Some Cowboys Brave the Flames (Keagans of Copper Creek #10)

Chapter 3

3

Ash

A sh was torturing himself, and he knew it. He’d played off Liam perfectly. Did he have a girlfriend? Nope. Did he want an excuse to spend time with Charlie? Absolutely. And he was willing to do it despite knowing she was completely off-limits.

He watched her, studied her, and drank her in like he had been deprived of water while in the desert. Ash didn’t miss the way her eyes widened nor the way her skin flushed. She didn’t want to have anything to do with him.

Could he blame her? He’d practically stolen her first kiss nearly six years ago. Based on the fact that he hadn’t been torn to shreds by her brothers, he would bet that she hadn’t said anything. Ash had done what made sense. He’d disappeared, hoping that distance would be enough to get her out of his head.

He’d been wrong.

Daniel, Liam and Ash still stared at her expectantly. Then Liam chuckled. “Earth to Charlie.”

She blinked, and her eyes shifted to Liam as if still in a daze.

Liam waved a hand from side to side and a frown touched his lips. “Seriously, Charlie. Are you okay?”

She nodded sharply. “Fine. I’m… fine.”

Still her brothers stared at her. Neither one of them knew her reasons for hesitating, but Ash did. The awkward tension had only heightened since he’d come back to town. While initially he’d done his best to avoid her—to give her space—he couldn’t take it any longer. She didn’t have a boyfriend. And as far as he could tell, she wasn’t interested in dating either.

Ash cleared his throat, and Charlie’s eyes darted from her brother to lock with his. She blinked, then jolted as if returning to the moment. “Yeah, sure. I can teach you a few things.”

Liam appeared to be content with her answer. He nodded and turned to Daniel to discuss setting him up instead.

Charlie turned her back to them, but Ash didn’t miss how stiff she’d become. She was just as beautiful as he’d remembered—more so even. She’d shed her tomboy preferences for subtle makeup and clothing that accentuated her slender waist and curvy hips. Most of the time she had her dark hair pulled back into a bun atop her head, with wisps framing her face.

But it was her eyes that he dreamed about. Those blue eyes that had stared at him with surprise the night he kissed her. He could have lost himself within them, drowning in their depths. Had he stayed in Copper Creek, that was exactly what would have happened.

He dragged his attention to Liam and Daniel. He didn’t want to have to answer any questions if he got caught staring at her. The air practically hummed with electricity. He was painfully aware of every move she made, every sound that came from her lips. It took every ounce of self-control he could muster to keep his eyes on Liam.

“You gonna sign up for the bull riding at the rodeo in a few weeks?” Liam asked Daniel.

Charlie snorted, but she didn’t join in on the conversation.

Daniel shrugged. “I don’t know. Last year I didn’t do that great.”

“You kidding? You placed fourth.” Liam glanced at Ash. “He says he’s not great, but he’s better than most of the locals.”

“I can’t beat any of the professionals.”

“That’s because they’re idiots and make their whole life about bull riding,” Charlie muttered from across the room.

All the men glanced toward her, but Liam didn’t pay attention to her statement. “You have to practice more.”

“Do you guys even have access to a bull you could practice with?” Ash asked.

Daniel shook his head. “Wade doesn’t like it. The way they get the bulls angry enough to buck us off is to prod them.”

Ash grimaced. No wonder Charlie didn’t like the idea of anyone riding a bull. “Maybe you should try something else. Don’t they do barrel racing or something? That sounds cool.”

Liam and Daniel glanced at one another and then laughed. “That’s usually mostly women barrel racing,” Liam pointed out. Then he tilted his head, a smirk still on his lips. “I don’t imagine there’s that many women in your line of work. I can’t imagine too many could drag a heavy person’s body out of a house.”

“Oh, I don’t do that,” Ash said with a chuckle.

Daniel and Liam exchanged glances, and then Daniel leaned forward. “But I thought you were a firefighter.”

Ash leaned back in his seat and laced his fingers behind his head. “Oh, I am, to a degree. But it’s different. I’m a smoke jumper.”

The brothers looked between themselves again, confusion written on their faces. “What’s that?” Liam asked. “You still put out fires, right?”

The sounds from behind Ash went quiet—the pots, pans, clanking sounds disappeared. The room hung with anticipated silence from every member of the Keagan household—Charlie included.

Ash grinned. “A smoke jumper parachutes into the wildfires to put them out.”

Daniel choked on his drink. “What?”

He nodded. “Yep. It’s easier that way. We don’t have to hike or carry our supplies with us. It’s a rush.”

“Sounds like it,” Liam said with a grimace. “Dude, how does your girlfriend feel about it? I know Margot would kill me if the flames didn’t get to me first.”

Ash shrugged. “There’s no issue. I love my job. She knows it’s important to me.” Ash couldn’t see Charlie’s reaction to him discussing his job, but he wouldn’t imagine he was very far off. A job was a job. His just happened to be more exciting than most.

“That’s cool. Can’t wait to meet her.” Liam pushed out from the table and stood. “You staying for dinner?”

Ash glanced over to Charlie, noting that she’d gone still again. “Nah. I’ve got a TV dinner with my name on it.”

