“Hey, my brother was getting married. If you can’t get tipsy on your brother’s wedding day, when can you?”
“And if Jordie and Luis hadn’t fallen in love….”
“We’d never have met.”
His gaze was steady. “Tough to imagine.”
“Just now you said this is wonderful and scary. You’re scared?”
“Yep. You?”
“Uh-huh.” She took a breath. “You’re out of my comfort zone, Cole Sterling.”
“Backatcha.”
“But…I want to see where this takes us.”
“Me, too.”
“To Luis and Jordan.” She lifted her bottle in his direction.
He tapped it with his. “To leaving comfort zones.”
Chapter Seven
Cole wasn’t used to getting what he asked for. This setup was exactly what he’d envisioned back in June when he’d left his unsatisfying job and ended a tepid relationship.
Mila was the woman he’d always wanted — imaginative, principled, funny, sexy. He’d felt a zing of recognition from the moment they’d met. Being in charge of ranch maintenance suited him to a T. No two days were the same and he couldn’t ask for better folks to hang with.
On top of that, he got to see his sister on a regular basis. He’d missed her like crazy when she’d created a business that kept her on the road. But now she traveled less and when she was home, she was steps away.
Hell yeah, he was scared it might all disappear. And excited for the chance he’d been given to finally get it right.
“Did you ask the Beaver Bunch if they’d play for us?”
“I forgot.” He flashed her a grin. “Had other things on my mind.” Putting down his beer, he slipped off the stool and headed over to those critters. She hadn’t seen everything they could do.
The control box door was still open, the main switch still on. Once he’d kissed her, those animatronic critters had taken a back seat. He picked up a wireless mic he had hanging on the wall and turned it on.
He didn’t need a mic since Mila could hear him just fine, but he might as well practice using it. “Hey, Rufus! We’d be much obliged if you boys would play us a tune.” Then he hit one of the many switches in front of him.
Rufus turned his head in Cole’s direction and his mouth moved. “On it, boss! Whatcha hankerin’ fer?”
Mila whooped in delight. “That’s you?”
“Heck, no. That’s Rufus. That’s how he talks.”
She giggled. “Love it.”
He glanced back at the trio. “How about On the Road Again?”
“Copy that, boss!” Rufus turned toward the others as Cole punched in the selection. He didn’t have many numbers loaded yet, but eventually he’d have a couple of hours worth.
Cuing up a jug band version of Willie Nelson’s classic, he added two more tunes, a jug band rendition of Johnny Cash’s Ring of Fire and Do You Believe in Magic by the Lovin’ Spoonful. All three came from a flash drive of recordings made by his old jug band. Good thing he’d saved it.
Closing the control box door, he returned to Mila as those beavers launched into their routine. She was an appreciative audience, giving them all her attention as she ate her sandwich and soup.
He pretended to be watching them, too, but instead he focused all his senses on her. He still couldn’t quite believe his good fortune.
