Page 110 of Pretend To Be My Cowboy
Pride had him grinning down at her again. “Good for you, sweetheart.”
He loved the pink blush that spread across her cheeks whenever he called hersweetheart.
Glancing back up at him, she grinned. “It’s time I focus on what I want. And if they don’t want the same thing, then we’ll just have to come up with a compromise.” She nodded. “And I think you’re right that they shouldn’t be able to sign anything until they’ve been here to see the place in person. They owe it to themselves and to Frank’s legacy.”
He squeezed her hand in agreement and together they walked back toward the house to get ready for dinner. It wasn’t until they were in the truck and heading to his parents’ house that she surprised him with the fact that she’d already called the elementary school principal to arrange an interview.
“You’ll get it. Abigail’s only making you interview to follow the process. I bet she’ll offer you the job before you even leave her office.”
“It’s funny,” she said as they walked into the Donahue’s house hand in hand. “It’s like the whole time I’ve been here, little things have been calling to me. This place owned my heart before I even got here. It’s just been waiting for me to show up.”
He wrapped an arm around her waist and dropped a kiss on top of her head. “I’m sure glad you did.” He smiled down at her. “The moment I let myself admit that I was head over heels in love with you, what I had to do next was obvious.”
“So it's fate, then,” she said.
Fate. He let the word roll around in his head as they walked into the crazy chaos that was the entire extended Donahue clan.
A few weeks ago he might have laughed at the idea of fate, but watching Emma be embraced by his family—watching them light up with joy when she announced that she was staying here in Aspire and that they were now a true committed couple—it was hard not to feel like this moment was meant to be.
Nash stood on the sidelines as Emma was rushed by his mother and sister and a bunch of other overjoyed family members who wanted to pester her with questions about their relationship.
He heard his mother ask her when she knew it was true love and just barely held back a groan.
He supposed he should be glad he wasn’t the one in the hot seat.
“So, Emma is staying then, huh?” His dad was at his side, watching the emotional lovefest right alongside him.
Nash stiffened. This was the only conversation he’d been dreading tonight, but he wasn’t about to put it off any longer. He turned to face his father with a scowl—
“Now, now.” Patrick held up a hand to stop him. “Before you start in on how wrong I was, I want…” He cleared his throat. “I need to apologize.”
Nash’s eyes widened in surprise.
His father looked away with a huff. “I had to confess all to your mother this morning and got myself an earful. She was so ashamed of me, just the way you were.” He shook his head, looking uncharacteristically abashed. “I’m not proud of the conclusions I jumped to, and quite honestly, the fact that I suspected you would do such a thing...the fact that I would approve of it…” He winced. “Well, it got me thinking about my priorities and how far I’ve gone off track. I just get so focused and I...” He cut his hand through the air and winced again.
“Dad—”
“No, son.” Patrick shook his head. “I don’t need anyone making excuses for me. I’ve gotten too obsessed with my ambitions, and I’m not proud of that. I plan on apologizing to Emma tonight, just as soon as I can get her away from her fan club.”
Nash chuckled at the appropriate term for the crowd surrounding her.
“But I owe you an apology, too.” Patrick stuck a hand out. “I’m sorry, son. You’ve always made me proud, and the way you protected Emma and have kept her best interests in mind rather than your own…”His father cleared his throat. “Well, you made me proud.”
Nash felt a tightness in his own throat and looked away to take a deep breath. “Thanks, Dad. That means a lot.”
“Now…” Patrick’s tone lightened. “Let’s talk about all the ways we can help Miss O’Sullivan get that ranch as productive and profitable as possible.” His father smiled. “For her, and for her sisters.”
Nash nodded. “I’d appreciate the help, Dad.”
“And then, when we’re done with that…” His father’s voice was light with mischief. “Then we’ll talk about just how soon I can expect a grandbaby—”
“Dad,” he groaned. “I met her less than two weeks ago.”
“When you know, you know.” His father laughed, catching his wife’s eye and giving her a smile that was reserved just for his lady love.
Nash watched the exchange and knew in his heart that Emma and him had something similar.
He did know, and he couldn’t deny it.
