Page 51 of Pretend To Be My Cowboy
“A barbecue,” he finally spit out. “My family’s having a barbecue tomorrow and they’re hoping you’ll join us.”
She blinked a couple of times. “They’re hoping…” She cleared her throat. “You told them about me?”
He lifted a shoulder. “Sort of. They know you’re going to be my wedding date.”
“Ah,” she said softly.
“So, what do you think?” he asked. He didn’t even give her a chance to answer before he kept prattling on. “My mama makes a mean brisket, you should know that before you answer. And I can swear right here and now that she makes the best peach cobbler in the world.”
Emma laughed. “The best peach cobblerin the world? That sounds like a once in a lifetime opportunity.”
He feigned seriousness. “You definitely don’t want to miss this chance.”
“Then I have no choice.” Her head fell back with another laugh and she rested a hand on his arm.
He arched a brow, trying not to notice how her palm seemed to burn a hole through the thin fabric of his shirt and sear his skin. “So, you’ll come?”
She leaned in and bumped her hip against his in a move that was so playful, so affectionate, it made him wish like heck that she wouldn’t be leaving quite so soon.
Or...at all.
She grinned up at him. “I wouldn’t miss it.”
16
Nash was in the kitchen grabbing a mug of coffee when Emma finally ambled in the next morning, bleary-eyed but happy.
“There she is,” Nash said. His low drawl wrapped around her like a warm, cozy blanket as she tucked her legs under her at the kitchen table and accepted the steaming mug Nash offered with a mumble of thanks.
“Morning, sleepyhead.” He grinned as she closed her eyes and moaned in appreciation at the taste of hot coffee.
She opened her eyes with a smile. She was sore everywhere and yet she’d woken up this morning feeling more relaxed and content than she could ever remember.
“I overslept,” she informed him.
He slid into the seat beside her, though she knew very well he was probably in the midst of a million chores this morning.
Mornings on the ranch weren’t lazy affairs.
“You must have needed the sleep,” Nash said. His grin had faded to a sweet little smile. Almost...affectionate.
She looked down into her mug to stop that train of thought. “I guess my body isn’t quite used to all this exercise and fresh air.”
“Or the stress,” he added, his gaze knowing.
She didn’t argue. It had been a stressful few days, emotionally at least.
“How’re your legs feeling?” he asked.
She laughed. “I’ve learned there are muscles in my body that I didn’t even know I had.”
“I bet. We can take it easy today if you’d like.”
She sat up straighter, a thrill of joy shooting through her that he was already planning on giving her another lesson. “Not on your life,” she said. “I’ll be ready to go again.”
“You sure?”
She’d fallen asleep with a smile on her face the night before, thinking about the wind in her hair and the incredible sensation when she and Duke had started moving in unison, like there was an invisible bond between them she couldn’t explain. “I’m positive.”
