Page 10 of Some Cowboys Brave the Flames

Unfortunately, Charlie’s whole body was set aflame. She could feel the heat emanating from deep inside her bones. She stared at the spot where he’d touched her, not able to drag her gaze from it.

Only once in her life had she felt this way. And it had been with Ash.

She shook her head and closed her eyes. Nope. She wasn’t going to go there. Ash had a girlfriend. He was learning to cook for her, for goodness’ sake. Charlie was just his friend’s kid sister, and that was all she’d ever be. It didn’t matter that her body wanted to react to him. All that mattered was that he wasn’t available, and she needed to respect his space.

Charlie took a step away from him and motioned toward the rangoons still in the pan. “Fish them out with that metal slotted spoon and put them on the paper towels. I’ll be right back.” She rushed off to the bathroom without waiting for him to make a comment. Once alone, she pressed trembling hands to her face and let out a sigh.

This whole thing was ridiculous. She was blowing it all out of proportion, and it needed to stop. She gulped in deep breath after deep breath. She’d learned to ignore him back when he’d given her that first kiss.

She could do it again.

5

Ash

Ash:Up to hang this week? I don’t have any shifts.

Liam:Anytime. But not Fri. Wade wants us at an auction.

Ash staredat the message and smiled. He’d heard about the auction happening in town on Friday. Mason had mentioned it as well. Everyone in town would likely be in attendance, which meant that he had a good chance of spending time with Charlie alone.

Deep down, he knew it was a bad idea. She had a particular effect on him that was similar to what he thought drugs might be like. Whenever he got to see her—speak to her—he walked away with a high.

His crush on Charlie was supposed to be wrong, but how could it be when he felt so connected to her? It begged thequestion: what would he do when she inevitably fell in love with someone else—someone who wasn’t him?

Ash shoved that thought away, burying it like it was a dead body he had to hide. Out of sight, out of mind. He glanced down at the message, and the grin returned to his face. He’d make sure to stop in and hang out like he usually did.

Then he’d show up on Friday.

Ash:Sounds good, man.

The Keagan householdlooked empty without all the trucks that were usually parked out front. Ash shut off his engine and climbed out of his truck. He glanced toward the house as he shut the door with a soft thud.

His chest tightened unexpectedly as he wondered if he was making a mistake by allowing himself to become so attached to Charlie when she had no idea of his true feelings—nor would anything come of it. Ash could be setting himself up for failure.

Who was he kidding? Hewassetting himself up for failure.

Like all the times before, he rationalized his motives. He’d spent several years attempting to rid himself of the memory of her—of her scent, her touch, and the way she’d tasted on his lips. He’d made himself sick, wondering when he would suffer the consequences of his impulsive behavior.

Part of him had even hoped that she was involved with someone else when he’d decided to return to Copper Creek.

But as fate would have it, she was available.

Just not to him.

Ash raked a hand through his hair. He was already at the Keagan property. He might as well just see her, even if it wasonly for a few moments. Those few seconds of hearing her voice and seeing her eyes were worth the trouble.

Movement near the barn caught his attention when he’d nearly made it to the front entrance of the house. He turned, expecting to see someone who might work for the Keagans or perhaps one of the many brothers who might not have gone to the auction.

Nervous energy ripped through his body when he immediately recognized Charlie leading her horse from the barn. She was clad in a tan cowboy hat, a jeans jacket, form-fitted Levi’s, and a pair of black riding boots.

Initially, she didn’t notice him. She went so far as to climb into the saddle before her eyes shifted to his truck, then dragged across the yard to him. She stiffened, her gaze locking on him as if she expected him to turn into a beast and charge at her. Then he noted the way she took in a deep breath and turned the horse in his direction.

He pasted on his usual smile—the one that he used as a mask to keep others from paying too close attention to what he might be thinking. Ash shoved his hands into his pockets and strolled toward her, his eyes never leaving her face.

When they reached one another, she stared down her nose at him, two deep lines etched between her brows. “We didn’t have a lesson, did we?”

He shook his head. “Nope.”

---