Page 37 of Some Cowboys Brave the Flames

Charlie clawed at Daniel’s hold on her, and he loosened his grip but wouldn’t let her free. She growled at all of them. “Ash never had a girlfriend.”

Mason let out a derisive laugh. “And you believe him?”

“It’s true,” Ash muttered. He wiped his bloody lip with his hand and winced. “I made her up so Liam would stop trying to set me up with people I had no interest in dating.”

Another snort from Mason.

Slowly, Ash dropped his hands and stood straight. He shoved his hands in his pockets and, this time, avoided looking directly at her. “I’ve… this isn’tnew. I’ve liked Charlie for a while now—been interested in dating her…” He swallowed hard, and the bulge in his throat bobbed from the effort. He glanced at her briefly, the only warning he gave her before he said quietly, “Ever since I kissed her—just that once—six years ago.”

It took a minute for the words to settle between them all. Charlie could see Mason doing the math in his head before his face turned bright red with fury. He took two steps and plunged his fist into Ash’s stomach, making him double over.

Charlie hollered at Mason, thrashed in Daniel’s grasp, and finally escaped her brother’s hold. By the time she got to Ash’s side, he was on his knees. She turned fury-sparked eyes to Mason. “Stop being a jerk.”

Mason shook out his hand and said, “He had no right, Charlie. It was wrong for him to do that.”

“I can take care of myself,” she snapped. Her eyes shifted to Daniel, who had remained silent the whole time, but his features were just as tight as ever.

“It’s okay, Charlie,” Ash groaned. “I deserved it.”

She snorted. “We’re both adults. We can make our own choices.”

Mason pointed a finger at Ash. “Hewas an adult. You were still akid.”

“You weren’t there,” she bit out. “You don’t know what happened.”

“I know he kissed you when he should have been keeping his hands to himself.” There was going to be no changing Mason’s mind. She could see that now. He was furious with his friend, and no amount of rationalizing with him would change that. Mason took a step toward them, and she held up a hand. He stopped, but his voice did all the damage and more. “I want you to leave and never step foot on this property again.”

Ash stiffened.

Charlie’s eyes narrowed. “You don’t have a say in what he does. This isn’t your home anymore.”

Mason glowered at her. “Then I’ll tell Wade what happened. I doubt he’ll argue, seeing as he has a little girl himself now.” He jerked his chin toward Daniel. “And Daniel still lives here. I’ll let him drag this sorry excuse for a?—”

“You won’t touch him,” Charlie snapped, her anger at its tipping point. “Don’t you think you’ve done enough damage?” She turned her gaze to Daniel, hating herself for pleading with him. “We can’t change the past. And right now, there’s nothing inherently wrong with our relationship.”

Mason snorted. He knew Daniel better than Charlie did. They were closer in age.

Daniel’s features scrunched into something menacing, and he took a step toward Ash, who surprisingly didn’t even flinch. “If you hurt her?—”

“Seriously?” Mason said. “If you think he’s going to treat her?—”

“I’ll make it my mission to hunt you down and deal with you myself.”

Chills rippled through Charlie’s body at the threat. Her blood went cold as ice as she watched Daniel turn and attempt to push Mason from the room. Mason jerked out of his brother’s path and sent another withering glare in Ash’s direction.

Then they were gone.

Ash groaned as he shifted to get to his feet, and Charlie scrambled to help him. He steadied himself against the countertop, not looking at her. His eyes remained locked on the place between his hands where they gripped the edge. “I’m sorry,” he rasped, finally.

“You don’t have to be sorry,” she whispered. “It’s Mason who should apologize.” She hurried to grab a rag and ran it under thecold water at the sink. Then she returned to his side and turned him to face her.

With a gentle touch, she pressed it against his jaw and his bloodied lip. “You didn’t have to tell them the whole story, you know.”

His eyes found hers, and he reached up to wrap his hand around her wrist. “Yes, I did. I couldn’t risk it coming out later and becoming a problem.” He took the rag from her hand and pressed a kiss to her palm, then he winced with the movement.

“You didn’t even fight back,” she whispered, emotion burning in her throat. “And now you’re hurt.”

His bright eyes found hers once more. “It was worth it.”

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