Page 36 of Pretend To Be My Cowboy
She gave a small, awkward wave. “Hi.”
“Hi yourself.”
Oh, he was really trying hard not to laugh.
Her cheeks were on fire and her insides were melting into goo. “How, uh...how much of that did you hear?”
He managed to school his expression, and if it weren’t for the laughter in his eyes, he might have even looked sincere. “I have no idea what you’re talking about.”
She burst out laughing, covering her blazing hot cheeks along with her eyes as she groaned. “So embarrassing.”
“Nah, I think everyone at this ranch has taken advantage of Myrtle’s excellent listening skills.”
She peeked at him through her fingers. “Myrtle?”
He nodded toward the biggest pig. “Myrtle.”
She dropped her hands completely. “You named your pig?”
“Notmypig,” he mumbled. “And it’s not just a pig, more like...a pet.” He shifted from foot to foot, looking so much like one of her kindergarteners for a second that she had to press her lips together to stop a giggle.
“You have a pet pig?” She teased. Sure, she might have been the one talking to said pigs, but watching this manly man cowboy get all sheepish and defensive over his pigs was just too much fun.
He cleared his throat, dipping his head and arching his brows as he gestured toward the large barn in the distance. “Kit’s kids fell in love with Myrtle when she was living on the Darby’s property.”
“Okay,” she said slowly.
“Don’t ask me how, but some kind soul informed Chloe of what happened to the pigs who were raised on the Darby’s spread.” He ran a finger across his throat.
“Ohhh,” she breathed.
Nash shrugged, his expression pained. “What was I supposed to do?” He met her gaze evenly as she bit her lip to hold back a giggle. “There were tears, Emma.” He widened his eyes. “So many tears.”
She shook her head. “That’s horrible.”
Her voice came out choked as she tried valiantly to swallow down a belly laugh. She pointed to the other two. “And these guys?”
“Girls,” he corrected. “They were a surprise gift from Myrtle here.”
She gasped as she looked at Myrtle, who appeared bored by the conversation. “Myrtle, you sly little swine,” she murmured.
Nash’s laughter was so deep, so warm, so...so...rumbly, she was sure she felt it all the way to her toes.
Her cheeks ached from smiling as she met his amused gaze. She was filled with such a feeling of joy, it was hard to imagine she’d been so blue just a moment ago.
She glanced at the two little pigs who were frolicking in the mud.You guys are good company, but Nash is better.The thought had her swallowing whatever laughter was still bubbling inside of her.
What would Nash say if he knew she was comparing him to a couple of pigs?
“Did you name these two as well?” she asked.
“I didn’t.” He spoke so slowly she just knew there was a ‘but’ coming. He cast her a sidelong smirk that made butterflies spread their wings and fly in her belly. “But Chloe and Corbin did.”
She clapped her hands together beneath her chin.
How sweet is this man?
First he adopts pigs to make the twins happy, and then he lets them pick the names?
