Western Future (Copper Kings Book 3) Read online

  Mrs. Winthrop seemed to realize what was happening and signaled the hotel staff. Several burly men moved between the crowd and the stage. Max partially relaxed, but until he knew Charlotte was safe, he wasn’t going to step away.

  “And lastly, you’ll be bidding on an outing with Miss Charlotte Hayer, the lovely owner of the new bakery on Main Street. Who will start us out?”

  The price escalated quickly as men fought to spend time with her. And with every new offer, Max’s blood boiled higher.

  These men didn’t know her, didn’t know that she was kind and caring, that she sang as she baked bread, that her curls were just as soft as they looked, or that her eyes reflected everything she felt.

  “Ten dollars!” a man yelled.

  Another man raised his hand. “Twelve!”

  The bidding continued, and the men got more desperate as the price increased up to thirty-three dollars.

  The volume in the room dimmed as price caps were hit. The final two bids were at forty-five and forty-six. And when one of the men grew silent, the final man grinned up at Charlotte as if he’d purchased her instead of just a small snippet of her time.

  Max saw red.

  Mrs. Winthrop took an extra moment to wait for another bid, as if she had reservations about sending Charlotte with the man, and before Max knew what he was doing, he called out, “One hundred dollars!”

  Gasps sounded around the room, then whispers as people realized who had bid such an exorbitant amount.

  Mrs. Winthrop grinned. “Anyone else?” She waited less than a second. “Closed! Mr. Blackgate has won the outing with Miss Hayer!”

  The crowd cheered with pleasure at the opulent display a moment before the other man howled. “That’s not fair! She should have been mine!”

  The crowd’s cheers died down at the angry declaration, eyeing the man warily as if anything might set off an explosion. As the man moved toward Max, people parted, allowing him through.

  He stopped a few feet away from Max, the veins in his neck bulging with rage. “Who do you think you are, coming in and throwing your money around?”

  Max felt Lucas move to stand behind him, but he didn’t take his eyes off his opponent. He raised a brow. “I was under the impression that this was a fundraiser for the school. The more money raised, the better.”

  The man sneered. “I know who you are, you smug coward. You’re one of them Copper Kings. Well, let me tell you, you can’t just come in here and take our women. Miss Hayer is mine.”

  Max’s blanket of calm was ripped from him at the man’s words. He stepped forward. “Miss Hayer doesn’t belong to anyone but herself. This wasn’t an auction to buy her. It was about spending a few hours with her with no other obligation on her part.”

  The man gave him a condescending smile. “Don’t think I don’t know you’ll lay your hands on her the second you have her alone—any of us would.”

  An outraged gasp filled the air as everyone around them heard the man’s crude words. The hotel employees converged, but before anyone could get there, Max’s hand shot out and wrapped around the man’s neck, jerking him forward until the man was inches from his face. “Don’t ever speak of Miss Hayer or any other woman like that again. Don’t look at her, don’t think of her. If you do, I will bury you so deep, no one will ever find you.” His voice was low and deadly.

  The man’s eyes narrowed, and his mouth opened to retort, but Max was done hearing his filth. Max squeezed his neck lightly. “Think before you speak again. Even better, don’t speak at all. Nod if you understand what I’m telling you.”

  The man’s hate-filled eyes focused on him, but he wouldn’t relent. Max’s nostrils flared at the man’s belligerence.

  Lucas’ hand fell on his shoulder, as if silently warning Max not to go too far, but his friend didn’t make a move to stop him.

  “I’m going to tell you one more time. Stay away from Miss Hayer. Nod if you agree.”

  The man’s eyes never changed, but, as if realizing he’d not get out of Max’s grip any other way, he nodded once in anger.

  The minute he did, Max released him and stepped back. The man sagged, his hands going to his throat, but before he could recover, the hotel employees had already surrounded him and escorted him out.

