Page 33 of Marrying a Cowboy

“Yes,” he said, flipping to hisback.

“Good.” Silence filled the room oncemore.

Austin pinched his eyes shut as he began counting sheep in his mind. But when they started showing up, wearing Emma’s underwear, he pushed them from his mind. This was going to be a roughnight.

“What’s your favorite color?” sheasked.

Grateful for the distraction from the sheep in his mind, Austin opened his eyes. “What?”

“You’re favorite color. What isit?”

“Um, blue?” He really wasn’tsure.

“You don’t know what your favorite color is?” He felt her move as if she were shifting to look athim.

“Yes, I do. I guess I’ve just never thought about it since I was akid.”

She giggled. It was soft and melodious. “Mine isgreen.”

“Oh.”

“Is it too much to ask what your favorite animal is? Or have you not thought about it since you were akid?”

He flinched when she poked him in the side. Reaching out, he grabbed her hand before she could pull itaway.

“Hey now. Don’t start something you can’t win,” he teased, turning to see her studyinghim.

“What makes you think I can’twin?”

He narrowed his eyes. “Is that why you wanted to sleep with me?” He pulled her hand up and inched his fingers toward her armpit. “It was all a rouse to challenge mystrength.”

Emma flinched as he got closer. He couldn’t help the smile that emerged. She was ticklish. Good toknow.

“Wait, wait,” she said, a hint of desperation in her voice. “Holdon.”

Austin paused, relaxing his muscles. Just as he did that, she pulled her hand from his grasp and scootedaway.

“Classic move,” she said as she shot him a triumphantlook.

He clambered to grab her hand back but she was too fast. Suddenly, she was perched at the foot of the bed. Austin pulled the covers off and lunged towardher.

She giggled and moved to scoot away from him but he was too fast. He reached out and grabbed her foot before she could slip away. With his hold on her, he pulled her toward him. Once she was next to him, he pinned her chest and hand with a leg and pulled up her arm. He inched his fingers closer to herskin.

“Okay, okay!” she squealed, thrashing to get away fromhim.

“Okay what?” heasked.

“You win.” She rasped, glancing up athim.

He smiled as he let her go. Just as he lessened the pressure on her chest, she let out a warrior yell and shoved his shoulders with her hands, pushing him back onto the bed. Before he could stop her, she straddled him, pinning his hands with hers behind his head. She dipped her head down to look athim.

“Who’s the winner now?” she asked, grinning athim.

Austin swallowed as he took in her pink cheeks and wide smile. Her hair framed her face, and her eyes danced with excitement. The pressure of her hips against his stomach had more than his mind distracted. If he just lifted his head, he’d be able to kiss her beautiful lips. And oh, how he wanted to kiss herlips.

But, instead of allowing his mind to listen to his body, he grinned. “You win. I promise. Truce.” He opened his hand to show that he wasswearing.

Emma studied him as her breathing slowed. She moved closer to him and for a moment, he wondered if she wanted to kiss him just as much as he wanted to kiss her. But then he pushed that thought from hismind.

---