Under the Midnight Stars (6 page)

“So, are you planning on trying to buy this place back from Zeke?” she asked casually.

“Not trying — I am buying it back from him.”

Brielle stopped dead in her tracks, hands on hips.

Colt spun around with a curious expression. “What’s wrong?”

“Zeke’s gonna just sell you the farm?” She was irritated.

“Yeah, that’s the plan.” He shrugged and shook his head lightly with his brows creased.

“My dad’s been trying to buy the farm back for years, but he wouldn’t sell.”

Colt sighed. “Brielle, it’s not exactly like that. After my dad died and the bank foreclosed on the farm, Zeke bought it hoping my mom would stay. But she was too proud for handouts, and she moved us to where she could find work. He held onto it after all these years, hoping she’d change her mind and come back. I guess he got tired of waiting and married, but he just couldn’t sell the farm.”

Brielle felt awful for challenging Zeke’s reasons. She had no right to assume anything, and she certainly didn’t have the right to force Colt to defend himself, or Zeke for that matter. “I’m sorry. It’s none of my business. I shouldn’t have pushed the issue. I had no right to assume—”

He shook his head and put his hands up. “No, it’s all right. You were just defending your dad. I understand. Just know that Zeke’s decision wasn’t anything personal — when it comes to your dad anyway. But it was very personal when it came to me.”

“I’m sorry,” she said softly. “I’m glad you’re getting your home back, Colt. I’ll bet your mom’s happy too.”

Colt’s expression turned dismal. He cut his gaze across the field of green. “She died of breast cancer about a month ago.”

Brielle’s heart dropped. “Oh, I’m so sorry, Colt. I had no idea.” It seemed like everything she said had a negative backlash. She felt terrible for her insensitive mistake, especially since she had experienced firsthand the grief of losing a mother. Seeing the look of anguish in his averted gaze, she instinctively hugged him, expressing her condolences, attempting to heal just a tiny piece of his broken heart.

Slowly, Colt wrapped his arms around her waist and softly caressed her back.

Brielle tensed when she realized that he wasn’t hugging her back — he was
holding
her. As she lifted her head to face him, a strand of hair caught on her cheek.

Illuminated by the bright sun, Colt was gazing at her with the most mesmerizing golden eyes that she had ever seen. Her heart beat faster. She loosened her grip, letting her hands slide from his back to his waist.

Lifting a gentle hand to her cheek, Colt brushed back the strand of hair. Then he encircled her waist with both arms again and pulled her closer to his body. Slowly, he lowered his head toward hers.

Taken off guard, Brielle’s first instincts were to push him away — they hardly knew each other. But for some reason she hadn’t the power to stop him. Relishing his touch, her breathing quickened and her heart pounded with anticipation. She closed her eyes as his lips touched hers. They were warm and gentle, sending a fluttering through her chest.

He pulled away briefly, before tenderly molding his lips to hers again.

Chest heaving, Brielle relished his soft kisses and the tingling desire it sparked within her. She didn’t want this magical moment to end. As he pulled away again, hovering just shy of her mouth, she eagerly leaned forward for another kiss, pressing her lips to his.

Colt tightened his grip around her waist, but pulled back far enough to see her face. As their heavy breaths mingled into one, he gazed into her eyes for a brief moment, almost as if he were studying her reaction, before he suddenly engulfed her lips with his again.

Brielle welcomed his hungry kiss. It instantly sent her mind swirling with drunken pleasure. She relished the sweetness of his tongue as it pushed its way past her lips and entered her mouth, seeking hers. She gave him what he wanted, reaching her tongue out to meet his. The silkiness of them rolling together melted her senses away in bliss. Hungry for more, she let her hands slide up his back and she pressed her body against him, intensifying their passion.

Gently, Colt placed his hands on either sides of her face and pulled away, breaking them free of their magnetic embrace.

Brielle lifted her lids and stared into his smoldering eyes. She bit her lower lip, trying to steady her breathing.

Colt squeezed his eyes shut briefly, before opening them again. With a heavy sigh he lowered his arms and took a step back. “I’m sorry. I don’t know what came over me. I know we hardly know each other, but I just had to kiss you, Brielle.”

