Pressure Point (Rhinestone Cowgirls Book 3) (22 page)

The cowboy took a step back from Em and dipped his hat, then turned and walked away. Nash could breathe again. He had a strong urge to take her to some dark corner and kiss her until she pleaded for him to take her. But he had to refrain.

She came back to the table and as she sat, their thighs grazed. They needed to be careful. Last time this subtle touch occurred, they ended up in each other’s arms in the boat.

He smiled. That was certainly some memory.

Damn, no doubt, he’d keep collecting the memories until she closed the door of any more chances.

For now, he was her fiancé and he wouldn’t miss one second with her.

Spark leaned in. “Marriage isn’t bad. Especially when you’re in love.”

Nash turned his cheek back to Spark. “Not sure I have a clue what love feels like.”

Spark scrubbed his jaw. “It wasn’t too long ago I remember having this same discussion with your brother. Now look at him.” Spark gave his head a nod in the direction where DJ was all but lapping up Pearl. “They can’t keep their hands off one another.”

“They make a good couple.” Nash liked seeing his brother happy.

“So do you and Em. Now you both just need to accept it.”

Nash winced. If only Spark knew the complications involved with Em. “Yeah, that we do.”

The waitress gathered up their used plates. “Can I get you another round, folks?” She had a deep southern drawl.

“No, thank you.” Nash didn’t need another beer. What he needed was a head examination. He began to think if he looked too closely, he’d see what he’d been afraid of, he was falling for Em.

“Will you dance?” Em leaned close, smelling of fruity cocktail.

“I think I’d like that.” He pushed out from the table and stood, helping her around. They held hands as they made their way to the dance floor. A slow tune sounded from the speakers and Nash knew this would be nice to dance with her to.

And he wanted to hold her.

Nash put his arms around her waist and brought her closer. “Any arguments?”

She understood what he asked. “Not a one.” She smiled and it tugged at his heartstrings.

He moved to the slow beat, liking the way they fit together. Her hair was brushed out to shiny waves and the ends tickled his arm. The strawberry scented shampoo teased his nostrils. He knew it was strawberry because he’d used some of it in the shower. He liked her smell enough that he wanted to share in it. Was he getting soft? Something else he couldn’t let his brothers in on. He’d used shampoo to make his hair long and lustrous. He definitely wouldn’t admit to using the loofah sponge and liquid soap called “Lather Me Silk”.

He splayed his hand across her lower back, relaxing his fingers, feeling her heat through the thin material. He knew his body hardened but he had no control. “Keep that up, cowboy, and we’ll be putting on a show.” She laughed but there was an obvious quake.

“Damn, Em. Every time I’m near you I get a rise in my jeans. Seriously, that’s not all I want.”

She blinked. “We both decided we wanted a weekend of pleasure so wouldn’t it be exactly what you want?”

So they were back to this? Pretending to be sex partners only. It seemed they took two steps forward only to slam back ten spaces. He sighed.

“Yeah, we agreed to pleasure only, but kind of hard to pretend when our family thinks we’re getting married and you’re picking out wedding gowns.” He didn’t apologize for the rise in his tone.

“I see your point. There’s a lot of pressure in this.”

“I know I’ve reached a pressure point.” At least she could see his side of things, even if she wasn’t willing to let her wall down. “What if we weren’t pretending?”

She pulled back and looked up at him, confusion marring her delicate features. “What do you mean?”

“I don’t know. Shit! Here I am smack dab in a load of crap. I haven’t felt this way about a woman in ever. All I want to do is tuck you into my pocket and keep you safe with me.”

She blinked. “Okay, I’m not seeing where this is headed.”

“People marry for a lot less than what we have.”

“Hot sex?”

Her words stung. “Deny it, but you know there’s more.” He held her gaze.

She licked her lips. “We do have chemistry. I do care for you.”

“I want more. I want you.” His breath left him like he’d been kicked in the stomach.

