Page 36 of Marrying a Cowboy

A warm sensation raced across her skin. Emma looked down to see that Austin had reached out and grasped her elbow. Her heart picked up speed from thegesture.

“Em, you’re tired. If you want, I can do the chores, and you can head back to bed.” His expression turned pained as he gazed into her eyes. “It wasn’t right of me to put this much pressure on you. If you want to call it quits, I get it.” He studiedher.

Emma shook her head. “No. I’m here to the end. I’m going to help you get the ranch. Then, I’ll go.” Just hearing the words from her own lips caused her stomach to twist. Go. He wanted her to go. Why didn’t he want her around? Sure, she’d said some stupid things earlier, but she was trying. He had to knowthat.

Austin kept his gaze locked with hers for a moment, and then dropped his hand. “Okay. Maybe we should go over ourstory.”

Emma leaned in. “You mean before she gets back inhere?”

Austin glanced back over at her and his eyes widened. As if he hadn’t expected that she’d be that close to him. For a moment, she wondered if she’d seen his gaze drop to her lips. But as quickly as it happened, he moved to focus on the coffee pot. “I’ll tell her that you had to excuse yourself and head upstairs. Don’t worry, I’ll take care of my grandmother.” He gave her asmile.

Emma wanted to kiss him. But, she kept her lips to herself as she gave him one last look. His expression was one she couldn’t quite read. She wanted to ask him what it meant, but decided against it. Maybe later, when they were alone, she could ask. Right now, if she wanted to make it to the safety of the shower without any more surprise run ins with Alayna Maverick, she needed to leave rightnow.

Chapter Fourteen

Austin

Austin watchedas Emma slipped from the kitchen. Once she was gone, he turned and studied the coffee machine. What was he doing? He should have known better than to drag her into this. And now, she’d met Gran. He clenched his hand. Why had he thought that interaction would gowell?

He knew that Gran didn’t take well to strangers. Especially not at six in the morning. And not in herhouse.

“Want to tell me what’s going on around here?” Gran’s voice filled the silentair.

Austin turned to see her walking into the kitchen with a plastic bag full of coffee grounds. She handed it over to him and he started filling the coffee machine. He was grateful for the distraction that this task gavehim.

“Austin Paul Maverick, why aren’t you talking to me?” She appeared next tohim.

“What, Gran?” Would it be bad if he just asked her to wait until he had a full cup of coffee in his stomach before heanswered?

“You’re staring at that pot like it’s going to grow legs and dance around the room.” She folded her arms. “Something is going on here. Why aren’t you telling me the truth and why was there a woman in my kitchen telling me that you two are married after only knowing each other a weekend?” The tone of her voice made him feel like he was a kid again, getting scolded for drawing on herwalls.

He took a deep breath. He knew that this conversation was going to happen. Why did he feel so unprepared for it? “Emma and I are married.” He glanced over atGran.

Her eyebrows were raised as she studied him. “Like, married married. None of this—in our heartsthing?”

Austin nodded. “Married married. We have the certificate and everything to proveit.”

Gran adjusted the glasses on her nose. “I’d like to seethat.”

He nodded. “Of course. I have it upstairs.” Maybe she’d let him go and grab it. It might be nice to have a few minutes to gather his thoughts before the inevitable storm of questions she was sure tohave.

Gran nodded. “Get it forme.”

Austin didn’t wait for her to change her mind. He gave her a quick nod and bolted from the room. Upstairs, he shut his bedroom door and leaned against the wall. Why was he so nervous? All he had to do was fake it with Emma for the next little bit and that was it. Gran would leave after signing the ranch over and Emma would have no other reason to be married tohim.

He tipped his head back and stared up at the ceiling. Except that it would mean that he was alone. Totally and completely alone. For so long, that was what he thought he wanted. But now? Having Emma in his life didn’t seem so bad. In fact, he was enjoying it. Maybe a little toomuch.

Would it be so bad? Getting married? After Georgia, he’d convinced himself that he didn’t need anyone else. That he would be just fine alone with his animals. Why had he let Emma into his life? Especially when she’s seem pretty convinced that she couldn’t possibly live here withhim.

He groaned and pushed off the wall. This was not what he was supposed to be thinking about. He was supposed to be mentally preparing himself to convince his grandmother that they were actually married. Not dissect his confusing feelings about marriage andEmma.

Time to focus on the task at hand. He made his way over to his closet and rummaged around for his suitcase. It was tucked all the way in the back. Just as he found it, his bedroom door opened and then closed. Austin paused and then his heart sped up. Emma must have comein.

Tucking himself deeper into the closet, he closed his eyes. The memory of seeing her frantically grab for the shower curtain entered his mind. Then he pushed itout.

Keep your mind straight,Austin.

The sound of his dresser drawer opening and closing filled the silent air. He counted down in his mind the amount of time any normal human would have needed to take to dress. Just as he moved to step out of the closet, Emma’s phonerang.

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