She didn’t know why he was apologizing. She enjoyed his kiss. He moved her in a way that no other man had. Her mind was still swimming with drunkenness and her entire body ached for more of his touch … for another kiss. Her mother’s voice haunted her thoughts: “You’ll know you’ve met the one when his kiss makes your mind, body, and heart react senselessly.”

She looked deeply into Colt’s eyes. “Don’t be sorry. I’m glad you kissed me.”

He let out a relieved sigh and ended it with a slight smile. “I know I’m sort of doing things backwards here … but will you go to dinner with me tonight?”

Her heart skipped a beat at the unexpected question. She wanted to say yes, but then there was the matter of her date tonight with Billy Collins. She wasn’t raised to go back on her word, and she wouldn’t start now. Besides, this was the only way she could think of to end Billy’s pesky pursuance of her once and for all.

Filled with regret, she grimaced. “I’m sorry. I already have plans.”

“Right.” He lowered his head.

“But I’m free tomorrow night,” she suggested hopefully.

After a brief pause, the corners of his mouth curled upward. “Then I’ll see you tomorrow night.”

Brielle was happy about their date, but tomorrow night seemed so far off. She didn’t want to wait that long to see him again — to possibly kiss him again. An idea came to mind. “You know, I’m off tomorrow. I could come over and help you get the place cleaned up.”

Colt’s eyes lit up. “Thanks, Brielle. I could really use the help.” He reached down and grabbed her hand, interlocking their fingers together. “Come on, let’s get you home.”

Brielle studied her outfit in the silver-framed mirror next to the front door, hoping it would repel Billy Collins. She usually put some effort into her attire when it came to dates, but this particular one was doomed from the start. She wished she could just back out of it, but she wasn’t about to be labeled as someone who went back on her word.

Her outfit of a white blouse, jeans, and gray sneakers with white tips was as plain a look as she could muster. She even pulled her hair back into a simple ponytail.

Her father entered the beige-tiled foyer and headed up the oak staircase to his office. “Going to work tonight, sweetheart?” he asked, not looking back.

Rather than worry her father about her being alone with a man tonight, she simply replied, “Yes.”

“Do you need a ride?”

“A friend’s picking me up.”

“See you in the morning then.” He stopped at the top of the stairs and smiled.

“Good night, Dad.” Brielle waved back to him, watching as he unsteadily held onto the railing overlooking the living room while he disappeared down the hallway.

Her heart grew heavy — he was drunk again. He took to drinking nightly after her mother had died. And he’d become much too overprotective. He wouldn’t even let her drive herself anywhere in the car that she and her mother had shared. He insisted that either he or Jack drive her wherever she needed to go. She knew her father would eventually have to relent and let her become independent. Either that or she’d have no choice but to move away. For now, she secretly didn’t mind not driving her own car — it was the same car her mother had died in. And ever since then, she’d lost interest in driving anyhow.

Tears burned her eyes, but she blinked them back.

Just then there was a knock at the door.

Brielle quickly dabbed at the corners of her eyes with her fingertips and cleared her throat. Dreading what she was about to do, she stared at the carved panels of the solid oak door, debating whether or not to open it. After all, she and Colt had shared their first kiss merely hours before. It just didn’t feel right anymore, going on a date with Billy when she held such a deep interest in Colt. But then again, it didn’t feel right to cancel her date with Billy at the very last second either. Especially since he’d been trying for years to get her to say yes.

With a heavy sigh, she forced a smile and opened the door.

Billy was grinning from ear to ear, holding a bouquet of yellow daisies. One of the daisies still had a root intact. She wondered if they were the same daisies lining the side of her house.

“Hi, Billy.” Brielle smiled.

“Gabby.” With a puzzled look, he gave her a once-over. “Are you working tonight?”

She suppressed a smirk. “No.” She looked down at her outfit, and then innocently back to him. “Why?”

“Oh.” He shrugged. “No reason. These are for you.” He extended the flowers.

“You shouldn’t have.” She took the unbound cluster of flowers and laid them on the table next to her small black handbag. “Ready?”

“Sure.” He turned and headed down the porch steps.

