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“I will most likely be going back to St Louis in the next couple of day
s. Maybe we could have dinner tonight?”
***
Jace knocked on the door. When Dean answered, he looked surprised. “Dani’s not here. She went into town to mail a package. You can come in and wait for her if you want to.”
“I knew she wasn’t here. I wanted to talk to you alone, Dean.”
He removed his hat and sat down. “I realize your daughter and I haven’t known each other very long but I have fallen hopelessly in love with her. I also am well aware that there’s a twelve-year difference in our ages. I’m not going to rush her to marry me but I would like your permission to ask her.”
Dean smiled at him. “Dani’s mother and I were six years apart. Age means nothing if people love each other. It’s all about what’s in here,” he stated as he tapped his heart. “I probably shouldn’t tell you this. Dani doesn’t even know but her mom and I only knew each other for a month before I asked her to marry me.” He smiled as he remembered. “Boy, Howdy, did her dad pitch a fit.”
Jace nodded, picturing it in his mind. Any father would probably be upset.
“Back to the present,” Dean said. “As you know, it’s just been me and Danielle since she was very young. We’ve been a team for all those years but it’s time she has a life of her own. I like you and respect you, Jace. I give my permission and thanks for humoring an old man by asking me.”
***
Collier took her to the airport a few days later and kissed her goodbye. He had a sinking feeling he might never see her again. ‘That’s ridiculous. Why wouldn’t she come back? You know how she feels about you. Yeah…but have you told her exactly how you feel about her?’
After he saw her plane leave, he went to The Branding Iron and ordered a beer.
Maggie looked at him and whispered, “What’s up with that ‘hang dog’ face, Collier? Did you lose your best friend?” she teased.
“Yes. Maybe I did. I hadn’t thought about it in those terms but…thanks, Maggie.”
She watched him leave and wondered what she said that solicited that response.
***
Camille spent several days with attorneys discussing the ridiculous charges. She didn’t feel there should be a case let alone any admission of guilt. Suddenly before the papers were signed, the attorneys called to tell her all charges had been dropped. It was over.
She’d been doing a lot of thinking while she was ‘home’ in St. Louis. As she sat in her townhouse, she realized it didn’t feel like home any longer. By the same thought process, Bozeman, Montana didn’t feel like a temporary vacation spot…despite the deceptions and deceit, it had become ‘home’ to her. Perhaps she should consider keeping the property in Bozeman, instead of placing it on the market. It was entirely too big for one person. She would pray about some clarity on the subject.
‘Pray about it? Collier, and perhaps your father, must be rubbing off on you, Camille. You’ve never considered praying about any decision in the past. Maybe that’s why many of them weren’t good decisions.’
She laughed at her own thoughts. As she got ready for bed, she realized she wasn’t looking forward to going back to the office tomorrow. Somehow, the magazine had lost its appeal. Maybe when she got there, she’d feel as she always had.
***
Camille entered the staff meeting to applause and greetings of congratulations.
“I want you to know I’ve missed being here and seeing all of you but first things first,” she told them. “The man decided to withdraw his lawsuit in light of some details I provided. He may still be getting a divorce but it has to do with the fact he was even on a dating site. His wife wasn’t impressed.” Everyone laughed and applauded.
“We want you to know how much we missed our ‘cougar’ and we’re very impressed with the articles you sent,” Jack stated. “It must be tough having a different date every night.”
Camille smiled and said, “It is a hard job but as they say…somebody’s gotta do it.”
The secretary interrupted the meeting by sticking her head in the door while trying to apologize. “I’m terribly sorry, Ms. Desmond but there’s some man out here wearing a cowboy hat and he says he has to see you.”
Before she could answer, Collier pushed past the secretary, picked Camille up and twirled her around. Then he set her down and got on one knee in front of her.
Looking up at her, he said, “This cowboy wants to know if the cougar will marry him.”
He opened a box with a ring in it and held it out to her.
The room was deafeningly quiet while she bent down and kissed him. Then she pulled him to his feet and looking into his face, she told him, “Yes, this cougar will marry the cowboy.”
