Page 22 of Cowboys Can't Kiss

Hunter trots down his steps towards the barn where we still need to finish dealing with all the feed.

I don’t know what I’m doing and I’m one hundred percent happy to admit it.

But I’m not about to walk away from the first man I’ve felt a spark with in years.

With any luck, I can make that spark into something more.

Growing up on a farm with chores needing to be done before school conditioned me to early mornings. I had the chance to sleep later in college, but it wasn’t something I enjoyed. The day is half over by 10 A.M if you’re only getting up then.

Riley isn’t due to arrive for another half hour and, as I adjust the row of tea bags on the counter, I wonder if I’ve gone overboard. We never had the chance to discuss if he prefers coffee, tea, or something else. The only thing I know about him is he loves the hummus at Avocadabra and I can’t really offer him a container of it when he drives up.

Can I?

No. That would be super awkward even for me. Maybe the second friend-only date.

Tires crunching up my driveway sets off a wave of anxiety, dampening my palms with sweat and I inhale a deep breath.

“Manifest, Jackson. You can do this.”

Standing in the middle of my kitchen, I continue to breathe deeply and visualize Riley as he comes to the door. My mind paints a vivid picture of what he’s wearing… which is probably a bad thing because Riley is an attractive man with clothes on and likely wildly attractive without them.

And now I’m thinking of him naked. God dammit.

The knock on my door pulls me back to reality.

“Manifest, Jackson. Best non-date ever,” I mumble to myself as I stop at the mirror in the hallway to check my teeth. After offering a thumbs-up to my reflection, I finally open the door.

And I can’t breathe.

Riley stands at my doorstep with a warm smile on his face. He’s dressed casually like me, and I don’t know why, but I was expecting more business from him. He wears a pair of stylish jeans, ripped randomly down the front, teasing peeks of his smooth skin. His shirt is a simple white T-shirt, tucked on one side and more flowy than fitted, but it suits him perfectly. Riley also wears a gold chain around his neck. It glints in the early morning sun as he waits on my doorstep.

“Hi, Jackson. Am I too early?”

Riley’s smile fades a little as I shake my head and wheeze in a gulp of air. Words seem to have vanished now that he’s on my freaking doorstep and I’m about to invite him in.

“Jackson? Are you okay?”

“Did you know that all tea comes from the same plant? It’s how they’re processed that makes them different.”

Dear lord. Why can’t I just say 'hi, you look great?’ At least I didn’t pass out. So there’s that.

Riley’s smile returns as he nods. “I actually didn’t know that. I love tea.”

“Great! Because I have some!”

I sound like a damn TV game show host. Why? Why am I like this?

“Come in. Leave your shoes on and follow me for a minute.”

Riley’s amused smile at least stays as he wipes his adorable leopard-patterned running shoes on the carpet as he steps inside.In the kitchen, I motion towards the chaos of beverage choices that I stayed up all night worrying over.

“I didn’t know if you were a caffeine lover. Or if you prefer coffee or tea. I like to have a mug of something when I drive. Here, I got you a mug.” Reaching for the box, I open it to remove the travel mug that was, to me, Riley in thermal form. It’s a gorgeous pale blue with a touch of shimmer. But it was the pattern that sold it to me.

Riley takes the mug and sighs. “Oh, Jackson. This is so thoughtful and sweet. You remembered.”

Riley runs his fingertips over the pattern on the mug. It’s the mirror from Snow White and the caption reads,Who’s the fairest of them all? I am, bitch.

“It just seemed like something you’d like with the fairy tales and whatnot.” Wiping my slick hands on my jeans, I ignore how damn cute he looks as he inspects his gift. “But I didn’t know if you’re a coffee drinker or tea. Maybe matcha?” I gesture again to the slew of beverage choices on my kitchen counter. “I picked some of everything. So choose which one you like and I’ll make us one before we leave.”

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