Page 31 of Marrying a Cowboy

He tossed his covers off his body and stood. On his way over to the door, he grabbed his shirt he’d discarded earlier. Even though she’d already seen his chest, he wasn’t sure he was ready for that to happen again. Not when his felt so confused abouther.

He turned the handle and pulled the door from the jam, exposing Emma. His heart picked up speed as he took her in. The evening light shone from the window down the hall, highlighting the smoothness of her skin. She had on a loose T-shirt where the neck had been cut. It slipped down her side shoulder, exposing the hollows of herneck.

Forcing his gaze to hers, he pushed out all the thoughts that flowed through his mind. They were just friends, helping each other out. They weren’t husband and wife. He was crazy to even thinkthat.

“You need something?” he asked, praying that his voice would come outnormal.

She narrowed her eyes as she bit her lower lip. In the softness of the light, her lips looked full. He tried not to think back on their kiss they shared in front of the judge. The one he’d tried to play it cool afterward, even though, after she pulled away, all he wanted to do was pull herback.

“I was thinking,” she said, shifting her weight to the other side. Her leggings hugged her curves and he was struggling to keep his mind right. “If we’re going to convince your grandmother that we’re married and she’s coming tomorrow, maybe we should. . . you know. . .” She nodded toward hisbedroom.

“Sleeptogether?”

Her eyes widened. “Well, not like sleep together, sleep together. Just sleep in the same bed. . .together.”

Austin raised his eyebrows. “How does this not go against ourno shenanigansdeal.”

Her cheeks turned pink as she brought up her hand and started to twirl her hair with her finger. “It’s a stupid idea. I’m so sorry I brought it up.” She turned to leave but Austin shot his handout.

“Wait,” he said, the volume of his voice surprising even him. Taking a deep breath, he steadied his nerves. “I think it’s a great idea. I mean, if you don’t have a problem with it.” He dropped his hand when he noticed he was still holding onto herarm.

A smile played on the edges of her lips. He really needed to stop staring at her mouth. Even if it looked crafted by theGods.

“Okay.” She nodded toward her open door. “I’ll go grab my suitcase and come right back.” She turned and made her way down the hall. Austin tried not to stare at the sultry way her hipsswished.

Maybe he should go back into his room and wait. Leaving the door, he walked back inside where he started to pace. What is he doing? Why did he say yes to having Emma sleep in the same bed with him? Was hecrazy?

He paused and scrubbed his face with his hand. He was crazy. That was the only explanation for it. Only an insane person would allow a woman that attractive into his bed. Maybe he should call it off. Tell her that this was probably a bad idea. Just as he moved to make his way to the door, hestopped.

Emma had appeared with her suitcase trailing behind her. When she gave him her sweet smile, all his fears disappeared. She hesitated but then stepped into theroom.

“Do I have a dresser?” she asked, glancingaround.

“Dresser?”

“How’s it going to look to your grandmother if I’m living out of mysuitcase.”

Austin nodded. He hadn’t thought of that before. All his mind seemed focused on was how beautiful Emma looked in the moonlight that spilled in from his window. He walked over to his nightstand and switched on the light. Nothing could happen with the lights on. It would help ground him in the now, not the thoughts of what couldbe.

As the light filled the room, he turned back around. Emma was watching him with a curious expression on herface.

“To see better,” hesaid.

Shenodded.

Desperate for a distraction, Austin made his way over to his dresser and pulled open a middle drawer. In one swift movement, he scooped up his jeans. “Here,” he said, waving toward the now emptydrawer.

“Thanks,” she said and rolled over hersuitcase.

Not sure what to do, Austin just stood there, watching her remove her items from her suitcase and arrange them neatly inside. He dropped his gaze when she got to her underwear, even though it intrigued him that a lot of them contained lace. But when his thoughts turned to her wearing them, he cleared his throat and moved a few feet away. Just as he did, the ring box that he’d stashed in the drawer when he’d come home from Las Vegas fell to thefloor.

Emma paused, glancing down at it. “What’s this?” she asked, stooping down to pick itup.

“Nothing,” he said, shifting the pants to one arm and extending his hand. Emma studied him and then handed itover.

As if she’d sensed his reaction, she shot him a smile. “Your room’s sweet,” she said as she pushed the drawer closed and turned to look athim.

Thankful she’d moved one, he shot her a confused look. “Sweet?” He would have said manly or butch. Butsweet?

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