“So, you really want to get married, is that what I’m hearing?”
“Yeah. . .” What was he suggesting? “I’m not doing some mail-order husband thingy. That’s just not me. I’ll find another job and new friends.” Was it that terrible that she might have looked up mail-order husbands? If Austin found out, he’d discover just how desperate she was. Why had she even said anything?
“Mail-order husband? Is that a thing?” He pressed on her back, motioning her to spin. She complied and when she came back, she braced herself against his chest. Her cheeks heated as she noted that there were incredible muscles underneath his tux.
“Maybe,” was all she could say. Pushing away from him, she took a deep breath to calm her nerves. How could she be having these kinds of reactions to him? Something was seriously wrong with her.
The song that they were dancing to faded, and Emma slowed, moving to pull away from Austin. But he kept his hand firmly placed on her back. She wasn’t going anywhere. He seemed to have paused, keeping his gaze on the DJ like he was waiting for the next song to start. Was it possible that he was enjoying this as much as she was? She bit her lip as she studied him.
When the next song started, he counted the beats and began moving her around the dance floor one more time. Besides sweaty-palmed Ronnie from the eighth grade, no other guy had voluntarily stayed on the dance floor with her this long. Maybe he was enjoying her company. She wasn’t sure how she felt about that. Part of her loved his company. The other part feared it.
“I have a proposition for you,” he said as he glanced down at her with an uneasy expression. She narrowed her eyes. What did that mean?
“Okay,” she said.
“I—um. . .” He cleared his throat. “Do you promise not to think I’m crazy?”
She stared at him. Why would she think he was crazy? “Okay.”
“You need to get married to get your friends off your back. I need to get married to fully inherit my grandfather’s ranch.” He leaned closer to her with his eyebrows raised. “Do you see where I’m going with this?”
She laughed. He was joking. “You’re crazy. Get like, fake married?” She shook her head.
He shrugged. “Would it be such a bad thing?”
She studied him. He wasn’t joking? Or, he was a he was a fantastic actor. Why would he say that? How could she have been so stupid? This must be another prank. Making fun of the single girl at the wedding. Self-preservation took over and she jerked away from him, waving him away. “You’re crazy.” How did she always seem to find the psychos of society? It was a pity. Austin had seemed so level headed. Why did she only attract unstable guys?
He stepped toward her. “I’m not kidding, Emma.”
Now she really needed to get out of here. She turned and walked as quickly as her ridiculous heels could take her to the exit. Of all the ways to be proposed to, this was not the way she’d ever thought it would go. At least with Vincent, it had been somewhat romantic, even if she’d choked on the ring he’d hidden in her cupcake. But this?
“Emma,” Austin called after her as she pushed open the door and stepped out into the night air. The breeze surrounded her, cooling her hot skin. The door slammed closed and she took a deep breath.
“Emma,” Austin’s deep voice sounded from behind her.
She turned to see him standing just outside the door with his hands shoved into his pockets. He was watching her as if he didn’t know how she’d react. Sighing, she wrapped her arms around her chest and stared out at the glimmering lights of New York City.
“It wasn’t funny.”
He stepped closer. “I wasn’t joking.”
Man, this guy was good. He was even convincing her. “It’s just mean, what you are doing. I may be single, but I have feelings.”
“I’m serious when I say, it would be mutually beneficial for the two of us to get married.”
He was serious? But why? “You want me to get married just to get divorced? How is this better?”
Austin stepped toward her. “How can anyone fault you for trying? Their energy will be diverted to me and how horrible I was because I.. .” His voice trailed off as he studied a nearby building. “Cheated on you. Or whatever excuse you want to use as to why you had to call it off.”
She glanced over at him. “But why would you do that?”
He folded his arms. “I want my ranch. It’s the only thing I have left. If I don’t get it before my grandmother dies, there may be a chance I’ll never get it.”
“Why?”
