Kiss Me, Cowboy (Montana Born Rodeo Book 3) Page 4

  Her V neckline gapped. White lace peeked through the opening. Camisole or bra, Zack couldn’t tell, but he wanted another look to find out. He remembered touching those breasts over her shirt, but that had almost got him into trouble last time. He couldn’t go there again.

  No workplace romance allowed, even if Charlie was hardworking, sexy with a killer body. He had scars, physical and mental ones, to show what could go wrong when people were… distracted.

  She smiled at the Hathaways. “You’ll be in good hands with Zack.”

  So would Charlie.

  He swallowed.

  Chapter Three

  ‡

  What the hell was Zack thinking? Doing?

  Stop. Regain control. Charlie would not be in his hands again.

  He straightened, pulling his legs in and fighting the urge to bolt from the table and take cover. “We can go for a trail run if you want a real workout.”

  Dan held up his hands, laughter in his eyes. “Let’s not go crazy. We’re on vacation. A hike will be fine. Preferably after a couple of those delicious cinnamon rolls.”

  Zack and Charlie nodded at the same time.

  She stopped first and looked at Dan. “Those are well worth the calories. I don’t know if you’ve heard, but Nate’s wife Rachel runs The Copper Mountain Gingerbread and Dessert Factory, so the Bar V5 gets the choice items. We can stop by the bakery as well as the chocolate shop run by a local named Sage Carrigan when we go to town.”

  “Can’t wait.” Dan set his glass of red wine on the table. He glanced at his watch, an expensive, hi-tech piece. He stood. “Come on, Al. Time for our couples’ massage.”

  Allie rubbed her hands together. “We usually take our four kids with us on vacation. This trip is our first without them in…”

  “Much too long.” Dan held his wife’s hand and pulled her to her feet, then looked at Zack. “See you after breakfast for the hike.”

  “Looking forward to it,” he said.

  The two walked away, giddy as teenagers.

  Charlie’s gaze followed them. “They’re nice.”

  “They seemed interested in you working with horses.”

  “They were being polite,” she said. “Must be hard to find your way as a couple without kids in tow.”

  “Not the first husband and wife we’ve had like that.”

  “Nope.” She looked at Zack. “And they usually return the next year with the entire family.”

  “I’m sure that’ll be the case after you show them the finest Marietta has to offer.”

  She gave a mock bow. “I’ll do my best.”

  “You always do.” His gaze locked on hers. Those blue eyes would be the death of him, but he didn’t look away. He… couldn’t.

  The connection between them had to be a shared love of this ranch, of the livestock, of the wrangler lifestyle, nothing more. If he kept telling himself that, he might believe the words. Better happen soon because he had no choice but to believe them.

  “What?” she asked.

  He blinked. “Didn’t say anything.”

  “Oh.”

  Ellie, one of the housekeeping staff, cleared the tables. A handful of guests walked to the river with Ty. Dusty darted back and forth making sure no one got left behind. Three others talked with Dustin Decker, a former rodeo cowboy turned dude ranch wrangler, who readied a bonfire.

  Sparks flew out of the pit.

  Zack rose, his hand on Charlie’s shoulder to stop her from taking action. “Dustin has this.”

  The wrangler stomped on the ground, then returned to adding more wood.

  Zack realized he was still touching her. He let go of her, immediately missing her warmth. Not that he was cold.

  He motioned to Dustin. “Check it out.”

  She nodded. “I am.”

  Her looking at the wrangler bothered Zack like a burr between his sock and boot. “See something?”

  Her head whipped toward him. “What? Oh, no. Nothing’s wrong. You were right letting Dustin handle the sparks. He knows what he’s doing. An expert marshmallow roaster, too.”

  Crap. Zack’s gut tightened. What if she liked Dustin? That would mess things up as bad as if Zack liked her.

  Time to put an end to any possible Bar V5 wrangler romance. “Dustin’s been texting with a riding instructor in Livingston. She wants him to talk to her equestrian students.”

  “He told me. He tells a good tale. I hope something works out between them.” Charlie’s eyes brightened to match her smile.

