Chapter 8
Chapter Eight
C ollins managed to keep her brother out of the loop for forty-eight hours. Impressive, considering he’d been texting and calling nonstop since Saturday afternoon. But the last text, only forty-five minutes earlier, told her she’d run out of time. No way could she put him off any longer.
It was closing in on eleven a.m. Collins glanced at her watch and grimaced. Right about now, he should be sitting in the driveway. She pulled on a plain white T-shirt and a pair of jean shorts. She didn’t bother with makeup, save for a hint of gloss, and that was more to moisturize than emphasize her mouth. With one last glance in the mirror, she adjusted her ballcap, slipped into white sneakers, grabbed her bag, and left her room.
Collins headed downstairs on light feet and ran outside into the sun. It was Monday morning, and she felt good about things. That is, until she saw her brother. “Why such a sourpuss?” she asked, joining him near a big black truck. He must have borrowed it from Ivy, because the rental they’d acquired the day they’d arrived in Big Bend had been parked here, at Duffer’s Place, for two days.
“Get in.”
“That’s how it’s going to be, is it?” She kept her tone light, but already the embers were stoked. She was fired up and ready to fight. She might be smaller than the Lafferty men, but she wasn’t afraid to stick up for herself. If her brother knew better, he’d back off. When push came to shove, she kicked. And her aim was deadly.
She climbed into the truck. “You know I could have had breakfast here. It’s really good. Willie puts on one heck of a spread. But I decided to play nice and have eggs and bacon with you, so the least you can do is be nice and stop acting like an asshole.”
“I’m not being an asshole.” Kip’s jaw was tight. He barely managed to get the words out.
“Well, then, mister, where’s all this attitude coming from?”
He sped out of the driveway. “You’re working at the Sundowner?” He shot a look at her, only for a second, because with his one arm still in a sling, he needed to concentrate on driving. It was enough, though. Her brother was more than pissed.
“Who told you that?”
“Jesus, Collins, did you think no one would find out? Millie Sue told Ivy, and she told Mike Paul, and he told me. Plus, last I heard, there’s a video on the internet that’s been shared thousands of times.”
“Why didn’t she tell you herself?” The gossip train in Big Bend was chugging along faster than she’d anticipated.
“What?” He scowled.
“Ivy.” She settled back in her seat. “Why didn’t she tell you?”
“Probably because she knew I’d lose my shit.”
“And are you?” she asked lightly, wishing she were enjoying this more.
“Am I what?”
“Losing your shit?”
His look said everything. He didn’t need to answer. About five minutes later, they wheeled into a truck stop outside of town. Kip parked in front of the double doors, then turned to his sister, but before he could speak, she held up her hand.
“I need coffee more than a lecture.” She didn’t give him a chance to respond and hopped out of the truck, aware of his glare as she walked away. Collins thought he might leave, but then he cut the engine, and she heard the door slam shut.
Kip’s long strides caught up to her, and the two of them walked inside, immediately heading for the last booth tucked away in the corner. The place wasn’t busy. There were a couple of guys sitting at the long counter, enjoying some coffee and gossip. Out of the twenty or so tables, only one was occupied by an older gentleman engrossed in a newspaper.
Collins watched him with a smile. She didn’t think people read the real deal anymore. Most folks she knew consumed their news online. Or got their soundbites from scrolling through TikTok, which she supposed, told the story of how the modern world was going to shit. At least, according to her father.
It was one thing they agreed on, though she’d never tell him that.
A woman appeared holding two menus. She was a character, the kind of woman you’d expect to see at some out-of-the-way truck stop in Montana. She had big blonde hair, bright pink lipstick, and more mascara on her lashes than Collins had ever seen. Said a lot, considering her job. She looked to be in her forties and had a slow, easy smile.
“Morning.” She handed her and Kip each a menu. “I’m Lana.” She raised her eyebrows. “Coffee?”
“Yes, please,” Collins replied, eager for a shot of caffeine.
