Page 10 of Cowboys Can't Kiss

“I’m sorry I wasn’t here the next day like I promised. I got held up at work and then I needed to take my aunt to an appointment and…I tried to come back, but you weren’t here.”

Oh, god. What if this isn’t the same guy?

“I’m happy to hear that.” My shoulders relax with his voice. Same guy. I’d recognize that voice anywhere. Smooth and deep. “I mean…not happy you couldn’t come, but happy it wasn’t me.” He huffs. “No, that’s not what I mean, either.” There’s a pause, and I think he might be giving himself a pep talk. There’s a lot of mumbling I can’t make out, but I swear I heard the phrase,you can do this. “I waited for three days.” He clears his throat. “I would’ve waited longer, but I think people were uncomfortable with a man lying in the grass every day. You’re here now, though. That’s what matters.”

Oof. Direct hit to my romantic heart. He waited for three days, then came back again on the random day I tried to find him? I’m not one to believe in signs, but there must be some kind of hocus pocus at work.

“Um…this is going to sound silly, but…I brought lunch. For both of us. Would you like to join me?”

My hands fidget with the handles on the bag. The longer his silence stretches, the longer I wonder if I went too far, and I just made a fool out of myself.

“Do you think it’s crazy to meet a stranger for lunch in the park?”

His voice is still steady, but I’m positive there’s a waver of hope there. Maybe he feels the same as I do.

“Well, if we have lunch, we’re no longer strangers, right?”

His low chuckle brings a smile to my face, and the feet disappear as he stands. Okay, this is happening. When he finally steps out from the shadows of the tree and turns towards me, I pray the gasp in my head wasn’t out loud because glory to the beings of creation, this man is gorgeous.

A white dress shirt with his sleeves rolled up shows offverymuscled arms. His shirt tucks into a pair of black dress pants.Simple, yet stylish, and his black shoes are still shiny like they were on that first day.

He’s dreamy. My teenage heart shoots sparkles, knowing I just met a man to use that word for. His warm gaze wraps around me like a hug from an old friend. As he steps closer, his Adam’s apple bobs, and he clutches his suit jacket against his body.

“You’re the prettiest thing in this park. I’m really happy you came back.”

His eyes widen and he clutches his suit coat closer.

Yeah, okay, that’s…wow. My skin feels hot and I dip my head. Lord, I think I’m blushing. I don’t blush with compliments. What the fuck is wrong with me?

“Thank you.” Clearing my throat, I blurt, “Do you like hummus?”

A bright smile graces his face and he’s so handsome I can’t help staring at him. There’s a slight flash when he turns his head, and I bite my lip when I notice the small diamond earring. It’s like the angels cracked open my brain and found all my favourite things and smashed them into this man.

“I love it.” The man’s voice snaps me back to the present. “Preferably the red pepper hummus from Avocadabra.”

“No way! That’s my favourite place and exactly what I brought.”

We grin at each other like two kids who just discovered they have the same birthday, and I remove the takeout containers from the bag.

“I’m Riley, by the way.” I extend my hand to him, and when his calloused palm slides into mine, electricity races down my spine.

“Jack,” he rasps, and it takes a moment for him to let go of my hand.

“Um, I…there’s water? I didn’t know what you’d like.”

Jack settles at the table across from me and reaches for the water I offer him.

“Hummus is made from chickpeas. I’ve always found that interesting,” Jack offers, and I can’t help but laugh at his choice of conversation topic.

“Food interests you?”

“Well, I like to eat it, so…yeah.” He clears his throat and taps a finger against his water bottle. “Did you know baby carrots aren’t really baby? They’re just big carrots ground down into little ones.”

The hummus platter came with vegetables. Baby carrots included. Picking one up, I hold it out to him with a grin. “So this carrot was once an adult and then made to be a baby again?”

“Yeah. And they use carrots that are shaped weird. Like, they don’t make it to the grocery store as is. I guess it’s a makeover for a carrot.”

He’s too precious.

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