Page 43 of Some Cowboys Brave the Flames

His eyes danced, and his teeth flashed in the biggest smile she’d ever seen him wear. “Good,” he whispered. “Now, eat up before it gets cold—or Blaze comes up to steal your plate. He’s threatened as much more times than I can count.”

19

Ash

Ash wasn’t clueless. He’d noticed Charlie’s demeanor changing just a little bit every single day. She’d grown more antsy. Her phone calls became more frequent. She avoided talking about her brothers, too, unless pressed for information. Mason still had an attitude, and Carter was her only advocate in the house.

He hated seeing her so distraught. While she was clearly trying to hide it, she was failing. Her eyes had lost their luster, and he hated that he’d been the one to contribute to it. More than contribute—he was the only source.

While that knowledge weighed on him and put him in a difficult position, he’d been avoiding pointing it out. His reasons were twofold. He didn’t want to draw more attention to it because she’d either confirm his suspicions or she’d be offended. If he knew anything, it was that Charlie didn’t like it when she was caught keeping things from him. She was a people pleaser.And they’d both fought so hard for this relationship. Admitting she was unhappy would prove her brothers right.

It was just one of those things that they were going to have to work through. One day at a time. That’s what he continued to tell himself.

As the summer days continued to pass, though, Ash became just as antsy as Charlie. There were moments when he couldn’t help but expect that she would finally break things off. Maybe letting things come out in the open had been a bad idea. Maybe he should have pulled away from Charlie when he’d heard her brothers enter the house.

He’d been prepared to get a beating. He knew they wouldn’t take the news well. And he hadn’t been lying when he’d told her that it was worth it. But Charlie hadn’t been aware of his decision; he’d made it without her input.

It was a secret he’d kept from her, and even as small as it was, it ate at him.

Today was his day off, and he’d opted to spend it at the ranch. He’d hoped that the more time he spent with Charlie’s brothers, the easier it would become for them to accept him as their sister’s boyfriend.

So far, no luck—except for Carter. But he’d been moderately accepting from the beginning.

Daniel still hadn’t spoken a word to him since everything had come out. The giant of a man only quietly judged him. Ash could see it in his eyes—the way he watched him as if expecting that he’d ruin everything and hurt Charlie. It would give Daniel the perfect excuse to rid the world of someone he despised.

Ash sat with Charlie on the porch swing, his hand in hers. Back and forth, they slowly swung in a rare moment of peace. He brushed his thumb over the back of her hand. “You wanted to go riding tonight, right?”

“Isabelle is coming over to go riding with us,” Charlie replied.

He stifled his disappointment. So, it wouldn’t be just a night for the two of them. “Oh?”

She shifted but didn’t turn her face toward him. “Apparently, she has a cousin in town. She’s tired of hanging out with Mateo and Sophia and wants to get out of the house. I hope that’s okay.”

Ash rested his cheek to the top of her head. “As long as I’m spending time with you, that’s all that matters.” He could almost feel her smile against his shoulder. Then again, it could be all in his head.

She wasn’t happy. While anyone else might say that she simply sounded tired, he knew better. Charlie’s thoughts were consumed with other, deeper issues.

It didn’t matter how much he wished he could ignore how her attitude had declined. He knew he couldn’t. It wouldn’t be right.

Ash heaved a sigh as he brought his other hand around and traced circles on her hand. “Do you want to tell me anything?”

She didn’t react. No stiffening. No sighing. Nothing. “No,” she said simply.

He frowned as he shifted, tilting her chin upward so he could see her eyes. They were just as clouded over as ever. There was a pain in their depths that made him angry—not at her, but at himself. He’d done this to her. “Charlie…” he murmured. “I can tell something is bothering you.”

If he hadn’t been watching carefully, he wouldn’t have noticed the way the muscles around her mouth tensed. It was the only indication that he was right in his assumptions. Charlie stared right into his face and said, “Nothing is bothering me.”

Lies. But he couldn’t say such a thing. It might start an argument that he wasn’t prepared to have. His brows furrowed. “You know you can tell me anything, right? I’m here to listen—to help you through whatever is weighing on you.”

Charlie shrugged, and her eyes darted away. “I’m good. Just… tired.”

Yeah, right.

He sighed again. “Charlie, I?—”

“I’mfine, Ash,” she said.

This time he couldn’t stop the words from slipping out. “No, you’re not.”

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