Page 72 of Pretend To Be My Cowboy
You’re beautiful.
He just barely bit back the urge to tell her again. He wanted to tell her every second just how gorgeous she was. Not just because she was wearing the dress, or the hat or the boots...but because she glowed with this happiness that he felt blessed to be around. She had an energy and light that was impossible to put into words, but it sure made him thankful he was here with her. It made him want to be by her side tonight...and every night.
The thought hit him upside the head, and he stopped the truck with a jerky hitch.
Lord, what am I doing?
“Sorry,” he murmured.
But Emma was still chatting away about the decorations, oblivious to his turmoil. “I saw them getting ready this morning, but seeing it all complete, and with the lanterns.” Her voice rose at the end and she turned to him with wide expectant eyes as she waited for him to agree.
“The people of Aspire do know how to throw a party,” he said.
She was bouncing with excitement when he opened her door and helped her down. The skirt of her dress was all uneven, longer in some parts then others. It wasn’t crazy revealing, and he recognized it as some fashion trend, but it made him acutely aware of her toned, tanned legs and the narrow waist that felt warm beneath his hands as he hoisted her down rather than let her clamber like she normally did.
“Where do you want to start first?” he asked as soon as they arrived at the top of Main Street.
“Umm…” She looked around them with wide eyes. “Whatever smells so delicious right now.” She looked up at him. “I want that.”
“Yes, ma’am.” He tipped his hat, making her grin, and then reached for her hand. The ease with which she slipped her fingers through his took his breath away. It was almost as shocking as the way he’d reached for her.
Like it was something they’d always done.
He led her to a food truck that was buzzing with activity and ordered them a sampling of everything.
“Is everything fried?” Laughter laced Emma’s voice as she looked over her options. “What’s that?”
He held out the paper plate. “Fried oreo.”
“Fried…” She glanced up. “Are you serious?”
He kept his expression even. “I never joke about fried food.”
She burst out laughing, like he’d hoped she would, and he found himself grinning back at her.
Heck. His face was starting to ache from all the grinning he’d been doing this past week. Since she’d arrived he’d done more talking, more laughing, more smiling than he could remember doing his whole life combined.
“Okay, if you insist,” she said with a good-natured shrug as she reached for the Oreo. She moaned in ecstasy and he chuckled, although the sound of that moan had his gaze dropping to her lips and staying there.
A man obsessed. Yes, sir. That was him.
After she’d had her fill of fried foods, they went around to the games, trying each one until their arms were loaded with cheap stuffed toys they could have bought for a fraction of the cost it took to win them.
Not that he cared. Playing those games had made her happy, not to mention most of the money raised tonight was going to one local nonprofit or another.
They ran into Casey and Ryan while enjoying some barbecued meats, and were accosted by his cousin Boone on the way to catch some live music on the far end of the street.
“Nash!” Boone called out. The young, boisterous cousin approached with a grin, with JJ and the firefighter Ethan walking more slowly behind him. “I need your woman to bid on me.”
“Boone,” he said in a warning tone, but Emma was laughing beside him.
Boone pointed to her with a knowing grin. “Emma, my hopefully soon-to-be cousin-in-law, will you please bid on me in the bachelor auction?”
“Why would I do that?” she asked, her voice such a sweet sound when she was amused. Nash couldn’t even bring himself to be annoyed with Boone for putting her on the spot.
Or asking her to...bid on him?
“Why on earth are you asking my girlfriend to bid on you?” he asked.
