Page 91 of Pretend To Be My Cowboy
Whatever it was, it made her insides coil with fear.
“Be careful, Nash.” She barely recognized her voice. He looked more emotional than she’d ever seen him, and she was terrified of what he might say.
She was scared stiff at what she might believe.
Every ounce of self-preservation told her to run. To run now before her heart was mangled any further.
Because no matter what he was about to say, this couldn’t end well. She’d never truly know how much of his interest was for her, and how much was because of this cursed land she’d inherited.
All of this, everything they had—it was all based on lies and half-truths.
She tore her gaze away from him and took in the house, the land that seemed to stretch into eternity, the cattle and the birds that dotted the scenery, and the man before her who she’d known from the beginning was too good to be true.
This wasn’t her life.
She didn’t get the handsome, noble cowboy and the home out of some Hallmark fantasy.
This was never her reality, and it was about time she remembered that.
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Be careful, Nash.
She’d sounded so wary—of him. She was warning him off. And the look in her eyes...
He let out a sigh as he reached for her hand just outside the church doors.
She’d looked like a skittish colt, ready to bolt with one wrong move. And it was his own fault. He knew that. He’d lost her trust and he had no idea how to regain it, or if he should even try.
She slid her fingers into his, but she kept her gaze fixed straight ahead, like there was something more interesting on the church door than the date it had been founded.
The moment they walked inside, they were surrounded by a blast of cold air-conditioning and more arms than he could keep track of. He lost hold of Emma in the midst of all the hugging, but maybe that was for the best.
When he caught sight of her she was smiling a genuine smile as she returned his Aunt Lisa’s embrace. Those two had hit it off, and his Aunt Angela was quick to join them, nudging Lisa out of the way to talk to Emma.
He caught her eye through it all, and for a second, it felt like the night before hadn’t happened. They were talking without saying a word, just the way a married couple would.
Ridiculousness, obviously, but being with Emma was like that. It had been from the start. There’d always be this connection between them...unless he’d broken it for good by not telling her the whole truth about his father’s ambitions for her property.
“So glad you’re here, man.” Ryan clapped a hand on his shoulder, looking every inch the excited groom.
“I see there’s no cold feet here,” Nash teased.
Ryan rolled his eyes. “Are you kidding? I feel like I’ve been waiting for this day for an eternity. I can’t wait to spend the rest of my life with your sister.”
Nash nodded, his chest swelling with happiness on Casey’s behalf. She deserved this—someone who would love her unconditionally. Someone who would be her partner and her best friend.
The thought had his gaze seeking out Emma before he could stop himself.
“You got the rings?” Ryan asked his best man.
Nash turned to watch the guy pull them from his pocket.
“Of course I do,” he said with a laugh.
Nash didn’t know Ryan’s childhood friend that well. He lived in Boseman and had come over with his young wife for the wedding weekend. Nash hadn’t really gotten a chance to speak with him at the rehearsal dinner.
He grinned at Nash. “Should we go take our places?”
