Page 10 of Marrying a Cowboy

Old feelings bubbled up at her questions. Feelings of abandonment he’d had from growing up without a father. A man who decided living a gambling life was more important than his own son. It didn’t help that Austin lost his mother in a car accident last year. He cleared his throat. All of those things didn’t seem like something he should be discussing at this moment. He pushed down his feelings and smiled over at Emma. “She’s just old fashioned, Iguess.”

The door slid open, exposing the lobby. Feeling suffocated, Austin tightened his grip on his bag and stepped off. The sound of Emma’s suitcase rolling across the marble floor followed him as they made their way to the front doors and stepped out onto the sidewalk. The feeling of a hand wrapping around his elbow caused him to slow hisgait.

“Hey,” Emma said from behind him. He stopped and turned to look into her bright blue eyes. There was understanding in her gaze. “I’msorry.”

He swallowed as a lump rose in his throat. What was wrong with him? It must be exhaustion. He’d been going non-stop since Georgia stood him up. But he knew the minute he rested, his life just might come crashing down around him. “Forwhat?”

Emma’s gaze made its way down his arm to where her fingers were pressing lightly against his elbow. The feeling was sending shock waves up his skin. He studied her. Was she feeling ittoo?

As if she’d been burned, she dropped her hand. From the corner of his eye, he saw her brush her thumb against the pads of her fingers. That action intriguedhim.

“Whatever happened in your past.” She peeked up at him and then cleared her throat. “I have a history,too.”

He relaxed his grip on the handle of his luggage. He hadn’t realized that he was practically strangling it. “Thanks,” he said. There was a truth to her words that caused his stomach to lighten. It was the first time in a long time, he felt something. And that scared him. He dropped her gaze and glanced down the street. “Whereto?”

“It’s about a fifteen-minute walk,” she said, extending her hand to the left ofhim.

“Let’s go.” He started in the direction shemotioned.

“You don’t want to take a cab?” sheasked.

No. He didn’t want to be confined right now. He needed wide open spaces and places to run. Just in case his past or past feelings decided to emerge again. Right now, he needed to get married and then head back home. Being in New York City reminded him of everything he didn’t want in his life. The plains, and mountains—that was his home. That’s where he wascomfortable.

Emma hesitated and then followed after him, muttering something about the humidity and how he didn’t have to walk in heels. Austin almost changed his mind and offered to take a cab. He didn’t want to disappoint her, even though the thought of being stuck in a cab grated hisnerves.

Maybe if he lightened her load. He walked up next to her and nodded toward her suitcase. “Can I take that for you?” heasked.

Emma glanced down and then back up to him. She hesitated but then nodded. “Sure.”

Grateful for a job, he grabbed the handle before she had time to pull her hand away. His fingers brushed hers and warmth erupted up his arm from that single touch. He clenched his jaw to ground himself. It must be the thoughts of his past that had his feelings all jumbled up. He needed to get back to his ranch where the air was clear and everything madesense.

They walked the rest of the way to the court house in silence. Austin was grateful for that. He didn’t want to force any conversation and with the way he was feeling, he just might confess a little too much to the girl he was marrying to satisfy his grandmother’s stipulation. He grabbed her suitcase and headed up the front steps afterher.

Once inside the court house, he followed her across the marble floor and over to the clerk who was standing at the counter. After they filled out the marriage certificate forms, it was printed off and they were instructed to go wait outside of room 27B where the judge was just finishing up with another wedding. Austin sat down on the stained chair next to Emma. Her back was straight and her gaze kept making its way up and down thehall.

“You okay?” he asked. Her nervous energy was making himnervous.

She cleared her throat. “Um,yeah.”

He watched her reach up and tuck a curl behind her ear. “You sure? We don’t have to do this if you don’t wantto.”

Emma glanced over at him. “I want to do this,” shewhispered.

He raised his eyebrows. “Really?”

An uneasy expression spread across her face. “It’s just that I’ve never made it to this point before. It’s a littlescary.”

He glanced over at the closed door. He hadn’t thought about it like that. It was true. He’d never made it this far either. With Georgia, he’d made it to Las Vegas and that was about it. They never got to the Chapel O’ Love. Georgia had bailed bythen.

Reaching out, he wrapped his hand around hers. He wanted to let her know that he was there. After all, he was going to be herhusband.

“Yep. But, we can dothis.”

Emma nodded. “Right. And besides, it’s only for a little bit.” The door opened and a man in a white tank top and earring spacers emerged. He was holding the hand of a jean mini-skirt wearing girl with bluehair.

“Thanks a lot, Mr. Judge-man. Me and Serenity are gonna make it this time!” They stopped right in front of Austin and Emma where the man dipped his new wife and smacked a kiss on her lips. The girl’s blue hair brushed against Emma’sshoes.

When they came up for air, the guy winked and pointed his finger at Austin. “Good luck in there man. Judge Matthews is the best. His couples never get divorced.” With that, he shoved his hand into Serenity’s back pocket and they saunteredaway.

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