Page 51 of Cowboys Can't Kiss

“Oh yeah. I still love him because he’s one of my closest friends, but I’ve accepted it’s a different love, you know? I still have him, but I don’t yearn for him that way anymore. He married a lovely woman, who I consider a close friend, too. But at one time I couldn’t entertain being with anyone else because I was so into him it was all I could think about.”

That’s how I feel too. Blake is a gorgeous man. He seems kind, and he’s easy to talk to. He’s obviously attracted to me, but I can’t go there with him.

“His name is Riley,” I blurt and feel the heat rush to my cheeks. “He’s a friend, and he told me that before we had our first non-date. I went into it with my eyes open. I just hoped I could change his mind.”

“Are you sure he hasn’t?”

“I guess I don’t know.”

“You don’t know?” Blake places a hand on my arm and I turn my gaze to his. “Is there something that makes you think he’s changed his mind, Jackson?”

“Um…maybe? I just…we connect and I don’t want to give up on him because I think he’s the most perfect person I’ve ever met.”

“Does he know how you feel?”

Biting my lip, I shrug. “I’m pretty sure I’ve made it clear. Short of kissing him like I need it to live, I don’t know what else to do.”

Blake punches me in the shoulder. Hard.

“What was that for?” I whine as I rub the spot. For a small guy, he sure hits hard.

“Listen, I speak from experience. Go tell him all this. No hints or subtlety. You go and fucking tell him, Jackson, that he’s the one for you. Kiss him like you want to if he consents, of course. Putit all on the table. Until you do, you’ll never be able to move on.” Blake shoves at me again. “Pick up your phone and make the call. Go.”

He’s stronger than he looks, and I stumble out of the booth. Blake slides out after me. “I’m going to dance with your friend. Don’t worry about me. You’re a diamond, Jackson. Truly. He’ll be stupid to turn you away.”

Without another word, he elbows his way through the crowd over to Hunter and Sam. They open their dance to invite him, and Hunter’s eyes find mine. I nod and he tips his hat as I make my way to the exit with Blake’s words in my mind.

With my phone gripped in my hand, I have every intention of calling Riley outside and confessing everything in my heart.

But a group of men near the bar catch my eye. A larger man has a smaller one caged against the wall with a leer on his face that I don’t like. The smaller man keeps trying to pull his arms away or duck under them and my feet change course.

“Excuse me. The man doesn’t seem to be interested. Let him go.”

The man turns over his shoulder and eyes me with a smirk.

“He’s plenty interested if the dollar amount is right. Ain’t that right, sweet thing?”

Peering over the man, my eyes meet the terrified gaze of Riley.

“Riley? What are you doing here?”

His mouth moves, but he says nothing, and I just… react. My hand curls into the back of the bigger guy’s shirt and I yank him away with a strength I reserve only for the most difficult steers.

“Get the fuck away from him.” Reaching for Riley, I sense the punch before it actually hits me, and I stagger sideways when a fistcatches my jaw. A pair of hands land on my shoulders and turn me to face the man who punched me.

“You fucking cowboys always come into this town and think you’re hot shit. You don’t get to walk in here and ruin my chance because of your shiny belt buckle.”

“Ruin your chance? He’s not interested.”

I’m not interested in a bar fight either. I just want to make sure Riley is okay. And what the hell is he doing here, anyway? But the man has other ideas, and this time, I’m not blindsided. Ducking his punch, I throw one of my own and send him staggering as he clutches his jaw. We’ve drawn a crowd, and it’s about to get ugly.

Before he can recover and start fighting again, I spot Riley pressed up against the wall with his hand over his mouth. Rushing to him, I take his hand and drag him to the exit.

“Rye, trust me?”

He nods and grips my hand tighter. Together, we run like the devil is on our heels, and I only stop when he pulls me into a park area and leads me to a bench.

After collapsing and catching our breath, I ask the only thing that I need to know right this very second.

---