  Mrs. Winthrop called for attention again, thanking everyone for their generous donations as if the little scene between the two men had never occurred. But as Charlotte looked at him from the platform, all he felt was rage on her behalf. Rage over the way the man had looked at her, had treated her, and what would have happened if Max hadn’t stepped forward with his astronomical bid.

  “Are you all right?” Lucas asked.

  Max’s jaw clenched. No, he wasn’t all right. He wasn’t calm or reasonable or rational. Right now, he was filled with anger. “I need a minute.”

  “Take it,” Lucas said a moment before Max turned toward the door.

  He needed to breathe, to calm down, and to somehow get control of what was happening to him. He’d thought staying away from her, protecting her from afar, would be enough. But tonight, he realized it never would be. He had feelings for Charlotte.

  And keeping his distance wouldn’t help him anymore.

  Chapter 5

  Max would allow himself ten minutes of quiet outside. He needed to rein back his anger and return to the hotel to smooth over any discomfort Charlotte felt over what had happened. He’d also, of course, tell her she didn’t have to spend time with him, he was happy just to give the money to the school.

  But that would be a lie.

  He wanted the outing with her. He wanted to spend more time getting to know her. She intrigued him more than any woman of his recollection, and he wanted to know why. What was it about her that drew him in?

  But would that be wise?

  He raked a hand through his hair, pacing angrily. Why wasn’t he in control? Why couldn’t he be calmly logical about her or what had happened tonight?

  He tried to bring back the iron control he’d always possessed, but when he thought of the man who’d bid on her, the way he’d looked at Charlotte as if she weren’t even a person, as if she were just a piece of meat he could purchase and use at his leisure, his rage burned hotter.

  Men like him needed to suffer. Greatly.

  “Max?”

  He swiveled on the boardwalk. “Charlotte? What are you doing out here?”

  “I came to check on you.” She took a few more steps toward him, concern plainly written on her face. She looked into his eyes for a moment as if she wanted to say something, but then looked down instead. “And I wanted to thank you. For what you did in there.”

  He shook his head harshly. “You don’t need to thank me for that. You should never have to be subjected to a person like that.”

  She took a tentative step forward and placed her hand on his forearm, pulling his gaze to hers. “But no one else would have been able to pay more to wrench me away. You did that, and you didn’t have to. I would have been safe on the outing, but it would have been hard spending time with him, to see the way he looks at me or how he treats me like I’m just some vessel for his pleasure.”

  His hand caught her arm at her words. “You are so much more than some vessel. You’re incredible and unique, and any man who would treat you less than you deserve isn’t worth your time.”

  “I’m not really as amazing as you seem to think I am,” she said softly, looking away.

  He used his free hand to turn her face back to his, waiting until her eyes were on him. “You’re worth more than an entire gold mine. Never doubt that.”

  Her lips parted as if she couldn’t believe what he was saying. But he couldn’t seem to hold back the words. She was more valuable than jewels, and if he needed to tell her that to make her believe it, he would.

  “Max…” She leaned closer to him.

  His heart rate picked up, his body heating. His hands itched to take her into his arms, to crush her against him, show her how much he
wanted her, desired her, craved her.

  But then he wouldn’t be any better than the man from the auction. No one should just take what they wanted. Only give.

  And he wanted to give her everything right then. He wanted to make her forget what had happened in the hotel, everything she’d ever struggled with, and fill her with something she’d never forget.

  Her tongue darted out, wetting her bottom lip until it shone in the hazy moonlight. He stared at the softness there, imagining how they must feel. And as they stood there, seconds ticking by as if they stood on the edge of the cliff, uncertain whether to pull back or fly free, his desire for her increased until he couldn’t think of anything but her.

  “I want to kiss you.” His voice was soft, just a whisper. “May I?” He only wanted to if it was what she wanted as well.

  Her eyes fluttered closed, and when they opened again, he saw desire echoed there. “Yes. Max, kiss me.”

