Page 2 of Marrying a Cowboy

She extended the bouquet to her and then paused. “You can count. Now, put your words intoaction.”

For a woman only five-feet-zero, she could strike fear into anyone’s heart. All Emma could say was, “Yes,ma’am.”

The wedding planner nodded and then shooed her from the room. “Go find your groomsmen,” she said, waving toward thelobby.

Emma stumbled on the heels that Shannon had insisted on her wearing. Just as she righted herself, a hand reached out and grabbed herelbow.

“Youokay?”

The rescuer’s deep, smooth voice sent shivers down her spine. Scared she was having a physical reaction to one of Shannon’s overly friendly uncles, she whipped around to see a pair of dark green eyes peering intohers.

“Um. . .” She moved her gaze from his eyes, down his perfect nose, to his crooked half-smile. His hair was dark and tousled in a purposeful way. Austin. “I think so,” she squeaked out and then cursed herself for sounding sostupid.

Warmth spread across her skin as his hand lingered on her elbow. He nodded and then his gaze made its way over to her shoulder where he pulled his hand back as if he’d suddenly realized that they were still touching. Emma tried to ignore how his tux seemed to hug him in all the right places. His shoulders were broad and the material couldn’t quite hide the muscles underneath. Why hadn’t he gotten fat since the last time she’d seen him? Why was fate so mean toher?

He straightened and extended his hand. “AustinMaverick.”

Emma stared at him. “I know who you are.” Once Shannon got home from her honeymoon, Emma was going to let her have it. Why did Dale, the forty-five-year-old patent attorney, have to drop out? He was better than this arrogantcowboy.

He nodded. “You knowme?”

Emma snorted. How could he have forgotten? “The lake retreat? Three years ago? You spilled your beer down my dress.” She nodded toward her elbow which she’d brought up waiting for him to link his arm throughhers.

He studied her and then a forced look of recognition passed across his face. “Right? How’ve youbeen?”

Emma stared at him. He couldn’t be serious. “You don’t remember me, do you?” Her cheeks heated from her statement. Why did she even care? It had to be this wedding and not the fact that him forgetting who she was just strengthened her realization that perhaps, she really wasn’t anything special. She clenched her jaw muscles to ground herself. This wasn’t about her. It was abouthim.

“I remember you,” hescoffed.

Emma motioned toward her elbow. “Right. Come on, let’s get this overwith.”

“I guess I just didn’t picture you when Thomas told me I’d be paired with Shannon’s only single friend,” he said, linking arms withher.

Turning, she glanced over at him. “What does thatmean?”

“What does what mean?” he asked as the wedding planner emerged from the room with Shannon intow.

Before Emma could explain, they were ushered into a line. She tried to ignore how tall Austin was when he stood next to her. She felt tiny in his shadow and she hated it. When they started to make their way toward the chapel doors, she caught a whiff of his cologne and butterflies erupted in her stomach. Then she pushed those feelings down. She was having a mental breakdown, that had to beit.

They waited as Anne, Rosalyn, and Natalie lined up in front of them. The wedding planner seemed so hell-bent on whipping the wedding party into shape, Emma feared what would happen if she was caught talking to Austin. But she couldn’t help but wonder what he meant earlier and why him forgetting who she was really bothered her so much. She leaned in closer to him, braving the wrath of the weddingplanner.

“What did you mean when you said you didn’t picture me when Thomas told you you’d be paired up with Shannon’s only single friend? Obviously, you didn’t rememberme?”

Austin’s gaze shifted over to her as she kept her face forward. Thankfully, the wedding planner was too engrossed with mouthing the counts as she released Anne down theaisle.

Austin shrugged as he turned his attention forward as well. “I don’tknow.”

Emma paused. She wasn’t sure how to feel about anything anymore. “How can you not know?” Man, she was agitated. She didn’t realize that being the last girl standing would bother her this much. But she’d gone this far, she might as well continue. So, she turned and met Austin headon.

He looked a bit startled as he glanced down at her. “I didn’t mean to offendyou.”

Emma scoffed, but before she could continue, a firm hand was placed on her arm and whipped heraround.

“Miss, you need to stay in line,” the wedding planner scoldedher.

Emma’s cheeks heated as she faced forward. Keeping her voice low, she leaned toward Austin so he caught every word. “Either you thought only an ugly person could be single at my age and if that’s the truth, shame on you.” The wedding planner nodded toward Rosalyn who started down the aisle. One more to go and it would be their turn. “Or, Thomas told you that I wasn’t ugly and you were shocked to find out that indeed, Iam.”

She heard Austin sputter next to her. “I’m—”

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