Page 5 of Shameless Cowboy
Chapter Five
Kayla
My head is spinning, and I’m in a daze. Austin continues to surprise me at every turn. From the flowers to the most perfect ring to the panty-melting kiss at our elopement.
God, that kiss. Never before have I been so thoroughly kissed. Now it lives rent-free on repeat in my mind.
It’s all been completely unexpected. He was incredibly handsome in his dark jeans, shiny black cowboy boots, and black button-up shirt with pearl snaps. I wouldn’t have been surprised if he had shown up in his dusty work clothes, only taking a break long enough to make this official, but he took the time to clean up. I couldn’t help but dress up a little since it was my wedding day but didn’t expect it from him.
It’s certainly not the day I dreamed it would be, but it turned into something more than I ever imagined given the circumstances. All because of the man who kissed me senseless.
My lingering teenage crush is back in full force, and if I’m not careful, I’m going to fall in love with my new husband. Whichis a recipe for disaster because this isn’t a real marriage, and we agreed we’d walk away in five years.
It didn’t take me long to contemplate Austin’s offer of marriage, especially when Brooks was encouraging it. I thought about it for a few days, and considering I had known him most of my life, I knew Austin was someone I could trust even if he didn’t seem to like me much. Choosing him now would get me six months closer to this whole thing being over with.
Besides, the odds of meeting and falling in love with someone else in six months was highly unlikely. It hasn’t happened in the last thirty-three years, I doubt it would happen now when I need it to the most.
When I told him I would accept his offer, he agreed there was no point in wasting any time. Which is how I found myself at the courthouse married to my best friend’s older brother a week after finding out I could lose the one thing I’ve spent my life working towards.
What’s even more unexpected is how Austin is acting now. The man has been aloof and kept his distance from me for the past seventeen years, but all of a sudden he’s charming and sweet and seems to know things about me. To say I’m confused is an understatement, but at least he is turning out to be a sweetheart instead of an asshole, so I’ll count my blessings.
He even took us out to my favorite Italian restaurant in the next town over for dinner to celebrate. We had champagne, and there was a small vanilla cake with raspberry filling and buttercream frosting for dessert, which happens to be my favorite. It was so sweet of him to ask Brooks what I liked.
Now they’re both helping load and move my things from the house I lived in with Gran. Since we have to live together, there wasn’t much option but for me to move, even though Austin volunteered to move into town with me if I wanted to stay here.It makes the most sense for me to stay at the ranch since he has the animals to care for.
I’ve decided to keep the house and rent it out so I’ll have a place to go when this is over, plus it will be nice to have an income from it. For now, the furniture will stay. If I find a long-term renter and they want their own furniture, I can put mine in storage. So, there really isn’t a ton to move, just my personal belongings.
As the guys cart out the last of my boxes, I stroll through the house lost in memories. I pause at the door of what was Gran’s room. Her things are now gone, most of it donated. A few things I kept as mementos of the woman who raised me and was the last of my family.
My fingers tighten on the doorknob at the thought, and my heart clenches as a wave of melancholy washes over me. Despite the position she’s now put me in, there’s a hole in my heart from her absence. Now I’m all alone.
“Hey, are you okay?” Austin asks quietly from behind me, startling me.
I nod but then shake my head, unable or unwilling to put on a brave face like I feel I should. “Even though I’m mad at her for how she left things, I still miss her like crazy.”
He slides an arm around my shoulders, pulling me into his side, and his hand caresses my bicep. My head rests on his shoulder as we stand together looking at the room. “We can be mad at people and still love them. That’s what family’s all about.”
I sniff. “Yeah, but now mine’s all gone.”
He notches a knuckle under my chin, lifting it so my eyes meet his as his thumb sweeps across my cheek. “That may have been true, but now you have a husband, and I’m pretty sure Brooks will never let you forget he is now officially your brother.Whatever happens, we’re your family no matter what, even after the five years are up.”
“How are you the same Austin who has barely said ten words to me in the past two decades?” My eyebrows furrow as I study his face, attempting to find answers there.
He huffs out a breath with a shake of his head, his arm dropping as he steps away from me. I feel the loss instantly, leaving me chilled without his heat wrapping around me and wishing I would’ve kept my mouth shut.
He heads down the hall, and I stare after him, perplexed when he says, “I’ve always been this Austin. You’ve just always had Brooks.”
Chapter Six
Austin
I love my brother and it’s one of the only reasons I’ve kept my distance from Kayla all these years, but now I’m married to her and for the first time ever I’m glad he’s finally gone, headed out to a couple of late season rodeos.
If I thought marrying her was going to change things, I was sorely mistaken. In fact, the two of them seem to be thriving on living with each other. They’re always messing around and staying up late watching TV together.
I’ve spent more time in the shower than is healthy since Kayla moved in. Apparently, when she’s relaxing at home, she likes to wear leggings and tank tops, which hug her full figure like a second skin and leave little to the imagination. Between that and hearing her sweet laughter all the time, I’ve been in a constant state of arousal since we got married, yet I can’t do anything about it because my damn brother is in the way, the cockblocker.
Now he’s gone for two blessed weeks, and I have my wife all to myself. I can finally show her how much I want her. Prove toher how good we could be together. It’s time to make her mine in more than just name and make this marriage real in every way.
