Page 5 of Filthy Cowboy
This can’t be happening. I’ve been searching this whole damn town for the past four weeks. Between my obligations at the ranch and driving back to Cherry Blossom Falls, I haven’t slept more than four hours a night since the night I spent with Charlotte.
I take off my cowboy hat and run my fingers through my hair in frustration. Why is it so hard to find the woman I’m looking for in such a small town?
Don’t get me wrong, I appreciate the townspeople looking out for Charlotte by keeping her personal information private, but the longer it takes to find her feels like a nail in my coffin.
“You still sniffing around for my goddaughter?”
“Miss Delores.” I put my hat back on my head and take her hand in mine. “You have to tell me where she is. No one will tell me where she is — it’s almost like she disappeared.”
“Well, not exactly.” She studies my face before continuing. "You seem like a nice guy—you deserve at least part of the story. Charlotte’s grandmother, who basically raised her, died a few months ago. We were celebrating her life at the bar the night you hooked up with Charlotte. She was sad, and I suggested shefind herself something fun to do that night, which just happened to be you. She was set to move to a new town for a fresh start in the morning. She might have stayed if there was something or someone to stay for. But it seems like her one-night stand left before she woke up without leaving his last name or phone number.”
“Wait, she doesn’t live in Cherry Blossom Falls any longer?”
“Nope, she left that morning and never looked back. So evidently she was ready to move on.”
“No, that can’t be. We had a connection.”
“If you were so connected, then why did you leave her in that hotel room like a two-bit whore?” Her words are like a slap to the face.
Is that what Charlotte thinks? That I thought so little of her and our time together that I would just leave like that?
“That’s not it at all. I need to find Charlotte and explain. “Miss Delores, you have to tell me where she is?”
“And why should I? You broke her heart once by leaving her—what’s to stop you from doing it again? Besides, she’s moved on to a new town and a new job, and it wouldn’t be fair to drag her away from all that.”
A vision of my Charlotte, happy and enjoying her life in a new town, even if it’s not with me, is like a bucket of cold water being dumped on me. “You’re right. I wouldn’t expect her topull up her roots again to follow someone she barely knows and certainly doesn’t trust. But if I could just see her one last time to know she’s okay. I promise I won’t hurt her again.”
She drops my hand and takes a step back, her eyes scanning my face, “Alright, but if you do anything and I mean anything to hurt that girl, I’ll make sure you disappear and your body will never be found.” The steely glint in her eyes tells me she’s not joking.
“I would expect nothing less, Miss Delores.”
“Fine, she moved to a small town a couple of hours away called Temptation Ridge." You’ve got to be kidding me. I’ve been searching for her two hours away, and she’s been right under my nose this whole time in my hometown. I don’t realize I’m smiling until Delores calls me out on it. “What’s with that smile on your face? You look like you just won a million dollars.”
“Even better. My ranch happens to be a fifteen-minute drive from Temptation Ridge.”
“Well, I’ll be damned. It seems like her grandma might have guided her all along.”
“Thanks, Miss Delores.” I lift her hand to my lips and give a quick kiss on the wrinkled skin before gently releasing it. “We’ll invite you to the wedding,” I shout as I race to my truck with a newfound urgency to get home and claim my woman.
“I should hope so!” She calls after me. “She works at the town bakery!”
Of course, she works at the bakery—the one place I used to love to buy sweets from, but I’ve been too heartbroken to buy any, and she's been hiding in plain sight.
six
Charlotte
I've only been livingin Temptation Ridge for four weeks, but it already feels like home. Perhaps it’s the three sisters I work for, who have essentially taken me in as one of their own, or my coworker, Brynnlee, who has become my best friend and roommate. My life is almost perfect, except for one thing — I'm missing a dirty-talking cowboy.
My days are filled with making new creations at the bakery. It's the night that's the darkest, when I dream of him and our one night together. He promised me forever, but was gone first thing in the morning without even saying goodbye.
Today is the Mountain Man Festival. Maybe it's time to get out there and find a new man. Lord knows my body is craving something, even if it’s the one man I can't have. I'm not sure a substitute will do after spending a night with him, but it’s got to be worth a try to erase the memories of how he owned my body if only for one night.
Focusing on my job and the pastry food truck I’m running with one of my bosses, Autumn, I decide to tease her about the obvious mountain man who’s been staring at her all morning.
“Check out that sexy mountain man on the other side of the farthest picnic table,” I nudge Autumn’s arm. “He’s been staring at you like he wants to lick your frosting—if you know what I mean, for the last half hour.” I laugh, enjoying teasing her.
“I’d be more worried about that delicious-looking cowboy over there.” She nudges my arm, making me shift my gaze out the window of the food truck to the people milling around our outdoor seating area, waiting for the Mountain Man Challenge to begin. “Looks like he wants to coat you in his homemade frosting.”
