Page 23 of Cowboys Can't Kiss

Riley smiles again, his gaze soft on me before he turns to survey the entire row of hot beverages I bought atWalmartlast night. Flavoured hot chocolates, six flavours of herbal teas, a box of flavoured coffees, decaf coffee, and regular tea in three brands because they all taste different.

“What’s your favourite?” Riley asks as he surveys the choices.

“Normally, if I stay home, it’s coffee. But if I’m on the road, it’s tea.”

Riley immediately steps to the tea. “Which one?”

“Um, today I’d pick an herbal one because I already had caffeine and if I have more, I’ll probably embarrass myself and talk faster than a squirrel at a rave.”

Riley chuckles, and plucks the herbal tea box from the pile and scans the flavours. “I’ll take a peach one, please. And you haven’t embarrassed yourself at all.”

Flipping on the kettle, I toss a tea bag in my cup and wash out his new travel mug before dropping a bag inside his too.

“Well, I could’ve said ‘Good morning, you look great’ and not some ramble about tea.”

“True. But it’s cute, and it’s real. And now I know something about tea.” He smiles my way, and I can’t help but smile back. “Have you ever talked to someone about your nervousness? Is it because of social anxiety?”

The kettle boils and I flick it off to pour the water into our mugs and set the timer for it to steep.

“Do you take cream or sugar? I like a bit of sugar just to take the bitter off.”

Riley grins. “Make mine the same, then.”

As I level a teaspoon of sugar into the mugs, I answer his question.

“I’ve never talked to a professional. I just…I guess the only thing I’m never nervous about is rodeo. When I made the connection in high school, I knew I couldn’t give rodeo up. I felt… normal? Accepted maybe?” Shrugging, I remove our tea bags and tighten the lid on the mugs. “Maybe it is social anxiety. But I’m forty years old and it’s all I know. Until I met you, I figured it would be my life, you know? Awkward and perpetually single, talking about misshapen carrots.”

Riley remains quiet as he takes the mug I hand him.

“For what it’s worth, Jackson, you’ve already gone above and beyond for a first date. If it was a date, I mean. As a friend, it’s amazing. This is very thoughtful of you. You remembered something I like.” He smiles at the mug and raises it in a toast. “And you gave me choices here. The amount of thought and effort you’ve demonstrated is honestly impressive.”

Riley’s words of praise make me puff my chest. Maybe I’m not so bad at this after all.

“Thank you. Ready to learn about hydroponics?”

“I won’t lie and say yes because I don’t know if I am or not.” He laughs, and it’s light and carefree. “But Iamready to drink tea from my new mug and take a road trip with a friend.”

Riley follows me out, and after locking the house, I motion to my truck.

“Your chariot awaits.”

Opening the truck door for him, he murmurs a thank you, and I walk around to the driver’s side.

Before opening my door, I allow myself a tiny butt wiggle of victory.

I impressed him and he said I’m cute!

seven

Riley

If you told me my first date with the mystery man from the park would be at a hydroponic gardening seminar, I’d likely have just laughed in your face and told you to try again.

And if you told me the same mystery man would be a cowboy, a rodeo cowboy at that, I’d have asked you what alternate dimension you live in.

But our drive here was enjoyable. For a two-hour drive first thing in the morning, it doesn’t feel like I’ve spent time with someone I barely know. Jackson makes me laugh. He’s genuinely charming once he gets past the ‘opening line jitters,’ as I call them. And he’s a complete gentleman.

He even checked in several times to ask if I needed a rest stop. It’s only a couple of hours in a vehicle, but the offer was appreciated.

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