Page 27 of Marrying a Cowboy

"You're so serious,” Emma said, leaning over and bumping him with her shoulder. Her eyes sparkled as she wiggled her eyebrows. "This is a party. That means happiness andexcitement."

Austin shrugged. "What can I say, I'm not really in the partyingmood."

Emma grabbed his hand and begin to pull him towards the dance floor. Austin hesitated. He wanted to stop her. But her excitement was so contagious that he found himself following her lead. Luckily, the current song ended just as Emma lined up next to anothercouple.

She turned to Austin with a defeated expression. “Ah, man,” she said. “I really liked thatsong.”

Austin just shrugged. “Oh, well. Maybe next time.” Just as he turned to leave the dance floor, a slow song started up. He felt her hand on his arm, causing him to stop. It took all his strength not to run from the dance floor. He was pretty certain that if he allowed himself to hold her in his arms, there was no way that he would walk awayunaffected.

But he couldn’t move. His feet were grounded to the spot. For the first time in his life, his mind and heart were saying the same thing. And that was Emma. All of her. Every part of him wanted to draw her close and hold her. For some reason, she was like the lighthouse in his crazy life. No matter which way he went, it went right to her. Over and overagain.

“Dance with me?” she asked. Her voice was quiet and timid, as if she feared hisreaction.

Austin clenched his jaw, forcing himself back to reality. Even contemplating feelings for her was ridiculous. He could dance with her. After all, she looked so hopeful and he couldn’t turn her down. Notnow.

Nodding, Austin turned to face her. “Of course. That’s what a fake husband would do. Right?” Bringing up their arrangement seemed like the prudent thing todo.

Emma’s smile faltered as she motioned for him to come closer. “It’s just a dance,” shesaid.

Austin took a breath and extended his arms. This was just a dance. He could do adance.

Emma stepped toward him and rested her hand in his with her other on his shoulder. Austin tried to ignore how good it felt to wrap his arm around her waist and pull her close. Once he counted the beats in his head, he took a step forward and Emma responded by stepping back. Soon, they were dancing around with the othercouples.

As much as Austin wanted to deny it, it felt good to have her next to him. Like she fit there. Would it be so bad to care for her? Could she possibly care forhim?

“Thanks,” he said, focusing on the bottles that lined the wall behindher.

Emma tipped back to glance up at him. “Forwhat?”

“For saving me back there. With Jasmine. I guess it doesn’t help to try to hide it now, but I was going to marryGeorgia.”

Emma smiled. “I kind of figured. You weren’t that subtle with all yourmarriage isn’t for metalk.”

Austin laughed. “Yeah. It kind of ruined me to the wholeinstitution.”

From the corner of his eye, he saw Emma’s expression grow serious. “Pity,” shesaid.

What did that mean? Did he want to know? He couldn’t help himself, he had to ask. “Why do you saythat?”

She shrugged. “I think you’d make a great husband. I mean, if how you are as a fake husband is anything like the real thing, then it’s a pity you’ve written itoff.”

Austin’s heart began to pick up speed. She thought he would make a good husband? He wasn’t sure how he felt aboutthat.

“Thanks. Never going to happen, but I appreciate yourconfidence.”

He felt her muscles tighten at his words but then she relaxed. “Do you want to know anotherpity?”

He pressed on her back to get her to move slightly so that the couple who seemed convinced they needed to dance the tango to a slow pace country song, could pass by. “What?”

She was silent for a moment, drawing his attention over. “You not wanting to be a dad.” She glanced up at him, her eyes full of emotion. Ones that he couldn’t quite figure out. “It’s sad to think that you’ll be all alone in that big olé’ ranch all by yourself. You need someone—people to take care of.” She dropped her gazedown.

Out of instinct, Austin pulled her closer. He didn’t want to let her go and for the first time, he pushed away his doubts and just acted. He couldn’t deny that it felt so good. Like everything he’d ever wanted yet didn’t know heneeded.

“Emma,” he said, his voice so full of emotion that he surprised evenhimself.

“Austin,” she said as she raised her gaze up to meethis.

He slowed their movement to a stop. He wanted to stay in this moment. To take her all in. To analyze her movements and herexpressions.

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