Chapter 6 Charlotte
six
Charlotte
I've only been living in 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.”
The laughter dies in my throat as my eyes lock on the cowboy she’s talking about.
“Not interested.” I scowl at Rhett, wondering how he found me here.
I turn back to the oven and pull out a fresh batch of our best-selling pumpkin spice turnovers.
I set them on a rack to cool, grab a filled frosting bag from the refrigerator, and begin squeezing out the glaze onto the treats, imagining it’s Rhett’s throat I’m squeezing.
“This is the only frosting I want.” My eyes stray back to Rhett, who’s still watching me with a determined stare.
“If you say so,” Autumn snorts. “But you'll have to tell him that.” She grabs a towel and rushes out of the truck, leaving me alone with my conflicted thoughts about Rhett and why he’s here in Temptation Ridge.
I’m on edge waiting for Rhett to come up to me and explain why he left without saying goodbye. Or even worse, what if he’s here with a girlfriend? It’s been four weeks since I saw him, and I’m sure he’s moved on to, as they say, greener pastures.
My nerves are frayed by the time Brynnlee arrives for her shift. “Girl, what has you tied up in knots?”
Brynnlee and Delores are the only two who know everything that happened between me and Rhett. “It’s him.” I nod to the place Rhett has been watching me from for the last thirty minutes. “It’s Rhett. He’s here.”
“Have you talked to him yet?” I open my mouth to answer, but she answers her own question. “Of course not, or the two of you would be off somewhere screwing like bunny rabbits.”
“We would not.”
“Oh, come on. There’s a specific look in your eye when you talk about him. It’s there right now. It’s a look of love and longing, not hate. Now go out there and talk to him.” She makes a shooing motion with her hands, but I stand my ground.
“He hurt me by leaving without saying goodbye.” It’s a weak excuse, but my head refuses to let my heart forget what he did.
“Take a good look at him, Charlotte. Does that man look like he’s going to leave your side anytime soon?”
I take a long, hard look at Rhett, and it’s almost like he’s observing me from a distance, as if he doesn’t think he’s allowed to come any closer. The thought breaks my heart because, of course, I still have feelings for him that I can’t explain.
“Fine, but if I end up murdered or murdering him, it’s all your fault.” I untie my apron and hand it to Brynnlee, stomping out of the truck like a woman on a mission.