AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Max’s blue eyes narrow. “You’re in a good mood.”
“I’m always in a good mood,” I tell my scowling brother. “I’m planting flowers. Sunflowers.” I wave the phone at the bright plants and reposition it. “Charlie brought them for me.”
“That’s nice of him.” My brother sounds suspicious.
“It was.” I scoop up dark soil and layer it in the pot. “The ranch is something else, Max. It’s beautiful here. If you haven’t seen a Montana sky, then you’re not living.”
“Better than the city?”
“Oh, yes,” I agree. “Better than the city.”
Much better.
“This farm. Where’s it at?”
I snort. “Ranch. And nice try.”
At the rumble of an engine, my eyes dart to the road. Coming up the ridge in his pickup truck is Charlie.
My heart rate speeds up, watching as Charlie drives across the ranch. His dusty cowboy hat casts shadows across his strong jaw, the ends of his dark brown hair curling at his nape. One muscled arm hangs out the window of his truck. Face contemplative or scowling, he always looks like he’s searching for something out on his ranch. What that is, I don’t know.
We’ve left our secrets in the dust.
“Is that him?” Max’s voice crackles. “Are you looking at him?”
I tear my gaze away from Charlie.
I stick my tongue out at Max. “If you must know, yes.”
“What’s he like?”
“Oh,” I breathe. How can I accurately describe the living dream that is Charlie Montgomery? “He’s quiet. A cowboy. He’s got blue eyes and a dark beard and he’s got me doing things I’ve never done before. And he ...” I trail off, a furious flush heating my cheeks when I realize I’ve been rambling.
Max chuckles. “Sounds like quite a cowboy.” He narrows his gaze, his smile fading. “He’s your boss, right?”
“He is,” I say slowly, uncertain where he’s going with this.
“Does he know?”
“Know what?”
“Ruby.”
“Why are you so involved in my love life?”
“Is that what it is. Love?” There’s a bite in my brother’s voice.
I flinch. Max may be a thousand miles away, but he’ll always be my overprotective big brother who beat the shit out of Kyle Hoke in third grade for calling me Frankenheart. The last thing I need is Max thinking I’m in love.
Love.
I sit back on my heels, tucking a lock of stray hair behind my ears. “No ...it’s ...”
Once again, my gaze finds Charlie, his truck disappearing over the ridge. I don’t know what I’m doing with him. We’re blurring lines all over the place and I like it. I love spending all my days and every moment with him. Because when I’m in his bed, his strong arm wrapped around me as he kisses his way down my body, I don’t feel so lonely.
I feel free.
If I thought I had any willpower when it comes to a man in jeans, boots, and a cowboy hat, I’m sorely mistaken.
