Page 26 of Cowboys Can't Kiss

“Is everything okay?”

“Yeah, I just need to check on something.”

Jackson’s eyes bore into my soul, and I turn away without another word to shuffle out into the hall.

Once outside, I walk down the hall to the nearest exit, desperately in need of fresh air and to clear my mind of everything Jackson Sutherland.

I won’t fall for another cowboy.

“I know you thought I’d be bored today, but I had a wonderful time.”

Jackson smiles over at me before returning his attention to the road.

“For real? You were interested?”

“Yes! My aunt likes to tease me about my love of salads, but I love knowing more about food and how it’s grown. It’s why I love Avocadabra. They’re not the usual burger and fries place. It’s fresh and healthy, organic and local as much as they can be.”

“Good, that makes me happy. Avocadabra was our first commercial customer. We sold them strawberries and spinach. Since we were local, they could call up in the morning and order if they needed to keep their stock fresh. I found their hummus by accident when they needed a taste tester. It was an experiment, and I said ‘This needs to be on the menu,Hannah.’”

Jackson chuckles, lost in the memory. The headlights of passing vehicles shine into the cab, illuminating his small smile as he’s lost in thought. I imagine him encouraging Hannah with her recipes. He’d do that because it’s who he is. I don’t need to know him for longer than today to know that Jackson always wants his friends to succeed.

“I need to get healthier meals for my aunt. She lives alone, and she says she’s fine, but I know she eats a lot of canned stuff. I read there were cases of scurvy on the rise with seniors. Did you know that?”

“What!? No! What the hell?”

Jackson’s fingers grip the wheel, and his jaw tightens.

“Yeah. It’s the isolated seniors or the ones who can’t afford the fresh fruit and vegetables on their pensions. It’s scary to know a disease like that is still around when we’ve come so far.”

“That’s very sad. But your aunt, is she okay?”

Laughing, I smile into the darkened truck cab. “Oh yeah. Stubborn as fuck, but she’s okay.”

Jackson nods and swallows. The click of his throat sounds over the low music from the radio.

“Can I ask you something?”

“Of course you can.”

Jackson bites at his lip as Blondie croons softly from the radio set to 80s hits.

“When you left me in the seminar, you seemed very shaken up. Did I do something wrong?”

As great as the day has been, it was the tiny bump that he noticed. I should have known he would. He’s far too observant.

“No.” Sighing, I let my head rest on the window. “I just…sometimes I get stuck in my head and it was one of those times.”

Jackson hums and I’m not sure if it’s in understanding or something else.

“You’d tell me if I did something to make you uncomfortable, right? If pretending for Cameron was—”

“No. It’s not that Jackson. You did nothing wrong. You’ve been great.”

One nod with his gaze out the front is all he gives me, and I’m relieved he doesn’t press it because I’m not sure how to voice what’s going through my mind right now.

When he pulls into his driveway and stops alongside my car, I realize the night is about to end, and a hollowness sits in my chest.

“I had a nice day, Riley. Thank you for joining me and indulging my nerdiness.”

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