Page 24 of Cowboys Can't Kiss

I’m enjoying his company at this hydroponic thing far more than I expected. Despite going into this knowing it’s a friend-only date, Jackson keeps treating me like a date. I’m still on the fence about how I feel about that.

Watching him weave through the crowd with a tray of food from the concession, my lips turn up as he approaches. Jackson requested I sit at a table and asked my permission to bring me food.While he waited in line and worked through the crowds—there really was a shocking amount of people here—I relaxed.

“Okay, you said to surprise you since it seems like we have similar food tastes. How do you feel about sharing a few things?”

Jackson sets the tray of food on the table and seats himself across from me. His hopeful smile is hard to resist, and I grin back.

“If you don’t double dip, I’m game.”

Jackson scrunches his nose like a disgusted little rabbit.

“Eww. No.” He removes the lid from the containers and passes me a set of cutlery as he explains what he chose for us. “I got us each a salad. Everything is grown with hydroponics, of course. I didn’t know what kind of dressing you like, so I got you all three, but my favourite is the grapefruit vinaigrette.”

Jackson points to his favourite, so I choose that one as he tells me about the other dish he brought for us to share. If I’d come across all this information on a television show, I’d have changed the channel or fallen asleep watching it.

But experiencing a hydroponic gardening conference with Jackson, who is obviously into it, is an entirely unique experience. It’s like pausing a live TV show to ask the host questions.

“Hydroponics works well with our area. We have so many cattle out here and they need the room for grazing. When I first pitched the business idea to Cameron, he was so in and we had this passionate idea. It was like…we just dove in headfirst, ready to take it on.” He chews a mouthful of salad and gestures to the other container. “Strawberries, Riley. In a big enough facility, we could produce strawberries like this all year around and not worry about the weeding or how much land we’d need to give up for a strawberry patch. Plus…no frost headaches.”

Jackson speaks with no hesitation or shyness. His enthusiasm for the subject shines through in his words. He’d make a great salesman.

“You never told me what happened to the business. May I ask?”

Jackson pushes his salad around before sitting back with a huff.

“You don’t have to tell me if it’s uncomfortable.”

“No, it’s not like that. It’s just…he made me feel like I wasn’t good enough to partner with. We verbally agreed on how it would work, and he made me feel bad when I sometimes missed crucial things. But heknewI would. I didn’t shirk my responsibilities. I wanted this to work. Still do really.”

“I don’t understand. He dragged you through dissolving a business because he thought you were lazy? That doesn’t make any sense. From what I’ve learned today, this isn’t a cheap setup. Surely you both invested loads of money into this?”

Jackson nods and pushes a giant tray of strawberry salad between us. His previous glow of enthusiasm fades as he pokes at a strawberry.

“The honey glaze on this is locally produced. Organic too. The goat cheese is some of the best around.”

Jackson stabs at a strawberry like it offends him, and the tightness of his jaw removes all the earlier traces of his easygoing smile.

“Cameron thinks because I make more money at rodeo, I’m not as committed to the hydroponics business. He said the company wouldn’t be taken seriously if a guy who wrestles steers grows sustainable produce.” Jackson lays his fork down and leans across the table into my personal space. “They can co-exist Riley. We did it for four years. We never had people complain about whatI do. What the hell does my being a steer wrestler have to do with anything? I can’t understand why he’d just shove me out like that.”

Jackson leans back again, and the disappointment in his voice is palpable. “We invested lots, yes. He bought me out. When you met me in the park that day, I’d just come from the mediator appointment, and I hoped it would end differently. I laid on the grass because I felt like my friend sucker punched me.”

“Jackson…I’m so sorry you had to go through that. For what it’s worth, I think he’s made a mistake. I know we don’t know each other that well yet, but you’re very passionate about this. It’s hard to fake that.”

“Thank you. I’m sorry for unloading all that.”

“I asked, so don’t apologize.”

Jackson finishes eating, and even though he’s clearly troubled about his business breakup, he wants to enjoy this odd hobby with me. I feel like this is a part of Jackson that he doesn’t always show people, and I feel very privileged he chose me to share it with.

“So…ready to get wicked?”

His sinful grin and sultry tone make my mouth run dry as he makes a joke with the name of the process used to feed the plants nutrients. Which, if I hadn’t been here, I wouldn’t have understood. It’s adorably nerdy and I can’t help but grin back.

“Is that what you say to all the boys?” I tease. But my skin runs hot when his gaze caresses my body.

“Just the extra pretty ones.”

Despite my frosty attitude over the whole cowboy thing, it’s hard not to like his charm. Or his attention. It’s genuine and while he’s already expressed his attraction to me, there’s more to Jackson, and I can’t quite figure it out yet.

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