Chapter 2
Chapter Two
Mila had never seen something so clever and appealing in her life. By creating it, this big tough cowboy had just added a whole new dimension to his captivating personality.
“Cole, I love it.” And she hugged him. A split second after she’d thrown her arms around his muscular torso she reconsidered that impulse and stepped back. “Sorry. I got carried away.”
His gaze was direct. “No apologies necessary.”
The light in his gray eyes made her quiver. Her breasts tingled from the momentary press of his solid chest and her nose was totally enjoying the scent of his aftershave. The sound of his quick breath echoed in her ears.
What was wrong with her? She couldn’t seem to stop sending mixed signals. She’d promised herself this was only a social call, but within minutes she’d stumbled into an ill-advised conversation about his bedroom that had almost gotten her kissed.
After diffusing that situation, she’d landed back in the soup by giving him a spontaneous hug. If she didn’t figure out her intentions toward Cole Sterling in the next few seconds, her wayward libido was liable to make the decision for her.
“I like you, Mila.”
His husky confession sent flames licking through her body. “I like you, too.”
“Want to see how it works?”
She gasped. “Now?”
His eyebrows rose. Then he chuckled.
The sound of that chuckle, low and sexy as hell, doused her with lust. Was he about to make a move? Was she?
“I was talking about this.” He gestured toward the animatronics. “But if you want to talk about something else, then—”
“Nope!” She snapped out of her hormone-drenched fantasy. “I knew that’s what you meant.”
He didn’t contradict her. Not out loud. But his knowing glance said it all.
For months she’d kept her feelings under control, sensing his hesitancy toward getting involved. That had been easy since they were never alone. Then he’d buried himself in this project.
But now…they were so alone. Completely, arousingly alone. Her heart pounded like crazy. She’d seriously underestimated the effect that would have on her.
He took a breath. “I swear I didn’t ask you up here to seduce you.”
“I’m sure you didn’t.”
“Why are you sure?”
“That’s not you, amigo.” She swallowed, tried to marshal her thoughts. “You’ve been super respectful. Ambivalent, too.”
“Because I am.”
“For the record, I didn’t come up here with ulterior motives.”
“But here we are.” His warm gaze searched hers. “We should probably have a conversation about it.”
“We should. Definitely.” A discussion? That option hadn’t crossed her mind.
“But first I need to cool down. And I’d like to show you these guys in action.”
“I’d like that, too.” She barely had enough breath to speak. He needed to cool down after one hug? Wow.
“Then here goes.” He walked over to a control box on the wall to the left of the platform.
Drawing in air, she released it slowly. They’d acknowledged what had been simmering between them for months. Was she ready to go forward?
Cole had switched his attention to his project, giving her a moment to calm down, too. Or she could spend the time imagining the wonders hidden beneath his loose-fitting clothes. She chose Option B.
How would it feel being held by arms strong enough to carry a stack of planks from his truck to the loft? To have his capable hands stroke her in intimate places? To touch his broad chest, to cup glutes made firm by all those trips up and down the stairs, to cradle—
“I timed their motions to a recording from a jug band I played with a few years ago.”
“A jug band? You were in a jug band?” The question came out as a high-pitched squeak.
He turned to face her, his gray eyes sparkling with amusement. “That surprises you?”
“Not really. I mean… I shouldn’t be. You play a mean fiddle.” Get it together, girlfriend.
“Thanks.” He accepted the compliment easily without a trace of arrogance.
Well, he should be proud of his abilities. After all, excellence was his trademark…. That realization inspired another wave of lust.
Obviously he was aware. His gray eyes momentarily darkened. With an almost imperceptible shake of his head, he turned back toward the trio of beavers. “The circular platform they’re on is designed to rotate so the whole display moves outside to sit above the barn doors.”
“Wow. That’s cool.”
“It is if it works. Haven’t tested it yet.”
“Why not?” She would by damn pay attention to what he’d created. He’d honored her by letting her see it before anyone else.
“I’d have to do it at night to preserve the surprise and in this weather it might get stuck.”
“I guess it could. So you’ll only rotate it outside during the day in the winter?”
“I’ll have to see how it goes, weather-wise. It’s designed to look good at night, too. Here’s phase one, the static display.” He flicked a switch and several small lanterns glowed on the knotty pine wall of the rustic country bandstand. Footlights illuminated the performers.
She sighed with pleasure. “That’s beautiful.”
“I wanted it to be interesting whether they’re playing or not.” He studied his little critters with obvious affection. “On a warm summer evening, they can be out there looking cute even when they’re not doing anything.”
“And if the weather’s bad, you can bring them back in. Brilliant.”
“Weather was the critical problem I had to solve. I knew they could sit on the overhang above the barn doors, but unlike the raccoons over the bar, they can’t stay there.”
“But they can perform in here, instead.”
He smiled. “If you mean I just created the perfect party venue—”
“You sure did. Especially if they can play more than one song.”
“They can.”
She glanced back at the couch and easy chairs surrounding the fireplace. “And here I thought you might be a bit of a recluse.”
“What gave you that idea?”
“You soundproofed this loft as if you were making a recording studio. Or a man cave.”
He laughed. “Never wanted a man cave. But I would like the horses and me to be good neighbors who don’t disturb each other. That doesn’t make me a hermit.”
“I see your point, but you also seemed perfectly happy tucked away for two months working on your secret project.”
“I was, but mostly because I was excited about getting this done. I also have a great time hanging out with your family.”
“We’re not too much?”
“Not at all. I’m fine with this becoming a party venue because I’m also pretty good at telling people when the party’s over. But performing in here isn’t the goal. I need this platform to rotate or the plan’s a bust.”
“Well, either the mechanism works or you’ll figure out how to fix it. That’s what my dad always said about his projects.”
“Judging from what I’ve heard, that guy was a genius.”
“Who says you’re not?”
That clearly startled him. Then his expression changed and his eyes gleamed the way they had when she’d been carrying on about the barn doors. “Watch your language, lady.” He adopted a lazy drawl. “Them’s kissin’ words.”
A flood of desire almost left her speechless. Almost. She lifted her chin and met his intense gaze. “So what?”
His soft laughter rippled over her like a caress. “We’ve come this far. I’ll be damned if I’m gonna fudging kiss you before I show you how these varmints perform.”
“Then you’d better turn them on quick, amigo.” Her words came out in a breathless rush, as a courage she didn’t know she had made her bold. “We’re running out of time.”
“Yes, ma’am. It does look that way.” Facing the control box again, he hit another switch.
The animals came to life — slapping their tails in rhythm on the floor and playing their instruments — a fiddle, a washboard and a washtub string bass.
All God’s Creatures Got a Place in the Choir poured from speakers mounted on the platform. The bass player and the percussionist appeared to sing along. The fiddler kept up a lively motion with his bow. The charming performance brought a unexpected lump to her throat. Her dad would have loved this.
“Mila?”
She glanced up.
The music had ended and Cole stood close, very close, his brow furrowed. “Is something wrong with it?”
“No, it’s beautiful, stupendous, incredible.”
“But you look sad.”
“Because my dad would’ve gone nuts over those furry creatures. He would have laughed so hard at calling them the Beaver Bunch. They would have brought him so much joy.”
With a soft sigh and a murmured come here, he drew her gently into his arms.
She went gladly, gratefully, her gaze locked with his. “Didn’t you want to talk first?”
“It’ll have to wait.”