Page 37 of Pretend To Be My Cowboy
“Tell me.” She sounded breathless with excitement and he rubbed a hand over his mouth like he was trying not to grin at her goofy pleasure.
He pointed to the gray one with the sympathetic eyes. “That there is Snuffleupagus.”
She sputtered out a laugh before clamping a hand over her mouth. “He does snuffle the most,” she said when she was able to speak. “That’s brilliant.”
Nash’s eyes seemed lit from within as he beamed her yet another smile. The sight made her knees weak.
“And that one?” she pointed to Snuffleupagus’s sister.
Nash gave her a bland stare. “That’s Big Bird.”
She doubled over as she officially lost the battle with laughter. When she could stand again, she swiped at her eyes. “You have a pig named Big Bird?”
He shrugged.
Her gaze moved to the chickens who were pecking and clucking outside their coop nearby. “Do you suppose the chickens find that confusing?”
Nash’s brows drew down and he took his sweet time settling his hat back on his head as he studied her as though giving the matter consideration. “You know, I hadn’t thought about it,” he said in that low, somber drawl of his. “I sure as heck hope we haven’t been giving them a complex.”
It was the oh-so-serious way he said it that had her cracking up again and then lightly smacking his arm. “You know, you’re way more fun than I imagined you’d be.”
His brows arched. “Oh yeah? And what did you imagine I’d be like?”
“Uh…” Her mouth went dry. Well, she’d set herself up nicely for that one. “I don’t know. Cool, I guess?” She flinched in embarrassment as his brows hitched up even further. “Not that you’re not cool. I just meant…you have the whole brooding cowboy vibe going on, you know?”
He arched a brow in response. If it wasn't for the way his lips twitched as he fought a smile, she’d think maybe she’d honestly offended him.
She bit her lip as she struggled to find a better explanation that wouldn’t bury her even further in this hole of humiliation.
Oh heck. How did one tell a man he was too good looking to be so nice? It was hard enough to have an instant infatuation just by staring at him, but add in his kindness and his humor…
A girl like her didn’t stand a chance.
He leaned in closer, his eyes still twinkling with mirth. “What I wouldn’t give to be able to read your thoughts right now.”
She let out an embarrassing snort. “Trust me. No one wants that.”
He studied her for a long moment, but thankfully let that go. “There is one question I’d love to ask.” His jaw worked like he was chewing over his words. “But it’s kind of personal.”
Her belly fluttered with nerves. “You can ask me anything.”
Oh dear. Had that sounded flirtatious. She hadn’t meant it to sound—
“Are you really planning on sticking around?”
She blinked up at him. “What?”
He nodded toward Myrtle. “I overheard enough, and it sounded like maybe you were going to stay here in Aspire longer than planned.”
Her stomach sank, and she didn’t want to consider why. Only a dang fool would think he’d been about to ask her something truly personal...like if she had a boyfriend. Or if she wanted to go out on a date.
She shut her eyes for a second and when she opened them her smile was firmly in place. “I am thinking of staying longer.”
The flicker in his eyes was there and gone so fast she almost thought she’d imagined it.
Almost.
But no. She hadn’t imagined it. Her newfound friend, the guy she’d stupidly developed a crush on when she really ought to know better...
