He took a breath. “On the other hand, we can still have dinner and a show compliments of the Beaver Bunch.”
Her disappointment melted. “I’ll take that deal.”
“Thank you.” Leaning over he gave her a tender kiss. And lingered.
She savored the moment. Had they made progress? A tiny bit, and a man who could bestow such loving kisses wouldn’t stay closed off forever.
Chapter Thirty-One
Turned out Cole liked sweet potatoes topped with sour cream. The chicken and veggie stir-fry he’d helped Mila fix was delicious and the chocolate cupcakes they’d bought at the market’s bakery tasted amazing.
Rufus, Buster and Shorty, looking cute as hell in their Santa hats, had provided lively entertainment the whole time they ate. While Mila had finished the last hat, Cole had put together a playlist for the little guys, one that he’d designed to last through dinner.
At the end, he’d included the jug band’s rendition of Jason Aldean’s You Make It Easy. He wasn’t above tugging on her heartstrings with a tender love song.
Every time he thought about her leaving in the morning, his insides hollowed out. When she was here, anything was possible, but when she was gone….
They’d almost polished off the cupcakes when the tune started. She put hers down and glanced at him. “How did you know?”
“Know what?”
“That I love this one.”
“Lucky guess.” Really lucky. He’d take it as a sign. The jug band hadn’t recorded many love songs. Tunes like The Devil Went Down to Georgia were more their speed. He’d had to talk them into You Make It Easy.
She reached for his hand. “How come you didn’t play this before?”
He wove his fingers through hers, enjoying the image of their clasped hands. Then he looked up. “Didn’t want to be pushy.”
“But now you want to be?”
“Lady, I intend to be the pushiest cowboy you’ve ever come across.” That made her laugh. “I mean it.”
“Alrighty, then. Is this song the beginning of that effort?”
“Guess you could say that.” He couldn’t stop looking at her. Her expressive eyes almost made it possible to read her mind, and the message he was getting filled him with hope. “I’m nuts about you, Mila.”
She leaned closer and lowered her voice to a sultry murmur. “Yo tambien estoy loco por ti, mi amor.”
“I have no idea what you said except for three words but it sounded promising.”
“I said those beavers love their Santa hats.”
“No, you didn’t.” Laughing, he slid off his stool. Whatever she’d said indicated the meal was over and the loving would begin. “I heard loco. I know that one.”
“I said let’s leave the dishes.”
“Nope, not that either.” He scooped her into his arms and carried her over to the couch. “But it fits the tone of whatever you said.”
She wound her arms around his neck. “I suppose you think you can haul me anywhere you want.”
“Sure do, especially when you lean in and murmur indecent suggestions.” He deposited her on the couch and followed her down, nestling between her thighs.
“There was nothing indecent about what I said.”
“I don’t know that, now do I?” Bracing on one arm, he lifted up, slid his hand under the soft material of her top and cupped her breast.
Her breath caught. “Are you planning to do something indecent?”
