Chapter One
Almost four o’clock. Any minute Mila would be coming up the outside staircase to the hayloft Cole had transformed into his living quarters.
The Bridger Bunch, especially Mila, had been supportive when he’d proposed the conversion last July. By using every spare moment, he’d pulled it off before the first snowfall.
He’d insulated the hell out of the space to counteract critter noise from below and severe weather from outside. Now that another Montana winter was in full swing and the horses stayed indoors quite a bit, he could claim victory on both counts.
Triple-pane windows and four skylights added views and airiness throughout the day. But at this hour in December, he lowered the shades and turned on all six of his hanging lanterns to create a welcoming glow.
Mila hadn’t been up here since he’d given the family a tour in October. No one had. Once the loft had been basically finished, he’d started work on his secret project. Now he was ready to show it off, and he’d chosen Mila as the first to see what he’d created.
The animatronic display at the Rockin’ Racoon had captured his imagination back in July. Two months ago he’d made an appointment with Clem, the tavern’s owner, to get the schematics for the control panel and the wiring. He’d made numerous notes and taken countless pictures.
Thank goodness for online supply sources and Clem’s patience. The guy had cheerfully answered a million texts. Evidently he was tickled to have another animatronics geek in town.
Two days ago Cole had contacted Mila to set up this visit. He’d thrown a sheet over it so he could give her a brief explanation before the big reveal.
If she liked what he’d done, it would pass muster with the others. They valued her opinion, and in the six months he’d lived at Laughing Creek Ranch, he’d come to value it, too.
But it was more than that. He wanted to impress her. There it was, his hidden agenda. He had a crush.
Because she hadn’t been up here in weeks, he’d put elbow grease into tidying up. His place looked fudging good, if he did say so, especially with that round electric fireplace.
He’d blown a chunk of his budget on that red beauty, which hung from a twelve-foot black pipe attached to the rafters. Its 360-degree view of the realistic flames had inspired his open floor plan.
If he pushed back the sliding barn doors that closed off his bedroom, he could enjoy the dancing light and warmth from his bed. This afternoon the doors were closed.
He’d added them in November, after the family tour. They changed the feel of the space from studio apartment to sexy hideaway. At least he thought so, especially when the open doors framed a view of his king-sized bed. But he hadn’t created that vibe on purpose.
Or maybe he had. In any case, his invitation to Mila wasn’t a come-see-my-etchings seduction routine. Not the Cole Sterling way.
Had he fantasized her sharing his bed? Sure. Who could blame him? She was gorgeous, smart and kind-hearted. She had an interest in him, too, judging from quite a few warm glances she’d aimed in his direction.
They’d had slow-burn chemistry from day one. Hadn’t done anything about it, although they’d flirted a bit at his sister Jordan’s wedding to Luis in October. At Jordie’s urging, Cole had brought his fiddle to the reception.
He’d sat in with the band and done a few solos. Soon folks started making requests for tunes he didn’t know. Mila to the rescue. If she could hum it, he could play it and she’d sing along. They’d had fun teaming up.
But he hadn’t made a move. Neither had she. Soon after the wedding, this animatronic endeavor had sucked up his free time. She’d teased him about his mysterious project, clearly hoping he’d let her in on it. Not a chance.
He hadn’t dared let anyone know other than Clem. The possibility of failure had ridden his ass every step of the way. But damned if he hadn’t managed to build something that made him laugh.
That was promising, but not enough. He wanted it to entertain other people. Especially Mila.
That said, getting involved with her was risky. She was literally the boss’s daughter. Not that losing his job as Laughing Creek’s handyman was a big deal. He was highly employable and he knew it.
The risk was strictly emotional. He’d fallen head-over-heels for this ranch, this family. Because they’d generously allowed him to modify the hayloft any way he chose, he had his first real home.
And his own horse. The sleek chestnut who’d been wild until Luis and Rio had coaxed him into the training barn toward the end of July was now gentle enough for a kid to ride.
When Cole had tried to buy him, Luis had shocked him by offering Sparky as a gift. Turned out he and Rio had intended that animal for Cole all along, which was why he’d been named Sparky, fitting for a master electrician.
He glanced at his wall clock. Four o’clock on the dot. Was she on her way? His soundproofing kept him from hearing her boots on the metal stairs outside.
Might as well take a look. Tugging on his boots, he opened the door and stuck his head out. A blast of cold air slapped him in the face. Yep, there she was, about a third of the way up, head down, the hood of her red parka covering her dark curls.
His heart rate spiked. Stepping out on the landing, he grabbed the railing as his boots skidded on newly formed ice. “Be careful! It’s slippery.”
“Si, amigo.” Gripping the metal rail with one gloved hand, she clutched a potted evergreen with the other. “These stairs are no bueno, especially in winter.” Her breath produced little puffs of fog. “You should install an elevator.”
