Page 14 of Sold on You

“Your brothers are messy?” she said with a grin.

“We all were growing up.” He shrugged. “Maybe not so much now that they’re married. Keeping up appearances with the wives.” He winked.

“You do have terrific brothers.” Charlee speared a piece of sausage. “And I have to say your sister and sisters-in-law are the best.”

Ace laughed. “Considering two of the four are your best friends.”

“Yep.” She ate the piece of sausage and chewed as she thought about the four women. She swallowed her bite. “I like Celine and Fiona, too.”

Charlee went on, “I wasn’t sure about Celine when I first met her. Since she’s a New York fashion designer, I wondered if her wanting to be here would last.” Charlee looked at Ace. “I’m glad she is happy here. You can tell how much she loves Jayson,”

“And he loves her like crazy,” Ace said. “She’s been able to build her line from her studio at their ranch and she’s doing great.”

“I’ve heard that from Bailey,” Charlee said. “I really like Fiona, too. She was a kind of gypsy who had never stayed in one place for long, so I wasn’t so sure she’d stay in Prescott since she’d always been a wanderer. But she’s so happy with Justice that she shines with it.”

Ace gave a firm nod. “She and Sophie have built quite a line of jewelry, too.”

“I adore Sophie as much as I care about Lora and Leslie.” Charlee smiled at the thought of Fiona’s daughter, Justice’s long-lost daughter, and Jack’s daughter, three vibrant and loving girls. “Those three girls are fantastic young women. And Jack’s son Max is great.”

“Then there’s Bailey and Dara with babies on the way.” Ace gave a mock groan. “My family is filled with bunnies.”

Charlee laughed and rested her fork on her plate. “I miss Bailey. I never thought she’d find a cowboy in Hawaii and end up in Montana.”

Ace snorted. “She’s lucky our brothers and I weren’t there. We would have run him off the island.”

Charlee grinned and elbowed Ace. “Like all those rodeo cowboys she dated before Seth.”

Ace’s grin matched hers. “You betcha.”

The warmth filling Charlee while she and Ace talked was so comfortable and pleasant, it was almost alien. She hadn’t felt completely at ease with any man since—

Not going there.

Truthfully, she was grateful to be “stuck” with Ace over Christmas, if only for a few days. A part of her that she didn’t want to acknowledge wanted more. Much more.

She had purposefully chosen to build a business that catered to mostly female clients and her employees were predominately female. She did have a few great male employees, but she never felt uncomfortable around the men she had hired. Something about the nature of the business she was in, she supposed.

“Charlee?” Ace’s voice drew her out of her thoughts, and she saw the concerned look on his strong features. “You okay?”

“Yeah.” She didn’t have to force a smile as she looked into his eyes. “I was just thinking that I’m having a great time. You’re not so bad after all.”

“My master plan at work. I orchestrated that storm just for you.” He tried for an apologetic look. “Sorry about the flat tire, but I had to find some way to get you alone.”

“Ha.” She shook her head as she tried not to grin. “How did you know I’d call you?”

He tapped his forehead. “Psychic energy.”

She struggled to keep from laughing. “You’ve been talking to Fiona too much. Next, you’ll be telling me you’re into reading tarot cards, too.”

“Of course.” If it wasn’t for the spark of amusement in his eyes, he would have looked serious. “I can also tell your future.”

She swiveled her stool so she could face him more directly. “All right. Tell me what’s in store for me.”

“Call me the Great Ace.” He put his fingertips to her forehead, looking solemn as the heat of his touch warmed her. He closed his eyes. “I’m getting a reading…hold on.”

Charlee held in the desire to giggle. “I’m holding, Great Ace.”

“Shhh.” He gave her a mock frown. “I need complete concentration.”

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