“He’s a sweetheart.” She looked down at Ollie, who had migrated to her feet again. “And he obviously loves you.”
“Yeah, he does. Goldies are like that. Loyal to the bone.” Cole’s expression warmed, the corners of his eyes creasing. “So. How’s the new vehicle treating you?”
Aftyn twirled her keys around one finger and smiled. “I love it. Rides so smooth. I’m happy.”
“Good.” He straightened and reached for his hat. “I need to go check on the horses. Won’t take long. Make yourself at home and we’ll find something to watch until it’s time to go.”
“Can I put this in your bedroom?” She lifted the garment bag, the paper crinkling softly.
“Of course.” He reached for her overnight case. “I’ll take that. You keep the dress.” His gaze settled on her face with a look that made her glad she’d splurged. “The dress I cannot wait to see you in.”
“I bought it at Paige’s.”
Cole groaned, low and genuine, a rumble from deep in his chest. “There isn’t a red-blooded man in Clifton, Spring City, or Hartland who doesn’t love that place.”
Aftyn laughed. “I can see why.”
They walked to his bedroom together, boots quiet against the hardwood. He set her case down on the patchwork quilt covering his king-sized bed and straightened.
“I’ll be back soon.”
“I’ll be here.” She smoothed the dress bag carefully across the quilt.
“Good.” He crossed to her, kissed her once, softand unhurried, then headed out through the back door.
****
Cole crossed the yard, the dying grass crunching under his boots. The temperature had dropped fast, the way it always did this time of year. September in Clifton was Mother Nature’s idea of a joke, warm enough by noon to forget yourself, then cold enough by evening to remind you exactly where you lived. His breath came out in small clouds and the air bit at his face and hands. He wouldn’t be surprised to find snow dusting the distant mountains by morning.
He pulled the barn door open and stepped inside, the earthy warmth of hay and horses wrapping around him. The familiar smell settled something in his chest the way it always did.
“Hey, boss.” Rio’s voice carried across the space, his silhouette cut sharp against the lights burning in the rafters.
“Rio.” Cole rubbed his palms together. “How goes it?”
“Good. Got the horses in, fed and watered. Temps are supposed to drop to seventeen tonight.” Rio’s face was half-shadowed beneath the brim of his hat.
“Damn.” Cole glanced down the row of stalls, where the horses stood quiet, steam rising soft off their bodies. “I should’ve known you’d already have it handled.”
“Once it started turning I didn’t wait around.” Rio glanced down at himself. “I was in a T-shirt this morning. Now I’ve got flannel over it.”
“That’s September for you.”
Rio was quiet a moment, then nodded toward the window and the gleaming black Enclave sitting in the driveway. “Who does the new ride belong to?”
“Aftyn. She bought it today.” Cole heard the way his own voice changed on her name and didn’t much care for it.
Rio’s grin said he noticed too. “I see.”
“You don’t see shit. We’re going out tonight, that’s all. Nothing serious. She’s leaving Clifton soon enough.” Cole set his jaw, a muscle ticking along its edge.
Rio leaned back against a wooden post, straw shifting under his boots. “Well, damn. I was hoping she’d stick around.”
“Why?” Cole’s question hung in the cold air between them.
“Because you need a decent woman in your life. And she seems like one.” Rio paused. “Nothing like Callie.”
“Thank God for that.” Cole’s mouth curved despite himself. “But she’s leaving, so we’re not getting serious.”
