Page 13 of Pretend To Be My Cowboy
Unfortunately, he was far too late for that because Kit was joining them at the table, spinning a chair around and straddling it. He crossed his arms over the back of the chair and fixed his gaze on Emma like she was the only person in the world.
Nash found himself glaring at his oldest and closest friend, but Kit didn’t notice.
“Welcome to Aspire,” Kit said in that lazy drawl of his.
“Thank you.”
“I’m Kit.” He stuck a hand out and Emma shook it. He nodded toward Nash without removing his gaze from the pretty woman. “Nash’s oldest friend and one of the guys who keeps this place running for y’all.”
He added a wink after that last part, and Nash’s hands clenched at his sides.
Emma was all smiles, which only made Nash more on edge. He’d seen plenty of women fall hard and fast with nothing more than a smile from Kit.
Not that it was Kit’s fault, necessarily. Nash had been friends with Kit since second grade, and he knew better than anyone that Kit didn’t have a mean or deceptive bone in his body. The guy was just charismatic, that was all. Especially to women. Nash studied his friend through narrowed eyes, trying to discern what Emma was seeing.
Wrinkled T-shirt, dirty-blond, shaggy hair, and a permanent scruff on his face because he couldn’t be bothered to shave regularly.
Nope, Kit certainly wasn’t trying to woo any ladies.
But maybe that was why he was so successful.
Even now he had Emma laughing as he gave her the rundown on how the gossip mill worked in Aspire. “So if you have any family secrets you’re trying to hide…” Kit feigned a seriousness that had Emma giggling. “Just be sure not to talk about it at Mama’s Kitchen or else the whole town will be discussing it at the monthly town meeting.”
Emma’s laughter filled the air and it warmed Nash better than any fire on a cold, snowy night. “I’ll keep that in mind,” she said.
She turned to Nash. “But what’s Mama’s Kitchen? You know, so I don’t go spilling any family secrets there.”
Nash flinched. Did they have to keep talking about family secrets? That guilt wouldn’t quit acting up and it had his voice sounding gruffer than usual. “Just the local diner.”
“Justthe local diner?” Kit teased. He arched a brow at Emma. “Honey, Mama’s Kitchen ain’tjustanything. They’ve got the best fried chicken north of the Mason Dixon line.”
Emma’s eyes widened with delight, but she turned to Nash to say, “I do love fried chicken.”
Despite his guilt, and despite this unpleasant jealousy Kit had stirred, he found himself fighting another goofy grin at her enthusiasm. And the fact that she’d aimed that comment at him. Like they’d be the ones going together. He leaned in toward her. “If that’s the case, then we’ll have to stop there for a late lunch after your appointment today.”
Emma clapped her hands together, her smile so wide he could see all her teeth. “I can’t wait.”
“Me either.” He mumbled it under his breath as Emma turned to check something on her phone, but apparently Kit caught it because he was smirking like a devil as he arched his eyebrows at Nash.
Nash shook his head. Now was not the time or place for that conversation.
And besides, there was no conversation to be had. The moment Emma signed off to sell this place, his dad would snatch it up, she would go home, and everyone would be happy.
He cast a sidelong glance in Emma’s direction as she typed on her phone.
Yup, everyone would be perfectly happy once she was back in her own world.
Emma glanced up and caught him staring.
“Sorry,” she said with a sheepish wince as she tucked the phone back in her purse. “I had to check in with my sister.” To Kit, she added, “She worries.”
Kit’s brows arched. “Your sister?”
Nash could practically see Kit making the connection—he knew April as well as Nash did. She was years younger than them, but everyone knew everyone in Aspire—for better or worse.
Before Kit could mention April’s name, Nash cut in. “We’d better get on the road if we don’t want to be late for your appointment.”
Emma nodded. “I’m ready.”