  He growled. He couldn’t help it.

  Without thinking further, he scooped her into his arms, carrying her a short distance to an alley where the shadows thickened. He wanted her all to himself.

  She gasped in surprise, but then wrapped her arms around his neck, trusting him fully. Her fingers sifted through his hair at the back of his neck, and it sent tingles through his entire body. One touch, one caress from her, was all it took to light him on fire.

  He placed her on her feet, pressing her against the side of the building. “Why are we here?” she asked as she looped her arms back around his neck.

  He leaned his body into hers, unable to speak for a moment from the sheer pleasure of having her against him. “Because what’s about to happen is only for us,” he said, crushing his mouth to hers, unable to wait even a moment longer.

  Her gasp of surprise was immediate, and he tasted her deeper, a thick rumble filling his chest at her flavor. She was sweet and tart, just like the pies she baked. And just like her confections, he couldn’t get enough.

  He continued to plunder, but after a few moments, he slowed. His lips and tongue playing, nipping, until her breaths came in gasps.

  She pressed closer to him as if she couldn’t get enough, and he combusted. He pressed into her more fully, pinning her between the wall and his body, feeling every inch of her form pressed to his.

  He licked the seams of her lips teasingly, and she opened to him freely, happily, and he tasted as he wanted. Her hands slowly moved from his shoulders into his hair, gently gripping until he thought he would go mad.

  This was blinding, white-hot need. More than he’d ever experienced in his life. And he wanted more of it. More of her.

  Knowing he was on the edge of crossing the line, he pulled his lips from hers, trailing kisses to her hairline and taking the lobe of her ear into his mouth, nipping as he pulled away. She moaned loudly, but he was too far gone to care if anyone heard them.

  He did it again, wanting to bring her even more pleasure, and was rewarded as her hands opened and closed in his hair, her movements chaotic from how he made her feel.

  He wanted her. He wanted to take her somewhere private and make love to her until she couldn’t see straight—until all she knew was him.

  He placed a hand on the wall next to her and pushed away. But as he looked at her kiss-swollen mouth, the desire in her eyes, it took all his willpower not to taste her lips again. Instead, he stroked a thumb across their slick surface, and her tongue darted out for a final taste.

  He groaned. “You need to go back to the fundraiser.”

  As if she knew the power she held and relished it, her lips curved into a sly smile. “You’re right. But I don’t want to.”

  Her words undid him. He moved his hand from her lips to the back of her neck and up into her hair, gripping tightly as he kissed her wildly again. The heat built in an instant, and at her shiver, he knew they were toeing the line.

  Reluctantly, he released her and stepped back again, hoping the loss of contact would clear his head enough to function properly.

  It didn’t.

  “Let’s get you back,” he said, offering his arm.

  Without hesitation, she took it and tucked herself close to his side.

  In electrified silence, he led her back to the hotel’s entrance, urging her to head in first. But as he watched her walk away, the way she glanced back at him, the heat still in her eyes, he realized he didn’t just desire her.

  He was falling in love with her.

  All the warm feelings he’d had only moments before fled, and the blood drained from his face. Memories filled him of another time, another innocent woman, and the betrayal that had almost destroyed him.

  * * *

  Several days had passed since the night of the auction, and for the first time, Charlotte wasn’t thinking about the kiss she’d shared with Max. “Where is she?” she said to herself.

  She glanced out the bakery window, praying the woman she’d hired to help in the front would show up. A rancher’s daughter was finally tying the knot, and he wasn’t sparing any expense in the celebration. But Charlotte couldn’t fulfill the catering order if she didn’t have someone to take her place at the counter.

  I am not going to panic.

  But she immediately went back to the window and looked out at the dark, peaceful street. It was still early, well before sunrise, but she was supposed to have been here twenty minutes ago.

  She couldn’t understand why every aspect of her life seemed to be heading south.

