Texas Cattleman's Club (Book 113)
He's going to claim his child and the woman who got away…
Will they ever learn…
that giving in to desire is playing with fire?
After discovering he has a secret son, oil heir Ross Edmond isn't letting Charlotte Jarrett walk away again. He proposes they move in together—to share their son…and a bed. But Charlotte has secrets, and Ross doesn't know the real reason his family's former chef left town three years ago—and they still have a powerful enemy who could bring them both down…
Good second chance/enemies-to-lovers story. Three years earlier, Charlotte and Ross had a secret affair. She was the personal chef for the family, and he was the oldest son. Then Charlotte quit and moved to California with no explanation. Now she is back in Royal, and she isn't alone.
As the head chef of a new restaurant, Charlotte knows meeting the patrons is part of the job. However, she didn't bargain for seeing Ross again. Ross was equally stunned to see her, and more so when he learned she had a child. With unresolved feelings over her departure three years earlier, he showed up at her home the next day to confront her. He's furious when he finds out that she has a two-year-old son that looks just like him. Harsh words are exchanged and accusations hurled, but nothing is resolved before Charlotte has to leave for work. All that changes when she shows up at his office the next day.
Ross is still coldly furious with Charlotte but is determined to play a part in Ben's life. Charlotte neatly takes the wind out the sails of his fury when she explains exactly why he never knew about Ben. I ached for Ross as he faced the truth of his father's interference. I loved his insistence on being a real father to Ben and his obvious happiness in Ben's company. I liked that Charlotte didn't keep them apart, even though she worried about Ross's commitment.
I liked the rekindling of Ross and Charlotte's relationship. Neither one was happy that their attraction was as strong as ever. Charlotte wants to protect her heart from falling for the man who broke her heart once already. Ross doesn't trust that Charlotte won't walk away from him just as she did before. The circumstances become even more complicated and volatile when Ross insists they live together so that he can get to know Ben, a situation that infuriates Ross's father. I liked that Ross stood up to Rusty despite the rather drastic consequences. There are some emotional scenes as Charlotte witnesses Ross's hurt over Rusty's attitude.
Though Ross is happier than he's ever been, his fear of Charlotte leaving again keeps him from admitting his growing feelings for her. At the same time, Charlotte's pride makes it impossible for her to be the first one to speak. Ross makes a boneheaded decision that brings back all of the pain of their past, devastating both of them all over again. It takes a blast from Ross's past to change his entire viewpoint and show him his mistakes. I loved what he did with the advice he got. A beautiful and public bit of groveling went a long way toward easing Charlotte's fears and giving her the confidence to confess her feelings.
I liked Ross's brother Asher and sister Gina though they didn't appear often. Each of them also has issues with their father, who treats them like crap. I loved their support for Ross and excitement at being uncle and aunt. Their father, Rusty, was another matter entirely. He is ruthless, selfish, arrogant, and just plain nasty.
I enjoyed the story and would have given it another star except for one thing. I have no problem with the occasional f-bomb if it is appropriate to the story. But there were 43 of them in this short book, most of them unnecessary, in my opinion. Ross is a smart man, and I'm sure he could find more creative language to use. If I were Charlotte, I'd keep a bar of soap handy, or she'll see it popping out of Ben's mouth too.
I liked Ross's brother Asher and sister Gina though they didn't appear often. Each of them also has issues with their father, who treats them like crap. I loved their support for Ross and excitement at being uncle and aunt. Their father, Rusty, was another matter entirely. He is ruthless, selfish, arrogant, and just plain nasty.
I enjoyed the story and would have given it another star except for one thing. I have no problem with the occasional f-bomb if it is appropriate to the story. But there were 43 of them in this short book, most of them unnecessary, in my opinion. Ross is a smart man, and I'm sure he could find more creative language to use. If I were Charlotte, I'd keep a bar of soap handy, or she'll see it popping out of Ben's mouth too.
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