A smile tugged at the corner of her mouth. “Are you saying you want this marriage to be real?” Her eyes turned warm.

“I guess that’s exactly what I’m saying.” He had no clue until now that’s what he wanted.

Her body stiffened. “That’s a lot for me to absorb.”

“Think about it, Em.” Sweat beaded on his back. Damn, this wasn’t very easy.

“It’s sort of hard for me to do.”

“I’m a good guy. And we’d make a whole lotta people happy.” He glanced at the table where their family sat.

“Are you doing this as a joke?” she whispered.

“What sort of man do you think I am? I wouldn’t joke about a subject like this.”

“Is this an effect of having amazing sex? It could be why couples go to Vegas, get caught up in the bright neon lights and wake up with a ring on their finger. Sometimes people can get caught up in the rush of the moment and they see more than what is actually there.”

He squinted. “I’m not hypnotized by the sex, babe. Yes, it’s great, better than great, but we’re not in Vegas or the Wizard of Oz with shiny red slippers. This is life, sweetheart. We only get one and we need to live it to its fullest.”

“And getting married to a virtual stranger is living life to the fullest?” Her mouth opened slightly.

The song came to an end. “If you’re not interested then you’d better start coming up with a way to tell your sisters and your dad the truth. Otherwise, at least we have three weeks to get to know one another.”

Silence overtook them. Couples left the floor and some stayed for the next line dance.

****

EM STARED. WAS this a marriage proposal? Was he drunk? No, he had only one beer and lots of food.

“Come on. We need to talk.” He took her elbow and gently led her out the front door, around the corner of the building and into the shadows.

Alone, Em leaned against the wall, arms folded. “You have to understand I’m a little flabbergasted.”

He nodded, pushed his hat off and spread his fingers through his hair. “I know it’s a bit abrupt.”

“Abrupt? More like getting struck by lightning and then dragged away by a pack of wolves.”

“Yeah, that’s pretty shocking.”

“You are breaking the agreement that we had. I knew this was too good to be true.” She sighed and lowered her gaze.

“Oh, you find it bad that a man wants more from you than a fuck? That’s a little off, sweetheart.” His tone rose.

She brought her gaze back up, but looked past his shoulder to the dark parking lot. “What you’re asking is for us to get married based on a lie.”

He held his hat against his chest and something flickered in his gaze. “I know, it was a crazy thought. It’s best we pretend I never brought it up.” He took a step toward the front of the building. “Let’s go back inside.”

Em inhaled sharply, wishing she had a better filter when it came to the subject of a relationship. She should be flattered that a man like Nash would marry her.

And why the hell was she scared shitless?

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

EM STEPPED INTO her father’s office. His head was bent over paperwork and he didn’t hear her come in until she stood close to his desk. He brought his head up and smiled. “Well, hello, Em. I didn’t know you were home. How did the visit go at the cabin?”

“I liked staying a week longer, after everyone left. I needed to work out some things.” She sat in the leather chair in front of the desk. She tucked her bare feet under her bottom, clearing her mind to have a deep discussion with her dad. One that was long coming.

“You look like something’s bothering you. What is it?” Joshua dropped his pen and pushed back in the executive chair, all of his interest on her.

“Dad, do you remember Sam Saxour?” Her heart picked up speed. Years had passed and his name hadn’t been mentioned once.

“Sam Saxour?” Her father showed no sign of recollection.

“My college boyfriend. The only man I ever brought home to meet you.” The area between his brows creased. He remembered now. “Yes, you know who I’m talking about.”

“What about him, honey? It’s been years.”

“Yes, it has.” Em clutched the armrests, digging her nails into the smooth material. “I never told you, but while he was here in your office, I overheard what you two discussed.” It was out and she felt an instant sense of relief.

“Ahh,” He nodded and situated his hands as if he were preparing to pray. “Why didn’t you tell me sooner? I’m sorry.”

