Page 25 of A Gift for the Hopeful Cowboy

He pulled her close, locking her against his chest. “I think it’s been incredibly difficult to keep my hands off you when you’re showing off those culinary skills of yours.”

Pippa snickered.

“Tell me, is your cake going to taste as good as you?”

She nearly choked with that one. Rob’s eyes searched hers as if asking for permission. He didn’t need it. They’d bypassed that point in their relationship. Pippa’s lips parted and she exhaled. “I guess we’re going to find out.”

Rob dipped lower and his voice grew more husky. “You amaze me, Pippa. You always have.”

Chills swept through her body and her heart sang. Rob always knew the right things to say, but right now, something about it felt different. She reached up and caressed his face. “I?—”

She caught herself before she said something she really regretted. Her face flushed and she looked away, but he captured her chin and forced her to meet his gaze.

Without a moment’s notice, he brushed his lips against hers. It was another kiss for the ages. This one was sweet and tender, and it took her away from all her concerns and worries for the future. She let herself ride away into fantasy at this moment.

There had to be a chance for them. Why else would he be able to make her feel this way?

CHAPTER TWELVE

Rob wiped the sweat from his brow and peered out over the rolling hills that surrounded him on all sides. While Brent had hired him to work with the cattle, he still had an itch to see what went on in the agricultural side of things.

When Rob had shown up to work here, he’d mentioned he’d like to see where they could incorporate more technology—things like sensors in the ground to keep tabs on the herd—but Luke hadn’t shown an interest in more technology in his organic farm. There were other ways to bring the ranch to the modern era, but without a degree to back him up, Rob wasn’t sure he could bring his ideas to the men running the show. His insecurities might be showing since he lacked a degree, but he wasn’t sure and he didn’t feel like he was in a place to test it.

That was one of the biggest reasons he didn’t want to discuss his past decisions with Pippa. She would probably push him into a position where he resented her, and that was the last thing he wanted. Right now, he simply wanted to live a life where he could make all the decisions for himself. He wanted to choose where he worked, what he did, and who he fell in love with.

Pippa was a big part of that.

Maybe all Rob had to do was get out of his own way. Did he still feel like Pippa was out of his league? Sure. But that didn’t mean he couldn’t at least try to win her over.

While some of the things she’d said about having a degree had rubbed him the wrong way, he could take a step back and accept her perspective would differ from his own. Now that they’d come to an understanding on what he wanted, he felt like he could finally move forward. It was amazing what a little venting could do for a person.

He didn’t need a degree to make something of himself, and he wasn’t going to stop until he did. He wasn’t just floating along, letting the universe do all the work. He’d left his job in Montana to get out from under his father’s wing, hadn’t he? He’d come to Sweet Bloom to find his own way.

Maybe it was time to finally dredge up the courage to tell Pippa how he really felt. Now she knew about his thoughts on finishing school, it didn’t feel like he needed to hold anything back.

Christmas was two weeks away. Things were slowing down at the ranch, but he had a feeling they’d pick right back up at the turn of the new year. Now was the time for him to make his move.

He turned back to his work mending the fence where a wire had come loose. As soon as he was done with this project, he’d go home and get ready to take Pippa out on another date. This date wasn’t going to be big and fancy like the last one. This time, he was going to show her how important she was by keeping it simple.

A chill ran down his spine as he thought about what tonight could mean for him—for both of them. The first step in reclaiming his future had been the move. The job came next. Now, he was going to get the girl.

Funny how it seemed so easy now that he’d allowed himself to move past his mistakes.

That was it. That was the missing piece in his uncertainty about his future. Rob was finally taking control of his future. He wasn’t letting anyone guide him or make the important decisions for him.

Bolstered by this newfound confidence, Rob finished off his work with more excitement for his date with Pippa. Just because they’d been opposites in the beginning didn’t mean they couldn’t work.

When Rob climbed into the car after picking Pippa up for their date, he was instantly drilled with questions.

“What’s the plan? You said this was going to be special?”

Rob bit back a laugh. “You know, when we were younger, you did this, too.”

“Did what?” she asked, laughing with him. “I like to know what the plan is. Sue me.”

“Yeah, well, when I was younger, I liked to fly by the seat of my pants.”

She groaned. “Don’t remind me. You always insisted on making everything a surprise. You didn’t want to plan anything. That was one of the reasons it took so long to convince you to?—”

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