Chapter 2
2
Charlotte “Charlie” Keagan
Present Day
C harlie touched her lips. It wasn’t the first time in the last six years that she’d recalled her first kiss. For the past five months, the memories had consumed her more than usual—ever since Ash returned to town. It certainly didn’t help that Ash had started hanging out with her brother Daniel lately—probably because Mason was usually busy running his own ranch.
After Ash had kissed her that night, he avoided coming around the house. At first, he told Mason he was busy. Then Mason had met Harriet, and their friendship had taken a backseat.
Charlie couldn’t deny that she’d been disappointed. That kiss had haunted her dreams for the next several months. Every kiss she’d received was compared to it, and none of them measured up.
Ash had ruined her for everyone.
“Charlie? You okay?” Isabelle nudged her leg. They sat on the front porch steps while Isabelle’s oldest brother, Mateo, spoke with Hudson and Caleb. It made sense that they’d all gotten to be a little closer over the last couple of years. It seemed like Caleb was interested in getting involved in the business side of things when it came to ranch dogs. Mateo was happy to oblige. “ Charlie ,” Isabelle said more forcefully this time. “What is up with you?”
Shame was a constant companion these days, along with Charlie’s obsessive thoughts of Ash. She hadn’t breathed a word to anyone about the kiss she’d shared with her brother’s friend. She’d known what her brothers would have done if they’d found out, and Charlie didn’t want to be the start of a war. She forced a smile at her friend. “Yeah, why?”
Isabelle frowned. “You’re a terrible liar, you know that?”
Charlie scoffed and pushed her friend on the shoulder. “Am not.”
“So, what’s going on? You look like you’ve been visited by three ghosts or something.”
Ironic. Ash had returned to Copper Creek at Christmastime. He barely spoke two words to her. It wasn’t fair. He’d gone on living his life, free from the consequences of his actions. And she went on living and wishing to find someone—anyone—who could come close to the way he’d made her feel that night.
She’d ignored his request to never change, but she could still hear his husky voice as if he were standing right in front of her.
You’re perfect, Charlie. Just the way you are. Don’t change yourself for anyone.
After that night, she’d thrown out all the hand-me-downs she could afford to, and she’d raided her older sister’s closet. She’d watched tutorial after tutorial to learn how to do her makeup just right. Ash wasn’t going to dictate what she did with herself.
Besides, he’d been willing to kiss her when she looked more like a girl. As much as she didn’t want to associate the changes she’d made with one of the biggest moments of her life, she couldn’t help it.
For the next year and a half, she’d done everything she could to get his attention whenever they bumped into each other.
It never worked. She might as well have never existed.
“You’re scowling again,” Isabelle murmured. “Did something happen? Is it a boy?”
Charlie stiffened and glanced at her friend. “No,” she said too quickly.
Isabelle’s smile spread slow and wide. “It is a boy.”
A groan slipped from Charlie’s lips and she dug her fingers into her scalp. She was still furious with Mason for not telling her that Ash was moving back to town. She was even more upset that Daniel had befriended the guy so quickly.
But most of all, she was mad at herself for allowing the jealousy to crawl and twist in her chest like choking vines. Liam still had connections and wanted to set Ash up with all the girls he could. Charlie had lost count of how often Liam had brought it up, but each time Charlie eavesdropped on those conversations, Ash would turn him down.
No blind dates. It was his rule.
At that moment a familiar truck pulled up, and Ash climbed out.
“Oooh. He’s cute…” Isabelle drawled.
Charlie gritted her teeth. Ash was more than cute. He was the kind of guy to be splashed all over a calendar just so a girl would buy it to catch a glimpse of his chiseled abs. He’d taken off his shirt once when helping Daniel with some chores, and Charlie had choked on the water she’d been drinking. Unfortunately, her body language gave her away.
Charlie could sense that Isabelle was going to prod about the mystery guy who was causing the frown on her face, but thankfully, Mateo called Isabelle over.
“Come on, sis. We have to get back to take the dogs on a ride.”
Isabelle groaned.
“I thought you liked riding?” Charlie said.
Isabelle got to her feet and stared hard at Charlie. “For once there’s something more interesting going on here.” She took a step, then paused and glanced at Charlie. “You realize that we’re going to have a chat the next time I come over.”
“Hey, Charlie,” Ash said, his voice low, delicious, and rumbling over every nerve of her body. “Daniel around?”
Isabelle grinned and wagged her brows at Charlie, who made a face at her.
Ash glanced over to Isabelle, then back to Charlie.
“He’s inside,” she muttered.
He nodded and moved past her. Just like that. Just like he hadn’t been the one to change her life. Just like he’d never stolen and gifted her with the best kiss she’d ever experienced.
Isabelle laughed.
“Isabelle!” Mateo called.
She groaned again. “I’m coming !”
Charlie sighed just as the front door shut behind her. She needed to head inside to start cooking dinner. With her luck, the guys would be in the kitchen ruining their appetites with some late-afternoon snacks. Maybe she should just go to her room and pretend she wasn’t there. Those who were here could fend for themselves.
