Page 18 of Marrying a Cowboy

Emma fiddled with the fork that she’d laid next to her plate. So, he’d picked up on that. Why couldn’t she just tell him? Maybe it had a little something to do with the fact that he’d said his animals were something he loved. But then she pushed that thought from her mind. She could tell him. It wasn’t like they were going to stay marriedforever.

“I was bit once as a child.” She reached out to show the scar tissue on her forearm. “Let’s just say, I’m pretty jumpy around themnow.”

He reached out and grasped her hand, pulling her arm closer to him. She tried to ignore the zaps of electricity that shot through her nervous system from his touch. When he reached out to run his finger over the puncture marks, she involuntarily held her breath. What was happening toher?

“I’m sorry. That had to hurt,” he said, letting go of her arm and sittingback.

Grateful that he was no longer touching her, she tucked her elbow back by her side. She didn’t know what would happen to her if he touched her again. And she wasn’t sure if she wanted to find out. “Yeah.”

He stabbed the last bit of his steak with his fork and brought it up to his mouth. “You know, they aren’t all like that,” he said after he’dswallowed.

She rubbed her arm with her hand, trying to get the feeling of Austin’s fingertips off of her skin. “I’ve decided never to find out. I guess it’s self-preservation.”

“Like me and love.” His cheeks grew red as his gaze flew over to hers. “I, err, mean. . .” He sighed and rubbed his hand through hishair.

Emma studied him. What had happened? It couldn’t have been worse than her debacle with Vincent. She took a deep breath and decided to just ask. “Whathappened?”

He scrubbed his face with his hand and glanced down at the table. “I. . . just can’t talk about it,” he said. He shifted on the booth and then slid out. “I’m going to run to the bathroom. We should head out when I get back. Sean’s at the ranch, but he’s probably eager to gethome.”

She stared at his retreating frame. “Sean?”

“He’s like second in command,” Austin called over his shoulder as he disappeared into thebathroom.

Emma stared at the now shut door. What was that about? Why couldn’t he talk about it? What was so embarrassing that he couldn’t even tell his fake wife? She drummed her fingers on the tabletop. Oh, that’s right. Because he didn’t really know her. Not truly. It was probably a story he only told his friends and family. She really wasn’teither.

Gritting her teeth, she turned to her purse and fished out her phone. Swiping the screen on, she located Vincent’s text and stared at it. Why had he contacted her? Wasn’t he the one who’d broke it off with her? But as she read his words, her heart softened abit.

Emma, so good to see you today. I hope things are well. I’m not sure what’s going on between you and that guy but after talking I can’t help but wonder if we should have another go. I miss you. Do you miss metoo?

She swallowed as his last question.Do you miss me too?Her throat caught as she read them over and over again. What kind of guy asked a married woman that question? She paused. But she wasn’t a married woman, but he didn’t know that. So, did it reallymatter?

Pressing the button on the side of her phone, she watched as his words disappeared. She couldn’t think about that. Right now, she needed to push aside all thoughts of love and feelings and just focus on why she’d come. To help Austin get his ranch from his grandmother and that wasit.

There was no need to dissect feelings about anyone. And once she’d finished here, Austin would come back to New York and help her with her work and mother dilemma and then he’d be gone. And she’d be alone. A hollow feeling settled in her stomach. That was what she wanted.Right?

* * *

“This is home,”Austin said as he flipped on his blinker and turned down a gravelroad.

Emma nodded as she bumped and jostled in her seat. She reached up and held onto the handle. When Austin got back from the bathroom, he’d paid and they left. There was no more flirty conversation, just business. Which Emma was actually grateful for. She couldn’t get wrapped up in her thoughts about him again. Keep things platonic. That wasbest.

The head lights shone on the ground, illuminating it. After about three minutes of driving on the dirt road, Austin pulled in front of a small white house. It had grey shudders and a red door. Emma stared at it. The house was quaint and adorable. Behind it sat a huge red barn with a rusted silo next toit.

It was dark, but not really. The stars and moon lit up the sky in a way that Emma had never seen before. It never looked like this in New York City. She opened her door and jumped down from histruck.

“The sky looks amazing,” she said, keeping her gazeupward.

The sound of him shutting his door behind her didn’t pull her attention away. A streak of light raced across the sky, making her jump. “Was that a—?” She turned to look athim.

He smiled and nodded. “Falling star? Yeah. Don’t have those in New York, doyou?”

She shook her head. “If there’s any light falling from the sky, it’s a plane or satellite and you have to duck. Austin, this is breath taking.” She let her gaze roam around the stretch of grass the spanned out in front of her. A wood fence stretched across the land and a few black cows dotted thelandscape.

“I’m glad you like it,” hesaid.

She jumped and turned to see that he was inches from her. He had her suitcase in hishand.

“Are you ready?” heasked.

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