Ty sat behind his desk. A laptop was open and positioned around two cats sleeping. A stack of papers had been pushed off to the side.
She knocked on the door jamb.
Dusty peeked around the corner of the desk. He trotted over to greet her.
Ty looked up, smiled. “Didn’t expect you so early since you were with Allie and Dan last night.”
Charlie shrugged, but didn’t feel indifferent. She curled and uncurled her toes. “I’m not used to sleeping in once a week, let alone two days in a row. Do you have a minute?”
Ty motioned her inside his office.
Charlie entered, stood behind a chair and held onto the back for support. Nerves threatened to get the best of her. She ignored the trembling sensations. She had no idea why her body was reacting this way when she knew in her heart of hearts this was the right decision.
“Something on your mind?” Ty asked.
Her heart pounded, loud and booming, like the fireworks shot off in Livingston on the 4th of July. “I’ve made my decision.”
He leaned over the desk toward her. “And?”
“I’m staying in Montana, but leaving the Bar V5.”
Ty’s grin was a mile wide and as bright as the Las Vegas strip. “You’re going to work for Paddy.”
She nodded. “I wasn’t sure how much you knew.”
“Enough, and I’m happy for you. Nate is too.” Ty’s sincerity warmed her heart. “This is a fantastic opportunity. But you’ll be missed. I hope you know that.”
“I do. I’m going to miss everyone here.” Especially Zack. Charlie stared at her hands on the back of the chair. She’d chipped her nail polish. “Thanks for the recommendation. Means a lot.”
“You’re a hard worker. Skilled. You earned the recommendation.”
She beamed.
“You made the right decision,” Ty continued. “You’ll do great. And with you at the horse ranch, Nate might send Arrow.”
“Oh, gee, thanks,” she joked. “Instead of chasing him here, I’ll get to there.”
Laughing, Ty leaned back in his chair. A gray cat jumped on his lap. “Standard two week notice?”
She nodded, pulled out a resignation letter from her back pocket. “This makes my leaving official.”
“Not necessary, but thanks.” His gaze narrowed. “Are you wearing fingernail polish?”
She nodded, pleased he noticed. She’d painted her nails when she couldn’t sleep last night. Normally she removed the polish from her hands and only left the toes.
He shook his head, a reaction that didn’t surprise her. “I’ve known you since you were in high school. You’ve always seemed more comfortable hanging with the boys than any women, except Caitlin.”
“That’s true.” Charlie accepted the blame for trying to fit in rather than be herself. “But it’s time to let my inner cowgirl loose into the world.”
“The world better watch out.”
She grinned. “If you don’t mind, I’d like to borrow a horse trailer to move Sierra over when the time comes.”
“We’ll help you move everything,” Ty said warmly. “You and Sierra are part of the Bar V5 family. Always will be.”
If only Zack understood that. A familiar sting burned Charlie’s eyes. She blinked. “Thank you. For everything.”
Each morning, Ty wrote a list of chores and projects needing to be done on a white board behind his desk. He pointed to number six. “Can you ride to the picnic area and see if there’s a navy wind breaker? A guest lost one last night during a twilight ride after the rodeo.”
“Sure thing.” Charlie rubbed Onyx’s side, happy to have something to do. If she didn’t keep busy, her thoughts would be focused on Zack. She couldn’t let that happen, not when she wanted to get over him. “I’ll saddle up Sierra and head over there.”
*
At the river, she secured Sierra to a post. Emotions churned within Charlie. She hugged her horse. The Bar V5 was home. No matter what she did or where she went, nothing would change that. She thought of this ranch as home and the people her family.
Including Zack.
Leaving wouldn’t be easy. She’d moved in the day after high school graduation, and she’d been living in the women’s bunkhouse since. She’d grown up here, but she couldn’t stay.
This wasn’t only about Zack. The High Country Mustang Ranch was a dream-come-true job. The facilities, including two covered, heated arenas, were hard to ignore. Not to mention the beautiful horses and the advancement potential. Turning down the offer had never entered her head.
Even if Zack had.
Don’t think about him.
She searched the picnic area and edge along the river. No navy windbreaker. She would have to keep an eye out on the ride back.
Music.
Charlie listened closer, thinking she might be hearing the river. No, music played. The first song Jake Kohl had sung while she and Zack danced on Main Street.
Her chest tightened. Not with regret, but sadness over things between them ending so badly.
As if on cue, once again, Zack rode up on Blackbeard, wearing leather chaps over his jeans and a long duster. He looked like he’d ridden off an old western movie set, similar to a poster hanging next to her bed.
So hot. Her mouth went dry. Not the reaction she should be having to a guy who stomped on her heart… more than once.
A wireless speaker was attached to Blackbeard’s saddle. Jake Kohl continued singing. She had no idea what Zack was doing. But she never could figure him out. No reason to try now.
“Good morning.” He extended his hand. “Care to dance?”
“Too little, too late, cowboy.” She forced herself not to look him in the eye. “Dance by yourself. I’m leaving.”
“Wait.” He hopped off his horse then secured Blackbeard. “We need to talk.”
She clung to Sierra. “We talked enough yesterday. Nothing more I need to hear you say.”
“One minute.” His contrite look made her place a hand over her heart. “Might take me five. Then you can leave. I promise.”
