Page 57 of Charlie Takes a Chance

“You’re right.” I shake my head and take a long, slow breath. “Maybe I’m just looking for some fun. I should have kissed Zane instead of you.”

Max lets out something that resembles a growl.

I look at him and scowl. “If you don’t want anything to do with me, you don’t get to be all grumpy about who I kiss and where.”

Max shakes his head. “Watch out. Zane will put a ring on your finger before you even have a chance to say yes.”

“You must not like him much.”

“Oh, I like him just fine. But I happen to know you would be a means to an end for him.”

I don’t care about Zane. He’s nice, he’s cute, and I probably won’t pursue anything there, even though he offered tonight.

What I do care about is how much Max is inserting himself into my business. And how his entire existence is disrupting my life.

“Let’s go home and stop talking about this.”

Max jams the truck into gear. “Fine. The sooner you finish the house, the sooner you can get out of here.”

It’s a good thing the cab is dark as he pulls out of the parking lot. He doesn’t see me stick my tongue out at him.

CHAPTER 23

Max

When I walkinto the kitchen the next morning, I find that the coffee pot is warm with a little bit of brewed coffee left in it.

Charlie’s already been up. I glance at the front entryway and see that she’s already left. Her boots are missing, and Jim is staring at the door like someone broke his heart.

“Jim,” I call to him as I pour a cup of coffee. “She’s not ours. We can’t keep her.”

Jim whines loudly and claws at the door.

“I know. I feel the same way.”

The things I said last night? I had to. Charlie was still riding the high of our kiss. She couldn’t have been thinking straight about us trying to work something out.

And it hurt to say those words. But I know it’s not right for us to pursue something right now. She’s not here to stay. She lives in Bend. She doesn’t want any part of small-town life. She might think she wants it, but then reality will set in. I experienced the results of that with Jessica and Logan.

I finish drinking my coffee and then slip on my thick jacket and cowboy boots.

It’s still early, so I take a detour toward the main house before I go feed the cattle. Just to make sure she’s okay. That’s all. I won’t even talk to her. I’ll make sure she’s upright and breathing before I head to the barn.

I walk over to the main house with the dogs. Jim is leading the way, and even Larry looks excited. They’ve gotten used to our daily check-ins at the lodge.

When I reach the lodge, I open the door as quietly as possible and whisper at the dogs to stay. If they walk into the house, they’ll go find her right away, and this won’t be a stealthy check-in.

I close the door as softly as possible.

She won’t even know I’m here.

I slip my boots off and set them on the rug so they don’t thump loudly.

Walking slowly down the hall I listen for the sounds of working. Maybe some thumps. A muttering. Anything to tell me where she’s at.

“What are you doing?”

I freeze and turn around to find Charlie coming from the hallway that leads to the bathroom. She’s holding a faucet in her hand; she’s in socks and yoga pants with a big sweater that has a hole in the side—a result of work and not a fashion choice.

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