“Oh.” Technically he hadn’t seen anything. He was an expert at directing his attention elsewhere.
“Well, that goes for the bachelors. Adam and Tracy put theirs up together and Luis might have decorated more for Jordan than to please Auntie Carmen this year.”
“Maybe.” He doubted his sister had been the driver of that activity. But he’d had very few chances to talk privately with her recently. She might have been able to ditch her negative associations and enjoy her first Christmas with the Bridger Bunch.
“You’ve probably noticed that Mom and Greta go big for the holiday, too.”
“Yes, ma’am.” A tiny white lie. No one, not even Jordie, knew how much Christmas triggered him. He wanted it to stay that way.
“Anyway, I’ve rattled on long enough. Can I please see this secret of yours?”
“Absolutely.” His original excitement for the project helped center him. He crossed to the sheet-draped display. “But before I take this off, I have a disclaimer. I had fun making what you’re about to see, but if you think it won’t work for the family, I’ll just use it to amuse myself.”
“Does it amuse you?”
“Well, yeah, but?—”
“Then there’s an excellent chance I’ll love it. Let’s take a look.”
“Alrighty.” An unexpected touch of stage fright made him hesitate. Then he reached for the sheet and yanked it off.
“Oh, my gosh!” Her bright laughter spilled out and her eyes sparkled with delight. “Beavers! Three adorable beavers!”
“Yes, ma’am.” Relief flooded through him and he grinned. “It’s the Beaver Bunch.”
Chapter Two
Mila had never seen something so clever and appealing in her life. By creating it, this big tough cowboy had just added a whole new dimension to his captivating personality.
“Cole, I love it.” And she hugged him. A split second after she’d thrown her arms around his muscular torso she reconsidered that impulse and stepped back. “Sorry. I got carried away.”
His gaze was direct. “No apologies necessary.”
The light in his gray eyes made her quiver. Her breasts tingled from the momentary press of his solid chest and her nose was totally enjoying the scent of his aftershave. The sound of his quick breath echoed in her ears.
What was wrong with her? She couldn’t seem to stop sending mixed signals. She’d promised herself this was only a social call, but within minutes she’d stumbled into an ill-advised conversation about his bedroom that had almost gotten her kissed.
After diffusing that situation, she’d landed back in the soup by giving him a spontaneous hug. If she didn’t figure out her intentions toward Cole Sterling in the next few seconds, her wayward libido was liable to make the decision for her.
“I like you, Mila.”
His husky confession sent flames licking through her body. “I like you, too.”
“Want to see how it works?”
She gasped. “Now?”
His eyebrows rose. Then he chuckled.
The sound of that chuckle, low and sexy as hell, doused her with lust. Was he about to make a move? Was she?
“I was talking about this.” He gestured toward the animatronics. “But if you want to talk about something else, then?—”
“Nope!” She snapped out of her hormone-drenched fantasy. “I knew that’s what you meant.”
He didn’t contradict her. Not out loud. But his knowing glance said it all.
For months she’d kept her feelings under control, sensing his hesitancy toward getting involved. That had been easy since they were never alone. Then he’d buried himself in this project.
