Page 17 of Cowboys Can't Kiss

With my lunch bag hanging at my side, I finally head back to the office when I can’t wait a minute longer for him to show or I’ll be late for my next client.

Once back in my office, the disappointment clings to me like pet hair on your favourite pants. It’s impossible for me to shake it and I hate that.

And my client is late.

My earlier hopeful mood has vanished, and I want to scream. It isn’t like me to mope and have so much…whatever this feeling is.

I’m just about to send off an email to my late client advising that the consult fee is non-refundable when there’s a knock at the door and it swings open.

“I’m so, so sorry I’m late. I was helping a friend load cattle and —”

He stands in the doorway, lips parted as he stares. Jack swallows hard and removes his cowboy hat. His mouth moves silently and his free hand waves. It’s a little wave, almost like a kid, and at any other time, I’d find it oddly cute and affectionate.

But it’s Jack, aka Jackson, and he’s not a businessman like I thought.

He’s a cowboy… and my late client.

“You’reJackson?”

Jackson’s brow furrows as he nods. “My friends sometimes call me Jack. I use both. Jackson is on my birth certificate, though. My mom liked it. But yeah, I’m Jackson.”

He closes my office door and Jackson’s fingers worry at the edge of his cowboy hat.

“Can I still have the appointment?”

Fuck, I don’t know. Should he? Why does my mystery guy have to be another damn cowboy?

“Why were you wearing a suit when we met?” I bark. Perhaps too sharply, but I was already into the thought of this guy being something good and he’s lied. I suppose that one’s on me for assuming.

“Um, I had a meeting with a lawyer those days. Several of them, actually. That’s over now.”

A lawyer. Great. Another cowboy in trouble. I’m not sure if this day can get any worse.

“You haven’t answered my question,” Jackson whispers.

My gaze snaps to his, and those eyes, the ones so tender and kind that drew me in, pin me in place waiting for an answer. God dammit, why does he still have to be handsome?

Clearing my throat, I stand to introduce myself.

“Jackson, I apologize for being less than professional.” I offer a hand to him, and the moment he accepts my hand in his, my entire body notices the rough callouses on his palm across my smooth one and the way his fingers squeeze mine, sending my pulse into overdrive. Just like the first time.

“I’m Riley. Owner of Wild Romance. It’s a pleasure to meet you. Officially. Please.” I gesture to the chair across from my desk. “Sit. Of course, you can still have the appointment.”

Jackson nods and sits, placing his hat on the empty chair next to him. His knee bounces just as fast as the time we sat and sharedlunch, and I pull over my notepad and pen to take notes, happy to have something to do with my hands.

“It’s nice to meet you again, Riley.” Jackson smiles with a small nod. “I’m sorry I wasn’t at the park today. My friend Hunter owns a ranch. You might know it? Anyway, he had some bulls he needed help trailering. He used to do the breeding stuff at his place, but now he sends them out. Well, he’s clearing them all out and—” Jackson closes his mouth so hard and fast his teeth clack.

“Jackson? Are you okay?”

He nods and stares at the ceiling tiles. His Adam's apple bobs as he swallows, and a vision of me licking his neck and tracing my tongue over that part of him is so vivid I need to shake my head to clear it.

“I’m okay. This is why I made the appointment. When I’m around attractive men, I babble. The smooth factor no longer exists.” His lips tilt in a crooked smile. “I’m forty and still single because of my absolute inability to flirt. When I’m nervous, I blurt out the first thing that comes to mind. Like, did you know camels aren’t born with humps? I don’t do parties well and…”

His eyes meet mine. “I’m doing it again, right? Is any of this remotely interesting to you?”

“As someone you’ve hired to help you find romance, yes. It’s extremely interesting.”

Especially since you mentioned I’m attractive. Again.

---