Page 11 of A Gift for the Hopeful Cowboy

When she didn’t speak right away, Rob straightened. “Well, your stomach sounds like it might be able to handle all three burgers. Maybe you and I could split them and neither one of us might end up regretting our decisions.”

His statement held more than one implication. The funny thing was, the only thing she was willing to risk regretting had nearly happened twice now.

“You mean we won’t end up in a food coma,” she said quietly.

He studied her, and in that moment she knew without a doubt he was fully aware she understood what he’d really meant.

Rob nodded to his truck in the parking lot. “How about we set up shop like the old days.”

She tossed a look over her shoulder. How many summer nights had they spent in his truck back in Rocky Ridge? How many of those impromptu, late-night snacks had ended in a make-out session? Her stomach swirled, and it wasn’t because she was hungry—her appetite had successfully been snuffed out. If she agreed to eat with him in his truck, she would be choosing to the see where things with him might go.

Pippa nodded, slowly turning to look at him again. She plastered a nervous smile on her face no amount of faking could hide. “Please tell me you got one without onions.”

Rob reached into his bag and pulled out a burger wrapped in yellow paper.

Her eyes widened as her hands wrapped around the monstrosity of a burger he offered her. “You’re joking.”

He shrugged. “Maybe I was feeling nostalgic.”

She laughed. “That’s ridiculous. You love onions.”

“And you don’t.” He said it like it was the most simple thing in the world to admit. “Though I never understood how you could love cooking so much and hate onions.”

Pippa scoffed. “I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: Onions should have remained medicinal. You don’t see me crushing up antacids to sprinkle all over my food, do you?”

“Maybe you should.” Rob chuckled.

They’d reached his truck, and he opened the door for her. She snorted and shook her head. Of course he would have thought that was a good idea. Rob lingered by the door, not shutting it immediately. Their eyes met and a decade of conversation passed between them.

It was like there was more he wanted to say, but he wasn’t willing to voice it. She could understand that feeling—in fact, it was currently making her head spin. Perhaps that was why she read it in his eyes. She wanted him to experience what she was going through so they could just get the issue of her attraction out in the open.

But Rob didn’t want to settle down. Why else would he move here? This was temporary. He had family and a life back in Montana. Eventually, he’d want to move home and start his own little family.

If anything happened between them, it would be short-lived and for old time’s sake. She’d come to the realization already. It was just hard to remember that when he was looking at her with his soulful eyes.

Pippa cleared her throat and lifted her burger. “Our food is getting cold. We should probably dig in.”

CHAPTER SIX

Rob climbed behind the steering wheel, tossing a look at Pippa out of the corner of his eye. This was a mistake waiting to happen. He knew better than to allow himself to get close to her like this. She wasn’t interested. Heck, she’d made fun of him in front of the regulars at her restaurant.

But she’s here, a voice inside his head pointed out. She came back.

No, she felt guilty. She’d invited him to the restaurant, and she was the kind of person who wanted to make sure everyone was happy. She’d always been that way. She’d bend over backward to do things for other people.

He’d just been too stubborn to see she was exactly what he wanted.

Rob took a bite of his burger to keep himself from telling her how much it meant to him for her to be here with him. It would be too easy to confess that over the years, he’d developed feelings for her—feelings that weren’t allowed.

Pippa’s soft moan drew his attention and he stared at her in surprise. She laughed, her eyes widening. “What? Do I have mustard on my face or something?” She pulled down the visor and stared at her reflection then pushed it back up and turned her focus to him again. “Why are you looking at me like that.”

“You sure sound like you’re enjoying that burger.”

She nodded, her smile widening. “This place is the best. Sometimes I come here after a shift just so I can get fries to eat on the way home from work.”

“But you literally work at a restaurant.”

Pippa snickered. “I’m allowed to enjoy my vices every once in a while. You’re the one who taught me that.”

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