Page 16 of A Gift for the Hopeful Cowboy

“Why did I do what?”

“Why did you just take off? Did I say something to make you mad?”

He tore his eyes from hers though she still held his hand. Scowling out into the alley, he shook his head. “Of course not. Tonight was fun. I got to watch you work and try your food.”

“Then why are you running from me?”

Rob snorted. “I’m not running from you.”

She gave him a pointed look. “Okay, I get it. Last weekend, I was the one playing the avoidance game, but now you’re the one who won’t say anything.”

“To be fair, you never said anything either.”

Words left unspoken filled the air. She wasn’t about to admit to anything. She’d “proven” she wasn’t avoiding him last week and they’d left it at that.

Rob sighed. “I’m not running from anything. I’m just… dealing with a lot right now. I’m trying to figure some stuff out.”

She moved closer to him. “If this has something to do with college…” She trailed off. “I’m not going to tell you it wouldn’t be hard, because it would.”

“I’m too old for college, Pippa. Everyone would look at me like I’m some nut job.”

“You’re never too old.”

He snorted. “Then how about you go to culinary school. Tell me how it is and then I’ll consider finishing my degree.”

She dropped his hands and folded her arms with a smirk. “Somehow, I think my experience would have a better outcome than yours. I’ve already mastered what I want to be when I grow up.”

He knew her words weren’t supposed to hurt, but it was like she’d stabbed a knife into his back. She’d practically said she had her life together. She didn’t have regrets. Everything he was dealing with was his own dang fault.

And she was right.

He’d shunned the idea of a serious relationship. He’d ignored everyone telling him he shouldn’t drop out of school. And what did he have to show for it? Only one work reference—his father. Who would hire him based on that? What kind of experience did he have to offer?

Rob’s stomach knotted uncomfortably as he glanced in Pippa’s direction. “Thanks for dinner, Pippa. I hope you find a good place for those flowers.”

“Rob—”

He turned and held up a hand in a half-hearted wave goodbye, but he only made it a dozen steps before she grabbed onto him once more. This time when he turned, she threw herself into his arms.

Her hands wrapped around the back of his neck, and she pressed her whole body into him as her kiss stole the soul right out of him. Rob’s reaction was instinctual. He held onto her, giving in to everything he knew he shouldn’t. If there was anything he couldn’t resist, it was this woman.

The kiss ended far too quickly as Pippa scrambled from his embrace. She glanced up at him once, then twice. “Have a nice night, Rob.” Then she hurried toward the back door of the restaurant.

His eyes remained glued to the door long after she’d disappeared. His heart was tormented. There was so much to unload when it came to Pippa. As much as he wanted her, he didn’t know how to get there.

There was a very real possibility she kissed him like that only because of their shared history. It was a way for her to make him feel better, and he hated like crazy she knew that about him. He clenched and unclenched his hands if only to get some feeling back into his numb body.

He’d come out here to change the path his life had been taking. A new job was just the start of it. He wanted Pippa, too. He might not be good enough for her, and she might make him feel off-balance much of the time. But the way she made him feel like he’d entered through the pearly gates themselves made the turmoil he experienced worth it.

Rob just needed to get back on his A-game. He needed to woo her like he’d wooed girls back when he was in his prime. No more talk about his future. No more lamenting what he should have done. He was going to get this girl if it was the last thing he did.

A few days went by, and Rob hadn’t worked up the nerve to call Pippa and ask her if she wanted to spend some time together after his shifts. She hadn’t reached out to him, either, so maybe it was a good thing they were putting more time between them.

“Hey, Rob, you got a minute?”

He glanced over his shoulder to see Brent approaching. Turning from the horse he was working with, he folded his arms over the top of the fence. “What do you need?”

“Pippa’s coming by. She wanted to take a look at some of the old decorations Jackie has in the loft of the barn. I guess it’s something to do with fixing up her window display at the restaurant. I have to get going; do you think you could help her out?”

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