Page 291 of Cowboys & Navy SEALs

A smile quivered on her lips. “Jerk!”

He leaned in. “Princess!”

She rolled her eyes. “Whatever.”

“So … Mrs. Rigby, I take it from what you said earlier that we’re on dancing terms now?”

She went warm all over. He’d called herMrs. Rigby. “Maybe.”

He chuckled. “I’ll take that as ayes.”

The space between them seemed to shrink, and she became keenly aware that they were alone. Her breath hitched when he stepped up to her, conflicting emotions battling in his eyes. “I’ll probably regret saying this, but you really are breathtakingly beautiful.” He touched the curve of her cheek.

Electricity raced through her veins, and all she could think about was how he’d kissed her earlier. Then she realized what he’d said. All of the doubt came rushing back with a vengeance. “Why would you regret it?”

His jaw started working, and he looked like he would answer but then shook his head.

“There y’all are. I’ve been looking all over!”

They turned as Evie walked up to them.

“We’re fixin’ to start the dancing.” Reproof lay heavy in her voice. “And y’all kind of need to be there for it.”

Nash crooked his arm and held it out to her. She gave him a questioning look and planted her feet on the ground. There was no way she was going anywhere until she got an answer.

“We’ll dance tonight and talk later. Okay?”

“Honey,” Evie continued, “we’ve got to go inside. Everybody’s wondering where y’all are.”

“Okay,” she relented, linking her arm through his.

Chapter 11

“Well, what do you think? Can you handle living here for the next eighteen months?”

No way! was the first thing that went through her mind, but then she saw Nash’s hopeful expression as he studied her with those watchful eyes. She forced a smile and tried to sound genuine. “It’s great.”

He chuckled. “You’re a lousy liar.”

Her face fell. “What? That’s not fair.”

“I know you. You can’t stand being more than five minutes away from a shopping plaza or spa. Having to be out here must seem like an interminable prison sentence.”

“I guess I could always take up barrel racing or calf roping,” she quipped.

He laughed. “Now, that’s something I would pay to see.”

She stuck her tongue out at him. Nash had a knack for reading her like a book. Being stuck out in the middle of nowhere did seem like a prison sentence. And to make matters worse, Rigby Bros. Ranch was so dated it was a throwback to the eighties, with an overall feeling of neglect. The only positive aspect of the main house was being large enough for Nash and her to have their own wing. She’d been horrified at the prospectof being cooped up with Luther and Cynthia. It was comforting to know that she would have her own space, away from prying eyes. Although, there was only one kitchen for the entire house, so she would have to eat with them.

She was still in her wedding dress, which was starting to itch, and her feet were killing her. She flipped off her heels and sank down into the sofa. She was so exhausted that she could’ve fallen asleep right there.

Nash sat on the loveseat and began loosening his bowtie. Always a straight shooter, he got right to the point. “I figure we need to lay down the ground rules, right from the get-go, since we’re going to be spending lots of time together.”

She suppressed a yawn and stretched out on the sofa. “Go ahead, rulemeister. Lay it on me.” Her eyelids were so heavy she could hardly hold them open. A minute later, she drifted off to sleep.

“Well, it looks like Cinderella’s still sleeping.” Gracie stepped closer to Brooke, examining her. “I can’t believe she didn’t even bother taking off her wedding dress … and her makeup.” She turned to Gertrude. “I read inVogue Magazinethat every time you go to sleep wearing makeup, it ages you three days.”

“I find that hard to believe.”

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