Another chapter sneak peek!  IN THE CHARM will be released tomorrow, but here's a peek of Chapter 4 now! More chapter peeks to come!

JD is the daughter of a South Dakota small-town sheriff, teased by locals that if she were ever to consider marrying, she’d have a line of suitors around the block. But she’s not interested, as the only man she’s ever loved up and left, and her father was behind it. When she drives up on her father and his deputy toying with the extremely attractive redheaded Chris Friessen, she can’t resist tossing him an invitation to dinner, and she never expects that he’ll take her up on it.

Now, Chris may find that the irresistible JD comes with a lot more than he’s bargained for.

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Chapter 4

Who would have thought that tonight, of all nights, every person in town, or so it seemed, would show up for the dinner rush? Her mom and dad had both pitched in and carried out plates as she dished up the orders, and even Ray had stepped into the kitchen a time or two to help out their only waitress, Sue, a single mother of three, who worked four nights a week. Word had gotten out that the blue-plate special was grilled pork chops with steamed carrots over creamy whipped mashed potatoes, gravy, and buttermilk biscuits. JD would have to make a note of the favorites and time it better.

As she stared at the stacks of dirty plates and pots, she wanted to weep with weariness. It had to be after eight now, and her feet were killing her.

“Well, that young man is still here,” Alice said, “and you should know that your dad and Ray are both there breathing down his neck. He says he’s not leaving, that he asked you out and intends on taking you out. Never seen anyone so persistent. Not sure if that boy is just plain stupid or if he has more grit than is good for him.”

How could she have forgotten? She pulled off her apron, wanting to change, feeling the dampness of sweat leak through her tank top. “He’s still here? Why didn’t you say something?”

Her mother was no longer horrified at the fact that a biker no one knew anything about had not only showed up for a dinner she’d offered but also had asked her out. Her father, of course, after following her mother and her into the kitchen, had said in no uncertain terms that she could go out with Chris only over his dead body. Her mom, though, had rolled her eyes and patted his chest, knowing what not to say, and instead had questioned JD on the wisdom of going anywhere with someone not from around Martin. JD, without saying a word to either, had poured ice tea for Chris and walked out, leaving her parents to discuss who this Chris was.

Now here she was, sweaty and gritty, wanting a shower and to get off her feet, not to go out on a date or on the town or anywhere except to bed.

“Well, I’m saying something now,” Alice said. “Are you sure you know what you’re doing? I mean, you know nothing about him, where he’s from, and who his people are. Then there’s Ray. You know he’s not happy about you going out with him.”

Her mom was so dramatic about everything. She wanted to roll her eyes. It was all she’d ever heard growing up, as if anyone not from Martin was from another country. It was as if everything and everyone that mattered was right there, and any other place didn’t exist. Then there was Ray.

“Mom, hate to break this to you, but Chris is just like you and me, and yes, I’m going out with him.” Where, she didn’t have a clue, but right now she wasn’t about to waste another minute being questioned by her parents. “And about Ray, I’m going to say this one last time: He has no say in my life, in who I see or talk to,” she added just as her mother gave her a disapproving glance and then shook her head.

“You know Ray has been stopping in here every night and has intentions of asking you out. He’s already spoken to your father…”

JD was already shaking her head. She knew Ray was interested, yet he’d never kissed her. He’d taken her out a few times, walking, to a movie, even dancing a time or two, but as far as she was concerned, it was as friends. He’d listened to her, being the sympathetic ear when her father had pulled her and Matt apart and ended any future they could have had.

“Mom, Ray is just a friend. How many times have I said that? He’s nothing more, never has been, never will be. So can you please stop, already? Both you and Daddy need to learn that my life is my life.”

There it was, the eye roll again, as if she were spouting nonsense. It seemed her parents would never see her as an adult with a life that was hers alone. She would never be free of them continually poking their noses into her business and arranging her life as they saw fit.

She pushed open the kitchen door and saw three sets of eyes turn her way. Ray and her dad were both standing in front of Chris, their arms crossed, and it wasn’t lost on her that they were eye level, and not one of them towered over the others. Then there was Chris, who must’ve been staring right back at them, his arms also crossed over a rust-colored T-shirt. She noticed he’d shed his leather jacket, and wow, his arms showed he was a man who could hold his own, which was maybe why he was standing up to Ray and her dad as if it were no big deal. That alone bumped him up a double notch in her book.

“You ready?” he said to her and then walked her way.

She didn’t dare look over to her father, because she already knew he likely had a few things to say, and she wasn’t about to hear any more. “Yes, just let me change into a clean shirt and we can go.” Then her gaze did slide over to her father and Ray and back to Chris, wondering how much longer he could hold them off. “You okay here?” she said. There had to be a point where he realized she was too much trouble and walked out. Anyone in their right mind would have. Wasn’t that what Matt had done?

He shrugged as if it were no big deal. “Of course. Go get changed. I’ll be here,” he said.

