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

Chapter 1

1

Michael “Ash” Ashton

Six Years Ago

S ave me.

Ash snorted at the text from his best friend. Mason Keagan was a lot of things, but he wasn’t a lady’s man and hated the fact that his younger brother had become one. They’d been friends since before Ash had received his nickname. While Ash didn’t mind hanging out with Liam and the girls he was usually surrounded by, he had other interests—interests similar to Mason.

Sometimes it was nice to find a good book and have a quiet night in.

There weren’t many folks in Copper Creek who liked the Keagan family. They had a reputation, and people preferred to keep their distance. It could have been due to the fact that they were considered rabid children without parents to guide them. Or it could be the fact that all ten Keagan men had grown up and could intimidate a wolf out of its skin with one look.

The Keagans weren’t bad at all. They protected what belonged to them fiercely—and that included their land and their siblings.

Streetlights flickered past his view as he drove along the highway leading to the Keagan property. It still got dark early, even though spring was starting to make an appearance. Ash had little doubt that Liam had already invited several girls out to the house so they could go dancing at the club. It was his birthday, and no one could fault him for wanting to celebrate—not even Mason, who would rather gouge out his eyes than enable his younger brother’s philandering ways.

Ash shoved the gearshift into park as soon as he came to a stop in front of the house. Movement caught his attention. A figure marched back and forth in the shadows of a large tree. She wore a dress and her hands were at her sides, but by the way she paced, he could tell she wasn’t happy.

Had Liam already made a girl mad?

A chuckle escaped his throat as he pulled the keys from the ignition and pushed the door open. No wonder Mason had already pleaded for reinforcements. Ash shoved his hands into his pockets and strolled toward the poor girl, then stopped suddenly.

It wasn’t just some girl.

Charlotte Keagan didn’t look like herself at all. Gone were her braids and the hand-me-down overalls that she usually wore around the ranch. Instead, her hair had been carefully teased and curled. It fell over her shoulders in soft waves, drawing his eyes to the low-cut dress. Off-the-shoulder straps clung to her upper arms, and the dress flared at the waist before ending at her lower thigh—an outfit that Ash knew her brothers hadn’t seen yet or they would have made her change.

He’d never seen her made up like this before. It was almost hard to remember that she was just Charlie—Mason’s kid sister.

She stopped her pacing, a gasp tearing from her throat when she realized he was standing there. The surprise was quickly replaced with a flat look. She folded her arms across her chest. “Mason is inside if you’re looking for him.”

Ash couldn’t tear his eyes from her. His mouth was suddenly dry, and a subtle warmth started in his lower stomach and was spreading throughout his entire body. He wouldn’t say that Charlie wasn’t attractive before. He’d heard her brothers make comments about having to keep guys from asking her out. He wouldn’t even say that she had improved herself with these changes—quite the contrary. She’d merely enhanced what was already there.

“ Ash ,” Charlie snapped, drawing his attention back to her face. She tapped her foot, and her brows lifted. “What’s your problem?”

He stiffened and motioned to her with a fling of his arm. “I could say the same thing about you.”

Charlie huffed as only a sixteen-year-old could. She was six years his junior, which was only the second most important reason she was off-limits to him. The first was that he was Mason’s friend, and he knew the guy, along with his brothers, would burn the world down if anyone hurt their sister.

Charlie clenched her hands into fists and resumed her pacing. “Boys are so frustrating.”

He smirked, a chuckle escaping his chest. “You’re not wrong.”

In the distance, thunder rumbled through the sky. Lightning flickered, too, matching Charlie’s electric fury.

Charlie spun around to face him. “Why?”

“Why what?” He moved toward the tree and leaned against the trunk. As hard as he tried, he couldn’t ignore the feelings that had started churning within him. It felt wrong and, at the same time, addictive to imagine getting to know her on a more personal level. He shrugged that thought aside and forced himself to listen to her rant.

“ He’s the one who asked me out. Not me! Him. He wanted to take me out mini golfing, and I was going to say no.”

Ash’s eyes trailed over her body, and he arched a brow. “You were going to go golfing in that?”

Her cheeks flushed, and she glowered at him. “There’s nothing wrong with what I’m wearing.”

He shrugged, though he knew exactly what she’d been trying to do. She’d dressed for this guy—this idiot who didn’t realize he’d regret bailing on her. Irritation raced through his chest, hating that Charlie had been treated this way. “Your brothers don’t know, do they?”

“Why would they care?” she shot back.

He gave her a pointed look, not missing the hesitation in her face. But then she allowed her fury to return. Only this time, sadness joined the party. Tears pooled in her eyes, and she folded her arms tight across her body. “I was dumb to think that the cute guy in school would be interested in taking me out.”

Ash pushed away from the tree, his own anger growing. “Hey!” he barked.

She jumped and looked up at him with wariness. He’d never used that tone with her or anyone else. It had come out of nowhere. And now she stood stiff like she was preparing to bolt from him—or maybe take a swing at him. It could have gone either way.

