Free Cowboy Bargain (The Dalton Boys Book 2) by Em Petrova Page B

quaint as the decorations. Most wore jeans and their best shirts, and several already had glasses of Momma’s best peach sweet tea. Later it would be spiked with something harder.
    Cash’s brothers stood up beside him, and Charlotte was in attendance for Maya. She’d outfitted all the Dalton boys with denim shirts and berry red handkerchiefs knotted around their necks, while Cash wore a navy blue patterned tie.
    He felt a little lost without his hat, but Charlotte had decreed that hats weren’t acceptable during the ceremony.
    When old Mr. Guthrie started plucking the banjo strings to the wedding march, Cash’s spine stiffened. He squeezed his hands into fists and stared at the corner of the barn, waiting for his bride to appear.
    She still hadn’t said yes, but today she damn well would.
    As Manny’s broad shoulder appeared, Cash’s heart took off like a wild mustang. He was outfitted like the rest of them—denim shirt and hanky around the neck. But Cash hardly gave him notice because Maya was clinging to his arm.
    His throat closed. Emotion thundered through him, and hell if he didn’t feel like bawling like a two-year-old. He swallowed the lump and held it together.
    Then their gazes met.
    Her eyes were wide and beautiful. Charlotte had dolled her up with enough makeup to emphasize her delicate features while keeping it natural. And the hollow, thin look was gone. Her skin glowed against the pale cream of a white knee-length dress.
    And she was wearing brand new brown leather cowgirl boots.
    He almost lost it completely.
    Her lips twitched into an unsure smile. He gave her a nod, and she lit up.
    The banjo wedding march couldn’t end fast enough. Manny led Maya up the center aisle, her boots swishing on the grasses. As she drew closer, he shifted from foot to foot, eager to kiss her and get on with it. He wanted her—alone.
    When she reached his side, some words were exchanged between the preacher and Manny. Then Maya’s hand was placed into Cash’s. She handed off a strangled bouquet to Charlotte, who tried to keep the wildflowers from flopping over. Then the rodeo was on.
    Vows and promises. Cash meant every one, though all he really understood was the gleam in Maya’s eyes. Her quietly spoken, “I do,” shook the walls of his heart. Until that moment, he’d only been annoyed with her resistance. He hadn’t realized how much he needed her to want him.
    Momma sniffed loudly.
    “I now pronounce you man and wife. Ladies and gents, Mr. and Mrs. Cash Dalton,” the preacher announced.
    She tipped her head up to meet his gaze, and Cash didn’t wait for the preacher to give the go-ahead. He swooped in and kissed his bride.
    After two days without even a peek at her, he was desperate. He bent her over his arm, claiming her squeak of surprise as he drove his tongue into her mouth and leaving no one with questions about whether or not their short engagement was a hoax to get a green card.
    She kissed him back, hands in his hair, tasting of ginger. Had she nicked a cookie from the jar before the ceremony? Maybe to settle her stomach. He kissed her harder, stealing her breath and wanting so much more.
    When he tore his mouth away, it was to the cheers of the audience. He righted her on her boots, and they turned to face the crowd. Momma was wiping a happy tear, and Pa beaming. Manny looked ready to dance a jig.
    Later they would. Mr. Guthrie had brought some friends.
    Cash and Maya moved to accept congratulations. He bore the hugs and claps on the back, gritting his teeth because his body knew it was time to make Maya his in all ways. This union might have begun with a bargain, but in the end, he’d have passion.
    As the final well-wisher released Maya from her embrace, Cash couldn’t wait another minute. He scooped her off her feet to hollers from the crowd.
    He stared into her dark eyes. “I’m going to kiss you, Mrs. Dalton.”
    Her lips curved up the way it did before she said something snarky. “You