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Still that stubborn jaw pulses.
“I have experience. Connections at my tourism agency. I can pull all the strings. Besides, it’ll just be for three months.”
Interest flickers in his eyes. “What happens in three months?”
“I go to California.”
He snorts.
“You don’t like California?”
“Last place I ever want to be.”
I ignore his disdain and give a bouncy shrug. “Can’t knock it until you’ve tried it.”
His eyes lock on mine before dipping to my lips. “Eat,” he orders.
I pick up my fork and dig into the gooey mountain of dough and sugar. The taste of vanilla bean and cinnamon goodness is heavenly.
“Do you want some?” I ask Charlie.
He scoffs like deliciousness is beneath him. “No.”
After licking a dollop of frosting from the tines, I set my fork down. “So, do we have a deal?”
He blinks. “A deal?”
“I help you with your social media, you pay me,” I barter. “A perfectly professional business transaction. If you don’t like it, you don’t have to use it. You can delete the account in three months.”
I watch him consider it, the muscle jerking in his bearded jaw.
He needs this.
And I need him.
He stares at me hard for a long beat. “Fine. We’ll get your shit and you can stay at the ranch.”
It’s my turn to blink. “The ranch?”
“You’re not staying at the Yodeler. I know you love roaches, but ...” He hitches his broad shoulders in a shrug. “The job comes with free lodging.”
I narrow my eyes at him. “Did you just make that up?”
Leaning in, Charlie pins his dark gaze to mine, his expression so fierce my heart slams into my chest. “It’s not safe at the Yodeler. I don’t want you there.”
The intensity in his voice lights my core on fire.
“Because of the fistfights?” I ask breathlessly. “Cardboard sheets? Bloodstained mattress?”
A glimmer of a smile tugs at his lips. So faint, I almost miss it.
But it’s there, and it’s beautiful.
“Something like that.” Charlie picks up my fork and hands it to me again. “Eat. Then we’ll go.”
The jolt of Charlie’s jet-black Chevy over the winding dirt road is the bounciest roller coaster ride I’ve ever been on. I practically vibrate beside him. I like the truck like I like the man. Rugged and rough, but deep down, solid and dependable.
In the truck’s bed sits my suitcase and backpack. It’s a thirty-minute drive to the ranch, and Charlie, not wanting me to get lost on the back roads, offered to drive and then send someone back into town to get my car.
