Chapter 8
Chapter Eight
Composing herself as best she could, Mila took off her coat and snow boots in the foyer. Breathing pine-scented air mingled with the aroma of cedar smoke helped. The combination of six trees of various sizes and a woodburning fireplace made the house smell delicious.
“You’re taking forever to come in,” Claudie called out from the living room. “Is there a problem?”
“No.” Mila took one more deep breath. “Just enjoying how nice the house smells.” She walked into the cozy living room she shared with her sister.
Claudie’s crochet needle flashed in the glow from the beehive fireplace as she worked on a Christmas tree skirt. She’d pulled her thick brown hair into a ponytail because she insisted it helped her concentrate when her hair was away from her face.
She glanced up. “Well?”
Mila couldn’t seem to do anything but stand there and grin. There were no words.
Her sister leaped up and laid aside her needlework. “You two did it!”
“We did.”
“Oh, my God! Finally!” Racing toward her, Claudie gave her a tight hug. “I knew it.” She stepped back, beaming. “I just knew he wasn’t asking you up there just to look at his special project. Was it good?”
“What do you think?”
Her sister laughed. “I only asked because it’s fun to see you get red. How many times?”
“Hey, I’m not gonna—”
“C’mon. Let me live vicariously.”
“Twice, and we would’ve— well, Mom called with a plumbing emergency, so—”
“She didn’t! Well, fudge, as Cole would say. That sucks. Why didn’t you stay and wait for hm?”
“The pipe under the sink finally broke. He said it could take a couple of hours at least.”
“Stupid pipe. Rotten timing. Dad was supposed to fix the damn thing, and then….”
“I think that’s why she put off having Cole replace it.”
“Oh, definitely. Whenever he does a repair Dad would’ve done, she feels it. You can tell.”
“She’s not the only one. I think about it, too.”
“So do I. We probably all do. But I’m so glad we hired Cole.” She chuckled. “I’ll bet you’re really glad.”
“You could say that.”
“So what’s the status? I assume you’ll continue what you started.”
“Yes.”
“You just lit up like a Christmas tree when you said that.”
“That’s what I feel like. As if someone turned on a switch inside me.”
Claudie laughed. “Someone did, and his name is Cole Sterling. Are you telling everyone?”
“Just you for now, hermana.”
She nodded. “I get that, but they’ll guess something’s going on. You look really happy.”
“Of course I do. It’s Christmas.”
“And you just got an early present. Will you be sneaking over there for fun and games?”
“Sort of, but at this point I have a cover story. I’m making a small addition to his secret project and I’ll work on it at his place to keep from giving anything away.”
“Clever. And what is this secret project? I’m all ears.”
“I’m not going to tell you.”
“Mila!”
“You need to see it for yourself, when everyone else does. Even if I tried to describe it, I couldn’t do it justice.”
“Well, damn. Can you give me a hint?”
“I’ll just say this. Dad would have loved it.”
“Oh, wow. Now I can’t wait. How soon before he trots it out?”
“Christmas Day.”
“You’re killing me, here. I thought for sure you’d come back with a vivid description. I’m already keeping one secret. Why not go for two?”
“Describing it is not the same as seeing it in action.”
“Aha! It moves!”
“Forget I said that.”
“It moves, Dad would love it, and Cole’s unveiling it on Christmas Day. Please tell me it’s not a Santa robot. That would be creepy.”
“Dad would hate a Santa robot.”
“You’re right, he would. Hmm. I suppose it could be a fancy new gate. Gates move and Dad loved his gates, but I can’t imagine what you’d be making to enhance it. Maybe hang a wreath on it. Am I getting close?”
“No.”
“Good, because a fancy gate is a bad idea. We don’t need more gates and we’re not replacing any Dad put up, that’s for sure. Is it like those reindeer that move and light up, the kind you put in the yard?”
“No and stop guessing. You’ll never guess it anyway. Not in a million years.”
“You’re actually not going to tell me? You said you would.”
“I did not.”
“Yes, you did. When I asked what you thought he’d created, you said we’ll see. So who’s the we in that? You and me, that’s who.”
“It’s just an expression. Honest, Claud, you don’t want me to tell you. It will ruin the moment when you get to see if for real.”
“O-kay.” She let out a groan. “If you’re not going to spill the beans on his secret project, you at least have to tell what it was like knocking boots with him. Come sit.” Claudie grabbed her hand and tugged.
She planted her feet. “I’m not gonna.”
“Pretty please. I’ve been living like a nun for months, and I—”
“Your choice.”
“Exactly. Inspire me. Tell me it was amazing, life-changing, made you feel like a woman.”
“I felt like a woman before I went up there.”
“Because you had the hots for him, that’s why. I haven’t had the hots for a man in so long I’ve forgotten what it’s like.”
“You were giving Cole the eye when he first arrived. I thought maybe we’d end up fighting over him.”
“So did I. There’s lots to like about that cowboy. I figured I could work up some enthusiasm. Then I saw the sparks fly between you two and realized I was just trying to talk myself into flirting with him.”
“Your guy’s out there. He just hasn’t shown up yet.”
“If you say so. Is Cole your guy?”
The question startled her. “It’s too soon to tell.” The cautious answer popped out of her mouth like candy from a vending machine. We’re cautious people.
But her automatic response hadn’t been truthful. She’d known from the day she’d first laid eyes on Cole Sterling that he was her guy. If Claudie had wanted him, they would have been in for one helluva fight.