“You two have hit that sweet spot between breakfast and lunch, and because of it, you’ve got your pick. The front of the menu is breakfast items, and the back gives you lunch. Soup of the day is Clam Chowder?—”
“Chowder?” Surprised, Collins glanced up.
Lana smiled. “Our cook is from Maine, and he gets real sentimental about his soup.”
“Well, I’m having some of that, but first I need the biggest cup of coffee you’ve got.”
“And you?” Lana directed her question to Kip.
“Definitely.” He cracked a grin. The man was an insufferable flirt, and Collins relaxed a bit.
“You’re Kip Lafferty,” Lana said, taking a step back.
“I am.”
“I heard you were friends with Ivy Wilkens. I’m not a Yankee fan, prefer the Toronto Blue Jays, but I sure hope you heal up fast.”
“The Blue Jays?” Kip grinned. “Lana, you surprise me. I thought you were more patriotic than that. They’re not a part of the good old US of A.”
“That might be true, but they sure have some nice Southern boys on the roster.” She winked at Collins. “I’ll make a fresh pot and be back in a few.”
“Do you flirt with every woman that crosses your path?”
“Can’t help it.” Kip raised an eyebrow. “Grams did say I was touched by an angel the day I was born.”
“She was nearly blind and mostly deaf, so I wouldn’t take that to heart.”
“Doesn’t matter if it’s true.”
With a smile, Collins eyed up the menu and was trying to decide between a burger or the hungry man breakfast, when Kip leaned forward and grabbed the menu from her.
She opened her mouth to protest.
“Really? We both know you’re going for the burger.”
“Why do you have to be right all the time?” she scowled.
“Because big brothers always are.”
“So you think Duke is smarter than us.”
“Except Duke.” He cracked a half smile. “Obviously.”
Lana appeared with a steaming hot pot of coffee. Once she poured them each a cup and set down a bowl of milk and cream, she stood back. “You two ready to order, or do you need more time to decide on eats?”
“I’ll have the hungry man, eggs over easy, whole wheat toast, and pancakes instead of a waffle.”
“Ham or bacon?”
“Both.”
“Sausage?”
“Yep.”
Collins was tempted to order the same thing just to be sassy, but didn’t. Who was she kidding? She handed Lana her menu. “I’ll have a cheeseburger with extra pickles and mayo. And a bowl of that chowder.”
“Sounds good.” Lana smiled. “God, I envy youth. Being able to eat whatever you want and not worrying about weight gain.”
“I have a high metabolism,” Collins replied with a smile. Truthfully, she had an issue keeping weight on.
“Lucky you.” Lana winked. “I’ll get your orders in and leave you to it.”
She sipped her coffee and watched her brother overtop of the mug. “Just say it, Kip. I want to enjoy my clam chowder.”
He angled his head as if considering his words.
“Say it. Whatever it is. I’m a big girl. I can take it.”
“You’re headed for heartbreak.”
“You don’t know that.”
Kip leaned forward. “This is what I know. You’re throwing yourself at a man who’s already rejected you. A man with a complicated situation.”
“Everyone has a complicated situation.”
“No. That’s just what you tell yourself so you can feel good about something you know is wrong.”
He didn’t get it. “You’ve never been in love, have you?”
“What’s that got to do with anything?”
“Until you know what it feels like to be in love with someone, you have no right to tell me what is or isn’t wrong.”
Kip’s expression darkened. “I’ve been in love.”
“No. What you had with Keely wasn’t love.”
“You’re a fucking kid. What do you know about it?”
That spark of anger she’d been holding in became a flame. The heat of it flushed her cheeks a darker color. Made her heart speed up.
“I’m not a kid, so don’t go there.”
“Sorry. I didn’t mean to throw darts.”
“Yes, you did, but we’re past that now. Look, Kip, I know that if you loved Keely the way a man should love a woman, you would never have let our brother be with her. You would have never let her feel like she didn’t matter. Like she was an afterthought. You would have never had drinks with some ball bunny instead of going home to her. You would have never cheated.”
