Chapter 12
Chapter Twelve
A little past noon, Mila climbed behind the wheel of her powder-blue truck and Cole swung up into the passenger seat.
“Nice truck.”
“Thanks.” Having his sexy self in the passenger seat gave her the fumbles and she had trouble getting the key in the ignition.
“You okay over there?”
“Just…” She managed to jab it in and start the motor. “Hyped up.” His low chuckle turned her insides to molasses.
“So am I. Everything’s… different.”
“No kidding.” She backed out of her parking spot next to the mini-hacienda. “I meant to invite you in to see the trees but I forgot.”
“Another time.”
“Want some Christmas music for the road?”
“How about if we just talk?”
“Fine with me. I don’t need Christmas music. I’m already chock-a-block with the Christmas spirit. I have a feeling this will be one to remember.”
“You could be right.”
Taking a deep breath, she focused on driving instead of the extremely appealing man next to her. When he’d texted that he’d finished the gate repair and wanted to take her to lunch after they shopped, she’d offered to drive because she needed gas.
That was true, but she was also testing his willingness to be chauffeured by a woman. She’d happily let him pay for lunch since it was his idea, but this relationship had the makings of something serious, which put her on alert.
If he harbored any rigid beliefs about a woman’s place, she wanted to know. He’d readily agreed to her plan and his relaxed posture told her he was fine riding shotgun. Great news.
Since he’d chosen conversation over holiday music, she started the ball rolling. “I was bummed about the party at first, but now I’m glad we’re going. As you pointed out last night, we’ve never danced together.”
“I’ve been thinking about that. It’s almost as if we made a mutual decision. Did you ever consider asking me?”
“I did, but I hesitated. It felt like a big step.”
“Same here. I wonder if we both sensed what might happen if we got that close.”
From the corner of her eye she caught him watching her. “And we might start something we weren’t ready for?”
“Exactly.”
Her body began to tingle. Maybe music was a better choice. “Are we ready for it now?”
“God, I hope so. We’d better be, because there’s no going back.”
“Nope.”
“I can’t speak for you, but I needed these six months to settle in, get acclimated. Gather info.”
“Info?”
“About you.”
She laughed. “That’s funny. Obviously I didn’t need to settle in, but I’ve been gathering info about you, too.”
“From Jordie, no doubt.”
“I promise she was discreet. I don’t think she told me anything you wouldn’t want her to. It was all good stuff.”
“Like I said, she has zero objectivity when it comes to me.”
“Oh, I wouldn’t say that.”
“She talked trash about me?”
“Oh, no. She adores you.” She paused behind the gate, which swung open without hesitation. “Nice job on the hinge.”
“Thank you. So Jordie adores me, but what else did she say?”
“That you’ve always short-changed yourself.” She drove through the gate and out to the highway. “She’s hopeful you’re on a new path.”
“I am. Case in point. I’m here with you.”
“That’s flattering.”
“It’s not flattery. It’s the truth. Six months ago I left a nice woman. Absolutely nothing wrong with her, except… now I know what I was missing.”
She glanced at him. The heat in his gray eyes made her gulp. Heart pounding, she quickly brought her attention back to the road. “Now all I can think about is backseat sex.”
“No can do. I didn’t bring condoms. On purpose.”
“Good, because everyone around here knows my truck.” She took a shaky breath. “It’s a bad idea. But I want to. I keep telling myself the newness is making me crazy. It’ll wear off.”
“Doesn’t feel like it.”
“Yeah, I know. Certainly not during this drive to town. Let’s switch subjects. Who did you ask about me?”
“Everybody. I like to think I was subtle but I’ll bet they all knew I had a crush.”
“And what did you learn?”
“That they all look up to you as a leader. They think of Adam as a leader, too, but you’re the one they tend to ask for advice. You’re smart, steady, and have a Montana-sized heart.”
“Aww.”
“Claudie told me you two fought constantly growing up, but now you’re best friends.”
“We were desperate to stake out our territory. I know kids fight in families that aren’t blended, but getting insta-siblings adds rocket fuel to those battles.”
“You’d never know it now. This Bridger Bunch is solid.”
“You might not have said so if you’d been here when Dad died, but we’ve got our feet under us, now. We’re stronger than ever.”
“Looks like it from where I stand.” He hesitated. “I also know about your loser guy. But we don’t have to talk about him if you don’t want to.”
“It’s okay. I still can’t believe I fell for his sob-story routine, but I totally bought it.”
“Because you have a big heart.”
“And a blind spot, it seems. When he mistreated me I gave him grace because he was damaged. Turns out he enjoyed being mean. Made him feel powerful.”
“Sounds like a fudging bastard.”
“Yep. Sometimes abused people end up becoming abusers.”
“I suppose.”
“He lived rent-free in my head way too long, first when I believed I could help him and later when I felt like a fool because he didn’t want my help. He wanted control.”
“I’m sorry.”
“Here’s the good news. I clearly booted him out of my head and made room for someone new, because here you are.”
“Lucky me.” He said if softly, almost reverently.
Happiness flooded through her, washing away the last vestiges of that terrible choice she’d made in the past. Not this time. “In case you can’t tell, I’m grateful for you, Cole.”
His breath hitched. “You can’t imagine what that means to me. I won’t let you down.”
“I can’t picture how you ever would. Hey, we’re almost there. Which do you want to do first, shopping for the hats or lunch?”
“Shopping, please.”
“Parking on the square will be a zoo, so I’ll just take what I can find. We might have to walk a bit. Do you mind? My brothers aren’t big on walking.”
“Doesn’t bother me.”
“Glad to hear it.” She braked at the stop sign and waited for traffic to clear before pulling onto the square. “Sing out if you see a space. I’d rather park here than in the overflow lot.”
“You might have to, though. It’s packed.”
“It is, but oh, look! Someone’s backing out of a spot in front of the barbershop. We’re golden.” She put on her turn signal and let out a sigh. “It’s busy, but that’s how it’s supposed to be. I love coming to town during the countdown to Christmas.”
“Yeah, it’s very pretty.”
“The Rockefeller Center tree in New York is gorgeous, but I’m partial to the one in our gazebo.” She pulled into the parking spot and shut off the motor. “Not bad. Only half a block from the General Store.”
“Let’s do it.” He unbuckled his seat belt and climbed out.
When she joined him on the sidewalk, he held out his hand. “Ready for this, Mila?”
“Holding hands?”
“Yes, ma’am.”
“You bet, cowboy.” She linked her fingers through his and they set off down the sidewalk, prompting a few looks and smiles along the way.
Every lamp post along the way was decorated with a Santa hat and a spray of evergreen mixed with holly tied with a red bow. The old-fashioned barber pole in front of Shear Thing wore a Santa hat, too.
Spray snow and painted holiday greetings filled store windows.
The traditional life-sized display of Santa’s sleigh and his reindeer sat near the gazebo while inside, next to the tree, Santa occupied an ornate throne.
A slow-moving line of animated children and their semi-patient parents stretched almost to the street.
A cozy warmth settled in her chest. She’d always dreamed of walking the square at Christmas with a man who appreciated this place as much as she did.
And here he was. “Don’t you just love this?” She glanced over at him.
He met her gaze, warmth in his gray eyes. He squeezed her hand. “Sure do.”
No doubt about it. This would be the best Christmas ever.