Page 3 of Some Cowboys Brave the Flames

After Ash had kissed her that night, he avoided coming around the house. At first, he told Mason he was busy. Then Mason had met Harriet, and their friendship had taken a backseat.

Charlie couldn’t deny that she’d been disappointed. That kiss had haunted her dreams for the next several months. Every kissshe’d received was compared to it, and none of them measured up.

Ash had ruined her for everyone.

“Charlie? You okay?” Isabelle nudged her leg. They sat on the front porch steps while Isabelle’s oldest brother, Mateo, spoke with Hudson and Caleb. It made sense that they’d all gotten to be a little closer over the last couple of years. It seemed like Caleb was interested in getting involved in the business side of things when it came to ranch dogs. Mateo was happy to oblige. “Charlie,” Isabelle said more forcefully this time. “What is up with you?”

Shame was a constant companion these days, along with Charlie’s obsessive thoughts of Ash. She hadn’t breathed a word to anyone about the kiss she’d shared with her brother’s friend. She’d known what her brothers would have done if they’d found out, and Charlie didn’t want to be the start of a war. She forced a smile at her friend. “Yeah, why?”

Isabelle frowned. “You’re a terrible liar, you know that?”

Charlie scoffed and pushed her friend on the shoulder. “Am not.”

“So, what’s going on? You look like you’ve been visited by three ghosts or something.”

Ironic. Ash had returned to Copper Creek at Christmastime. He barely spoke two words to her. It wasn’t fair. He’d gone on living his life, free from the consequences of his actions. And she went on living and wishing to find someone—anyone—who could come close to the way he’d made her feel that night.

She’d ignored his request to never change, but she could still hear his husky voice as if he were standing right in front of her.

You’re perfect, Charlie. Just the way you are. Don’t change yourself for anyone.

After that night, she’d thrown out all the hand-me-downs she could afford to, and she’d raided her older sister’s closet. She’dwatched tutorial after tutorial to learn how to do her makeup just right. Ash wasn’t going to dictate what she did with herself.

Besides, he’d been willing to kiss her when she looked more like a girl. As much as she didn’t want to associate the changes she’d made with one of the biggest moments of her life, she couldn’t help it.

For the next year and a half, she’d done everything she could to get his attention whenever they bumped into each other.

It never worked. She might as well have never existed.

“You’re scowling again,” Isabelle murmured. “Did something happen? Is it a boy?”

Charlie stiffened and glanced at her friend. “No,” she said too quickly.

Isabelle’s smile spread slow and wide. “Itisa boy.”

A groan slipped from Charlie’s lips and she dug her fingers into her scalp. She was still furious with Mason for not telling her that Ash was moving back to town. She was even more upset that Daniel had befriended the guy so quickly.

But most of all, she was mad at herself for allowing the jealousy to crawl and twist in her chest like choking vines. Liam still had connections and wanted to set Ash up with all the girls he could. Charlie had lost count of how often Liam had brought it up, but each time Charlie eavesdropped on those conversations, Ash would turn him down.

No blind dates. It was his rule.

At that moment a familiar truck pulled up, and Ash climbed out.

“Oooh. He’s cute…” Isabelle drawled.

Charlie gritted her teeth. Ash was more than cute. He was the kind of guy to be splashed all over a calendar just so a girl would buy it to catch a glimpse of his chiseled abs. He’d taken off his shirt once when helping Daniel with some chores, and Charliehad choked on the water she’d been drinking. Unfortunately, her body language gave her away.

Charlie could sense that Isabelle was going to prod about the mystery guy who was causing the frown on her face, but thankfully, Mateo called Isabelle over.

“Come on, sis. We have to get back to take the dogs on a ride.”

Isabelle groaned.

“I thought you liked riding?” Charlie said.

Isabelle got to her feet and stared hard at Charlie. “For once there’s something more interesting going on here.” She took a step, then paused and glanced at Charlie. “You realize that we’re going to have a chat the next time I come over.”

“Hey, Charlie,” Ash said, his voice low, delicious, and rumbling over every nerve of her body. “Daniel around?”

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