Page 13 of Marrying a Cowboy

Emma could feel Austin’s gaze on her. Silently, she pleaded with him to actcool.

“We’re. . . well, Em?” Austinasked.

Emma swallowed. “We just got married.” Her voice was so low that she barely heard her ownwords.

Vincent leaned in. “Married?”

Austin nodded and wrapped his arm around her waist. “Yep. This amazing lady is now my wife.” He grasped the hand that held the wedding certificate and shook it in Vincent’sdirection.

“Wow. I don’t know what to say,” Vincentsaid.

Emma stared at him. Well, that made two of them. “Yeah.”

“We’re perfect for each other, just ask Judge Matthews. He said only afoolwould let this amazing, kind, and beautiful woman go.” Austin leaned in and nuzzled her cheek with his nose. “She’s perfect, and I’m one luckyman.”

Austin’s ability to spin lies was tricking evenher.

Vincent’s eyes widened. “Well, I’m happy to see you’re happy.” He cleared his throat. “I should get intocourt.”

“Oh, you a lawyer?” Austinasked.

“Divorce lawyer,” Vincentsaid.

Emma nodded. “He works here at thecourthouse.”

“Well, that’s one kind of lawyer we will never need. Huh, sweetheart.” Austin brushed his lips against her cheekagain.

Emma could only nod as she let her gaze fall to Vincent’s face. What did he think about all of this? If he cared, he was doing a great job of hiding it. Why did it bother her so much that he didn’t care? He was her past. Someone she buried a long timeago.

Vincent gave them a small nodded and turned, but then paused. “I’m just going to give this to you,” he said, reaching into his suit coat and pulled out a business card. “Just incase.”

Emma took it from him and studied the embossed lettering. Why did her heart pick up speed when she took in his name and number? It wasn’t like she didn’t have his number still. It was one she’d never really been able to let goof.

“Well, we’ll be sure to cherish that,” Austin said as he grabbed her elbow and led her down the hall toward the frontdoors.

Once outside, she stumbled over to one of the large pillars in front of the courthouse and leaned againstit.

After a few deep breaths, she finally felt like the world wasn’t closing in on her. “Thanks for that,” she whispered as she glancedup.

Austin was staring at her. What could he possibly be thinking? She groaned. Why had she been such an idiot inthere?

“So, I’m guessing you and that guy have a history?” He moved to lean next toher.

Emma kept her gaze down where she studied their shoes. How could she answer that without seeming weak? “He’s my ex-fiancé. We got engaged but then two weeks later, he called it off. On my birthday.” The words tasted bitter on hertongue.

He sucked in his breath. “Ouch.”

She nodded. “Not really my proudest relationshipmoment.”

Silence fell around them as she calmed her mind. Her thoughts were racing and it felt good to take a minute to relax. Seeing Vincent had really jumbled up hernerves.

Austin cleared his throat next to her. “Can I ask yousomething?”

“Sure.” She pulled her headband off and tossed it into her purse. Why had she spent all night trying to figure out what to wear? From the outfits on the couple before them, she could have worn her bathrobe and it would have beenfine.

“What did he do toyou?”

Emma sighed and leaned her head back against the cool marble. She took a deep breath, hoping it would help ground her. “He. . . I. . .” Why couldn’t she find the words to tell him? “It’scomplicated.”

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