When We Burn (The Blackwells of Montana #1)

Chapter 20

Chapter Twenty

DANI

“ O kay, we’re going to measure the sugar,” I say to Birdie, who’s standing on her stool, her adorable apron tied around her middle, ready to help. “We need four whole cups.”

“That’s not enough sugar,” she says, making Mama Blackwell laugh.

“She’s got such a sweet tooth,” Mama says as she washes out a bowl for us to reuse. “Just like her grandma.”

“I admit, so do I. We try to limit the amount of sugar that we keep in this house, otherwise, I’d eat it all. Good job, Birdie.”

“These apples are nice and soft,” Mama says, stirring the mixture on the stovetop.

I’m doing this in batches, to keep it more manageable. We have one batch already jarred, one on the stove, and another that Birdie is currently mixing with a wooden spoon .

“Am I okay to take these off the heat?” Mama asks.

“Of course, thanks.”

“Where did you get this recipe, Dani?” she asks as she turns off the burner and moves the pot.

“I found it online,” I admit with a shrug. “I wanted to make some a few years ago and stumbled upon this recipe, and I have to say, it works.”

“And how did you learn to can?”

“Video tutorials online.”

I turn to find Mama watching me with sad eyes.

“What?”

“If I’d known you wanted to learn, I would have taught you and your sisters when you were teenagers.”

“You taught us a lot as it was. If it wasn’t for you, I wouldn’t know how to sew a button or clean a toilet or iron my slacks. I wouldn’t know how to get a stain out of the carpet or what to do for a bee sting. You taught us so much, and you’re the mother of my heart.”

Mama blinks and folds me in for a hug, holding on tight.

Birdie’s swinging her hips back and forth in time with the Sidney Sterling song playing on the Bluetooth speaker that Bridger bought for me, since he knows I like to have music on in the kitchen, and Mama and I take a minute to dance with her, making her giggle.

“We loved it when Sidney sang this song at the concert, didn’t we?”

“It was so good , Grandma.”

“I bet it was,” Mama says and kisses Birdie’s head. “Your dad told me you guys had fun, and he sent me the photos of you with Sidney. It looked like she was really nice.”

“She gave us T-shirts and posters that she signed,” Birdie informs her grandmother while I transfer the latest apple mixture to a pot for the stove.

“I’m glad you had fun,” Mama says, and then her arm is draped over my shoulders, and she’s hugging me to her side. “I’m glad you all had fun.”

“We really did.”

“You know, I love this.”

I frown over at her. “Making apple butter?”

“Well, yes, I enjoy being in the kitchen, but I love being here, with both of you. Seeing you with Birdie and Bridger.” She kisses my cheek, and it makes my heart swell. I know where Bridger gets his love language. It’s from his mom. “You make a beautiful family.”

I wrinkle my nose, mostly so I don’t start to cry.

“I love them,” I whisper, staring down into the pot of apples. “More than anything.”

“Anyone with eyes in their head can see that, my sweet girl.”

“And you don’t mind?” I look into her eyes, needing to see her reaction to that question. “You’ve known me and my family all of my life, and if I’m not?—”

“Hey.” She pats my cheek and shakes her head, smiling at me. “Yes, I’ve known you your whole life, and I know what a lovely, good-hearted, strong, wonderful woman you are. I couldn’t handpick someone better for my boy than you, Dani. I love you so much.”

Maybe the tears are going to come anyway .

“I love you, too.”

“Why are you crying?” Birdie asks, making me chuckle and brush at the tears on my cheeks.

“Because I’m happy. That’s all. Are you ready to help me put these other apples into jars?”

“Yes, but when do we get to eat it?”

Mama reaches for a fresh batch of jars. “When we’re finished working, we reward ourselves with a treat. We have to earn it.”

“I’ve earned an extra treat,” Birdie says, making me smile.

“You’re my treat,” I inform her and kiss the top of her head.

When I turn around, I find Bridger leaning against the wall, his arms crossed over his chest, watching us with a soft smile on that gorgeous face.

“I didn’t know you were there.”