“My grandma needs to be the one to sign off on it. If she’s no longer around, it gets auctioned off.”
“That’s really ridiculous of your grandmother.” She sighed. How could she not help him after she’d been passed over for a job for the exact reason. She narrowed her eyes. How could she be even contemplating this? Was it sad and desperate? After all, it was a wedding. That’s what she’d wanted for so long, right?
“It wouldn’t be a marriage, marriage. Sort of like a contract between two businesses. You’d be able to tell people that you tried marriage and I’d get my grandfather’s ranch turned over to me fully. You come to Montana, meet my grandmother. It’ll take a few days, tops. Once everything settled, we’ll submit for an annulment and go our separate ways.” He took another step closer to her.
A feeling sank into the pit of her stomach. One that said she was settling, but also said, perhaps this was the best. People couldn’t get mad at her if she’d tried the whole marriage thing but it failed. Her job. Her mother. All would get off her back about being single. “But—”
“What has been the most embarrassing thing anyone has said to you because you were single?” He moved closer until he was a few feet away.
Emma sighed. Where to even begin? “I’d say that happened at my friend Cara’s wedding. Her little sister was the flower girl and I got particularly choked up during one of the toasts. Just as I was dabbing my eyes, her little sister leaned over and asked me if I was crying because I was single and lonely.” She chuckled at the memory. “Oh, and then said if I wanted a man, I should show more of my boobies. Like the little girl’s aunt who had a plunging neckline and all the men fawning over her.”
Austin laughed. It had a comforting and melodious sound to it. It made Emma relax.
Emma smiled as the memories of all the embarrassing things that people had said to her at every single one of her friend’s weddings came back to her. “There was this time, at Rosalyn’s wedding, where I went with my friend from work. He ended up hitting it off with Rosalyn’s cousin and I left by myself. Alone.”
Austin widened his eyes. “That’s um. . . really sad.” She nodded and then studied him. Could she do this? Would it be so terrible?
“This would be just an arrangement, right? No shenanigans. No jokes. Just one friend helping out another friend?” She needed to make sure the rules were clear before she agreed to anything.
Austin nodded and held up his right hand. “I swear. No shenanigans. I’m not looking for love. I’ve had enough heartbreak to know, I’m not meant for it.”
Emma raised her eyebrows. Was he talking about Georgia? Did he not remember that she knew about her? “What’s that about?” If he didn’t want to talk about it, she couldn’t fault him. But she thought she’d ask.
Austin turned and glanced out towards the parking lot. His shoulders tightened, telling her, she’d struck a nerve.
“I, um”—he cleared his throat—“I don’t really want to talk about it. Let’s just say, she ruined me from ever wanting to marry for love again.”
As she studied his downturned expression, Emma felt sorry for him. Georgia must have done a number on him. Even though Vincent had broken her heart, she still believed in love. Even if it felt like she was waiting forever for it, she just had to believe it existed in the universe. After all, it was the hope that kept her searching. She didn’t want to know what would become of her if she gave up.
“Well, after this little deal we have
going, I’m going to find the one. For the time being though, it’ll just be nice to say that I’ve given it a go. Get everyone off my back.” Saying the words out loud lightened her mood.
A smiled spread across Austin’s lips and for a moment, Emma wondered what it would be like to kiss them. Then she shook her head. She was going crazy.
Move on, Emma.
“So, you’re going to do this?”
Emma tapped her chin with her forefinger and gave him a smile. “Yes. I’ll do this.” He moved closer to her so she raised her finger. “Under one stipulation.”
He nodded. “Anything.”
“That you get down on one knee and ask me.”
He glanced down at the ground. “Right here?”
Emma smiled. “Right here.”
He studied her and then slowly descended down to one knee. Reaching out, he grasped her hand and held it in his. “Emma. . .” He stared at her as if he hoped she’d fill in the gap.
“George.”
“Right. Emma George, will you help me get all the crazy people in my life who seem to think that the only way to happiness is through marriage off my back and marry me?”