She took another step back, taking in her dad and Ray. “You two, behave yourselves,” she said, then left, glancing back only once to see her mom step out of the kitchen and over to Chris. Good grief, she hoped her mom at least would behave.

* * *

JD didn’t linger as she wanted to. She pulled off her damp and sweaty shirt and tossed it in her dirty clothes hamper the moment she stepped into her bedroom, which had a queen bed, a night stand, a chest of drawers that was as old as the house, and two antique chairs in front of a fireplace that didn’t work.

She crossed into her private bathroom, with its claw-foot tub and single sink, and turned on the tap to splash water on her underarms and over her face. She grabbed the towel, taking a whiff to make sure she didn’t smell, and dried off before putting on deodorant and grabbing a deep blue tank with frills on the front, which she pulled on over a lacy bra. She grabbed silver hoops from the square box on her dresser and put them on, glancing at her image in the bathroom mirror. Not bad, considering she’d been sweating over a hot stove for hours.

She quickly brushed on blusher and then a thin coat of mascara, then glanced at the clock, seeing that only five minutes had passed. “Good girl,” she said as she kicked off her flip flops and pulled open the closet, then shoved her feet in black toeless sandals. She was out the door, half expecting for Chris to be gone this time, but she froze as she saw her mother behind the ancient front desk and Chris filling out a registration card. They both looked up at her as if what they were doing was completely normal.

“Since it’s getting late, I suggested that Chris get a room for the night,” Alice said. “No point in him having to hit the highway in the dark.” She slid a key across the counter. “5C, the first door at the top of the stairs.”

Chris pulled out his wallet and tossed several bills down. “Thank you,” he said and took the key, which scraped across the counter. He looked from her mom to her. “You ready?”

She found herself looking into the dining room, expecting to see Ray and her dad there, but she saw no one, instead hearing a clatter from the kitchen.

“Well, you two have fun,” Alice said. “I’d best go give Sue help cleaning up.” Then her mother did the oddest thing: She walked away, leaving Chris and JD alone.

“Your mom…” He gestured to her retreating back. “You look just like her.”

She dragged her gaze back to him, taking in the leather biking pants he was still wearing.

“You mind if I grab my gear and put it in my room? And I’ll take off these bike leathers,” he said, tapping his leg.

“Of course not. Was wondering whether you’d wear those all night. You have to be hot, I would think,” she added.

Chris pulled open the front door. The jingle of the bell was as familiar as the night sky, and he waited for her to step through it. “I am hot, but it’s a safety thing. They won’t protect against broken bones, but they will against road rash.”

He was behind her as she stepped out. The sun was still up, but it was starting to dip lower. It really was magical out there when the sun went down. Chris pulled the door closed, and they started down the four long steps, the wood creaking under his weight. His bike was parked right in front beside her father’s cruiser. It really was a nice bike, as far as motorcycles went. He said nothing as he unfastened the bag on the back, and she took a moment to really look at him. Something radiated from him, a charm she’d never felt from anyone before.

“So you’ve traveled all over on this bike?” She stepped off the curb and ran her hand over the metal and onto the leather seat.

“I did, the only way to see the country.” He hefted the bag over his shoulder and then waited for her. The smile that touched his lips along with those intense blue eyes was giving everything to her and making her feel as if she were special in a way that no man ever had, not even Matt. Then he was walking back to the steps, and he paused as if waiting for her. Stay there or go with him? Then he did something she didn’t expect. “So you want to show me the way to 5C, or do you think your father is waiting in the room for me?”

The way he said it, she wasn’t sure whether he was kidding, but at the same time, she realized that was exactly what her father would do, and she winced.

“Sure I can. Should I apologize again for my father and Ray? Or maybe I never apologized,” she said as she stood right beside him, so close she could feel his heat.

The way he was looking at her now, she wasn’t sure what he was thinking. Then he ran his hand over her arm and down to her hand, over her fingers, in a touch that sent a shiver through her. His hand was hard, rough, and warm, and her body seemed to want it. “You don’t need to apologize for anyone. Whatever happened, whatever they’ve done, that’s not on you.”

He was still holding her hand as they started up the steps, where he opened the front door of the lodge. Ray was now behind the front desk, and his eyes went right to their hands before landing solely on her.

“You know what, Chis? Go get changed, and I’ll wait right here,” she said, pulling her hand from his and resting it on his arm, feeling the muscles tighten.

He glanced to Ray and then pulled his questioning gaze back to her. “You sure?”

Those two words, the way he said them, she realized he really meant it. Maybe that was why a lump jammed in her throat, cutting off her voice. She had to swallow as she stared into the intensity of his eyes, the strength and something else that had her wanting to step closer to him.

“It’s fine.” She forced a smile to her lips, dropped her hand, and squeezed her fist from wanting to touch him again.

He nodded, lingering just a second more before starting up the steps to where the three guest rooms were. JD watched him for a breath and then another before forcing her gaze back to Ray, who apparently had something more on his mind and was determined to have his say.