“I know.” He saunters over and leans down to kiss me before planting his lips by my ear. “You’re my treat, kitten.”

“Heard that, did you?”

“I heard a lot.”

“It snowed!”

It’s Sunday morning, and Birdie has just jumped on the bed, waking Bridger and me up.

“Get up! Get up! There’s snow outside!”

“You’re killing me, peanut,” Bridger growls. “I got home at three this morning.”

But Birdie doesn’t answer. She just runs off, and I drag my hands down my face.

“First snow of the year. Did you have to drive home in it?” Reaching over, I drag my hand down Bridger’s arm, over that colorful ink, enjoying his warmth.

“Yeah.” He stretches, then reaches out for me and tugs me against him, so I snuggle down and rest my head on his chest. “It won’t stay long. It’s only early November.”

I sigh and breathe him in. “How do you feel about pancakes with the apple butter we made last month?”

How has it already been a month since we went to the apple orchard? Time is flying by. Before long, the holidays will be here.

“I feel very fondly about that idea.” He kisses my head, then tips my chin up so he can place a kiss on my lips. “Thank you.”

“It’s just breakfast.”

“One that I don’t have to cook, so I’m grateful.”

My phone buzzes on the table behind me, and I frown. “I have no idea who could be messaging me at this time of the day.”

“Check it.” He kisses me again, sending a thrill down my spine, and I turn to get my phone.

Bridger’s hand is planted on my ass. It makes me smirk.

He really is an ass man.

“It’s your sister. ”

And she sent it to our book club group of me, Alex, Bee, Skyla, and Millie. We like to chat about what we’re reading, even when we’re not at the book club.

Bee: SOS! I repeat, SOS!

Alex: What’s wrong?

Skyla: Are you okay?

Me: We’re here.

I feel Bridger shift behind me, spooning me, and his breath on my shoulder as he reads along with me.

“You have a book group text?”

“Of course, we do.”

He snickers.

Bee: I need help. Psychological help. I went on a date last night, and…FFS.

“Do I need to kill someone?” Bridger asks.

“I think if that were the case, she’d be calling you for help. This is just girl talk, love.”

“Hmm.” He kisses my shoulder and then rolls away. “I’m going to make sure Birdie hasn’t decided to go outside and take a snow bath.”

“Good idea.”

Millie: Everyone come to the coffee shop and we’ll discuss these current events like the dignified women we are.

Alex: I can be there in an hour.

Skyla: Me, too, if I can bring Riley. If not, I’ll need a little more time.

Millie: Bring him. He’s always welcome here.

Me: I can also be there in an hour. Can’t wait to hear all about it.

Bee: Thank God. See you all soon.

I hurry into the bathroom to brush my teeth, take care of business, and tie my hair up on top of my head. Then, I change out of my pajamas and into black leggings, a T-shirt, and one of Bridger’s zip hoodies before I hurry out to the kitchen to get breakfast made.

“Hello, my loves,” I say when I see the two most important people in my life curled up on the couch together, with a fire in the fireplace, watching it snow. “It’s pretty outside.”

“Are you making pancakes with the apple butter?” Birdie asks.

“Yes, ma’am. And then I have to run over to Bitterroot Valley Coffee Co. for a bit.” I move into the kitchen, but I can still see them as I pull out a mixing bowl and the pancake mix from the pantry. “Bee wants to talk to us in person.”

“Girl talk,” Bridger says, smiling down at his daughter. Birdie grins and snuggles down against him .

It doesn’t take long at all to get the pancakes made and some bacon cooked up, and then the three of us sit at the island, scarfing it all down.

“That apple butter is stupidly good,” Bridger says. “Mom was excited to make it with you.”

Honestly, the day that Birdie, Mama, and I made the apple butter, right here in this kitchen, was one of the best days I’ve had in a long time.

“I enjoyed that.” I wipe my face and set my empty plate in the sink. “I hate to eat and run, but?—”

“Go.” Bridger stands and pulls me to him, folding me into his big arms. “I’ll clean up, don’t even worry. Have a good chat. Let me know if I need to cause any bodily harm to anyone on my sister’s behalf.”

