Sneak Peek! Charlie and ash’s Love Story…

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?” 

***

Ash

 Ash 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.

OR