Marrying a Cowboy (A Fake Marriage Series Book 1) Read online

  Marrying a Cowboy

  A Fake Marriage Sereis

  Anne-Marie Meyer

  Copyright © 2017 by Anne-Marie Meyer

  All rights reserved.

  No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without written permission from the author, except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.

  To My Writing Gals

  Thanks for taking this writing ride with me!

  Contents

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Chapter 16

  Chapter 17

  Chapter 18

  Chapter 19

  Chapter 20

  Epilogue

  Acknowledgments

  Get ready for the next series!

  Other Books by Anne-Marie Meyer

  About the Author

  Chapter One

  Emma

  The chapel bells chimed outside while Emma took in a deep breath as she stared at her reflection in the mirror. The definitely-a-little-too pink bridesmaid dress Shannon had picked out was way over the top. Why Shannon had insisted on making them look like bubble gum mixed with Pepto-Bismol boggled Emma’s mind. Even though this was the fifth wedding in their group, not one of her friends had been able to request a semi-decent colored bridesmaid dress.

  Emma sighed as she pulled at the tulle skirt that puffed out around her like a cupcake. Yeesh. The dresses were starting to get ridiculous. If she ever got married—

  She shook her head. Nope. There was no way she was going to pull at that thread today. She’d stayed up half the night coming up with excuses as to why all of her friends had been able to find and secure husbands and yet, she hadn’t. Apparently, I’m working on my career, was no longer a viable excuse. All it got her was pity nods and pats on her shoulder.

  She reached up and tucked an escaping curl back up into her bun. The weight of her situation bore down on her. Even talking about her job felt like a lie. How could she use her career as an excuse when right now, it was just as abysmal as her love life? Especially when Clarissa, the new editor, had picked a married intern over her even though Emma had been perfect for the promotion. As if someone with roots was more likely to stay with the company. Nothing like adding insult to injury. Why did everything in her life have to revolve around her being married? Why couldn’t being single be good enough?

  She gritted her teeth as she eyed the back door. If she ran fast enough, maybe she could make it out of the church before anyone discovered that she was here. After all, not showing up at all was better than showing up alone. At Natalie’s wedding, she’d been forced to dance with the ten-year-old ring bearer because the groomsman she was assigned to was too drunk. She closed her eyes. There was no way she could do that again. Seizing her moment, she turned but immediately halted when laughter carried from the open door.

  Too late. The chance to escape had slipped from her grasp.

  The laughter grew louder as Shannon walked into the room with her wedding dress trailing behind her like the strings of a kite. Emma straightened and stepped away from the mirror. In mere moments, Shannon would be married. Married friend number five. Abandoning Emma to a life of solitude. If she didn’t love her friend so much, she just might hate her.

  “Oh, Emma. You look amazing,” Shannon said, smiling over at her.

  Emma pulled up some of the tulle and let it float back down. “Seriously, Shannon? Are you trying to top Nat’s lime green dress disaster?”

  Natalie, Rosalyn, Cara, and Anne walked into the room. Each was wearing the same hot pink mess that Shannon had picked out—plus a diamond ring. Emma swallowed as her gaze fell to her naked finger. It was hard not to feel sorry for herself. Their group had been inseparable since high-school. Always doing things together. This was the first time Emma ever felt alone. And the last thing she wanted to be was the tag-along single friend. Only getting pity invites that would dwindle down to nothing over time.

  Emma pushed down the feelings that were bubbling up. None of this was her friends’ fault. They’d all found Mr. Wonderful. Too bad that person didn’t seem to exist for her.

  Natalie tucked a red curl behind her ear. “Are you talking about me?” She asked as she smoothed out the tulle of her skirt.

  “Just the ridiculous color you made us wear last year,” Emma said, smiling over at her.

  Natalie lifted her hands in surrender. “Hey, it’s not my fault ya’ll don’t look good in green. It happens to be my color.”

  “But you wore white,” Anne said as she picked up a flute of champagne and took a sip.

  Natalie shrugged as she walked over to the mirror and pulled a tube of lipstick from her purse.

  Shannon glanced over at Emma. Change the subject? She mouthed.

  Emma nodded. Not only was she the single friend, she was also the fix-it girl. Always smoothing everyone’s ruffled feathers. Natalie didn’t make things easy since she’d married the mayor’s son and felt that gave her a right to weigh in on every choice.

  Any other day, being the problem solver wouldn’t have been an issue. But today, Emma was having a hard time pushing down her own feelings of frustration. Especially since no one seemed to notice that she was struggling. That she was drowning in her career and her utter lack of guidance. Something her mother reminded her of every chance that she got.

  “Is everyone set?” Emma asked, clapping her hands like a school teacher. It was time to get this over with. All five friends turned to look at her, and she smiled. “Great.”

  They began to move around the room, adjusting their dresses or makeup. Shannon leaned over to her. “Thanks for that. I know I can always depend on you.”

