Dallas. Taz and Scarlett, Cal and Millie Sue. Angel came along because she’s got some stuff to do for her foundation.”

“The kids?”

He smiled. “Dad and his lady friend, Martha, are pulling babysitting duties.”

He swept his mouth across hers. Lingered there. She deepened the kiss, and he groaned when she pulled him deeper into the shadows. They made out like a couple of kids, and when he gently pulled away, the look in his eyes heated her blood.

“Keep that up and we’ll end up doing something on this terrace that just might be illegal.”

She grinned, wickedly, “There’s not much in New York that is.”

He dropped one more kiss. “Something to like about this city.”

Benton rested his forehead against hers. “We’ll do this slowly. Ease into our future. I don’t want Nora to have any doubts or concerns. Is that okay with you?”

She nodded and whispered. “Yes.”

Benton grabbed her hand in his. “Come with me. I want to officially introduce you to my family.”

Together they walked into the gala, hand in hand, smiling for the world to see. And the next day, she flew to Montana with the man she loved, ready to start living a life she’d only dreamed of.

She smiled at the thought. How very Cinderella.

Epilogue

Snow was falling faster than ever. By the time Benton reached the house, there were two feet of the stuff. He had to park near the barn, where the snow had been cleared, and trudged through drifts. Once inside, he stomped snow from his boots and was barely out of his coat when Nora came running around the corner, her kitten hot on her heels.

“Daddy,” she squealed, “did you get it?”

“I did.” He winked. “Now keep your voice down. We don’t want to give away the surprise.”

He hung up his jacket and doffed his wool hat. “Where is she?”

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