Page 80 of Pretend To Be My Cowboy
The air rushed out of him. He couldn’t stand to see her happiness fade, and so he quickly said, “Everything is great.”
Her smile was back and he could breathe again.
“You’re not still upset by the fact I won a date with JJ, are you?” Her nose wrinkled and he had to laugh. “I swear, I thought someone else was going to bid higher than me.”
“I did too.”
“At least you know I won’t be able to go through with it. But you will have to find me someone to give the date to. Are there any girls around here crushing on the rugged Jessie Jamieson?”
Nash’s chuckle was low and deep. He honestly wasn’t sure. Avoiding who-liked-who town gossip was in his nature and he wasn’t about to go changing that about himself.
He shut her door and went around to his own side.
They were both quiet for the first part of the drive. He saw her gazing out, her forehead resting against the passenger side window as she took in the open sky and the stars overhead.
He wished like heck he knew what she was thinking.
She’d gotten caught up in the fun tonight, he knew that. But had that kiss meant something to her, too, or was it just part of the laughter and the dancing?
He drummed his fingers against the wheel. Finally, when he couldn’t take it much longer, he broke the silence. “You doing okay?”
She turned to face him, and even in the shadowy light he could see the strain in her smile. “Of course. I’m fine.”
He snickered. “You do know you’re a terrible liar, right?”
She laughed softly too. “Yeah, I know.”
“Obviously something’s bothering you, but if you’d prefer not to talk about it…” He trailed off with a shrug. He knew better than anyone that sometimes a person just needed space and time with their own thoughts.
He could respect that.
He glanced over, his insides twisting with concern. He could respect that, but it might kill him if she didn’t let him help.
He wasn’t sure at what point he’d started to think of her as his to protect, but there was no use denying it. Give him a sword because he was ready to slay her dragons.
Even if that dragon came in the form of his pushy father or her stubborn sisters.
“Maybe I could help,” he offered. “If you tell me what’s troubling you.”
She gave her head a shake. “It’s nothing. I’m just tired.”
That wasn’t the whole truth, and he knew it. But he wouldn’t press.
“It’s actually you I’m worried about,” she said after a beat.
“Me?” He arched his brows.
She laughed softly, but it wasn’t her typical lighthearted sound. “You did one heck of a job playing the part of the doting boyfriend tonight,” she said. “Every woman there was jealous. I don’t know how you’ll be able to stay single for long after I’m gone.”
After I’m gone.That was all he could hear for a second.After I’m gone.
Notif I gobut a definitiveafter.He cleared his throat, trying to focus. He had this feeling that she was asking a question with that comment, but he wasn’t sure what she wanted to hear.
He glanced over at her but her eyes were hidden by the darkness.
They’d always been straightforward with each other, but right now he felt like they were speaking in code. He was treading on dangerous ground and one misstep could ruin everything.
“Don’t worry about me,” he said, his voice a little too gruff. “I’ll stick with my broken heart story for as long as I can.”