He strode toward her, his voice low. “All sixteen-year-old boys are immature. You might as well get used to that now because they don’t start wising up for a few years. They have to lose out on a few good ones before?—”

Raindrops exploded against the roof of the house, Ash’s truck, and the ground that surrounded them. Charlie gasped, the tree not giving them any coverage since the leaves hadn’t come in fully. She ducked her head and took off running toward the house. She avoided the porch steps and chose instead to dart around to the side.

Ash groaned and followed after her. He probably should have just let her go, but their conversation wasn’t over. It was clear she’d changed who she was to impress this guy, and that didn’t sit right with Ash. Her brothers would only berate her for her desire to impress some teenager. Ash was the only one who might be able to convince her that she had made a mistake.

He found her pressed against the wall, her skin covered in goosebumps as she stared up at the sky with disdain. “Great,” she muttered. “Now my hair is ruined.”

Biting back a smirk, Ash leaned against the side of the house beside her. The makeup she wore was smudged beyond repair, and she still looked just as beautiful as ever.

He clenched his jaw and balled his own hands into fists at the inappropriate thought. She was a minor. He was an adult. And up until tonight, she’d only ever been his best friend’s kid-sister. Maybe the universe was out to get him.

Ash glanced over to her, studying her in the moonlight. He wanted to wipe the mascara from under her lashes. He wanted to tell her that she didn’t have to change for anyone—especially some punk kid. He would know because he used to be one.

But he refrained.

Charlie heaved a shivering sigh and turned her head to look at him. “It’s probably my fault,” she murmured.

“I’m sorry, what?” The edge returned to his voice just like that, but thankfully she didn’t notice.

She shrugged. “I’ve never cared about my appearance before. He probably thought he’d get here and I’d still look…” Charlie shook her head, her cheeks flushing as she motioned to her body. “I don’t wear dresses. I don’t wear makeup. I don’t try to be pretty.”

Ash practically vibrated with fury. His whole body had gone tense. Every muscle was strained, and he felt like he’d been coiled tight like a spring under pressure. He didn’t have any sisters, but if he had, he would have made sure to tell them they didn’t owe anything to anyone. They shouldn’t feel the need to change themselves just because they want to impress a guy. His silence must have indicated that he wasn’t interested in their conversation because she started to move away. She couldn’t have been more wrong.

Charlie pushed away from the house, but his hand reached out to stop her. He grabbed her upper arm—gently but firmly—and turned her to face him. His other hand wrapped around her other arm as he glowered into her face, his nose inches from his own. “ Don’t ,” he growled.

Her eyes flared wide. “What?—”

“Don’t plant those thoughts into your head.”

They stood in the rain, but he couldn’t care less. Understanding flooded her face and she rolled her eyes. “You’re not my brother, Ash. And you’re not Kevin, so you don’t know anything.” Charlie shook her head, her face scrunching with visible pain. “You want to know the worst part? I thought he actually liked me. I thought for once I’d met someone who could accept me for who I am.” She was almost shouting through the rain now. Her eyes blinked away the droplets that clung to her lashes. “I’ve never even been kissed! Did you know that? What sixteen-year-old has never been kissed? I must be really low on the scale for Kevin to change his mind and ghost me.” Charlie snorted with derision. “He’s not even the hottest guy in our grade.” She shifted as if she were going to pull away again.

Ash didn’t know what had gotten into him in that moment. Every logical reason why he needed to keep her at arm’s length completely disintegrated. No longer did he care if Mason would murder him or if the sheriff would show up at his door to lock him up. The most important thing at this moment was showing Charlie that she was wrong.

He released one of her arms and slipped his hand along her jaw, pushing it behind the nape of her neck. Ash barely registered a soft gasp that escaped her lips before he brushed a kiss to them.

He’d kissed plenty of women in his lifetime. Those interactions ranged from quick pecks to more passionate sessions. But kissing Charlie was something entirely different than he’d ever experienced in his life. Their kiss was as short as it was tender. Her lips were soft and cool from the rain. The moment his lips met hers, that pleasant warmth deep inside him burst to life. Like someone had thrown a flammable substance over glowing embers, creating a roaring bonfire.

Ash pulled back, but his hand lingered at the base of her neck. They stared into each other’s eyes. For a moment he could see a future with her, but then that idea came crashing down as the realization of what he’d done hit him like a bullet to the chest.

She appeared to be in shock. No anger or indignation in her eyes, though. Just surprise.

As if driven by a force that wasn’t his own, he tucked her wet hair behind her ear. “You’re perfect, Charlie,” he whispered. “Just the way you are. Don’t change yourself for anyone.” He took a sudden step back, the cold encompassing him. Then he pushed past her and strode toward his truck.

He’d rather die than look Mason in the eye after what he’d just done. It wasn’t only the fact that he’d crossed the line. No, this situation was different. Somehow Ash knew nothing would ever compare to what he’d just experienced with Charlie.