  Emma nodded. “Of course. What are friends for?”

  Shannon patted her arm and then turned her attention back to the mirror. “I forgot to tell you that Dale dropped out. Apparently, he has some family issue and had to fly home this morning.”

  Emma plastered on a fake smile. Oh, no. She couldn’t walk down the aisle alone. Not today. “Really?” she squeaked.

  Shannon leaned toward the mirror and blotted the skin under her eyes. “But don’t worry. Thomas’ old friend was able to step in.” She glanced back at Emma. “The one from Montana, Austin. He came to the retreat a few years ago. Had that girlfriend, Georgia something. I’m just thankful he’s proportional to the other groomsmen. Plus, he was available last minute. You’re okay with that, right?”

  Emma swallowed. She remembered Austin alright. He’d been rude and standoffish and the girl he had brought matched him perfectly. But, she couldn’t bring that up now. Not when this was supposed to be Shannon’s day. She’d just take comfort in the fact that she wasn’t going to have to walk down the aisle alone. He could stand and had a pulse and that was all that mattered. So, she plastered on a smile and said, “Sounds great.”

  The wedding planner stepped into the room and announced that it was time to line up. Emma helped adjust Shannon’s veil and then found her spot behind Natalie. The wedding planner made them prove that they could count to ten before she handed over their bouquets. It was the exact amount of time they needed to wait before they followed the person in front of them down the aisle.

  “. . . nin
e, ten,” Emma said as the wedding planner nodded in unison.

  She extended the bouquet to her and then paused. “You can count. Now, put your words into action.”

  For a woman only five-feet-zero, she could strike fear into anyone’s heart. All Emma could say was, “Yes, ma’am.”

  The wedding planner nodded and then shooed her from the room. “Go find your groomsmen,” she said, waving toward the lobby.

  Emma stumbled on the heels that Shannon had insisted on her wearing. Just as she righted herself, a hand reached out and grabbed her elbow.

  “You okay?”

  The rescuer’s deep, smooth voice sent shivers down her spine. Scared she was having a physical reaction to one of Shannon’s overly friendly uncles, she whipped around to see a pair of dark green eyes peering into hers.

  “Um. . .” She moved her gaze from his eyes, down his perfect nose, to his crooked half-smile. His hair was dark and tousled in a purposeful way. Austin. “I think so,” she squeaked out and then cursed herself for sounding so stupid.

  Warmth spread across her skin as his hand lingered on her elbow. He nodded and then his gaze made its way over to her shoulder where he pulled his hand back as if he’d suddenly realized that they were still touching. Emma tried to ignore how his tux seemed to hug him in all the right places. His shoulders were broad and the material couldn’t quite hide the muscles underneath. Why hadn’t he gotten fat since the last time she’d seen him? Why was fate so mean to her?

  He straightened and extended his hand. “Austin Maverick.”

  Emma stared at him. “I know who you are.” Once Shannon got home from her honeymoon, Emma was going to let her have it. Why did Dale, the forty-five-year-old patent attorney, have to drop out? He was better than this arrogant cowboy.

  He nodded. “You know me?”

  Emma snorted. How could he have forgotten? “The lake retreat? Three years ago? You spilled your beer down my dress.” She nodded toward her elbow which she’d brought up waiting for him to link his arm through hers.

  He studied her and then a forced look of recognition passed across his face. “Right? How’ve you been?”

  Emma stared at him. He couldn’t be serious. “You don’t remember me, do you?” Her cheeks heated from her statement. Why did she even care? It had to be this wedding and not the fact that him forgetting who she was just strengthened her realization that perhaps, she really wasn’t anything special. She clenched her jaw muscles to ground herself. This wasn’t about her. It was about him.

  “I remember you,” he scoffed.

  Emma motioned toward her elbow. “Right. Come on, let’s get this over with.”

  “I guess I just didn’t picture you when Thomas told me I’d be paired with Shannon’s only single friend,” he said, linking arms with her.

  Turning, she glanced over at him. “What does that mean?”

  “What does what mean?” he asked as the wedding planner emerged from the room with Shannon in tow.

  Before Emma could explain, they were ushered into a line. She tried to ignore how tall Austin was when he stood next to her. She felt tiny in his shadow and she hated it. When they started to make their way toward the chapel doors, she caught a whiff of his cologne and butterflies erupted in her stomach. Then she pushed those feelings down. She was having a mental breakdown, that had to be it.

  They waited as Anne, Rosalyn, and Natalie lined up in front of them. The wedding planner seemed so hell-bent on whipping the wedding party into shape, Emma feared what would happen if she was caught talking to Austin. But she couldn’t help but wonder what he meant earlier and why him forgetting who she was really bothered her so much. She leaned in closer to him, braving the wrath of the wedding planner.

  “What did you mean when you said you didn’t picture me when Thomas told you you’d be paired up with Shannon’s only single friend? Obviously, you didn’t remember me?”