  That wasn’t the reaction Zack expected. Hmmm. “Yeah, great.”

  “Much better than a sleazy buckle bunny wanting only to sleep with a former rodeo champion,” she said. “He deserves better.”

  Charlie didn’t sound like a jealous woman. Zack scratched his chin. He must be wrong about her liking Dustin. That was a relief. “Sure does.”

  “What about you?” she asked.

  “I don’t tell stories.”

  She made a face. “Have you been seeing anyone?”

  The question was one they’d talked about before. Especially on Monday mornings to whoever had the weekend off. No reason talking about other women should feel weird, but this did.

  “No one in particular.” Nor would there be. Zack touched his shoulder, rubbing the spot where a bullet had gone straight through. He had two more bullet scars, a Purple Heart, and a Bronze Star Medal. But shiny awards could never make up for the losses the squad faced because one of them had fallen in love with a member of their support team. “I’m not about to be tied down by one woman.”

  “So you’ve said.”

  “Still stands.”

  She studied him. “You and Ty are two peas in a pod.”

  “That’s us,” he said. “Two grizzly cowboys content to live in a bunkhouse until they bury us with our boots on.”

  Charlie opened her mouth, then pressed her lips together.

  “What?” Zack asked.

  “Don’t you think you’ll get lonely?”

  Zack shrugged, not wanting to think about that too much. He noticed the smattering of freckles across the bridge of her nose had darkened. She must have forgotten sunscreen this afternoon. “You can always find company when you need it.”

  Her eyes dimmed, as if turned off by a switch. She blinked, and they returned to the normal color, but she wasn’t smiling. “I’m sure you can. Ty, too.”

  He knew that look. “Go ahead and say what’s on your mind.”

  “You don’t want to get married, have kids, a family?”

  “I have a family.” He motioned with his hand. “All of you are my family.”

  “You could have one of your own, too.”

  Zack knew that was true, but thoughts of his poor excuse for parents were a constant reminder that he was better off alone. He didn’t want to disappoint someone he cared about. “Marriage is too much trouble and work. Not many women would be happy living on a wrangler’s salary or out in the country.”

  She raised her chin. “Some women would be.”

  “You, but you’re not like other women.”

  “Gee, thanks.”

  “That’s meant as a compliment.”

  “What about children? You’re great with the ones that visit the ranch.”

  “Other people’s kids. I’d only screw up being a parent.”

  The way his mom and dad had messed up with him. That was all he knew. Not worth the risk.

  “You’re selling yourself short.”

  “Some of us aren’t cut out for the picket fence life. I’m not. Ty, either. Dustin isn’t sure yet. The others…”

  “Will be married before they hit thirty, maybe thirty-five, if they can’t get their crap together.”

  “You sound certain.”

  “I am.”

  “How do you know?” Zack asked.

  “I listen,” she said. “I know they say men don’t talk much, but if you pay attention you figure out what you need to know.”

 
“I’ll have to remember that.” He looked at the sun sinking toward the horizon. “Time to check the animals. All the guests are taken care of. Want to help?”

  Her lips parted. “Uh… sure.”

  For a second, he’d thought she was going to say no. That would have been odd. Charlie spent more time in the barn than anyone except Ty. Zack stood. “Good. Sierra will want her goodnight kisses and rubs.”

  While Charlie lavished attention on the animals, he was going to figure out what type of guy she wanted to spoil her with love, attention, and fun. Because she deserved to be spoiled, more than any woman he’d ever met. If he were that guy, he’d know right where to start.

  But he wasn’t. And would never be.

  Unfortunately.

  *

  Over the next two days, Zack asked Charlie what kind of guy she liked. For two days, she replied the same way. No answer. Anytime dating came up, Charlie told him she didn’t want his help finding a man.

  In the upper horse meadow, where Nate’s horse Arrow pastured, Zack snipped extra wire from the fence post with a diagonal cutter, then shoved the dikes into his pants leg pocket. He secured the wooden rail.