  After the auction, when she’d kissed Max in the alley, she’d felt like her life would never be the same. Everything had changed. Everything she’d known and believed about the future, transformed in an instant.

  But in the days following, she’d hardly seen Max. He kept to the same schedule as before, leaving early in the morning and arriving right before she left.

  The first night, she’d been nervous, unsure of what to say. But as he passed through, giving her a nod and a small wave, he’d said he was sorry but was so exhausted he need to turn in early.

  She’d been surprised then disappointed, but she could understand. He’d been working so hard he needed to rest. But after several more days passed in the same way, Charlotte wondered what had gone wrong. Did he regret kissing her? Was he avoiding her? Or maybe she was reading too much into this, and he was just busy and exhausted as he’d said.

  She huffed out a frustrated breath. She couldn’t think about that right now. She was dealing with a crisis.

  She pressed against the glass and looked as far down the street as she could. “She has to come!”

  “Charlotte?”

  She whirled around, her hand closing into a fist at her chest. “Max!” A breath gushed from her lips. “What are you doing here? I thought you’d already left.”

  He held up his hands. “Sorry. I didn’t mean to startle you.” He frowned and moved toward her. “Is everything all right? Nothing else has happened, has it?”

  Genuine concern shone in his eyes, and she softened. “No. Nothing like that. I have a large catering order to fill, and I hired someone to help me today, but she’s late, and I don’t think she’s coming.”

  His stance loosened. “Is there anyone else you can get?”

  She thought over several options, and while her friends normally could help her, they were busy that day, helping with the new school. “No.” She shook her head, her mind whirling with plans. “I don’t know what I’m going to do. I can’t bake everything for the shop, everything for the order, and still take care of customers.”

  He nodded slowly. “So, you only need someone to help in the front?”

  “Well, she was going to help me bake this morning, but it really isn’t necessary. I can get all the food ready in time. But not if I’m in the front as well.”

  “All right.” He shrugged his coat off and rolled up his sleeves.

  Her eyes skimmed over the exposed skin, and her heart fluttered at the sight of his muscles bunching and flexing. It was head
y to remember how they’d felt under her fingertips.

  Forcibly, she tore her eyes from his arms and met his gaze. “What are you doing?”

  “Helping you.”

  “Helping me?” Her eyes widened, as she realized what he meant. “Wait, you can’t do that.”

  A ghost of a smile curved his lips. “Why not?”

  She gestured wildly at him, knowing she looked ridiculous. “Because you can’t! You’re busy. You have too much to do.”

  “I can take today off. It’s all right.”

  “But…but.”

  His brow arched. “But?”

  Did she really have to say it out loud? “You’re a Copper King! You shouldn’t be wasting your time passing out muffins and cookies.”

  He frowned. “Why not? This is a thriving, viable business. You turn a tidy profit, you offer excellent goods, and you’re savvy. Why would this be a waste of time?”

  His words stunned her. Is that really what he thought? Pleasure wove through her, but she didn’t trust herself to speak for a moment, worried she would say something ridiculous.

  “Thank you. That means a lot to me. Are you certain it’ll be all right? I remember you saying you had to spend every minute at the mine to avoid massive losses.”

  He shrugged. “One day won’t matter. Besides, several people are gathering information I need and already implementing changes I’ve ordered. They can manage without me for the day.”

  Warmth filled her belly. He acted like it wasn’t a sacrifice to help her, but from everything she’d learned about him, she knew that wasn’t true. “Seems like you’re rescuing me again,” she said.

  His eyes were warm as they met hers, but then he looked away. “I’ll always be here if you need me.”

  The words were ones of promise, but the way he said them was strange, as if it wasn’t what he wanted.

  Why couldn’t she figure him out?

  Chapter 6

  Charlotte didn’t know what to think. Forced to retreat to the kitchen to start on the day’s offerings, she attempted to shut out all thoughts of Max and the way he’d managed to cool his emotions easier than her.