Dirty-Talking Cowboy (Kinky Spurs 1)

Shep’s brows shot up. “Am I?”

“Yes, you are,” she said with a firm nod. “Because you’re going to use the money you get from that sale to finance this new venture.”

Shep glanced between his brothers, finding both excitement and surprise on their faces, before turning back to Emma. “And tell me: Why would I sell my house to do this?”

“Because for this to work, you all have to play a part,” she explained. “And if you realized that you need to depend on each other a little bit, you wouldn’t be in this situation to begin with. Had your dad told you about what was going on, you could have fixed this. So we’re not going to repeat his mistakes. We’re going to take the skills we’ve got, and, yes, keep the business that was his dream, but also make sure you’re all doing what you love too. That is what your father would’ve wanted, and I know that’s what your mom wants too.” She glanced down at the floor a moment then crossed her arms, looking at them. “So, that’s basically all I’ve got.”

Nash rose, moving to the window, looking out, pondering what she proposed. Chase stared at Emma, eyes narrowed, thoughtfully. Shep glanced down at the papers in his hands, so damn proud of her.

“I like this idea,” Chase said eventually, breaking his silence. “At least, we should investigate further and see if it’s doable.”

Nash glanced over his shoulder. For one second, Shep saw the brother Nash used to be. A man with a purpose. “I’m with Chase on this. I think it’s worth looking into.”

Emma grinned, then asked Shep, “And you?”

“It’s a really good idea, Emma.” He cocked his head, studying her, a single question echoing on his mind. “But there’s one thing you’ve left out.”

“What’s that?”

“If I’m selling my house and land to finance this project, then where exactly will I be living?”

“Well, you see . . .” She glanced down at her feet again then up at him, giving him a cute smile. “I was thinking you could move in with me at the farm.”

All the control he’d been keeping vanished. He inhaled deeply, slowly rising, the papers falling from his hand onto the floor. Emotion brought adrenaline. Intensity overwhelmed him. “Leave us,” he ordered his brothers.

* * *

The door shut behind a chuckling Chase and Nash, sending Emma’s belly into a full-on somersault. Shep hadn’t moved. At all. She wasn’t even sure he was breathing. He stared at her so intently the air got sucked out of the room, making Chase’s log home seem even smaller than before. “So . . .” she began, trying to break the thick silence.

“Come here,” he said.

She hesitated, questioning if going anywhere near him right now was wise. He looked about ready to blow his lid. “Are you mad or happy right now?” she asked. “Because I honestly can’t tell.”

“Emma.” His voice was slow, careful, eyes glowing with intensity. “Now.”

She cautiously stepped forward, her breath trapped in her throat. Energy bounced between them, seemingly pulling her forward. When she stopped in front of him, she glanced into all that power and managed, “I’m here.”

He dropped his chin, bringing his eyes level with hers. “You want me to move in with you?”

She nodded. “I do.”

He hadn’t touched her yet, almost like he didn’t trust himself. “Explain all this to me.”

Of course he was confused. The last time he’d seen her, Jake had given her a ring. She heard a truck start, then tires crunching the gravel outside. Obviously Nash and Chase were leaving. “I told Jake that I wasn’t going home with him,” she explained.

“Why?”

“Because I’m not the same woman I was when I lived in New York City, and I can’t go back now.” Her heart swelled as his brows drew together, emotion filling his eyes. Regardless, she pressed on, needing him to understand. “I kept wondering why I didn’t share things with Jake that I’ve shared with you.”

Shep shoved his hands into his pockets. Was he trembling? “All right, so what did you realize, then?”

“I never told him important things because he never asked about my life like you have. He never wanted to know me, not truly,” she replied softly. “We always talked business when we spent time together, because that was his life . . . and, well, it was mine too. We talked parties and gossip and politics and everything that seemed so important then.” She hesitated, making sure she got this right, then laid her heart on the line. “I realized that just because I care about Jake, it doesn’t mean that he’s good for me, and he’s not good for me, Shep. You are.”

Shep tightened his hands into fists in his pockets. “How did you come to that conclusion?” he asked.

“Bentley.” She smiled.

He arched an eyebrow. “Bentley made you realize your place is with me?”