Page 5 of Some Cowboys Brave the Flames

Ash shook his head, leaning over to rest his forearms on his knees. “Like something that shows I’m in it, you know? I don’t get to spend a lot of time with her.”

Liam snorted. “Because you’re here with us.”

Ash rolled his eyes. “No,” he drawled, “Because she’s not in Copper Creek.”

Daniel spoke next. “What does she like?”

Charlie’s ears burned as she listened to the conversation. She wanted to be sick, and it didn’t even make sense. She barely even knew Ash anymore. And he probably didn’t want anything to do with her.

“Food,” Ash offered. “She likes a good meal.”

The men grew quiet for a few moments. Then Liam snapped his fingers. “I know what you could do. It’s perfect.”

Charlie glanced over her shoulder toward them. Whoever this girl was, she had to be the luckiest woman in the world. She had the love of a guy who wanted to do something special to show his love for her. Not only that, but she had a guy who looked likehim.

“You should learn how to cook something for her. And I’m not saying an easy meal. I’m saying make it worth it. Learn how to do three courses minimum.”

Ash chuckled. “I wouldn’t know the first place to start with something like that.”

“Charlie could teach you.”

If Charlie had been holding another jar of sauce, it too would have been shattered. Thankfully, she’d been digging for some pans under the countertop. Her hands froze, and the room went utterly still. She would have sold her soul to know what was happening. She couldn’t see any of their faces.

Then a pair of dark eyes peered down at her over the side of the island, and her heart skipped. “What do you say, Charlie? Want to teach me everything you know?”

3

Ash

Ash was torturing himself, and he knew it. He’d played off Liam perfectly. Did he have a girlfriend? Nope. Did he want an excuse to spend time with Charlie? Absolutely. And he was willing to do it despite knowing she was completely off-limits.

He watched her, studied her, and drank her in like he had been deprived of water while in the desert. Ash didn’t miss the way her eyes widened nor the way her skin flushed. She didn’t want to have anything to do with him.

Could he blame her? He’d practically stolen her first kiss nearly six years ago. Based on the fact that he hadn’t been torn to shreds by her brothers, he would bet that she hadn’t said anything. Ash had done what made sense. He’d disappeared, hoping that distance would be enough to get her out of his head.

He’d been wrong.

Daniel, Liam and Ash still stared at her expectantly. Then Liam chuckled. “Earth to Charlie.”

She blinked, and her eyes shifted to Liam as if still in a daze.

Liam waved a hand from side to side and a frown touched his lips. “Seriously, Charlie. Are you okay?”

She nodded sharply. “Fine. I’m… fine.”

Still her brothers stared at her. Neither one of them knew her reasons for hesitating, but Ash did. The awkward tension had only heightened since he’d come back to town. While initially he’d done his best to avoid her—to give her space—he couldn’t take it any longer. She didn’t have a boyfriend. And as far as he could tell, she wasn’t interested in dating either.

Ash cleared his throat, and Charlie’s eyes darted from her brother to lock with his. She blinked, then jolted as if returning to the moment. “Yeah, sure. I can teach you a few things.”

Liam appeared to be content with her answer. He nodded and turned to Daniel to discuss setting him up instead.

Charlie turned her back to them, but Ash didn’t miss how stiff she’d become. She was just as beautiful as he’d remembered—more so even. She’d shed her tomboy preferences for subtle makeup and clothing that accentuated her slender waist and curvy hips. Most of the time she had her dark hair pulled back into a bun atop her head, with wisps framing her face.

But it was her eyes that he dreamed about. Those blue eyes that had stared at him with surprise the night he kissed her. He could have lost himself within them, drowning in their depths. Had he stayed in Copper Creek, that was exactly what would have happened.

He dragged his attention to Liam and Daniel. He didn’t want to have to answer any questions if he got caught staring at her. The air practically hummed with electricity. He was painfully aware of every move she made, every sound that came from her lips. It took every ounce of self-control he could muster to keep his eyes on Liam.

“You gonna sign up for the bull riding at the rodeo in a few weeks?” Liam asked Daniel.

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