Page 55 of Pretend To Be My Cowboy
He let out a gruff laugh, then swallowed. “I was wondering if we should hold hands. I mean, can I hold your hand?” He cringed and rubbed the back of his neck. “Sorry to sound like a thirteen year old, but I… well, it just might make us look more like a couple and…”
Emma’s grin made his words evaporate. It was so kind and sweet he could barely breathe. Without a word she slipped her hand in his and gave it a gentle squeeze. His large fingers wrapped around hers, a tingly sensation traveling up his arm. This was ridiculous. He was a grown man, but the simple gesture of holding her hand was making him light-headed. As they walked toward the front door of his family’s sprawling ranch home, she felt like his woman, and that feeling was so good, he started doubting this fake thing all over again.
But he couldn’t make it real. What they said before was true—long distance didn’t work, and he couldn’t keep Emma here when her heart was in Chicago. Just like he couldn’t move to a big city when he was born to be a cowboy.
The party sounded like it was in full swing out back, and even from here he could smell the mouth-watering aromas.
“Come on, let’s head around back,” he said, steering them toward the side lawn rather than taking her on a tour of the house. He was impatient to get the worst of this over with, he supposed.
As soon as they rounded the house, he caught sight of Casey and Ryan who were talking to Casey’s co-worker, Dexter Thermopolis, better known as Dr. Dex to most everyone in town. He was still pretty new on the scene, less than a year in Aspire, but when Dr. Merton retired, he wanted a young, enthusiastic doctor to take over his practice and Dex had started to win the trust of an old town set in its ways.
Nash’s aunts and uncles were gathered around a folding table playing a card game while meat smoked on the grill. Some of his cousin’s children were running around an inflatable pool, screaming as his mother chased them with a hose.
“A family barbecue, huh?” Amusement laced Emma’s tone as she gripped his hand tightly. “This must be some family.”
He chuckled, glancing down to see her watching the scene before them with wide eyes.
She didn’t seem scared, but maybe a little nervous. He squeezed her hand. “They’re going to love you.”
Her eyes widened even further in surprise as she looked up at him. “You think so?”
“I know so.” How could they not? Even now she was smiling, her eyes crinkling at the corners like she was happy as could be, even tagging along to a family event. She was dressed simply in a cotton sundress and strappy sandals, her hair loose around her shoulders, and he was positive she’d never looked more beautiful.
She bit her lip as if considering something. “If it’s not their reaction to me that worries you, why are you so on edge?”
He blinked in surprise. Was that what she’d thought? That he was concerned they wouldn’t approve of her? He turned to face her fully. “I’m not worried about them liking you, Emma. Like I said, they’re going to love you. It’s impossible not to.”
That had her smile widening and his chest swelled in response.
“I’m more worried about what you’ll think of them,” he said.
She burst out in a laugh. “Seriously? They sound amazing.” She gestured to the group. “Just look how much fun they’re having. I can’t wait to meet them.”
“They’re the best,” he was quick to agree. “But if my father or any of the others corner you about the property—”
“I know, I know.” She rolled her eyes. “I’ll sound the alarm.”
He laughed at her teasing.
She turned to face the backyard of people who had yet to notice their arrival. “So, is this really all your family?”
“There’s actually a lot missing.” He grinned when her jaw dropped. “A lot of my cousins have moved away over the last ten years or so. But not everyone here is family. Though they might as well be.”
He pointed to a couple who were laughing and talking amongst themselves in the shade of an oak tree. “That there is Kit’s parents, Anna and Jonathan. Kit will be here with the kids anytime now. JJ and Cody should be coming too.”
“Oh good.” She winked up at him. “Allies.”
He chuckled. She’d only interacted with them a few times, but Emma and the guys on O’Sullivan Ranch had hit it off easily. Of course they had. She was sweet, outgoing, and eager to learn about ranch life. The ranch hands were all taken with her.
He caught sight of his father, laughing at something his younger cousin Boone was saying.
Boone was his Uncle Hansen’s son, and the youngest of three. His two older sisters were both married and had moved out of town, but Boone had opted to go work for Nash’s dad at the ranch rather than following his own father into the hotel business.
Nash was about to give Emma another warning about his father’s tendency to forget manners when he was focused on business, but they’d been spotted already.
A big grin split the older man’s face as he headed toward them.
“You must be Emma,” he said.
