Page 22 of Marrying a Cowboy

The rock fell with a plop when she threw it over. After brushing the dirt from her hands, she turned to him and gave him a smug look. “See?”

He just smiled and nodded. Lifting up the shovel, he shoved it into the dirt and began removing it. Every time he hit a rock, he stepped back and Emma dug around in the dirt until she got a good grip on it and pulled it loose. Once it was out of the way, he’d go back todigging.

After a while, Emma began to sweat. Austin tried to ignore how her skin glistened in the sun. How her hair blew around while she tried unsuccessfully to wipe it away. It returned within moments. She swiped at it again, leaving a dark streak of dirt across her cheek. Austin cleared his throat. How could she be so disheveled and adorable at the sametime?

“Why are you smiling like that?” she asked as she arched her back as if she were trying to crackit.

Heat raced to his cheeks. What was he supposed to say? Telling her she looked adorable didn’t seem like the right thing. He grabbed the shovel and moved down a few feet to start digging a new hole. Taking this break gave him the needed time to come up with something that sounded lessidiotic.

“I’m just trying to figure out how you’re still single.”That was lessidiotic?

When she didn’t say anything, he turned to look at her. He’d said the wrong thing. Man, what was wrong withhim?

“But I’m not single. I’m married.” She gave him a look as she moved a few paces to prop herself up against the nearbytree.

“Ah, good deflection,” he said. Emma wasn’t being truthful and she knewit.

Folding her arms, she sighed. “What do you want from me,Austin?”

His thoughts swam inside his head from her question. What did he want? Despite the fact that he seemed to be losing control of his emotions when he was around her, he did enjoy her company. He wanted to learn things about her. More than fake husband and fake wife stuff. Like deep, personal, Emma only things. Was that sobad?

“I guess, I want to know you. The truth.” The depth of his voice surprised even him. He glanced over at her to see herreaction.

She was studying her dirt covered hands. Had he said the wrong thing? He leaned against the shovel handle and watched her. That’s not what he wanted to do. They were supposed to be helping each other out, not creating stress for the otherperson.

“Sorry, Emma. You don’t have to tell me anything. That’s not part of our agreement. I won’t askagain.”

Her took a deep breath and glanced up. “I guess I’m just trying to figure out a way to tell you that there just might be a chance that I may be thatunlovable.”

His brow furrowed as he stared at her. She was joking. Right? “Why would you even saythat?”

She scoffed and pushed off the tree, placing her hands on her hips. She squinted as she stared off across the field. “You don’t know me,Austin.”

Leaving his shovel to fall onto the ground, he approached her. When he was in reach of her elbow, he grabbed it and pulled her to face him. “You are extremely lovable. You’re sweet and funny.” His voice grew deeper as he leaned down to catch her gaze. “Andsexy.”

Her eyes widened as she glanced up athim.

“I’m just saying, fake husband to fake wife,” he saidquickly.

“See, now that’s exactly what a fake husband wouldsay.”

He studied her expression. She’d been hurt. Badly. Reaching up, he ran his fingers across the dirt smudge on her cheek. She closed her eyes as his hand lingered on her skin. He had never realized that she had the most adorable splatter of freckles across her nose. “I thought those things before I became your fakehusband.”

She bit her lower lip as she kept her eyes closed. He allowed his gaze to fall to her lips. For a moment, he wondered what it might feel like to kiss them. His heart picked up speed. What was he doing? Why was he even thinking about that? He and Emma were from two different worlds. Worlds that could never be brought together even if they wanted themto.

Their marriage was a means to an end. He was not supposed to get wrapped up in thinking about what a life with her might be like. A real life. A realmarriage.

It kind of went against his promise to himself to never open up his heart again. He would just get hurt and if there was a small chance that he could hurt her, he’d never forgive himself. It was his idea to do this fake marriage thing. It was his responsibility to make sure that she got out of this arrangement in onepiece.

So, despite his heart telling him to stay close, he took a step back and spoke the words that felt bitter to say, “That’s what friends arefor.”

Her eyes opened and she glanced up at him. No matter how much he wanted to interpret her expression as one of sadness, he brushed the thoughts aside. He couldn’t have feelings for her and he most certainly couldn’t let her have feelings forhim.

“Come on, we’ve got to finish this fence before night.” He moved away from her and over to his shovel. He picked it up and turned back to see her take a deep breath and walk over tohim.

“Can I shovel?” sheasked.

Austin raised his eyebrows. “Really?”

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