Chapter 16
Chapter Sixteen
R osie 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.
“Hey, you,” he said, walking over to plant a kiss on her cheek. Her silvery hair was pinned back neatly, and her warm brown eyes glistened as they moved from him to the woman standing just inside the kitchen.
“This is Collins,” he said, and moved aside.
“We met last December,” Collins replied, a soft, hesitant smile on her face.
“That we did. You were so lovely to little Nora. I remember her messing about with that bunny.”
“She’s got a kitten to feed tonight,” Benton said.
“Good Lord. I swear she’ll be giving Mike Paul a run for his money someday. She sure does love animals. Maybe she’ll take over his practice. Being a vet sure would come natural.”
“I didn’t know you were coming by,” Benton peered at the platter on the counter.
Rosie grabbed her purse from the table. “I was baking today, so I brought by some homemade cookies.”
“Oatmeal?” Benton asked hopefully.
She nodded. “Some plain and some with chocolate chips.” She winked. “Now I best be going. I’m not around for a few days, so I’ve dropped off some meals and stowed them in the freezer.”
Right, he thought. “Heading to Wyoming to see your sister.”
“I am. I’ll be back by Thursday and will swing by to see what needs to be done.” She smiled at Collins. “Nice to meet you again. Hopefully next time we can visit.” With one last glance at Benton, she left them. A few moments later, he heard the front door shut.
“Drink?” he asked Collins as he grabbed the soap and ran his hands under the tap to give them a good wash.
She nodded.
“Wine? Or do you have something else in mind.”
“Wine is good.”
He grabbed two glasses and set them on the counter, then reached for a bottle of red on the counter. He opened it and set it aside. “We’ll let that breathe for a bit. Sorry, we got held up at the barn. I’m just gonna grab a quick shower and change.”
“You do that,” she replied. “I’ll be here.”
This right here was probably the wrong thing to do. But she felt right, and for once in his life, Benton was going to go with it.
He dropped a kiss on her mouth. It was light—he didn’t dare lean into it, not yet anyway—then headed for the stairs. He took them two at a time. Checked in with Nora, who was cuddling the kitten and told her he’d get the formula ready when he was out of the shower.
“I know where it is.” She looked up at him hopefully. “I can do it, Daddy.”
“You sure?”
She nodded, all business. It was strange to think she was growing up into a little person who didn’t need him for every little thing.
“There’s a box of mini bottles in the top drawer in the laundry room.”
“Okay.” She held the kitten like it was her baby and walked past him. He waited until she made her way downstairs and then headed into the shower.
Benton was in and out in no time, and less than ten minutes later, walked into the kitchen, dressed in clean jeans and a white button-up. On his feet were his favorite moccasins. He’d done his best with the towel but his hair was thick, and the waves hair, clung to his neck. He ran his hand under them.
Collins sat at the kitchen island and handed him a glass of wine. “Your daughter is rocking the kitten on the porch.”
“He feed okay?”
She nodded. “Like a champ.” A slow, lazy smile crossed her face. “You smell good.”
“Yeah?” He lowered his head. “So do you. I guess we’re even.” He pressed his mouth against the crook of her neck, felt the erratic pulse there and smiled. “If we were alone,” he murmured. “You’d be the appetizer.” He stepped away. “As it is, you’ll have to be satisfied with nachos and dip.”
He grabbed a colorful platter from the cupboard and filled the bowl part with nachos, then spooned a cheese and salsa concoction into the smaller section.
“Can I help?”
“I’m good. Grilling up some steaks and potatoes. If you could bring the nachos out back, and grab Nora, I’ll get everything ready to go and get the barbecue fired up.”
It didn’t take long for Benton to get the potatoes washed and scrubbed. He cut sections and stuffed them with onions and garlic and butter, then salted and peppered them before wrapping them up in tin foil. He’d been marinating the steaks since morning, so they were good to go. When he joined the girls out back, he found Nora curled up on one of the chairs, cuddling the small orange and white kitten, while Collins sat a few feet away.
She looked…right. Like she belonged on his back porch.
Once he had the potatoes on the grill, he came over, ruffled his daughter’s hair.
“I’m going to show Hero his litter box,” Nora said, carefully holding the furball against her chest as she slid from the chair. She took two steps. “Can I have a soda?”
“You had one at lunch.”
“I know.”
She pulled out the smile he had a hard time saying no to, and Benton gave up without a fuss. What was the point? “You can have one of the small cans in the compartment on the bottom.”
“Thanks!”
“But you can only drink half of it before dinner.”
“The fuzz will go away.”
“It will keep until after you eat.”
“She’s got her daddy wrapped around her little finger.”
Collins wasn’t wrong. Benton grabbed his wine glass and took a sip before settling into the spot recently vacated by his daughter. “Don’t all little girls?”
Her smile faded a bit. “Not all dads are created equal. Mine wasn’t around much. We had a place on Cape Cod and an apartment in New York, but he was always in DC.” She stared at the crystal in her hands. “Most of my memories of my father are him showing up with presents, then disappearing before anyone had a chance to open them. My mom always had an excuse ready, and she seemed okay with it, so I learned not to overthink and accept what was. I mean, if she didn’t care, why should I?” She looked up. “What about you? What were your parents like?”
He considered his answer and how much to share. Then decided to keep things simple. To the point. “They were great together, and things were good until she got sick. She died when I was a teenager, and dad did his best, but he wasn’t always present either.”
“I’m sorry.”