I snort and hug him back, then kiss his chest.

“I’m sure it’s fine, but I’ll let you know.”

“And drive safe out there. It’s slick.”

“Oh, I’m going to walk.”

Bridger frowns down at me. “It’s twenty degrees outside.”

“I have boots and a coat. It’s eight blocks away, love.” I walk over to Birdie and kiss her head, rubbing her little back. “Do you need anything, pumpkin?”

I started calling her that around Halloween, when we carved the pumpkins for the front porch.

“Nope.” She smiles up at me. “Have a fun girl talk.”

“Okay.” I pull on my boots and mittens and pull a hat over my head, then zip up a winter coat and wave at them. “See you in a bit. ”

“Be. Careful.” Bridger narrows his eyes at me, and I chuckle.

“Yes, Chief.”

When he makes a move like he’s going to run at me, I squeal and hightail it out the door, still laughing when I hit the sidewalk. I glance back to the window and see my man standing there, grinning at me, and I give him a little wave.

God, I love him.

I didn’t know I could love someone so fiercely, so completely, the way I do Bridger Blackwell. I’ve always cared about him—I even had a crush on him—but that was absolutely nothing compared to how I’ve grown to feel about him since that night this past summer on my driveway.

He’s protective and sweet and strong. His work ethic is incredible. I have so much respect for him as a human being, and the way he loves his daughter makes me swoon every day. He’s the best daddy.

The snow is already starting to melt off the sidewalks as I make my way downtown, and when I walk into the coffee shop, I have to shed some layers because it isn’t quite as cold as I expected.

“Am I the last one here?”

“You are,” Alex says, looping her arm through mine as she kisses me on the cheek. “How’s my little sister?”

“Two freaking minutes,” I remind her with a laugh. “You’re only two minutes older than me.”

But she just grins at me, and I hug her back.

“I’m great. I want to hear all about Bee’s date.” It’s quiet in the coffee shop this morning, likely because of the snow, and Bee’s bookstore is closed on Sunday.

“Gather ’round,” Millie says, passing me an iced coffee. I love this woman and her ninja memory.

“Can I love on Riley?” I ask Skyla. “I know he’s a working dog, so I thought I should ask.”

“Of course,” Skyla says, and then she says something to the dog, I assume to let him know that he can be petted. “He’ll love it.”

“Hello, beautiful boy,” I croon to him, and scratch him between the ears. I may not have a lot of experience with animals, but I like them. “You’re so handsome.”

I glance up and notice the look of apprehension on my sister’s face. Alex has always had the hardest time with animals. Where our father used water to torment me, it was animals for Alex, and it’s something she’s never gotten over.

“Hey,” I say softly, getting her attention. “It’s okay.”

She nods, and then the five of us sit around the table.

“Okay,” Skyla says, bumping her shoulder against Bee’s. “Spill it. Who, what, where, and did he rail you all night long?”

“Irish people say rail ?” I ask, blinking in surprise.

“I’ve lived in the US for a long time.” Skyla winks one moss-green eye at me, and we return our attention to Bee.

“So, this guy came into the bookstore yesterday. He was a tourist from somewhere. Canada? No, Europe somewhere because he had an accent. ”

We laugh at that. “Quite a difference in geography there, but okay,” Alex says.

“Anyway, he was kind of nerdy, with glasses, but also tall and broad, with muscles for days, but he wasn’t really my type.”

“Tall with muscles for days isn’t your type?” I ask. “Come on, Bee, aren’t your standards a little high?”

“No, I just mean, in general, he wasn’t really my type. Looks wise. I know that’s superficial, but?—”

“You’re amongst friends,” Skyla says. “I have to admit, if I didn’t know better, I’d think you were talking about my brother, but he left yesterday afternoon.”

“Not him, then, but we get so many tourists here, from all over the world.” Bee takes a breath. “So, this guy was nice. He asked me out to dinner, and I’ve been so consumed with my shop over the last few months that I decided that I should get out there and date. Even if it’s just one date, you know?”

We all nod in encouragement.

