For Love of Charley Read Online Free PDF

jotted two numbers down. “You can
reach me at one of these if you need to. The second one is my cell phone. Don’t
lose them. They’re unlisted.” He handed her the paper, his fingers just barely
skimming hers. A tingle shot all the way up his arm, and he saw with amusement
that she flinched. “What did you want?”
    Charley looked down at the numbers, then
folded the paper and stuck it in her pocket. “Two things, really. I wanted to
find out what time you were planning to be here, and I wanted to apologize.”
    “Apologize?” It was hard not to smile, but
he managed to keep his expression only mildly interested.
    “Yes. For the way I acted last night. It
was uncalled for and rude. My only excuse is that you surprised me. There’s
really no reason we can’t be civilized about this. After all, the past is
past.”
    “Is it? That’s an interesting philosophy.”
He gave her a bland stare. “But don’t worry about it. I’ve been called a lot
worse than bastard in my life. I suspect I will be again.”
    She hesitated. “Business is really the only
reason you’re back?”
    Cole arched an eyebrow. “What else would it
be?”
    She gave a slight shrug of her shoulders.
“I don’t know. It’s just that the Red Dog doesn’t really seem important enough
for you to be this interested in it. Not when you’ve got your company in
California to take care of.”
    “I didn’t say I was here just to make
changes to the saloon. It’s actually a very small part of the business that’s
brought me back. I need a base of operation. The Red Dog is in the perfect spot
to provide me with one.”
    “What other business could you have in
Canyon Bend? There’s nothing here.”
    “I remember.” He gave her a half smile and
gestured. “You may as well sit down and I’ll tell you about it. You’ll find out
soon anyway. I’ve asked for a special meeting of the City Council Monday
night.”
    Charley sat down on the edge of a chair and
wiped the palms of her hands surreptitiously on her legs. “I don’t understand.”
    “I bought Duncan Mills. By the middle of
next week an entire crew of construction workers will begin renovations on the
ghost town. The projected time to completion is six months. When they’re done,
Duncan Mills will be restored to what it once was and become a major tourist
attraction.”
    In spite of herself, Charley felt a tingle
of excitement. “You’re serious? Do you know what this means?” She leaped to her
feet and began pacing. “More jobs, higher wages. Canyon Bend will become a boom
town!” She waved her hands in the air. “This is fantastic! There will be so
many opportunities. And the Red Dog! There’s so much I need to do. Six months,
you say?” Reality hit hard, and she sank back down in the chair, groaning. “I
can’t. We’re making money, but not that much.”
    Cole stood and picked up his briefcase.
“Come on, let’s go across the hall.”
    “Why?”
    “Because I want to show you something, and
I need more room.”
    Charley followed him, watching his broad
shoulders move under his shirt. This man in front of her had made love to her,
and there was hardly a night since then that she hadn’t felt him touching her,
driving her into a frenzy of need. She shook her head, trying to push the
memory away. He was also, she reminded herself fiercely, the man who had left
her without a word. She wouldn’t allow it to happen again.
    Before she had time to brace herself, he
turned with his back to the door and their gazes met as he pushed it open.
Charley could feel the heat creeping into her cheeks and willed herself to look
away.
    “Charley, is working with me going to be a
problem for you?”
    The heat flared higher as she brushed by
him. “Of course not. Why would you think that?”
    “You seem kind of uncomfortable.”
    “Uncomfortable? Why would I be
uncomfortable?” Anger shot through her again. “I mean, you ask me to marry you
one night, and then disappear for ten