Page 54 of Marrying a Cowboy

He leaned closer to her. “Again?”

She bit her lip and nodded. “Yes.”

He shot her a look and then released his grasp on her and slipped to the ground. “Will you, the most aggravating, interesting, and sexy woman I’ve ever met, be my real wife?” He pulled out the box and flipped it openagain.

She sighed. “Iguess.”

Austin growled as he stood and wrapped his arms around her. “You guess?” he asked, burying his face into herneck.

“I will,” she squealed as he pulled herclose.

“You better,” he said and then his lips found hers. And in that moment, everything faded away. The pain, the fear, the worry, it all dissolved into feeling of completeness that Emma felt as she deepened thekiss.

Austin was everything she’d ever needed and he wasn’t going anywhere. Finally, she’d found her prince charming and there was no way she was going to let him goagain.

Epilogue

Emma lay in bed,staring up at the ceiling. The sun was creeping through the crack in the drapes. It illuminated the room around her. She couldn’t believe that it had been mere months since Austin showed up to bring her back to Montana. Now, laying here, she couldn’t imagine her life without him. He was everything toher.

Sighing, she rolled to her side and brought up her hand. A ring sat on her fourth finger and it was never coming off. She was Austin’s and he was hers. Life couldn’t be moreperfect.

She closed her eyes, but a few minutes later, she sighed and pulled the covers from her body. There was no way she was going to fall asleep now. Best to getup.

Her feet hit the cold ground and she winced as she dug around for her slippers. After she pulled on her robe, she wrapped it around her waist and headed out of theroom.

Austin was already up and moving for the day. He was dedicated. Emma tried but after the second day of waking up with him, she convinced him it was better that she slept in. After all, she was just slowing himdown.

In the kitchen, Emma made her way over to the coffee machine and poured a cup. Just as she finished stirring in some cream, the dooropened.

“Good morning,” Austin’s low voice said as he came in and shut thedoor.

She tapped her spoon on the edge of her mug. A few seconds later, Austin’s arms wrapped around her waist and he pulled her against him. He nuzzled herneck.

“How’s the official Mrs. Maverick doing?” he asked. His breath was warm against herskin.

“Sad to wake up alone,” she said, turning around to slip her hands up to hisneck.

Austin let out a growl as he put his hands on her waist and pulled her up to set her on the counter. Emma giggled as he ran a trail of kisses across hercollarbone.

“I’m here now,” he said. His voice was low and full ofintent.

Emma ran her fingers through his hair. “Oh, really,” she asked, pulling back to look into hiseyes.

He wiggled his eyebrows as he leaned into her. “Animals are fed. I’m all yours. Plus, Sean’s here. He can take care of everythingelse.”

Emma laughed. “That’s what that smellis.”

“Hey, I don’t smell that bad,” he said, leaning down to sniff hisarm.

“Sure. We’ll go withthat.”

Austin leaned in and gently kissed her cheek. He pulled back and peered into her gaze. “You’ll still love me if Istink?”

Emma pretended to be thinking. “Well. . .” Then she grabbed his face and pulled him toward her. “I promise to love you even when you smell.” Then she leaned closer to him. “That just means we can shower together,” she whispered in hisear.

Austin pulled back to look at her. “Well, good thing I’m a rancher then. I’m always sweaty.” He pulled her hips toward him and she responded by wrapping her legs around hiswaist.

Lifting her off the counter, he carried her to thestairs.

---