The clock on the dash told her it was seven o’clock. Dinner was at six, so by now they would be wondering where she was. Lamar Norris and his son, Adam, were dinner guests, and her father was not going to be happy she wasn’t there. He’d been trying for the past few months to arrange a date between her and Adam. She had stoically refused. She was not attracted to Adam. He didn’t wear cowboy boots or a Stetson hat or have green eyes. Every man she met she compared to Colter, and they all came up short. She’d never admitted that to herself before. She hadn’t moved on at all. She continued to wallow in the emotions of the past.
The man in question didn’t want her anywhere near him or his daughter. He’d made that very plain. Yet here she was, stuck for the night.
She wondered if her mother had arrived safely. If she had any idea where Marisa was, she’d have a fit. Cari was the only one who knew. She hoped her parents assumed she’d sought shelter from the storm. They’d be worried, but there was nothing she could do about that.
Hearing voices, she turned the motor off and climbed out. She grabbed her purse, then followed Colter, Ellie and Sooner into the house. Colter carried an armload of wood and Ellie held the door for him. Tulley was outside piling more wood on the patio.
Colter had a roaring fire going in a matter of minutes, and Marisa realized she had a problem: her clothes were dirty and wet. But she wasn’t going to mention it. She’d caused enough trouble. She huddled closer to the fire.
Tulley came through the patio doors with a couple of flashlights. “Ah, it feels better in here already.”
“Ellie, take the flashlight and see if you can find Ms. Preston some dry clothes in Becky’s room.” Colter spoke from the doorway, and she could feel his eyes on her.
“Are you wet?” Ellie asked, still wrapped in her big coat.
“Yes. I went out to my car.”
“You have to walk fast. That way you don’t get wet.”
“I’ll remember that,” she replied with a grin.
“Ellie, the clothes,” Colter said in an impatient voice.
“Okay. Okay.” Ellie took the flashlight from Tulley and headed for the stairs.
“I’ll go with you,” Marisa offered.
“There’s no need,” Colter snapped.
“She has to put them on, Daddy,” Ellie said, as if she were talking to a child.
There was a long pause. “Okay, but hurry. It’s cold up there.”
Marisa trailed Ellie and Sooner up the stairs onto a balcony overlooking the den. She could see the fire blazing and Colter and Tulley silhouetted against it. They were talking—probably about her—and she wished this night was over.
Ellie found her a pair of jeans, a T-shirt, a sweatshirt, wool socks and a corduroy jacket. The jeans were a tad big in the waist, but everything else fit fine. Her cashmere coat was ruined, as were her shoes.
Ellie shone the light on her high heels. “Wow. Can I try them on?”
“Sure, but let’s take them downstairs. It’s warmer there.”
“Okay.” Ellie took off running with the heels, and Marisa followed more slowly.
In the den, Colter and Tulley had made a pallet with blankets and quilts, and there were more quilts on the sofa.
“Oh boy,” Ellie cried, falling down on the pallet, the heels forgotten. “We’re having a slumber party.”
“It’s not a party,” Colter said, his voice stern.
“Is, too,” Ellie insisted.
Colter sighed. “Tulley’s put out some cold cuts, fruit and soft drinks, so eat, and then we’ll all get some sleep.”
They sat on the floor around the coffee table. Colter ate sitting on the sofa, and she noticed a telltale grimace when he leaned over to reach for the mustard. His leg must be hurting, but he’d never admit it.
Marisa wasn’t aware of what she was eating. The fire was warm and cozy and the candlelight flickered hypnotically. She felt as if she’d slipped into another time, another place, where she should’ve been eight years ago—here with Colter… She stopped those thoughts immediately.
Tulley gathered up the leftovers. “I’ll throw this in the trash, then I’m off to my featherbed.”
Ellie ran and gave him a kiss. “’Night, Tulley.”
“’Night, shorty.”
“Tulley’s tough,” Ellie told her. “He grew up in the— What did he grow up in, Daddy?”
“The Depression.”
“Yeah, and sometimes all he had to eat was bread and water. He didn’t have any shoes, either, and he had to walk ten miles to school.”
“Tulley’s pretty impressive.” She smiled.
“He also tells impressive stories,” Colter said under his breath.
“’Night, everyone,” Tulley called, and Marisa could hear the laughter in his voice.
Colter stood. “You take the sofa.” He didn’t call her by name, but she knew he was talking to her.
“No. I’ll sleep on the floor.”
“You’ll sleep on the sofa.” His words were final.
“Let her sleep with me, Daddy, please,” Ellie begged. “We’re having a slumber party.”
“Ellie.” He groaned in frustration.
Ellie quickly removed her coat and crawled beneath the covers, Marisa did the same before Colter could object.
“’Night, Daddy,” Ellie said.
Marisa heard a long, irritated sigh, then the squeak of the sofa. He was giving in, and she felt as if she’d achieved a small victory.
“Oh, oh.” Ellie jumped up and ran to Colter. “I forgot to kiss you.”
In a moment she was back. “I kiss Daddy every morning and every night. He can’t live without my sugar—ain’t that right, Daddy?”
“Isn’t that right?” Colter corrected.
“Yeah. It is.”
Marisa smiled as Ellie crawled beneath the covers again. Sooner nuzzled his way beside her. How could any woman give up this child? She was adorable.
“Do you have kids?” Ellie asked.
“No—” she answered with a catch in her voice.
“Are you married?”
“Ellie.” Colter’s voice rang out.
“Daddy’s kind of grouchy,” Ellie whispered to her.
“Go to sleep,” Colter said.
“It’s too early.”
“I’m not in a mood to argue about that tonight. Just go to sleep.”
“He’s real grouchy,” Ellie amended.
COLTER CLOSED his eyes, hardly able to believe that Marisa Preston was here in his house, talking to his child, and there was nothing he could do about it. This was going to be the longest night of his life.
He knew Ellie wouldn’t stop asking her questions. She did that with every woman she thought might