Slightly irritated that he didn’t bother to wait for her, she quickly snatched up her handbag and stepped onto the porch, pulling the door shut behind her. But rather than to hurry and catch up to him, she decided to teach him a lesson and make him wait on her. Lollygagging, she sat on the steps to untie her shoe and retie it. Then she stood and dusted off the back of her jeans as she headed toward his brand-new maroon 4X4 pickup truck. Maroon was her least favorite color. Just the sight of it soured her mood. She had barely climbed in and closed the door when he took off down the driveway.

She glanced over at him. He was wearing faded jeans, worn boots, and maroon T-shirt tucked in to show off his oversized silver belt buckle. He wasn’t any more dressed for the occasion than she was. Why, then, was it up to her to dress up for him?

“Just get done plowing the fields?” She glanced out her window to hide her smirk, watching as the last of the red-orange sky faded to a dull gray. Out of the corner of her eye she studied his reaction.

Billy looked down at his clothes. “Oh, that. No, just stepped in a mud puddle. One of the sprinklers sprung a leak.”

“Oh,” she replied quietly. “So, where are we going?”

“You’ll see.” He grinned smugly.

“What’s so amusing?”

He glanced at her and then back at the road. “It’s nothing. So, are you hungry? I’m starving.”

Not really caring what he was smiling about in the first place, she didn’t push the issue. “I could eat.”

He reduced his speed when he reached town, but not by much — a perk of being son of the town sheriff. When they reached their destination, he slowed and pulled into the parking lot.

Brielle’s jaw dropped as she stared at the diner. “Why are we at my
work?
”

“Because this is the only place to get the best bacon cheeseburgers in town.” He grinned, showing off his charming dimples.

Although he was handsome, the neon glow from the diner sign outlined his black hair with red, and his eyes appeared sinister in the darkness. He looked like a fallen angel straight from hell.

“Right.” Brielle pursed her lips and sighed, wondering when this date would be over.
One meal,
she told herself.
One meal and it’s over. I’m putting my foot down and ending it once and for all.

He got out of the truck and headed across the parking lot.

What a pig!
she scoffed, appalled that he didn’t wait for her yet again. She was beginning to wonder if he’d chosen this place for her employee discount.

Standing in the middle of the parking lot, Billy turned around and looked at her.

Just then, Colt exited the diner and headed in the opposite direction, to his truck on the other side of the parking lot.

Brielle gasped and ducked down onto the seat. She could only imagine what Colt would think about seeing her with Billy after she turned him down for a date. Especially after their kiss. It was almost like they belonged together now, yet they hadn’t gone out on their first date yet — thanks to her. She didn’t know how Colt would react, but if the tables were turned…

She heard Colt’s truck rumble to life. She decided to lay on the seat until she was sure he was gone.

The passenger door opened.

Brielle tensed at being caught, but relaxed when she saw it was Billy staring down at her.

Billy’s expression was puzzled. “What are you doing?” he asked impatiently.

“Uhhhh, looking for my lipstick.” She reached for the floor, pretending to search for it.

He stuck his head in and looked under the seat. “I don’t see anything.”

She raised her head up just high enough to see Colt pull out of the parking lot and drive away. “Oh well.” She sat up. “I’ll find it later. Let’s go eat.” Using his shoulder as a crutch to hop to the ground, she crossed the parking lot, not bothering to wait for him.

Billy caught up to her in no time.

They went inside. The steady buzz of multiple conversations and bursts of laughter filled the air. Silverware clanked on porcelain. Orders were shouted back to the kitchen. The busy dinner rush was well under way.

Luckily, aside from the other waitresses, Brielle didn’t see anyone she knew. She wanted to keep her date with Billy as covert as possible. She scanned the busy dining room, spotting an inconspicuous booth along the wall, away from the window.

She rushed ahead of Billy and made a beeline for the booth, not giving him the opportunity to choose where to sit. Worried that he might try to sit next to her, she stopped just short of the booth and motioned with an open palm for him to sit first. After he chose his side, she quickly slid in across from him.

Their waitress, showing an ample amount of cleavage and wearing red lipstick, arrived at the booth to take their order.

“Billy.” The waitress smiled sweetly. She turned to Brielle, adjusting her smile accordingly. “Gabby.” She glanced down at her outfit. “Are you working tonight?”