Mountain Charm Read Online Free

vibrated on her desk. Certain it was Maddie asking for her lunch order, she glanced down at the screen. It was from her best friend, but the text message had nothing to do with food.
     
    You are such a liar. He is gorgeous.
    Dark hair, beautiful brown eyes, and looks so good standing at the register.
     
    Angelina had never considered carrying a weapon on a daily basis, but right at this moment, she really missed her dad’s rifle.
    With an irritated groan, she rose from her desk and flung open the office door. Hurrying to the front of the store, she stopped abruptly when she noticed two men standing at the register.
    One was Dylan Thomas, and the other was the county sheriff.
    Angelina glanced at Maddie, who was standing behind the counter with an enormous smile on her face.
    Maddie had always loved drama.
    After a quick glimpse around the store to make sure they were alone, Angelina squared her shoulders and looked Dylan Thomas straight in the eye.
    “Get the hell out of my shop.”
    Dylan spun toward the sheriff.
    “See? She’s rude, and she pulled a gun on me last night. Surely that’s a punishable offense.”
    Angelina grinned at the officer.
    “How are you doing, Jack?”
    “Oh, can’t complain.”
    Jack Prescott was biting his lip to keep from laughing. It was a habit Angelina had found cute during those three months they’d dated back in high school.
    “You sure caused a commotion last night, didn’t you?”
    “You know me, Jack. I’m protective of the things I love. My mom, my house, my dog—”
    Dylan snorted. “It really pisses you off that your dog likes me, doesn’t it?”
    “You have no idea.”
    Maddie giggled as the two glared at each other. The sheriff maneuvered his way between them.
    “Now, Angelina, you know you can’t be shooting at people . . .”
    Would this be a good time to admit the gun wasn’t loaded?
    “I didn’t shoot. I just . . . pointed it at him.”
    Dylan muttered something about crazy hillbillies, which the sheriff ignored.
    “Angelina, I talked to Celia this morning, and it seems she’s not opposed to Mr. Thomas writing his story. She made it very clear to me she wants you to cooperate with him.”
    Dylan’s smile was smug.
    “Don’t we all,” Maddie said, her voice far breathier than usual as her eyes ghosted over Dylan’s muscular frame.
    Angelina groaned.
    I am surrounded by traitors.
    Jack gingerly touched her shoulder. “We both know your mama doesn’t need any extra stress right now. Maybe this will be good for her. It’ll give her something to focus on besides the chemo, you know?”
    Dylan’s conceited grin was gone in an instant. “Chemo?”
    Jack offered Angelina a sympathetic smile just as three girls walked into the store. The teenagers were giggly as they made their way over to the CD collection.
    “No more guns,” the sheriff said quietly.
    Too emotional to reply, Angelina nodded and left them standing there while she helped her customers.

    “Dylan’s like a lovesick puppy,” Maddie said. “He’s just sitting next to the window, pretending to play with his phone, sneaking glances at you when he thinks you aren’t looking.”
    “I’m not looking.”
    “I know, and I don’t understand that at all. How can you not look at the man? So what if he was a little bit of a jerk? He’s from the city. He’s completely out of his element, and you have no valid reason for hating him except you’re scared to death his arrival proves the spell is legit.”
    “No, I hate him because he showed up at my house after spending the day digging for dirt on me and my family.”
    “That’s what reporters do.”
    “Whose side are you on?” Angelina asked a little too loudly. Dylan’s head popped up, only to drop once again as he continued to scroll through his phone.
    “Yours, always. Just talk to him, Ang.”
    Angelina sighed. Maybe her friend was right. After all, the quicker he got his story, the quicker he’d be out of her life for