Page 59 of Pretend To Be My Cowboy
She laughed. “You don’t have to say that.”
“I do.” He gave her waist a squeeze before letting her go so she could fill her plate. “You’re a really good friend, Emma.”
Her smile faltered as she dropped her gaze to the plate in her hand. She was a good friend. How many times had guys said something like that to her?
More than she could count.
Cute but never beautiful. Funny but never charming. Sweet but never sexy. She just barely held back a sigh because...he’d meant it to be kind. A compliment. And that was exactly how she ought to take it.
“I might be a good friend.” She forced another smile as she gave him a teasing wink and whispered, “Butyoumake an excellent fake boyfriend.”
19
There was something wrong. Nash had noticed it the moment Emma stepped out of the house and into the backyard.
He’d spotted her before she’d seen him, and he’d watched it flash across her face. What ‘it’ was precisely, he wasn’t sure. And they hadn’t had a moment alone for him to ask properly. The second their plates were full, they’d been surrounded by family and friends, everyone stopping by their picnic table to get their own take on his new girlfriend.
All the while, Nash couldn’t stop watching Emma, looking for any sign of distress.
And she noticed. “Honestly, Nash,” she said as their latest visitor walked away. “I know you’re really invested in playing the dutiful boyfriend, but you don’t have to worry about me.”
He gave her a sheepish grin. “Was I hovering?”
She glanced pointedly at his arm which was wrapped around her tightly, like someone might steal her away.
He loosened his hold with a little grimace that made her laugh. “Sorry,” he said. “It’s just...you got pulled away and I know people must have been pestering you—”
“It’s fine.” She waved off his concern. “I can handle some curious stares.”
He glanced over at the porch where his father was standing with his brothers, Hansen and Mace. Patrick was talking to them but his gaze never strayed from Nash and Emma.
“Did my dad say anything to you?” he asked. “When you were inside?”
There was that flicker again. A hint of unease before her normal cheerful smile was back in place. “It’s fine, Nash. Relax.”
“Fine, huh?” He shook his head. He wasn’t sure she even knew what an open book she was.
He leaned in, ready to ask more about what transpired inside, but they were cut off by two little ones racing in their direction, hands up like claws as they roared.
To his surprise, Emma didn’t miss a beat. She held her hands up like claws and bared her teeth as she growled right back.
Kit’s twins, Chloe and Corbin, stopped in their tracks, gaping at Emma with open mouths.
If Nash believed in love at first sight, he was sure he’d just witnessed it now between Emma and the twins.
Chloe recovered from her shock first.
“You’re funny,” she giggled.
“And you’re cute,” Emma shot back with a grin.
Corbin watched her with serious curiosity. “Are you a school teacher? My dad says you teach kids.”
Emma nodded, matching his seriousness as though she were talking to another professional and not a little boy with ketchup stains on his shirt. “I teach Kindergarten.”
Chloe gasped. “We’re going to be in kindy-garten when school starts.”
Emma’s eyes widened. “Oh, how exciting.”