He gave a small nod. Even after all this time, it wasn’t something he liked to dwell on. “For a while, the Bridgestones were scattered, but they’ve all managed to find their way home.” For the most part, he supposed. “Dad had his struggles, but he’s done the work. Lives up at the Founders Cabin and even has a girlfriend.”
“That’s wonderful.”
He nodded. “It took some, but we’ve all made peace and he’s doing okay.”
She settled back in her chair. “The potatoes smell delicious. I like a man who knows how to cook.”
Benton laughed at that. “I know how to grill steaks, and I make a mean potato. I do breakfast like a champ, can get a beef stew together in no time, but that’s about it.”
“Do you like Chinese food?”
“No.”
“Indian?”
He took a sip of wine. “Like curry?”
She nodded.
“No.”
A smile played on her mouth, and he fought the urge to kiss it away. “So no noodles or pho?”
“Out here, a man needs more than noodles in his gut.”
“Pizza?” she asked with a chuckle.
“That I don’t mind, along with the occasional chicken wing.” He grinned. “I’m pretty much a meat and potato kind of guy but I eat my vegetables because Rosie would hand me my ass if I didn’t.” He laughed. “Plus, I can’t make my daughter eat right if I’m not willing to put in the work.”
“I bet I could get you to like curry.”
“You could try.”
“Maybe I will.”
He liked the way she smiled.
“I’m guessing country is your favorite kind of music.”
He shook his head. “That would be wrong.”
“Really?” She sat upright. Tucked a piece of hair behind her ear. Which made him think how much he wanted to kiss her in that same spot.
“Really.”
“Are you going to spill?”
“I like gospel and bluegrass.” What cowboy didn’t?
“Those are kind of like country, aren’t they?”
“They share some of the same foundations, string instruments and all. But truthfully, I’m partial to nineties rock. Bands like Pearl Jam or Soundgarden. Chris Cornell has the best pipes as far as I’m concerned.” He grinned. “Other than my brother, Cal, that is.”
“Did you wear the plaid and ripped jeans?”
“Plaid is a staple around here, and well, my jeans were always chewed up.” He nodded. “What about you? What do you like to listen to?”
“Everything.”
“You’ve got to have one favorite artist.” He was curious to know more about her.
“I like the Beatles. Jim Morrison and The Doors. Elvis.”
“Really.”
“Yes, really.” She took a sip of wine, that delectable mouth curved the way he liked. “What?”
“You’re an old soul.” Benton got to his feet and went to check on the potatoes. He turned them over and then tossed on the steaks. “I figured you’d be into rap or something like it.”
“I like Eminem.” She was behind him. He could smell her. “But then doesn’t everyone?”
He looked over his shoulder. “Who?” The look on her face was comical, and before she could say a word, he chuckled. “I know who Eminem is and I can appreciate his music, but that’s a different animal altogether.”
“It is.” She wrapped her arms around his waist and peeked over his shoulder. “Looks great.”
“You want to grab the salad out of the fridge? We can eat out here.”
“Sure can,” Collins replied lightly. Her hand lingered on his back a few seconds later, and then she disappeared inside. He felt the imprint like it had been seared into his flesh. His body was tight, his thoughts X-rated, and though he knew he needed fuel for all the things he was going to do to her tonight, he wished he could skip the actual eating part and get to the good stuff.
A few minutes later, the table was set, the food dropped in the middle of it, and Benton sat down. Nora kept up the kind of chatter most adults found hard to penetrate. Her words were as fast as her thoughts, and those seemed a bit on the chaotic side.
“You drank all the soda, didn’t you?” he asked, pouring her a glass of water from the pitcher.
She opened her mouth to deny it, but Benton raised his eyebrows and her face fell. “It was so good and I got busy with Hero and I forgot that I was only supposed to have half of it.”
“Drink your water. We need to dilute all the sugar in your body.”
“Can I still have dessert?”
“There’s dessert?” Collins piped in, happily.
“Not only did Rosie leave her famous oatmeal cookies, she left an apple pie in the oven.”
By the time they had dessert and brought the dishes inside, and then cleaned up, it was pushing eight o’clock. He sent Nora up to her room with instructions to have a shower and that he’d be up in twenty minutes to put her to bed.
“Use an extra handful of conditioner,” he yelled up the stairs. When he returned to the kitchen, he found Collins wrapping up the last bit of pie and putting it in the fridge. She turned around and faced him.
“You’re such a good dad.” There was no flattery on her face. She was speaking what she felt.
“Nora makes it easy.”
Collins wandered over to him. “Do you know what’s sexy about a man who loves his child like that?” She stood in front of him. Tilted her head for, and he got a proper look at the mouth that had been driving him crazy all night.
“No,” he managed to say before she got up on her tiptoes.
“Everything,” She whispered against his mouth and swept her lips across his, the touch barely a whisper. “I’ve never met anyone like you.”
Benton didn’t answer. He grabbed her close, slid his hands down her body. His mouth up along her neck. He kissed and nibbled his way up her jawline, then cupped her head between his hands. “You’re so fucking beautiful,” he muttered, eyes on her mouth. “Stay the night?”
Benton didn’t have time to wonder if he’d somehow crossed an invisible line that he shouldn’t have because she answered right away.
“Yes.”
Chest heaving. Mind filled with pictures of all the things he was going to do to her, Benton backed away. “I need to get Nora to bed.”
“You do that, cowboy. Then come find me.”
He held her gaze a moment longer, then headed upstairs, smiling to himself when he heard her steps behind him. He took a right toward Nora’s bedroom, and she headed left.
He knew where to find her.