  His fault Charlie wouldn’t tell him what he needed to know.

  Zack tested the fence, shaking and pressing against his repair.

  He should have been subtler with Charlie. Gone about getting info the roundabout way. Tried to see if her friends would help him out.

  Except the clock was winding down. Her decision deadline was Monday, and what would he say to her friends anyway?

  Playing matchmaker was out of his comfort zone. He hadn’t a clue what to do. That frustrated the hell out him when this was so important.

  Truth was, he didn’t like trying to figure out the right person for her. Each time he imagined Charlie with a guy, a funny feeling settled in the pit of Zack’s stomach, reminding him of Christmastime when he’d helped Rachel with her gingerbread stand at the Scott Tree Farm and ate too many cookies.

  What if he fixed Charlie up with the wrong guy? Some jerk who made her cry? Or made her ecstatic she wanted to be with him 24/7? He frowned, not liking either option.

  But his alternative was letting her leave. No way.

  He rechecked the double fence repair. Sturdy. Arrow wouldn’t be able to escape the meadow in search of a mare again.

  The horse should have been named Houdini. Casanova wouldn’t have been a bad name, either. Only Nate and Charlie could control the beast. One more reason she shouldn’t leave. Nate didn’t have as much time to ride now that he was married and taking the Bar V5 to the “next level” as he called the changes to the ranch. Ty was the resident horse whisperer, but he had trouble with Arrow. The horse, however, acted like an angel whenever Charlie was around.

  Nate called Arrow lovesick. The guys joked about the way the horse followed Charlie like she kept carrots in her back pockets. Well, she did, but Arrow’s devotion went deeper. He’d follow her anyway.

  Damn, the fence might not hold after all.

  Zack headed across the long grass toward the two gates installed to keep Arrow where he belonged. Down below, out of sight of this pasture, the horses not on today’s trail ride grazed. He would take them treats. They deserved special attention after how hard they worked during the summer months.

  Winter was when the horses rested, and he shared Charlie’s concern about the horses needing a lull. Both Nate and Ty promised guests staying at the ranch wouldn’t change the horses’ schedule. Zack believed them, but wouldn’t have analyzed the implications unless she’d brought them up first. Charlie seemed to know what each animal needed and when. They’d missed her last winter and would miss her if she left for good.

  She wouldn’t. He would make sure.

  His stomach grumbled. Almost lunchtime.

  Maybe Rachel’s macaroni and cheese with bacon would inspire him to figure out the right man for Charlie. He felt trapped. He needed something to get him out of this box canyon. The welcome dinner was tonight, and he had zero intel to go on.

  No worries. He’d been faced with difficult and more complex situations. This one should be a breeze. Would, not should.

  Hooves sounded behind him. Zack didn’t have to look over his shoulder to know Arrow followed him. Stealth-like movements weren’t the horse’s strongpoint. He relied on brute force to escape rather than the ninja skills the barn cats used.

  Arrow wanted something. That much was clear. The horse was as predictable as the Taylor brothers who would be getting into trouble during rodeo weekend.

  Zack would be facing his own trouble if he didn’t figure out a plan for this weekend. Every year, Nate invited the Bar V5 guests and staff to the welcome dinner, his treat. The event, held in the park, would be the perfect time to scope out possible dates for Charlie and arrange an introduction or two.

  If only Zack could figure out who to start with…

  Some of families in the area with unmarried sons came to mind. Sheehan. MacCreadie. Douglas.

  But Charlie had known those guys since high school. If she hadn’t dated them before, she might not go out with them now. Or maybe she had dated them.

  Aw, hell. Zack didn’t want to set her up with an ex. He raised his hat and scratched his head.

  Why couldn’t she be one of those women who went on and on about themselves, the men they liked or didn’t like, and what they expected life to hand over in a nice, pretty package? Of course, if she did that, she wouldn’t be his Charlie.

  Not his. The Bar V5’s Charlie.

  Big difference. One he couldn’t afford to forget.

  Zack opened the first gate, stepped through, then closed the gate behind him. He locked then double-checked the latches, not wanting to take any chances with Arrow getting out again.

