Page 14 of Some Cowboys Brave the Flames

She found it and leaned against it, not sure if she dared to look over at where she’d been sitting. As if against her own control, she did just that. Ash was arguing with the guy who looked more and more like a kid when compared to thefirefighter. Ash poked him in the chest once and the guy rubbed the spot, his expression heated. He only looked in her direction once, then he spun around and stalked away.

Ash didn’t turn immediately. He raked a hand through his hair and shook his head. She could practically see him buzzing with angry energy. What was his problem? Had he heard her conversation with the stranger? Or was it something else? She refused to believe he’d been following her. That wasn’t Ash’s style.

He had a girlfriend. He wouldn’t be obsessing over her. The idea was laughable. She blushed even though there was no one to witness her discomfort or hear the rationalization in her head. If Ash knew she fantasized about him, he’d laugh at her. Then he’d probably tell her brothers.

Charlie groaned, leaning her head against the truck and closing her eyes again. This was so embarrassing. She prayed he wouldn’t mention this encounter to her brothers. While she didn’t know the guy, the town wasn’t so big they wouldn’t be able to figure out who he was. The last thing she wanted was to have to lock herself away in her house so she didn’t have to participate in any more of these situations.

“Hey,” a quiet voice said.

Her eyes flew open and she jumped. Ash stood in front of her, legs wide and arms crossed. The concern that knit his brow was the only indication of what he was thinking. She frowned at him. “I didn’t need you to step in.”

Ash arched a brow and tilted his head. “I’m sorry?”

She jutted her chin toward the bench where she’d been sitting, all her anxiety and frustration bubbling over. “I was fine. I was handling it.”

He didn’t speak this time, but that look in his eyes said it all. He didn’t believe her. He was being just like her older brothers.Protective. That was how he saw her—a small mouse needing protection.

Charlie moved to brush past him, but his arm shot out, his hand wrapping around her upper arm. She gasped and stared up at him. “What?”

“You want to tell me what was going on back there?”

“No,” she snapped without hesitation. He was the reason she’d come here in the first place. He was the reason she needed to clear her head. Well, that wasn’t turning out the way she’d planned. She glanced down at where he held her arm and yanked it from his grasp. “He wanted to ask me out. That’s all.”

Still he stared, his eyes hard. “Charlie,” he said, that warning tone in his voice again.

She threw her arms into the air. “I wasn’t going to go with him if that’s what you’re worried about.” When he remained silent, she sighed. “What do you want me to say?”

He considered her for what felt like an eternity. Then he took a step toward her. She moved away from him, her back once again against the truck. “I want you to be honest with yourself.”

His words surprised her. Were they code for something? Her thoughts clouded with memories of him from when they were younger to the most recent interactions. He couldn’t be referring to her crush. There was no way he even knew. “What’s that supposed to mean?” she finally stammered.

Ash pinched the bridge of his nose and shook his head. “I was running on the greenbelt. I saw the moment that guy showed up. You were clearly uncomfortable. And you did nothing.Nothing, Charlie. Just because we live in a small town doesn’t mean we’re safe.” His hand dropped to his side, and he frowned at her. “You could have walked away. You could have screamed, slapped him, heck, you could have hit him over the head with that book of yours.”

She glanced down at the object. He was right. She’d gotten so caught up in the moment—and not in a good way—that she’d been unable to act. Charlie worried her lower lip and nodded. “You’re right.”

He sighed, but she couldn’t bring herself to meet his gaze.

“Thanks. For helping me.”

7

Ash

It had taken every ounce of self-control not to throw a punch or two at the guy who clearly didn’t understand what the word “no” meant. From the moment Ash noticed Charlie had arrived, he’d kept his eyes on her. He’d told himself to give her some space. He was even going to cancel their next cooking lesson after their last interaction.

But the second that slimeball of a guy sat next to her, he knew he wasn’t going to stick with that plan. He slowed his running to a jog and watched as Charlie grew increasingly uncomfortable. He didn’t have to be standing beside her to know what was happening. It wasn’t hard to miss the way she’d tried to pull away from him.

Ash’s blood still boiled at the memory. The guy even had the gall to tell Ash that Charlie had come unto him.

His hands balled into fists, and he glanced away from Charlie to see if the guy was still at the tennis courts. Sure enough, hewas chatting with three other men. And they were looking over at where Ash stood with Charlie.

When Ash turned back to face her, he found her watching him with a curious sort of gaze. Tension remained high between them. He hadn’t missed each time she’d tried to put distance between them. Each instance had been like a dagger to the heart.

“Where’s your car?”

She shook her head. “It’s not here. I walked.”

He gaped at her. “Charlie, do you know how long of a walk that is?” He regretted his statement when she scowled at him.

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