Page 3 of Cowboys Can't Kiss

The aroma of roasted garlic greets me as I open the door and the chatter of customers fills the air. It’s a busy afternoon and with all the tables full, it looks like I’ll have to take my food to go and skip the glass of wine I hoped for.

“Hi, Riley. Nice to see you again. Your usual?”

Smiling at Hannah, I nod. “Although it seems like you’re full. I’ll take it to go, please, and instead of wine, I’ll have a peach iced tea.”

As she punches in my order, she nods. “It’s ridiculously busy today. I’m sorry, there are no free tables.” She hands me the payment terminal and I tap my card.

“If a table empties before my order is ready, I’ll nab it.”

Stepping off to the side so she can keep up with her customers, I scan the small bistro and watch for anyone nearing the end of their meal. I have a few prospects, but worst case, if no table opens, I can also eat in the park today. It’s been ages since I’ve had a picnic lunch.

“Here you go, Riley. Don’t be a stranger.”

Turning, I find Hannah holding a bag with my order.

“I wouldn’t dream of it. I’ll call ahead next time.”

Aunt Agnes was right. I need to get out more and lunch in the park sounds fabulous. Romantic, even if I don’t have someone to share it with. Self-love is still romantic, and I’ll die on that hill if I’m ever challenged about my relationship status. Loving yourself is just as important as loving another person.

The small park downtown is deserted and I settle at the lone picnic table there.

As often happens when I allow myself to stop and think, the familiar heartache rears up when I wonder about what could have been. How life might be different if I hadn’t let my guard down. Maybe I’d have the white picket fence and 2.5 kids. Instead, I hide a shattered heart and refuse to entertain those dreams again.

Fucking cowboys.

“No, Riley. Don’t go down that road. He was a bastard to his core. You can do better than him,” I mumble as I unpack my lunch.

“Sounds like someone made a mistake.”

A deep voice sounds from… the ground? Easing off the picnic table, I peer over a small plot of flowers to find a pair of feet with dress shoes poking out. The branches of the willow tree hide the body the feet belong to.

“Um, I’m sorry. I thought I was alone.”

“So did I. Don’t be sorry. Want to talk about it? I’m a good listener.”

My lips twitch in a small smile. I feel like I’m one of Lucy’s patients in a Peanuts cartoon without spending the nickel.

“Why are you on the ground?”

The man laughs softly, and it’s a gorgeous laugh. Deep, even though it’s not a full laugh. It’s… inviting.

“Like you, I also had a bastard in my life. Today was a hard day.”

“Oh. I’m so sorry.”

That laugh comes again, but it’s tinged with sadness. Unsure if I want to eat or talk to this stranger who has my interest piqued, I open my salad and poke at it. Maybe he has a broken heart that just won’t mend too?

“It’s okay.” His deep voice now carries a smile and my lips tilt in response. “I’m just stretching here and enjoying the quiet. Then a gorgeous man came and sat next to me.”

Holy wow. That’s rather forward. I don’t even know what to say. Which is dumb. I should know how to respond to someone flirting with me. I was an escort, for Pete’s sake; I can flirt with the best of them. Not to mention I’ve been a wedding and romance planner for several years. But I shove salad in my mouth to delay saying anything.

“I’m sorry if that made you uncomfortable. You seemed down, and I wanted you to know that whoever did you wrong made a mistake.”

My hand trembles as I raise another forkful to my mouth. “You don’t even know me.” The salad I usually love falls on dead taste buds. This stranger on the ground has me unsettled, and I don’t know why.

“Would you like me to?”

“To what?”

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