She paused as a nagging feeling tugged at the back of her mind. But then she pushed it out. This was best. After the annulment, she’d face the world. For now, she’d bask in the idea that no senior would be trailing after her, asking her how many eggs she thought she still had. Or crazy relatives trying to set her up with her distant cousins. She’d be married. After all, wasn’t that what she wanted?
She nodded. “Yes, Austin Maverick. I will marry you.”
Chapter Four
Austin
Austin stood in front of the mirror of his hotel room, staring at his wrinkled tux. One nice thing about getting engaged as a groomsman, he was already outfitted for his own, spontaneous wedding. A win/win. Brushing the fabric smooth, he turned and sat down on the edge of the bed. Was he being crazy? This wasn’t crazy. Right?
Really, it was his grandmother’s fault. She’d been the one to change the inheritance stipulation so that he had to marry someone. She could force a ring on his finger, but she couldn’t force his heart to love. Right now, the smartest thing for him to do was what he was doing – marrying to satisfy a need. Emma needed it and so did he.
It was the perfect match.
They parted ways after the wedding last night with the intention of meeting up the next day. Once she got here, they’d head over to the courthouse. Quick and easy—a marriage in front of a judge. If he’d had it his way all along, a courthouse marriage was what he would have done with Georgia. He should have never allowed her to talk him into flying to Vegas. Not only had he flown to the one city he hated but then he’d been abandoned there, wifeless. And with a broken heart.
He’d called his grandmother last night and thankfully, she didn’t answer. It felt easier telling her that he’d met the one and was getting married to her machine then her personally. Last thing she’d heard was he and Georgia were split. He didn’t want to have to convince her that this marriage was real.
Then this morning, he’d found she responded. Just a short text but so like his grandmother.
I’m coming. I’ll be there in a few days.
He could just feel the strain from her words. It had always been that way since he was little. She loved him—he knew that—but ever since both of his parents left, she’d tightened her grip on his life. As if she didn’t want him to make the same mistakes.
Austin rubbed his thighs as he forced out the sour memories. No need to dwell on a past he couldn’t change. He was getting his ranch and then he’d be left alone. Right now, that was about the best news he’d heard in a long time.
A soft knock sounded on the hotel door. Austin stood and made his way over to it. He turned the handle and pulled, exposing Emma. His breath caught in his throat as he took in how beautiful she looked. Her soft blonde hair fell in ringlets around her face and a headband sat on her head with a tiny veil attached to it.
She had on a short white dress and a purse clutched in her hands. A small suitcase sat next to her. For a moment, an uneasy expression passed across her face but when his gaze met hers, her eyes widened. “Nice,” she said, nodding toward him. “I’m guessing you didn’t spend half the night trying to figure out what you were going to wear.” She smiled. He liked the way her eyes crinkled at the side. She was down-to-earth, and it was refreshing.
“Yeah. Remind me to thank Thomas next time we see him,” Austin said.
She let out an uneasy laugh. Was she worried? Austin’s stomach began to sink. Had she changed her mind?
“Are you okay?” he asked, stepping forward and extending his hand toward her arm.
She watched as his fingers brushed her skin. Austin tried to ignore how this simple movement sent sparks up his arm. Not wanting to seem rude, he kept his fingers there for a moment longer and then pulled his hand away.
Mental note: don’t touch Emma unless you absolutely have to.
Her gaze lingered where his fingers had touched before she raised her eyes to meet his again. “I think so. Just. . . nervous.” She gave him a small smile. “Work wasn’t too happy when I told them I’d be gone for a few days. But it’s okay.”
“Hey, I promise, it’ll be over before you know it and you can get back to searching for the one.” He grabbed his carry-on that had all his clothes and shut the hotel room door.
She still looked unsure but nodded anyway. “I know. This is what I want.” She followed after him as he made his way toward the elevator and pushed the down button.
