Page 8 of Pretend To Be My Cowboy
But Nash just flashed her a sympathetic wince.
And just like that, the nice, calming, enjoyable small talk that had so pleasantly distracted her for the majority of their drive came to a grinding halt.
Luckily Nash didn’t seem to mind the silence.
When he finally pulled off onto a dirt road that wound through the foothills, Emma was clenching the edge of the seat to keep still. But when the sprawling log cabin came into view, it didn’t help.
With a gasp, she pressed her hands and face to the window like an overeager child...or dog. “It’s beautiful,” she whispered.
“And in good shape, too,” Nash said.
Emma sat up straight with a jolt. She hadn’t realized he’d heard her. Talking to herself was a bad habit, but she was grateful for it right now because Nash launched into all the facts about the house—when it had been built, the renovations her father had made over the past twenty years, and how he and his family had been taking care of it since Frank left.
“Your family?” She tore her gaze from the giant, multi-level home that overlooked a sweeping valley.
Nash pointed to the far end of the valley. “That ranch over yonder.”
Over yonder.Emma made a mental note to tell Lizzy someone had actually used that phrase for real.
“We’re so grateful for you and your family’s assistance.” She turned to smile at Nash and caught a little flinch.
It was over so quickly she wasn’t sure if she’d imagined it as he gave her a nod. “It’s our pleasure. Neighbors take care of neighbors in these parts.”
These parts.It was like living in one of her western romance novels.
Her stomach quivered with amusement, but she kept her laughter in check. He wasn’t trying to be funny and she’d rather die than come across as some rude, ignorant city girl.
“That must be nice.” And she meant it. Neighbors looking out for each other was a beautiful thing.
Her gaze shifted back to the house.
Her father’s home.
“Did he ever live here full-time?” The moment the words slipped out, she wished she could call them back because Nash was squinting at her in confusion.
Probably because she’d just let it slip that she didn’t even know where her father had lived for most of his life.
Nope. Nothing weird about that.
“Yeah, he was here full-time for a while after the main house was renovated.” He talked slowly, thoughtfully.
She liked that.
And she had a hunch he could tell her a whole lot more about her father, but they slowed to a stop in the curved driveway in front of the house.
Maybe she was moving slower than normal in her hesitation to step inside this large, and totally foreign new home, but Nash beat her to the truck’s door and opened it for her.
She unbuckled her seat belt, a swarm of butterflies massacring her insides at the thought of him lifting her down the way he’d lifted her up. Her imagination got the better of her and for a moment she wondered what her life would be like if he took the opportunity to hold her close.
To set her down and then lean in, and…
“Need a hand?” He helped her down, all right. But it was a very perfunctory, almost businesslike lift and drop. Nothing at all like the romantic daydreams she’d just spun in her head.
A wry smile tugged at her lips as she glanced up at him. “Thanks.”
What had she thought? One truck ride and he’d be smitten by her charms?
Ha! Hardly.
