Page 17 of Some Cowboys Brave the Flames

She scoffed. “You’re ridiculous.”

“Something I would like? Let me guess. He’s charming and a little grumpy. But he’s got a heart of gold.”

Charlie’s laughter made his heart sing. It all but soared out of his chest and to the sky.

“You have the best laugh,” he said. Ash only realized he’d said that out loud when she sobered and stared at him with that look that said far more than her words ever would.

She blinked several times and looked away. “Does your girlfriend like to read?”

He choked, coughing on the spittle that had inadvertently made it to his airway.

A quick glance from Charlie was all the sympathy he got. “Of course… she likes to read,” he said softly. “For as long as I’ve known her.”

Charlie worried her lower lip. “So, she likes books and food.”

He nodded, suddenly more uncomfortable than he’d been since he’d arrived in Copper Creek a few months ago. “Yeah.”

“Sounds like a keeper,” she murmured, then started walking again.

Gone was their lighthearted conversation, replaced with the reality of the lies he’d spun in order to avoid other women altogether. There would never be anyone better suited for him. He’d tried—and he’d failed. And yet Ash couldn’t have the one person he wanted most. He’d rather be alone than settle for someone he knew he wouldn’t be able to love like he loved Charlie.

That much had been made clear when he’d realized what she was going through today with that other guy. Ash would have risked everything to save her from potentially getting hurt. And yet their love story wasn’t meant to be written.

He fell into step beside her, and they continued their walk in silence. He didn’t dare bring up any other topics of conversation. None of them had ended well. So he forced himself to close the door on the possibility of happiness with a girl like Charlie—no,withCharlie.

Maybe he would have had a chance if she cared for him. Then he wouldn’t feel so guilty over their first kiss. Maybe then he’dfinally be able to squash the feeling that falling in love with her was inherently wrong.

Ash shoved his hands deep into his pockets and turned his focus to other things. The tennis players were gone. The park was clearing out. Soon it would be mostly empty as people headed off to get lunch.

When they finished their walk, Ash drove Charlie home. She practically bolted from his truck the second he put it into park. He didn’t dare go inside to say hello to any of her brothers that might be home. It would only lead to questions, and he wasn’t in the mood for the third degree. So he put the truck into drive and headed home.

8

Charlie

Acouple of days had passed since Ash had gotten that boy away from her in the park, and Charlie couldn’t deny how on edge she was. From the moment Ash had rescued her, she knew another shoe was about to drop. Her brothers were overprotective to a fault. It was probably the reason she was more introverted in large groups. She didn’t go out with people often. The only time she’d shed that skin was when she’d met Emma.

And that felt like a lifetime ago.

Charlie preferred the company of her family to strangers. She preferred to stay in with a good book than going out dancing. Heck, even going to Emma’s concert had been draining. When she’d returned home afterward, she’d slept for a full day.

Now every single time one of her brothers entered the kitchen, she went stiff. She waited for one of them to demand what had happened at the park. She expected to be interrogated for the guy’s description and where exactly she’d spoken to him.

Of course she wouldn’t tell her brothers about the situation. But Ash? He was loyal to a fault. He’d tell her brothers just because he was their friend before he was hers.

By the time their next lesson came up, her jaw ached from being tightened so often. Mason had come over to help Daniel with some vaccinations for the new calves that had been born, and the two of them were finishing up their lunch when Ash wandered into the house.

He hadn’t knocked. He never did. Sometimes she’d be so focused on a task that it felt like her soul did a somersault in her stomach every time she heard his voice come from behind her. Thankfully, this time she was facing the door when he entered.

Ash glanced at her briefly before pulling out a chair and sitting beside Mason. “Long time, no see.”

Mason slugged him. “Yeah, you need to quit hanging out here so much. I’m just one ranch away.”

Ash chuckled, his answer smooth and without thought. “I’d rather not hang out with a set of newlyweds.”

Daniel snorted, water coming out of his nose. Mason scoffed. “There are newlyweds here.”

Ash shrugged. “Not the same, dude.” He gave Charlie a look, but the second he noticed her watching him, he looked away. Normally, she was the one to break her stare first. She hated it when he caught her. But today, she needed an answer to something. She needed to dig deep and get the confidence to confront him.

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