“Why don’t we focus on the positives.” He leaned a shoulder against the wall and studied her. He wouldn’t blame her if she backed out. What he’d proposed was crazy. If she didn’t have doubts, he’d be worried. Doubts meant she was smart.
She took a deep breath and tapped her lips with her forefinger. “Everything is going to be so much easier. No more pity stares. No more arranged dates. I’ll be free.” Her voice grew more relaxed as she continued. The doors opened and they both stepped into the elevator.
Just hearing the strain leave her voice helped lighten his own mood. “Yeah. And I’ll get my ranch.”
The doors closed, and she turned to look at him. She had a more confident stare now. “You really love it, huh?”
He nodded. “Yep. There’s no place I’d rather be than right there, with my animals.” A feeling of pride surged in his chest. There was nothing better than spending time outdoors. Even though his ranch needed a lot of fixing up, it was his. Well, almost.
“So why does your grandmother want you to get married before she’ll hand it over to you?” Emma leaned against the elevator wall and studied him.
Austin pressed the lobby button and then turned to face her. He shrugged. He really wasn’t sure he wanted to get into it right now. “She said something about not wanting me to get lost in the work. She doesn’t want me to lose sight of what’s important.”
Emma’s eyebrows furrowed. “Why would you lose sight?”
Old feelings bubbled up at her questions. Feelings of abandonment he’d had from growing up without a father. A man who decided living a gambling life was more important than his own son. It didn’t help that Austin lost his mother in a car accident last year. He cleared his throat. All of those things didn’t seem like something he should be discussing at this moment. He pushed down his feelings and smiled over at Emma. “She’s just old fashioned, I guess.”
The door slid open, exposing the lobby. Feeling suffocated, Austin tightened his grip on his bag and stepped off. The sound of Emma’s suitcase rolling across the marble floor followed him as they made their way to the front doors and stepped out onto the sidewalk. The feeling of a hand wrapping around his elbow caused him to slow his gait.
“Hey,” Emma said from behind him. He stopped and turned to look into her bright blue eyes. There was understanding in her gaze. “I’m sorry.”
He swallowed as a lump r
ose in his throat. What was wrong with him? It must be exhaustion. He’d been going non-stop since Georgia stood him up. But he knew the minute he rested, his life just might come crashing down around him. “For what?”
Emma’s gaze made its way down his arm to where her fingers were pressing lightly against his elbow. The feeling was sending shock waves up his skin. He studied her. Was she feeling it too?
As if she’d been burned, she dropped her hand. From the corner of his eye, he saw her brush her thumb against the pads of her fingers. That action intrigued him.
“Whatever happened in your past.” She peeked up at him and then cleared her throat. “I have a history, too.”
He relaxed his grip on the handle of his luggage. He hadn’t realized that he was practically strangling it. “Thanks,” he said. There was a truth to her words that caused his stomach to lighten. It was the first time in a long time, he felt something. And that scared him. He dropped her gaze and glanced down the street. “Where to?”
“It’s about a fifteen-minute walk,” she said, extending her hand to the left of him.
“Let’s go.” He started in the direction she motioned.
“You don’t want to take a cab?” she asked.
No. He didn’t want to be confined right now. He needed wide open spaces and places to run. Just in case his past or past feelings decided to emerge again. Right now, he needed to get married and then head back home. Being in New York City reminded him of everything he didn’t want in his life. The plains, and mountains—that was his home. That’s where he was comfortable.
Emma hesitated and then followed after him, muttering something about the humidity and how he didn’t have to walk in heels. Austin almost changed his mind and offered to take a cab. He didn’t want to disappoint her, even though the thought of being stuck in a cab grated his nerves.
Maybe if he lightened her load. He walked up next to her and nodded toward her suitcase. “Can I take that for you?” he asked.
Emma glanced down and then back up to him. She hesitated but then nodded. “Sure.”
Marrying a Cowboy Page 3