Chapter 3
Chapter Three
Kissing Mila without clarifying…well, anything…could be a mistake. Cole accepted that possibility.
Near as he could tell, she needed a hug. It so happened he needed a kiss. Combining the two was a natural pairing.
With her breasts pressed firmly against his chest, he couldn’t separate the crazy beating of his heart from hers. He held her gaze, made brighter by the color suffusing her cheeks.
She hadn’t grabbed onto him yet. Her hands rested on his shoulders. Neutral. Uncommitted. To be on the safe side, he gave her time to push him away.
She stayed put, her rosy lips slightly parted, her breathing quick and shallow. Keeping her tucked close, he cupped the back of her head.
Her hair felt glorious, soft and silky. Spreading his fingers, he sifted through those dark, glossy waves.
Her breath hitched and she gripped his shoulders.
“Second thoughts?”
“Nope.”
“Alrighty, then.” Pulse racing, he dipped his head and touched down on her tempting mouth. Fire coursed through his veins, but he’d go slow, be gentle, not rush—
Whoa! Clearly Mila had other plans. Wrapping her arms around his neck, she urged him closer and boldly invited him in. Her whimper of impatience sent a potent message. Take whatever you want.
And oh, how he wanted. He deepened the kiss, plunging his tongue into her mouth. Her sexy moan blew a hole in every good intention. Gripping her tush, her pulled her in tight, groaning as his heat melded with hers.
His cock surged to life and hunger laid waste to restraint.
Reaching under her sweater, he found the back catch of her bra.
She moaned again, clearly urging him on.
He dealt with the hooks, loosening the bra so he could cradle her breast and stroke her nipple until it grew rigid, eager for the tug of his mouth.
Her warm skin against his palm made him dizzy with anticipation. Once they made it through those barn doors, he would caress her until she begged for what they both wanted, what they’d waited for….
His better angel murmured something in his ear. He blocked it. The warning came again. You waited for a reason, idiot! You could ruin everything!
Mustering what little control he had left, he forced himself to stop kissing her, but he couldn’t make himself let go of her breast. He gulped for air. “We have to—”
“Open the…open the doors. I know.” She gasped out the words.
“First…first we should…talk.”
“Talk?” Panting, she wiggled out of his arms, dislodging his hand. “Now?”
“Yes.” He fought the urge to reach for her. “About our—”
“You had your hand on my tata!” She tugged down her sweater.
“I only meant to kiss you.”
“Seriously?”
“Kissing’s a big deal! A first step! I thought we’d kiss and maybe cuddle and then…talk.”
She glanced at his crotch before returning her attention to his face, eyebrows lifting.
“I can’t help that. You get to me.”
Crossing her arms over her chest, she heaved a sigh. “Que loco, hombre.”
He scrubbed a hand through his hair. “Yes, ma’am. I should’ve known better.”
Amusement flashed in her eyes and she pressed her lips together as if trying not to smile.
“To be fair, I’ve never kissed you. Or hugged you. We haven’t even danced together.”
“We line danced together.”
“Doesn’t count. I’ve never touched your body with my body.”
“Well, you have now.” The slight tremble of her mouth and a quiver in her speech confirmed it. She was ready to bust out laughing. “What do you think?”
“It was fudging awesome.”
She grinned, her brown eyes sparkling. “Yeah.”
“I want to do it again.”
“I’d like that.”
“But before we do, I need to find out how you see things.”
Her gaze swept to his crotch again, which was still making a statement. “I see things as very promising.”
His pride and joy gave her a noticeable response. Of course. She had power over that part of his anatomy now. Likely more than he did.
She looked up and smiled. “Sorry. I got distracted. What did you want to talk about?”
“Our situation. I’m the hired hand and you’re the boss’s daughter. We’re not on equal footing.”
Her blink of confusion was followed by a quick frown. “Yes, we are.”
“No, we’re not. I’m here because your mother hired me. You’re here because you belong in this family and always will.” Stating that truth cooled his jets. “If you get mad at me, or for that matter if anybody here gets upset with my behavior, I could be fired. Sent away.”
Her eyes widened and her body tensed. “Did someone tell you that? Because I can’t imagine—”
“No one told me. It’s just the way it is.”
“Ah.” Her expression relaxed. “You had me going for a minute. I couldn’t believe any of us would have said such a thing.” Her warm gaze settled on him. “That might be the way it is in other places, but here? No.”
“What do you mean?”
“You’re way more than the hired hand as you put it. For one thing, you’re my sister-in-law’s brother.”
“True, but that doesn’t make me—”
“Actually it does. When Jordan married Luis, you became part of the Bridger Bunch whether you like it or not.”
The possibility stunned him.
“You didn’t figure that out?”
“No.” He dragged in a breath, his chest tight with emotion. “No, I didn’t.”
“I guess we all thought it was obvious so nobody said it out loud. The focus was on those two, and… I’m sorry, Cole. Somebody should have made a point of it. For sure my dad would’ve.”
He still couldn’t get his head around it. “Then you’re saying….”
“We’re on equal footing.”
“Because of my sister?”
“That clinches it, but simply living and working here makes you way more than an employee. You’re one of us. There’s no hierarchy at Laughing Creek, no power structure. We all pitch in. We all collect paychecks.”
“Even your grandma and aunties?”
She laughed. “They could if they needed to, but those ladies are the savviest investors you’ll ever meet. Mom and Adam rely on them. If you want a stock tip, knock on their door.”
“I might.” He took a breath. “So just by being here, I’ve become one of you?”
“Yes.”
Stuffing his hands in his pockets, he studied the gleaming wood floor under his boots. He could have this place with the Bridger Bunch forever? No matter what? Their display of generosity was overwhelming.
“Cole? Is that a problem?”
He met her gaze. “That makes this—” His gesture included both of them. “Riskier than ever.”
“Why?”
“I was worried I’d screw it up and get kicked out. Now I’m terrified I’ll screw it up and disappoint the good folks who’ve been nothing but kind to me.”
She stepped closer, bringing her cinnamon scent with her. “What if you don’t screw it up?”
“Okay, maybe that won’t be the story. But what if we get into this relationship and discover we’re not right for each other?”
“We’ll be responsible adults.” She laid her palms on his chest. “We’ll admit our mistake, part friends and move on.”
“You make it sound so easy.” The warmth of her hands drove him insane, but he had to talk this through. “It wouldn’t be.”
“Not at first.” She slid her hands up to his shoulders and lifted her face to his. “But this family’s had a lot of practice in healing wounds. We’d have help. We’d be fine.”
“I can be a jerk sometimes. I can’t promise—”
“Neither can I. I have a temper. Ask Claudie.” She gave his shoulders a slow massage. “Here’s the big question. Do you want me?”
The question hit him dead center, sending waves of longing through every cell of his body. “You have no idea how much.”
“Enough to take a risk?”
Heart pounding, he absorbed the challenge in her eyes. “Yes.”
“When?”
“Now.” Sweeping her into his arms, he carried her over to the barn doors and nudged them apart with his foot.
She clung to him, breathing fast as she glanced toward his massive king. “Your bed isn’t a hot mess.”
“It’s about to be.”