His promises couldn’t support the weight of a feather, but he rubbed his fingers together, the action he did when nervous.
She weighed the pros and the cons. Five minutes? She could stand here for that long without losing it completely.
Charlie crossed her arms over her chest. “Go.”
He flinched, as if not expecting her to agree. One deep breath followed another, but he said nothing.
She tapped her toe, not caring if she were being mean or impatient. He’d hurt her. “Tick tock. You’ll be down to four minutes soon.”
“I love you.”
She shook her head, blinked, unsure if she’d heard him correctly. “What did you say?”
“I love you.” He blew out a puff of air. “I think I fell in love with the day I walked up the driveway looking for work.”
Charlie’s breath caught in her throat. She forced air in and out, afraid she might pass out or cry. “But you said…”
“I have no idea what I was talking about,” Zack admitted. “That first day at the Bar V5, I hadn’t been hired yet, but Ty took me for a tour of the ranch. We ended up in a pasture where you worked with a foal, Arrow.”
His words touched her heart, something she believed was immune to his charm. “I don’t remember that.”
“You were completely focused on the foal.” His smile transformed his face, erasing the lines of tension. “You kept laughing and smiling at Arrow. But you were the burst of sunshine I desperately needed. Since that day, you’ve continued to be that to me.”
Her pulse sped faster than a champion barrel racer. “You never said anything.”
“I had my rule, but there you were, and I never stopped feeling that way about you. I just got good at pretending. And hiding. Like you, Charlotte.”
Her hands trembled. “I…”
“I’m the one who screwed up.” He reached for one of her hands tentatively, as if waiting f
or her to pull her arm away. She didn’t, and he laced his fingers with hers. “Forgive me. I know I don’t deserve another chance, but I’d love one. If only to show you I’m not a complete idiot and that I mean what I say.”
Each nerve ending tingled. She hadn’t competed in vaulting or rodeo events in years, but she recognized the anticipation. She felt as if she was about to begin the next chapter of her life.
“I forgive you,” she said.
“Thank you.” He brushed his lips across hers in a tender kiss. “I won’t let you down.”
“No one is perfect. Just do your best. That’s all any of us can hope for.”
“You come pretty darn close to perfection.”
“Not even,” she admitted. “I’ve been so scared I’d end up multi-divorced because I was dating the wrong guy, I was afraid to date any potential Mr. Right, too.”
“You fell for me.”
“A guy with a rule about not dating coworkers. Not exactly setting myself up for dating success. We’re an odd pair when it comes to relationship.”
He embraced her. “We are. But that’s what makes us good for each other. How does being a couple sound?”
“Awesome.” She couldn’t believe this was happening. “My whole life I’ve wanted to fit in. But I know where I belong, next to you.”
His smile brightened his face. “Ty told me about your job. Congrats.”
She studied him. “You mean that.”
“I do.” He sounded sincere. “You’ll make one helluva horse barn manager.”
“It’s a lovely place. You’d like it.” She wet her lips. “I have my own cottage.”
“I can’t wait to check it out. See you in action. Go out on a few official dates.”
She lifted a brow. “A few.”
“Many.”
“Better.”
He hesitated, rubbed her hand with his thumb. “What I said about not wanting a family?”
Charlie held her breath.
“I’ve changed my mind,” he continued. “I wanted a family so badly I built one here at the ranch. I’ve tried to protect and care for that family, but not in a good way. You were right. I’ve realized I can’t hold on too tight. Sometimes you have to let go and love people, no matter what. I’m not my parents. I don’t have to be like them. I can have the life I want.”
She blew out a rush of air, and then embraced him. Joy overflowed from her heart, making the rush of river water in the distance sound that much sweeter. “I love you.”
“I love you, too.”
“Everything she’d dreamed about for the past year was hers for the taking. No more fantasies, only reality now. And the future…
The future had never looked brighter. Her mother had been correct when she’d told Charlie never give up because dreams could come true.
“Remember who said it first today,” he added.
She winked. “Remember who kissed you first.”
“Oh, I won’t ever be able to forget. The time, the place, you.” His charming grin made her want to fall into his arms and stay there. “Kiss me, cowgirl.”
And she did.
The End
The Copper Mountain Rodeo Series
If you enjoyed Kiss Me, Cowboy, you’ll love the other Montana Born Rodeo series novellas!
Tease Me, Cowboy by Rachael Johns
Buy now!
Cherish Me, Cowboy by Alissa Callen
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Please Me, Cowboy by Megan Crane
Coming September 2014
Available Now
Did you miss last year’s rodeo? Check out the 2013 Copper Mountain Rodeo Series.
Tempt Me, Cowboy by Megan Crane
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Marry Me, Cowboy by Lilian Darcy
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Promise Me, Cowboy by C.J. Carmichael
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Take Me, Cowboy by Jane Porter
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About the Author
Melissa McClone has published over twenty-five novels with Harlequin and been nominated for Romance Writers of America’s RITA award. She lives in the Pacific Northwest with her husband, three school-aged children, two spoiled Norwegian Elkhounds and cats who think they rule the house. For more on Melissa’s books, visit her website: http://www.melissamcclone.com/
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Kiss Me, Cowboy (Montana Born Rodeo Book 3) Page 13