She placed her head into her hands and a strangled sound escaped her lips. Who was she kidding? Cooking was her release. With all this pent-up energy rippling through her body, she knew she wasn’t going to handle just stewing in her room.
Just as she’d suspected, Daniel, Liam, and Ash were all lounging in the kitchen when she entered. She moved to the refrigerator and pulled out the ingredients to make some spaghetti. It would be easy enough, and she wouldn’t have to focus too much. The guys were in the middle of a conversation when she moved to the pantry to pull out a glass jar of tomato sauce.
“I’m telling you, Ash. This girl is amazing. She’s a paramedic. You’d like her.”
Ash laughed. “Thanks, but like I said, I’m not interested.”
“Why not? You’re almost thirty. You can’t just sit around and wait for a girl to find you. Maybe I’ll just invite her over so she’s here when you come to visit next,” Liam joked. His phone rang and he picked it up. “One sec.”
Just as Liam reached the doorway, Ash called out to him, “Don’t bother. I’ve already got a girl.”
Glass shattered. Sauce splattered at Charlie’s feet. She blinked, and everything felt like it was going in slow motion. Daniel and Ash jumped up from where they sat at the table.
Charlie dropped down to start picking up the shards.
“I’ll go find the mop,” Daniel offered. “I think I saw it upstairs.”
Ash nearly bumped his head against hers when he crouched down beside her to pick up the broken glass. He was close— too close. He smelled the same—like mint with lemons. Something else lingered on him. Smoke? Like he’d been tending to a campfire.
Then it hit her why she was down on her knees in the first place.
Ash was dating someone. She hated how her stomach had the jitters. Of course he was dating someone. Why wouldn’t he be? She’d seen how hot he was. She knew what it was like to kiss him.
Her face flushed when she realized he was talking to her. “Are you okay? Charlie? What happened?”
She rose and dumped her palm full of the larger pieces into the garbage can, ignoring his question. Then a gasp ripped from her chest as a shard snagged on her skin.
He was by her side in a second. His hand wrapped around her wrist. “You’re cut.”
Charlie attempted to tug her hand free from him, but his hold on her was too strong. He practically tugged her toward the sink. In a swift movement, he turned on the water. Then he ran her hand under the faucet. She watched him, studied him. This was the closest she’d been to him in five months, then nearly six years before that.
He looked the same—just a little older and wiser. Smile lines framed his eyes. He was clean-shaven, unlike her brothers who preferred to have at least a little scruff on their faces. His hair was a little long and it curled at the nape of his neck.
Ash glanced closer at her, and she gasped before turning her focus on her hand. He said, “Doesn’t look like you’re going to need stitches. But you’ll want to keep it clean.” His touch lingered on her, and she glanced up to meet his steady gaze.
“I’ve had worse.” The words slipped from her lips unheeded. She hated how her tone made them sound more accusatory than anything else. With a jerk of her arm, she pulled her hand free. “I’m getting a bandage.” With that, she left the room. Her heart thundered with each step she took. Her blood roared in her ears, and if she wasn’t careful, she’d end up collapsed on the floor.
By the time she returned, Ash and Daniel had the mess cleaned up. Liam was sprawled out on a chair at the kitchen table, and they were all chatting again.
“I was thinking it’d be nice to do something special for her,” Ash said, not even looking in Charlie’s direction.
“Like what? Take her dancing?” Daniel asked.
Ash shook his head, leaning over to rest his forearms on his knees. “Like something that shows I’m in it, you know? I don’t get to spend a lot of time with her.”
Liam snorted. “Because you’re here with us.”
Ash rolled his eyes. “No,” he drawled, “Because she’s not in Copper Creek.”
Daniel spoke next. “What does she like?”
Charlie’s ears burned as she listened to the conversation. She wanted to be sick, and it didn’t even make sense. She barely even knew Ash anymore. And he probably didn’t want anything to do with her.
“Food,” Ash offered. “She likes a good meal.”
The men grew quiet for a few moments. Then Liam snapped his fingers. “I know what you could do. It’s perfect.”
Charlie glanced over her shoulder toward them. Whoever this girl was, she had to be the luckiest woman in the world. She had the love of a guy who wanted to do something special to show his love for her. Not only that, but she had a guy who looked like him .
“You should learn how to cook something for her. And I’m not saying an easy meal. I’m saying make it worth it. Learn how to do three courses minimum.”
Ash chuckled. “I wouldn’t know the first place to start with something like that.”
“Charlie could teach you.”
If Charlie had been holding another jar of sauce, it too would have been shattered. Thankfully, she’d been digging for some pans under the countertop. Her hands froze, and the room went utterly still. She would have sold her soul to know what was happening. She couldn’t see any of their faces.
Then a pair of dark eyes peered down at her over the side of the island, and her heart skipped. “What do you say, Charlie? Want to teach me everything you know?”