Chapter 28
CHARLIE
After our meeting with Olivia ended, Colt and I headed back to the ranch, but my head was still reeling. My brother kept trying to make conversation with me, but eventually, he realized that I was too lost in my own thoughts to contribute anything meaningful.
While I would much rather have been talking to him about the ranch and what we were facing with the film crews coming in, I couldn’t seem to focus on any of that.
Frankly, I’d rather chew off my own arm than appear in their documentary or whatever they were calling it, but even my intense hatred of the idea couldn’t distract me.
Olivia Walker drove me crazy in multiple ways, and that made me mad as hell—which meant that right then, she was the only thing I could think about.
For the very first time, I couldn’t unblur the lines.
I couldn’t see her and just think of her as our marketing rep, even when she was being a total savage whose icy demeanor I couldn’t stand.
Somewhere deep inside was my Liv, the girl who had been strong and capable but also understanding, bubbly, and assertive rather than aggressive and dismissive.
At the moment, it was like she was trying to show me the worst parts of herself. Like she was trying to prove she wasn’t who I’d thought she was.
Usually, this was the point where I would have walked away. With me, what you saw was what you got and I couldn’t handle games or pretenses.
However, in this case, I was at fault. She was treating me this way because I’d brought it out in her. Unintentionally but the result remained the same.
She wasn’t blameless and I would’ve appreciated if she’d come to me before she’d done her one-eighty, but she didn’t owe me anything. If I’d overheard what she had, I wouldn’t have reacted any differently.
All of this was based on a half-truth, too. She didn’t even know the full story. If she wanted to distance herself after hearing it, then I could be okay with that.
But based on a lie? No way.
“What’s going on, Charlie?” Colt finally asked as I parked in front of the bunkhouse.
He unbuckled and turned to face me with an uncharacteristically serious expression on his features.
“Look, we all know you have a little crush on Liv and that something went wrong. You might as well tell me what’s happening. ”
I brushed him off. “We’ve got work to do. Let’s go.”
I climbed out of the truck and strode toward the stables, feeling him staring incredulously after me. While I knew he meant well, I didn’t want my family knowing I was involved with her, especially if it was already over.
They could suspect all they wanted, but they wouldn’t be getting any confirmation from me. Besides, at this point, I didn’t even really know what to say.
What I felt for her went beyond a little crush, but I wasn’t sure I’d fully accepted that just yet myself. Plus, what was happening between us was based on a misunderstanding. I needed to decide how I was going to handle that and I didn’t need anyone else’s input.
A few hours later, Dad came to find me in the barn. He didn’t say anything at first as he picked up a brush and started grooming Nairobi with me. I remained silent myself, sensing that this was about Olivia and leaving it to him to tell me whatever he’d come down here to say.
“They’re going to be here tomorrow.” He glanced at me over the top of the chestnut’s back. “Olivia and her training team. Cameras are coming the day after.”
My heart stuttered, but I did my best not to let it show. “Wow. She doesn’t waste any time, does she?”
“No, but that’s what I like about her. Nobody should waste any time, Charlie. None of us know how much of it we’ve got left.”
“Yeah, I know. It’s the only commodity we can’t check our balance of. I’ve got it, Dad.”
He sighed and kept brushing Nairobi’s coat until his back was gleaming. “Maybe you do have it, but are you sure you’re not wasting time right now?”
I huffed out a breath. “No, I’m not, but I do know you’re wasting your time, old man.”
He chuckled. “Sometimes, I wish we’d had girls instead. I hear they’re more talkative.”
“Like you want us to tell you every little thought in our heads.”
Dad paused before he started laughing. “Fair enough, son. Although it’s not the little thoughts I’m interested in. It’s the big ones.”
“Better go talk to Mason then,” I said. “I hear he’s got some pretty big ideas for the lambing barn.”
Dad paled. “No. Nope. I don’t wanna hear ‘em. You keep your thoughts to yourself, Charlie, and you tell your brother to do the same thing.”
Guffawing, I watched him drop the brush and stride away. I shook my head and went about my business for the rest of the day. I wasn’t looking forward to Liv’s training session, but I was glad she’d be coming back here.
Maybe it would help her remember that I wasn’t all bad. After all the conversations she and I had, I would have thought she would know there was more to what I’d said at the rodeo.
On the other hand, I hadn’t minced my words when I’d been speaking to Dallas. I never did with him. I always gave it to him straight, and I supposed I could understand why she’d have been hurt.
It didn’t help that I wasn’t sure when she’d stopped listening either, but I could guess—and the impression she’d been left with obviously wasn’t pretty.
Early the next morning, dust rose at the bottom of the farm road leading up to the house and my pulse spiked. Olivia and her entourage had arrived for our training.
My family raced out of my parents’ house to meet them. I remained on the porch, needing a minute to myself as she climbed out of her fancy little Mercedes. Dad and Mom embraced her. My brothers fell all over themselves to pull her into their arms next.
I sighed. It was a pity my family loved her so much. It sure would’ve made things easier on me if they hadn’t known her at all.
She hugged them back and quickly stepped away to maintain a semblance of professionalism. I had to admit that I liked seeing her among them. My brothers had been right that day when they’d told me she fit right in.
Somehow, despite the unbelievably stuffy suit and the uptight twisty bun thing in her hair, she still looked like she belonged here. She also looked dang good all dressed up and New Yorky. I liked her better in jeans and her hat, but that didn’t mean she wasn’t beautiful no matter what.
As my family ushered her and her people to our house, I let them pass but stepped in her way after she’d ascended the stairs. “Can I offer you a cup of joe before we get started?”
She held up a takeout cup I’d assumed would’ve been empty by now, seeing as how she must’ve bought it back in the city. “I’ve got my double espresso, sugar free oat milk latte. Thanks, though.”
I didn’t know what she thought that was, but it wasn’t coffee. Even so, I smiled. “Yep, you really are a city girl through and through.”
She rolled her eyes, but as she walked away from me, I saw her trying to hide a small smile. My Liv was still in there somewhere, and I’d be damned if I didn’t get her to peek out at me at least a couple times today.