“He took me to Ciao, the Italian place for dinner. Which, by the way, yum .”

“So good,” I agree.

“Oh, I have to try that,” Skyla says. “Go on.”

Bee takes a long, deep breath, and then in one run-on sentence, says, “And then I went back to his hotel with him, and he fucked me six ways to Sunday all night long, and I didn’t know my body was capable of that, and holy shit, I need an ice pack for my vag.”

We all stare at her for about four seconds, and then we bust up cackling like loons .

“Holy shit, you had me scared there for a second,” Millie says, wiping a tear from her eye.

“Me, too. I thought I was going to have to tell Bridger he had to beat someone up.”

“I want more details,” Alex says, leaning closer against the table. “First of all, you were safe, right?”

“Of course.” Bee nods and sips her coffee. “He wrapped it up, and I’m on birth control.”

“Good,” Skyla says, squeezing Bee’s hand. “And he was obviously nice to you.”

“He was so nice. Made sure I came first. Checked in with me to make sure I was okay. He did all the right things. But—” She bites her lip, narrows her eyes, and stares off into the distance.

“But what?” I ask her.

“I’m not sure. Something, but I don’t know.”

“Did you get his number?” Millie asks. “Or did he ask for yours?”

“No. And he was gone when I woke up this morning. That’s why I sent the SOS.”

We’re all silent again, pondering this news.

“Did that hurt your feelings?” Skyla asks with a soft voice.

“A little bit, yeah. Don’t get me wrong, we didn’t make any promises at all. We had a good conversation at dinner, which he paid for, by the way. And the sex was great, like I said.” She nibbles on her lip, pondering it. “So, I guess this was my first one-night stand with a hot stranger.”

“What was his name?”

Bee’s cheeks darken at Alex’s question.

“YOU DIDN’T GET HIS NAME?” I demand, completely shocked. “I don’t know who you are. This is not my best friend.”

“I don’t remember if I asked him his name, and it just never…came up.”

“One-night stand with a hot, possibly European stranger,” Millie says. “Wow. If my husband wasn’t the sexiest man on earth, I might be jealous.”

“I’m totally jealous,” Alex says.

I reach over and take Bee’s hand in mine, giving it a squeeze. “Are you okay?”

She nods slowly. “Yeah, I am. I’m pretty sure I’m okay. I kind of wish I knew his name, though.”

“This way, it’s more mysterious,” Skyla offers. “It’s an experience that you’ll never forget and one that most people don’t get to have. If you think about it, it’s rather romantic, and that’s the truth of it.”

Bee’s smile spreads over her lips. “Yeah, it was romantic. And seriously hot.”

My phone starts to ring with an incoming FaceTime call, and when I see that it’s Bridger, I accept.

“Hey,” I say, and then smile bigger when Birdie’s sweet face comes into view. “What are you up to, pumpkin?”

“There’s a lot of snow up at the resort,” she says. “We want to go sledding. Come with us, okay?”

“Cutest ever,” Alex mutters into her coffee.

“Heck yes, we should go sledding. I’m almost done here, so I’ll see you soon, okay?”

“Daddy! She said yes!”

“I heard.” Bridger takes the phone and grins at me. “Everything okay there?”

“Everything is great, and no, I’m not going to tell you about it.”

“As long as she’s safe, that’s all I care about.”

I glance up at Bee, who just smiles at me. “Yeah, she’s safe. I’ll see you in a few. I need to change before we head out.”

“I’ll bring her home,” Alex says loudly so Bridger can hear.

“Thanks, Alex. See you soon. Love you, kitten.”

“I love you, too.”

I hang up and then look up into four sets of happy, smug eyes.

“What?”

“You two might be the cutest ever ,” Bee says. “You’re so good for my brother and Birdie. They adore you.”

“It’s been really fun to watch,” Alex agrees.

“And is it me, or are you more confident than you were just a few months ago?” Millie asks, and the others nod.

“Even I see it,” Skyla adds, “and I’m new to this group. Love looks beautiful on you, Dani.”

I take a deep breath and blink away the happy tears that want to come.

“It feels good, too.”