“I’m out. I’ll be in the truck. In the backseat, of course.” He started to close the door, then opened it again. “The rest of you look awesome, too. Nice up-do, Gret.” He closed the door.
“Little brothers,” Claudie mumbled. “Can’t live with ’em, can’t live without ’em.”
“I’m glad he caught us.” Mila buttoned her coat. “Now Cole and I can act natural. It’ll be more fun this way.”
“I agree.” Cole glanced around. “Looks like we’re all ready to?—”
A horn blared from somewhere outside.
Claudie started for the door. “Rio Bridger, so help me?—”
“That’s not my horn,” Cole said. “I think it’s?—”
“The van’s horn?” Raquel laughed. “Of course it is. We’d better get a move on, Greta. The Dazzling Damsels are ready to party.” She started for the door. “Which reminds me, Cole, are you taking your fiddle?”
“It’s in the truck.”
“Excellent. Tia Ezzie would’ve been heartbroken if you’d decided not to play tonight. She’s hoping you know Feliz Navidad.”
“If Mila can sing it for me I can probably manage it.” He glanced her way.
“I’ll be glad to.”
“Ezzie will be thrilled. We’ll see you kids there.” She and Greta hurried out and closed the door behind them.
“You two go ahead.” Claudie made a shooing motion. “I need to turn off the Christmas trees.”
“Oh, right!” Mila looked at Cole. “I’ll bet you didn’t even notice them with all that was going on.”
“No, but I can check them out now.” He swung around and surveyed the trees, a big one by the front window, medium-sized trees on either side of the fireplace a safe distance away from any flames, and a small one on the coffee table. “Very nice. Must have taken a lot of time.”
“We love doing it.” Claudie switched off the lights on the largest one. “One of our favorite things. Okay, go ahead. I’ve got this.”
As Cole held the door, Mila took a mental picture of his handsome self, her date for the night. Yum. “Is anyone else riding with us besides Rio?”
“Yes, ma’am. Monty.” He closed the door, took her hand and headed for the truck parked outside the low wall surrounding the front patio.
Claudie caught up with them. “Did I just hear you say Monty’s going with us?”
“He is.”
“Then I’ll talk to him about Pickles, who’s favoring his right front foot.”
Mila chuckled. “And keep him talking so he won’t fall asleep?”
“Bingo.”
“Is that a possibility?” Cole sounded surprised.
“Always is if he’s a passenger,” Mila said.
“And when he sleeps, he leans,” Claudie added as Rio climbed out of the truck. “Traditionally I’m in the middle because my legs are shorter.”
“As it happens, I don’t have that tradition in my truck.” Cole squeezed Mila’s hand and let go as he approached Rio. “Go ahead and hop in, buddy. That way we can make sure Claudie doesn’t wrinkle her skirt on the drive in.”
“You bet, Cole. Good thinking.” Rio hopped in the truck and took the middle seat.
Claudie leaned toward Mila. “Hang onto this one.”
