Page 48 of Pretend To Be My Cowboy
He shook his head. “You just remind me of a cat soaking up the sunshine, that’s all.”
“Mmm.” She smiled. “I’ve always wanted to own a cat.”
“Why don’t you?”
“Well, at first because they weren’t allowed in the apartment I was renting, and then my sister and I moved in together about six years ago and she’s… well, let’s just say she’s not really a pet person.” She shrugged, like it was no big deal.
He found that sad. If Emma wanted a cat, she should have one.
Her closed-mouth smile couldn’t hide her melancholy and it made his heart twist out of shape.
“I suppose that’s one positive of Lizzy moving out after she marries, right?”
He couldn’t tell, but it sounded like she actually wanted reassurance. “Right,” he said.
Her smile grew a little, but still seemed heavy with sadness.
He picked up the pace the rest of the way to the stables. He was overcome with the urge to bring back the sunshine in her smile, to see those pretty blue eyes light with laughter.
He wasn’t entirely sure how to do that himself, but he had a suspicion Duke would have the answers.
Once inside the stables, Nash steered them both toward the stall in the back where Duke was waiting. He’d already gotten his old stallion ready for the ride, but he wanted Emma to have a chance to get used to him before letting him out.
Nash held his hand out, looking over to Emma to show her she should do the same. She hesitated, then gingerly raised her palm for the horse to sniff. Its soft nose snuffled against her skin and she grinned.
“It tickles.”
Nash’s heart bloomed with affection. “Emma, meet Duke.”
“Duke, huh?” She smiled at the horse, scratching the top of his nose the same way he was. “Who named this one? Kit’s kids again?”
“No, ma’am,” he said. “I’ve had Duke for ages, long before I took over as foreman here at the O’Sullivan Ranch. I named him after—”
“Don’t tell me,” she cut in. “John Wayne.”
His eyes widened in surprise. “How’d you know?”
She started to laugh. “It’s just perfect, that’s all.” She addressed the next comment to the Duke himself. “The perfect name for the perfect horse.”
Nash chuckled. “Well, I don’t know about perfect. But I think you two will hit it off.” He turned to the stallion. “Duke, this is Emma. She’s gonna take you out for your ride today, but you’ve got to promise to be on your best behavior, you hear?”
Duke’s ears perked up and he let out a loud exhale through his big nostrils.
“That’s my boy.” Nash gave him another scratch on the nose before patting his neck.
Emma was grinning up at the horse, and Nash smirked, already thinking of how he’d have to tell the guys he’d made the right choice.
Cody had been afraid Emma would be intimidated by Duke’s height. JJ and Kit were worried that Duke wouldn’t take to being ridden by a newcomer. But one look at the way Emma was smiling at Duke, and the way Duke was pressing his nose into the palm of her hand, and Nash knew he’d made the right pick.
“We’re going to be good friends, aren’t we, Duke?” Emma said softly.
Duke answered with another huff and then leaned forward to nudge her softly, making her laugh.
“That’s what I thought,” she said.
Nash watched Emma with the oddest sensation in his chest. It was like his ribcage was trying to tighten and expand all at once. The result left him winded.
But truly, he’d never seen anything more beautiful than this. Emma’s smile, the way her hair was pulled up, messy and touchable. She was dressed simply, in jeans and a tee, but everything about her was soft and feminine and...touchable.