Liam wrinkled his nose. “And I have a wife who can cook for me at home, but everyone loves Charlie’s cooking. Besides, there’s plenty of room. You should stay. Margot’s on her way, too.” He called over to his sister. “Can you make enough for one more?”

Charlie glanced over her shoulder toward Liam, purposefully avoiding Ash. “Yeah. No problem.”

“See? You’re staying.” Liam clapped him on the back. “You can repay me by helping me get the horses in for the night.”

Ash chuckled with a nod. “How can I turn down that deal?”

“Easy. You can’t.”

A few horses grazing in the pasture needed to be brought in for the night. Others who were in their stalls needed some feed. Ash wasn’t a cowboy by any means, but he’d spent enough time with the Keagans that he knew how to do some of the basic stuff. They worked quietly, side by side.

Liam had to be one of the hardest workers Ash knew. He would have made a great firefighter if he wasn’t so devoted to his family. He worked for the Callahan family as well, usually only picking up chores when Wade asked him to.

It almost felt like the family had scattered to other parts since Ash had been here last. Caleb spent more time with his wife on her smaller property or shadowing Mateo while he raised ranch dogs. Liam still worked for Zeke Callahan. Mason ran his wife’s uncle’s property. And Hudson preferred to work with Rachel and her horse sanctuary. That was a quarter of the family—and the guys that Ash had gotten to know the best.

“Can I ask you something?” Liam’s voice shattered Ash’s musings.

“Shoot.”

“You’re here a lot.”

A smile ticked up the corners of Ash’s mouth. “That’s not really a question.”

“Okay, you’re here an awful lot for having a girlfriend.”

“Again, not a question.” Ash folded his arms and turned to Liam, who was looping a set of reins on a nearby hook.

Liam faced him and shrugged. “Why aren’t you spending time with her ?” The way the guy said it made it clear he was moderately suspicious. He didn’t believe Ash had a girlfriend. It didn’t appear he was upset—rather, it felt like he was trying to figure out why Ash wasn’t interested in dating anyone.

But if Ash admitted that he didn’t, in fact, have a girlfriend, then he wouldn’t have an excuse to spend time with Charlie. Ash cocked his head. “I told you, she doesn’t live here. She lives a couple hours away.”

Liam lifted a brow. “Still, we have access to technology. You could video chat with her, you could take trips to visit on the weekend.” He rubbed the back of his neck, his eyes shifting to nothing in particular. “I get trying to do something nice for the girl you’re dating, but maybe you should start with seeing her more often.”

Ash chuckled. “Why don’t you just say it?”

“Say what?”

“You don’t think I have a girlfriend.”

His friend stared at him, giving nothing away.

Ash sighed. “Would it help if I told you more about her? She works nights and weekends as a nurse. She’s got the most beautiful dark hair and blue eyes I’ve ever seen.” Ash had meant to lie the whole way through, but his description shifted to the girl who filled his dreams. “She’s got the best laugh when she thinks something is funny. It can make even the biggest grouch chuckle.” Ash sighed. “I know we’re meant to be together.” A heaviness in his stomach tugged at him, his voice sobering.

“Sounds like you feel it’s not going to work out.” Gone was the suspicion in Liam’s voice. Instead, Ash could hear the concern. He shoved his hands in his pockets and moved closer to Ash. “What’s going on?”

Ash glanced at Liam, then shook his head with a wry smile. “I’m not sure her family would approve of us.”

Liam snorted. “Who cares what her family thinks. If you like this girl and can see yourself with her, then that’s all that matters.”

“She’s younger than me,” Ash hedged.

“How much younger?” Liam’s brows creased, and he frowned. “She’s not under eighteen, is she?”

“What? Of course not,” Ash replied. “Six years younger.” He flinched the second he’d admitted to it. The words had fled his lips before he could restrain himself. He should have said five or seven. He didn’t need Liam to put two and two together. If any one of Charlie’s brothers knew about Ash’s attraction to their sister… Ash didn’t even want to think about what might happen.

“Six?” Liam tilted his head. “That’s not too bad. You really think they wouldn’t approve of your relationship?”

Slowly, Ash nodded.

His friend shrugged. “To heck with them. If she loves you and you love her, then that’s all that matters. They’ll get over it.”

Something told him Liam would be singing a different tune if he knew Ash was talking about himself. Liam must have noticed the look of skepticism on his face because he stilled.

“Is she close to them or something?”

Ash nodded. “They’re her whole world.”

Liam considered this, then nodded. “I guess you only have one option.”

“Which is?”

“You’re going to have to win them over.”

Ash chuckled. “And how do you suggest I do that?”

His friend gave him a pointed look. “You have to actually spend time with them. You can’t just show up once a month to take her out on a date. Show them you’re committed. Show them you care about her and will take care of her at all costs. These days, actions speak louder than words.”

He made a good point. But it wasn’t one that really applied in this situation. If Ash sat down with the Keagan men and Annabel to tell them he was in love with Charlie, he’d get a variety of responses. Laughter and jokes would be on the luckier side. Accusations and broken trust would be more rampant. It wouldn’t matter if he told them that he intended to keep her safe and love her unconditionally. No one was good enough for Charlie.

Part of Ash had to agree.

And yet he knew he’d claw his way through the wildfires themselves to be with her if that was what it took. She just didn’t know it yet.