  Austin’s gaze shifted over to her as she kept her face forward. Thankfully, the wedding planner was too engrossed with mouthing the counts as she released Anne down the aisle.

  Austin shrugged as he turned his attention forward as well. “I don’t know.”

  Emma paused. She wasn’t sure how to feel about anything anymore. “How can you not know?” Man, she was agitated. She didn’t realize that being the last girl standing would bother her this much. But she’d gone this far, she might as well continue. So, she turned and met Austin head on.

  He looked a bit startled as he glanced down at her. “I didn’t mean to offend you.”

  Emma scoffed, but before she could continue, a firm hand was placed on her arm and whipped her around.

  “Miss, you need to stay in line,” the wedding planner scolded her.

  Emma’s cheeks heated as she faced forward. Keeping her voice low, she leaned toward Austin so he caught every word. “Either you thought only an ugly person could be single at my age and if that’s the truth, shame on you.” The wedding planner nodded toward Rosalyn who started down the aisle. One more to go and it would be their turn. “Or, Thomas told you that I wasn’t ugly and you were shocked to find out that indeed, I am.”

  She heard Austin sputter next to her. “I’m—”

  “Either way, Mr. Maverick, your thought process is a bit Neanderthal for me.”

  Natalie was released, leaving them to stand together at the start of the aisle.

  “Emma, I didn’t—”

  Before he could continue, the wedding planner nodded and Emma took a step forward. There was no way she wanted to stay hooked to this man for a moment longer. She didn’t need him to tell her she was beautiful and that a man would be interested in her someday. And she definitely didn’t need him to tell her that she was ugly and perhaps, she should just settle for an apartment full of cats and a crocheting hobby.

  Vincent had broken her heart already, no need to open up old wounds. As she made her way down the aisle—practically dragging Austin with her—she attempted to ignore all the pity glances that were aimed in her direction. Frustration boiled back up inside of her. Why was being a single person so bad? Why did the world expect her to get married? She dropped Austin’s arm and made her way over to stand behind Natalie.

  After Cara found her place behind Emma, the wedding march started and Shannon made her way down the aisle. Emma swallowed as she realized the answer to her questions. As much as she didn’t want to admit it, she did want to get married. She did want to find that perfect guy. But, if she let her heart win out over her head, she’d be hurt again. And right now, she wasn’t sure she’d survive another heartbreak.

  Chapter Two

  Austin

  The band’s music carried through the open doors as Austin walked into the reception hall. He tugged at his collar and glanced around. Thankfully, the priest was not long winded and the ceremony lasted only a half hour. But it felt much longer when Austin spent the entire time trying to keep his attention from slipping over to Emma.

  After her snappy wit and no-nonsense attitude, memories of her at the retreat came rushing back to him. Even though most of them were clouded with the foggy haze of alcohol, he remembered her. How could he forget?

  And now she stood on the other side of the chapel with a strange expression on her face. Almost as if she was about to jump out of her skin. It made him wonder if him not remembering her was the only reason for her frustration—which she seemed to have a lot of. And for some reason, he wanted to ask her.

  When the wedding was over and they’d joined back up again, she’d barreled down the aisle where she promptly peeled off and he hadn’t been able to track her down since. He was hoping to explain himself and the idiotic response that had come from his mouth earlier.

  Now at the reception hall, he spotted her. She was sitting at the wedding party table, talking with an elderly woman. It may have just been the lighting, but it seemed as if Emma’s face was growing redder and her look of desperation deepening. It made him feel sorry for her.

  �
�Hey, man.” Thomas’ hand landed on Austin’s shoulder, drawing his attention away from Emma. “Thanks for coming on such short notice.”

  Austin stuck out his hand and they shook. If only Thomas knew what he was saving Austin from, he’d be the one expecting a thank you. “Of course, buddy. Anything to help out an old friend.”

  When he’d gotten the call last night to fly to New York, Austin jumped at the chance. Anything to get away from his ranch and the mess his life had become there. Even though the last time they’d talked was the retreat, nothing was going to keep Austin away. Running to New York seemed prudent when his whole town seemed only capable of casting pity stares at him. He couldn’t stand one more hang in there or a better girl is just around the corner. It only takes getting stood up once for a guy to realize that love wasn’t for him.

  “I’m sorry to hear about your grandpa,” Thomas said, nodding to a waiter who walked by him with a tray of champagne flutes. He grabbed two and handed one to Austin.

  Austin moved to tell him that he didn’t drink anymore, but Thomas didn’t seem to notice. Not wanting to be rude, Austin took it from him anyway. “Thanks,” he mumbled. He’d inherited his grandfather’s ranch when he’d passed away, but his grandmother had given him the stipulation that he had to find a wife before it would become fully his. She didn’t want to see him waste away his future by hiding behind the rough life of a rancher.

  Thomas downed the champagne and then set the empty glass on the table where it was instantly whisked away by a passing waiter.