“You should be sorry. You paid my boyfriend to leave me alone. Not only is that humiliating, but it hurt, enough that I lost trust for everyone, including you.”

Wrinkles appeared around his eyes, showing his age. “I only did it to help you. I won’t apologize for protecting my daughter.”

She dropped her feet to the cool floor and scooted to the edge of the chair. “To help me? Protect me? To take away someone I cared for, and I thought he cared for me?”

“He didn’t care for you, sweetheart. Any man who would lie isn’t to be trusted in anything he says.”

“What are you talking about? He’s a liar because he accepted a check from you?”

Joshua sat forward, leaning his elbows on the desk. His eyes widened. “Are you thinking that I paid him a sum of money to walk away from you?”

“Isn’t that what happened? You wrote him a check and he walked. That’s pretty poignant.” Her vision blurred, but she refused to cry. This was no longer about a boy back in college, or the fact that he walked away, it had grown into something more.

“Look, I’ll explain.” He got up, came around the desk and sat on the corner. “As your mother lay in her dying bed, her last wish was for me to take care of you girls. She asked that I protect you at all cost. I’ve done my best for all three of you, and it hasn’t always been easy, especially with you Em. You’ve always been so strong-willed. From the time you started walking you knew what you wanted and didn’t care what others thought. In fact, your first word was “no”.” He chuckled, but it fizzled. “A man can never know the meaning of torture until he’s single, raising three beautiful girls.” He shook his head.

“You could have remarried. You’ve always had women interested.”

“I had a wife and one was all that I needed. It didn’t seem right or natural to ask another woman to marry me when I knew I could never give her my heart. It was already taken.” A suspicious wetness filled his eyes but he blinked and it disappeared. “And to further explain about this fellow, Saxour. I haven’t always been proud of my parenting skills, but any man who wants to be with my daughter must be worthy of her. To make sure of this, I’ve hired investigators to investigate most of the men who I’ve known you and your sisters have been interested in, or have been interested in you.”

Em’s mouth dropped open. “Dad, that’s wrong!”

He shrugged a thin shoulder. “Maybe. But it has paid off. I’d like to think Jewels and Pearl would see that they could have ended up with scumbags, but instead they have worthy men. Just as you. Saxour proved to be a lying sack of shit. You see, honey, he was engaged to a socialite from his hometown. Plan was, once he graduated, he’d go back home. He’d marry the young lady with the wealthy parents, buy a nice house and start working at the hospital. When I found out, I approached him and he didn’t deny the truth. I’ll give him a sliver of gratitude that he could be honest when faced. The money, well, it was simply enough to get him a bus ride back to college, considering he was no longer welcome in my home.”

“But…But…”

“It’s the truth, Em. I didn’t tell you because, well, I didn’t think it mattered. I certainly didn’t think you’d still pine over a bastard like Saxour all of these years.” He shook his head.

“I’m not pining over him. It’s not about Sam, but I believed for so long that anyone could be bought. I don’t think I can ever find a relationship.”

He blinked. “Oh, sweetheart. Nonsense. You, above all, are worthy of happiness. You deserve a man who will treat you with the love and care as I did your mother.”

A tear dropped to her cheek and she swiped it away. “How will I know?”

“I’m not skilled in the art of relationships, sweetheart, but I’d say a man who’ll wear a skirt to help thieve a horse would be a good indication of where his heart is.”

“But it’s not as easy as that, Dad. There’s more to it with Nash.” She sniffed.

“There’s always more to it, Em. Feelings don’t just announce themselves with fireworks and drumbeats. Sometimes we have to clear away the garbage to find the jewels. And no worries, sweetheart. I already know the engagement was a farce for my benefit. I knew it when I heard it, but I thought it might be good for you. I’m just sorry that I forced you into such a move so I’d give you the money. Nash offered to give the money back to me, although I couldn’t take it. He did after all, buy Trojan for you and the horse is worth far more than what we paid for him. Nash is a clever young man indeed.”