  There had to be someone for Charlie, but who?

  Zack tugged off his gloves and stuck them in his jacket pocket.

  The gate clanged. An annoying sound which earned the desired result. Smart horse.

  He turned to see Arrow pushing against the gate. “What’s wrong, boy?”

  The horse whinnied.

  “Nope, you can’t go find some sweet filly.”

  Arrow snorted.

  “Stop with the attitude. We don’t all get the girl.” Wasn’t that the truth? An image of Charlie, so kind and loving while she consoled him by the river, popped into his mind. Caught up in the moment. That was the only explanation to what happened between them. The only sensible explanation, he amended.

  Arrow tossed his head.

  “If you think I’m going to let you out so you can lead us on another chase, forget it. I’ve got too many chores and lunch is waiting.” Zack pulled out an apple. “How about this?”

  The horse’s tail lifted. His ears pricked forward.

  “Hungry, tough guy?”

  The horse pawed at the gate with his front legs.

  “I’ll take that as a yes.” Zack fed the stallion, careful to make sure the stud couldn’t bite him. Arrow was ornery that way. “A shame you aren’t human. Bet Charlie would fall for you. Though you wouldn’t think twice about leaving her for the next girl who came along, would you?”

  Unfortunately that described many of the cowboys he knew. Ty. Dustin. Himself.

  Arrow munched on the red apple, oblivious or ignoring Zack. Knowing the horse, the latter.

  “I need to find a guy who’s going to treat her right. Go the distance.” He rested his arm on the gate rail. “I don’t want to have to hurt anybody, and that’s what I’d have to do if they hurt Charlie.”

  The horse stared at him, as if he understood.

  “I keep trying to make lists of names, but I get stuck.” Zack shook his head. “Too bad you can’t tell me who would be good with Charlie.”

  Arrow nudged his arm.

  “Sorry, that was my only apple.” Zack brushed his hands together. “Guess I’ll have to see who she pays attention to at the dinner and start there.”

  Arrow sounded
like he was making a raspberry.

  “Don’t worry. I’ll figure out someone. No way will I let Charlie leave.”

  No way at all.

  *

  Friday night under a big white tent in the park, the 76th Copper Mountain Rodeo Welcome Fundraiser Dinner was underway. Based on the organizers’ beaming smiles, Charlie assumed the night had been a smashing success. She wasn’t surprised given the turnout.

  Hundreds of people sat at round tables covered with red gingham cloths. Centerpieces—tin buckets filled with freshly cut flowers and tied with red bandanas—had been made by Risa the florist at Sweetpea Flowers and auctioned off to the highest bidder at each table. A cowboy band played, complete with a yodeler, but the conversations and laughter from the attendees nearly drowned out the music. No one seemed to mind, including the musicians whose smiles never wavered.

  A wonderful evening. Mother Nature cooperated, keeping the temperature warm, but pleasant. The area could use rain, but everyone wanted dry weather for the weekend. A downpour on Monday would be welcomed.

  Yet for everything going right, Charlie felt as if she carried fifty-pound bags of feed on each shoulder. Tick-tock. In sixty or so hours, she needed to tell Ty her decision. She could almost hear the countdown in her head.

  She glanced at Zack, so handsome in his ironed Western shirt, jeans, and buffed boots. She could only imagine what he must have looked like in his army uniform. Her pulse accelerated, a familiar reaction where he was concerned. She swallowed a sigh. Something she did a lot around him, too.

  Colorado, a voice shouted. She had to admit that appeared to be the best option.

  Charlie’s short, chipped fingernails dug into her sweaty palms. She searched for Caitlin, the one person who could make her concentrate on the cowboys here. Other cowboys.

  Where was she?

  No text had arrived this afternoon. No reply after texting her back. That was very unlike her quiet and predictable friend.

  Noah’s influence?

  Probably.

  He’d convinced Caitlin to take the summer job at the Bar V5, thinking she’d love being outdoors so much. He’d been right. Still, she should be here tonight.