Page 73 of Pretend To Be My Cowboy
Emma only laughed harder.
“Because he wants to win a bet,” JJ answered. His bushy beard was trimmed for once, and the dirt had been scrubbed from beneath his fingernails. “Seems Boone here thinks he can raise more money than me or Ethan.”
Poor Ethan looked like he was wishing for the earth to swallow him whole.
Nash could relate. He’d been just as miserable when he’d had to take a turn as one of the bachelors for the ridiculous tradition. Ethan nodded at Emma. “Ms. O’Sullivan.”
She grinned. “It’s just Emma, Ethan. Ms. O’Sullivan isn’t nearly specific enough for this town.”
She’d sort of muttered the last part for Nash’s ears only and they shared a little smirk that made him feel like the luckiest man alive, because he had inside jokes with Ms. Emma O’Sullivan.
But then she turned to Boone. “I’ll bid on you to keep the price going up, how does that sound?”
His face lit up and Nash scowled. “Now, wait a second—”
“What about me?” JJ asked. “I taught you how to rope. Doesn’t that get me any love?”
“I’ll bet on you too.” She turned that gorgeous grin on Ethan. “You too, Ethan.”
“You can’t bid on all of us,” Boone whined. “That defeats the purpose.”
“The purpose is to raise money for the station,” Ethan reminded him.
Emma beamed at Ethan. “Exactly. It’s for a good cause.”
Jealousy coiled in his belly as Nash wondered where they’d met, but he didn’t get a chance to ask.
“Nash, any chance you want to take my spot?” Ethan asked, hope and despair written all over the young fireman’s features.
He opened his mouth to say ‘not on your life’ but Emma beat him to it, clutching his arm like he was being led away to his execution. “Don’t even think about it. Nash here ismydate, I’m not offering him up.”
He grinned down at her. “What happened to ‘it’s for a good cause?’”
She giggled. “Good causes are all well and good but I’m not sharing you with some other woman.”
His chest tightened. His heart ached.
He was gonna be in his dang grave before the night was through if they kept up this act much longer.
After promising to be at the auction at the top of the hour, they continued toward the music. The real dancing would start up later, but for now there was Jeff Havrem and his two buddies playing in their three-piece band. They were regulars at all the local bars, and always had a good turn out.
They’d just sidled up to watch them when Dr. Dex came over to say hi. “Nash. Emma,” he greeted.
The doctor was young but already becoming a town favorite, even more so by the Donahues because he’d been such a good employer to Casey. They’d taken him in like he was a part of the family.
“Have you been to the other end yet?” Nash asked.
Dr. Dex grimaced. “I’m trying to avoid it till after the bachelor auction.”
Emma laughed. “Don’t tell me, you’re a volunteer fireman too?”
He shook his head. “No, ma’am, but they didn’t have many takers this year so they were asking anyone who’s not married or taken.” He looked between the two of them for emphasis.
Nash was taken.
He glanced over and caught Emma grinning up at him.
Yup, he was taken all right. He was more smitten than he had any right to be with a woman who was leaving in a week.
