“Yes, and you’ll see that the inside is very roomy, too.”
Glancing at her, he arched an eyebrow. “I’ll have my own bedroom?”
“Of course. In fact, there is a room in the barn that you can use if you want more privacy.”
He shrugged. “That actually might be better for me since I’m not sure how I’ll get along with my father.”
“That’s understandable.”
As they reached the porch steps, she tried hurrying up, but the hem of her skirt tangled in her boots. She fell on her knees on the second step. Embarrassment filled her, and she wanted to find a hole and bury herself.
“Blaze, are you all right?” Colt grasped her arm, bending to her level.
She laughed uncomfortably. “Oh, you know me. Always finding new ways to get bruised.” She looked up into his caring eyes.
“If I didn’t know better, I’d think you weren’t used to wearing skirts.”
Heat exploded in her face, and she was sure her red face would be seen in a fog. “You know me well.”
He chuckled and helped her stand. “Well, you don’t have to dress up on my account. If you feel like wearing trousers, then wear them.”
“I would, but my aunt is trying to turn me into a lady.” She shrugged. “She’s afraid my soon-to-be husband is going to take one look at me and run the other way.”
“Nah.” Colt stroked her heated cheek. “You’re too pretty. He’ll love you immediately.”
Her gaze met his intense stare. Just as she didn’t want it to happen, her heartbeat quickened with excitement, making her breathing faster than it had been before.
His gaze jumped from her eyes to her mouth. She swallowed hard.Move away, now! This isn’t right!And yet, as hard as her mind screamed at her, she couldn’t move. She enjoyed the way he caressed her cheek.
But there was no way this could happen between them. She’d fall in love with him all over again, and he’d leave just as he’d done before.
The heat in her face intensified, so she quickly turned the other way as she took the steps slower this time. The stinging in her knees wasn’t as terrible as the shame washing over her.
He opened the door for her, and she walked inside. She moved toward the sitting room, since this was where George usually occupied his time when he wasn’t feeling well. Today, he sat in his heavily cushioned chair, reading the newspaper. He glanced up at her, but then his gaze shifted to Colt, who came in behind her.
Happiness lightened George’s sick eyes, and he smiled. “Colt! You’re here.”
As he struggled to stand, Colt moved past her to help his father out of the chair. The older man threw his arms around his son, hugging him tightly. Tears of joy filled George’s eyes. Blaze’s eyes misted over as well from witnessing their reunion. She prayed Colt was just as happy as his father, but she doubted he would be. Those two hadn’t been able to get along since she first met Colt. Hopefully, the two men would be able to fix things with their relationship while George was still alive.
* * * *
COLT SAT ON THE BLACKleather chair in his father’s study, staring out the window as the sun sank on the horizon. Orange, pink, and red with splashes of blue painted the sky. He enjoyed watching the sun, realizing that sunsets here were still just as beautiful as anywhere in the world.
And speaking of beautiful... Immediately, Blaze’s face popped into his mind. He couldn’t count how many times during the past twenty-four hours that he had replayed the moment when the earth stood still while caressing her cheek after she had tripped on the stairs. Their gazes had melded together in some kind of passionate, silent communication. Something had sparked within him, and he saw it in her eyes, too.
Why would he think of her this way now? She was his friend and nothing more. He needed a friend more than he did a female companion to warm his arms and kiss passionately.
Sighing, he leaned back in the chair and twirled a black mask with his finger. Apparently, Last Chance’s doctor, Cade Hamilton, was throwing a costume party for his wife’s birthday. From what Colt’s father had told him, Last Chance had been growing in the past several months, and the town needed a party to get to know each other.
The household had known about this for weeks, and although Colt didn’t want to attend, Lisa made sure he had a costume. Now he had no other choice. Lately, his options were being stripped from him, and he didn’t know how to fight them.
The door to the study opened and in walked his frail father, using a cane for help. Colt’s father no longer had thick, black hair, instead his hair had receded on his forehead and was turning gray. Once upon a time, George Masterson had been a robust man, but now... time had taken its toll on him.
“There you are,” his father said, closing the door behind him. “I wondered where you had disappeared.”
Colt shrugged and turned his focus back to the astonishing sunset. “I’m here, just trying to talk myself out of going to that costume party tonight.”
“Now, Son, you should really go. Lisa spent a lot of time on your costume. It would be wrong to let her down.”
