Cole (Protecting You, Finding Us) by C.E. Johnson

Author:C.E. Johnson [Johnson, C.E.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2023-07-24T23:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER NINE

Steph

Did Cole correct his aunt when she assumed I was his girlfriend? No. He’s just smiling like an idiot.

“Garrett,” Millie calls. A tall man in a black cowboy hat, a collared shirt that’s tucked into his worn jeans, and cowboy boots appears in the doorway and spots Cole. He gets a grin on his face and walks toward us with long strides, his hand stretched far in front of him toward Cole. When they connect, Garrett pulls Cole into a side hug as he powerfully pats his back.

“Wow, it’s been too long. Good to see ya,” Garrett says.

“Will you take Cole and…”

“Steph,” I say because Cole still hasn’t properly introduced me to Millie.

Millie smiles sweetly as tendrils of her nearly white hair fall from her clip and frame her face. “Take Cole and Steph up to the room he always stayed in.”

“You don’t have to do that. We’ll just stay at the hotel in town.”

“Cole McBride, over my cold, dead body. You are family. You stay here, and don’t you dare say one more thing about it.”

A warmth takes over Cole’s face, softening his features, and he tucks his hands into his pockets without another word. Millie has this magical presence of comfort and grace, but you can tell she’s a strong force. It makes me wonder how she and his dad could even be from the same family.

“Hey there,” Garrett says with a deep voice. “It’s a pleasure to meet you, Steph. I’m Cole’s cousin.” He tips the front of his cowboy hat. “Come on. I’m sure you two are tired after that trip. Let’s get you settled.”

“I have a few more things to do over here still for tomorrow. They said I wouldn’t have to lift a finger. Yeah, right,” Millie says, waving us off. “You go get comfortable. We ate supper just a bit ago, but if you’re hungry, there’s tons of food in the fridge. Why don’t we have a few drinks by the fire tonight?”

“That sounds great. Thanks, Aunt Millie,” Cole says as Garrett passes us and heads to a large white pickup.

I can’t wait to get in the truck with Cole so I can smack the shit out of him for making his aunt think that we’re together when we most certainly are not. I hurry and get in, and Cole is chuckling by the time he opens the door and joins me inside.

“What was that?” I ask, turning to him.

“Oh, I didn’t have the heart to correct her. I’ll let her know when she gets up to the house. Everything was just happening so quickly.”

“Fine, I’ll give you that. Wow. For seventy, I’m pretty sure she could run circles around me.”

“Oh, she can. And she can out-drink you too. So feel free to decline drinks from her when you’ve had enough,” he laughs.

I take in the incredible scenery, and it almost seems fake. Like it’s a picture or movie that I’m watching on TV. The deep green pines line the bottom of the mountains that look like I could reach out my window and touch them.

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