“Hey, I never cheated on Keely.”
She raised her eyebrows.
“Technically, we were on a break.”
“Doesn’t matter. That is why she’s with Duke. She knew you didn’t love her, and he was second best.” She shrugged. “Also, didn’t hurt that he makes a lot of dough. Might not be the million-dollar contracts you’ve signed, but he keeps her in diamonds and Chanel, and eventually Duke will inherit a portion of the family money, so she’s got all her bases covered.” She set down her mug. “Plus, she gets to see you on occasion. Keeps you in her life and I suppose a part of her hopes you’re missing her as much as she’s missing you.”
Kip opened his mouth to say something, but then snapped it closed, and pleased with herself, she watched him closely. “Not bad for a kid, right?”
Lana dropped their plates just then, and after she topped up their coffee, left them to eat.
The chowder smelled like heaven, and she dug in, waiting for Kip to continue their conversation. It took some, but by the time he’d finished his pancakes, he was ready to talk. He set down his fork and shrugged. “I don’t want you hurt. Plain and simple. You’re my little sister. It’s my job to protect you.”
That fire in her died a bit. How could it not? Kip wasn’t just her older brother, he’d been a sort of father figure to her. Their dad had been absent a lot, but she never felt abandoned or unloved because she always had Kip. And to some extent, Duke. He was just harder to take considering he was so damn full of himself.
“I know,” she replied softly. “But if I get hurt, or do the wrong thing, or make a bad decision, that’s on me. I want you to be there for me no matter what. Even if you think I’m doing the stupidest thing in the world.” She sighed. “I’m not young and dumb. My feelings are valid even if you don’t understand how I can be in love with a man I barely know. I can hardly wrap my head around it. But it’s true.”
She pushed her bowl of chowder away and sighed. “I know there is a real possibility that Benton will break my heart. But if I don’t at least try and grab the kind of happiness I know I can have with him, then what’s the point of it all? I don’t want to fly to Bali and pose in some bikini that barely covers my puss?—”
Alarmed, Kip held up his hand. “Nope. I can’t take that word out of your mouth.”
Collins smiled, but it faded as fast as it had come. “I don’t want to walk the runways for New York Fashion Week. Don’t want to sign up for more campaigns than the ones I’m currently committed to.” She nailed her brother with a no-nonsense look. “I’m ready to move on to the next chapter of my life, and I’ve found the man I want to share it with.”
“I know Benton. He’s a good guy. He’s been through a lot. This thing with his ex isn’t going away. There’s a real chance it’s going to get ugly. And I’m willing to bet he feels something for you. What man wouldn’t? Aside from the fact that you’re a pain in the ass on a good day.”
“Hey,” she said, kicking him under the table.
“But the thing is, Colly, what if he’s not ready for you?” Kip looked so damn earnest, she felt that dumb knot in her throat.
She pushed it back for good and smiled because she had this. The answer was as plain as the nose on his face. She grabbed his hand and squeezed.
“Then I’ll wait for him.”
Kip glanced away, then tossed his napkin. “You could be waiting a while.”
“I know.”
Her brother held her gaze for several long seconds. “Okay, then. We won’t talk about this again unless you want to.”
They finished their meals, and he drove her back to Duffer’s Place, where she introduced him to Willie. The woman was on her porch, knitting, and made quite a fuss over Kip. Collins was used to that sort of thing when it came to her brother. The man could literally charm the panties off a nun. He gave her one last hug, told her to behave, then said Ivy was going to keep an eye on her. He was due to fly to New York that evening.
Once he was gone, Willie smiled and looked up at her. “I take it you’re sticking around for a bit.”
Collins nodded. “I am.”
Willie held her gaze a heartbeat longer. “I think you’ll fit in just fine.” She went back to her knitting, and Collins left her to it. She had the entire afternoon ahead of her, a new romance novel waiting on the night table, and some planning to do. At the top of that list?
She had to make Benton fall in love with her.