Her Hidden Falls Anti-Hero Cowboy: A Sweet Brother's Romance (Hardman Brother Ranch Romances Book 1) by Taylor Hart

Author:Taylor Hart [Hart, Taylor]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: ArchStone Ink
Published: 2019-09-26T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter 26

Out of the corner of her eye, Charlotte noticed Ryan carrying Richard's sister up the stairs. The high-pitched sound of drunken laughter trilled from their direction. Disgust, anger, and jealousy flared inside of her chest like the cracking roar of a fire about to consume a building.

Richard stopped dancing and followed her gaze. His body stiffened.

Charlotte pulled completely out of his arms. The musky smell of his cologne clung to her hair. "I need to get some air."

Richard took her hand. "Yes, some air." He pulled her through the crowd of well-dressed people, young and old, to the wide doors of the large patio. He grinned at his niece as they passed her and her friends all gathered in a group, laughing.

She walked out the door and the fire inside of her cooled with the fall air. It cooled even more when she saw the worry on Richard's face.

Then it took on a different heat, one of self-righteous indignation. What did Ryan think he was doing taking Maria up the stairs like that? She was a mere child compared to him, and it was his friend's sister. Not to mention the fact that they needed Richard's help, and Charlotte had a sneaking suspicion that Richard wouldn't take kindly to Ryan moving in on his sister. “I don’t know what he’s thinking.”

"This is not good." Richard's brow lifted in response, and he rubbed at the edge of his eye. He stood next to the side of the large swimming pool.

Charlotte stepped next to him and continued, "He must not be thinking, I'll go speak to him if you want."

Richard swung to her. "What do you mean by this is not good?”

"I mean Ryan took your sister up the stairs . . ."

Richard frowned and stared back to the pool. "Ryan does not love my sister."

Charlotte let out an exasperated sigh. She didn't have to be the one to explain the “what's not appropriate” theme to Richard. "I know he doesn't love her, but he could still have better manners."

Richard lightly took her hand. He put it between both of his. "You have the same look he had earlier."

These were not the words she'd expected. "What are you talking about?"

He leaned forward and his scent intensified. It had been nice to dance with him the whole night. The conversation had been easy, and the dancing superb. Richard had ended up being more than an attentive host. He'd felt like someone with whom she could easily talk, laugh, and joke.

Richard gently squeezed her hand and his chocolate brown eyes held hers. "You have no idea how beautiful you truly are, Charlotte, inside and out.”

The compliment made the fire inside of her go completely cool.

Richard looked at her lips, and, for an instant, she thought he would lean into her.

He pulled back and let go of her hand. "C'mon, mi amore. I think we better get back to the party before I lose one of the only friends I've ever truly cared about." He put an arm around her shoulders and guided her back to the doors.

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