Page 9 of Cowboys Can't Kiss

After checking my schedule, I email him back with an appointment and a request to respond to confirm his date and time. Almost immediately, my email pings with his reply.

‘I’ll be there! Thank you so much for your help. I admit I was skeptical doing this, but I’ve heard good things about you. I’m really excited!’

Jackson’s reply makes me smile. I don’t respond. Instead, I mark his suggested appointment as confirmed and my thoughts shift back to the man from the park. Work got hectic, and I missed our sort of date last week.

Today I’m making one more attempt to lunch in the park and hope I didn’t miss out on a connection. Which is absurd. I don’t even know what he looks like, but I liked… him? The idea of him? Something about the mystery man just called to me, and I want to know more.

Checking the clock, I smile as I call Aunt Agnes.

She answers on the second ring.

“Hello, Riley. Are you still working?”

“Hi, Auntie. For a few more minutes, then I’m going back to the park. I’m hoping my mystery man is there. If not, I’ll give up.”

“Good for you, dear. I think you should keep going even if he isn’t there. The fresh air does a body good. Don’t give up on love, though.”

Aunt Agnes is more of a romantic than me. She was the one who planted a love of romance in my heart. Reading me fairy tales at bedtime will always be one of my fondest childhood memories with her.

“I wouldn’t call this love. We haven’t even met. Did you take your pills?”

I don’t need Aunt Agnes giving me a talk on love right now. She’ll get to that at our nextScrabblegame, I’m certain.

“I did. And I’m having lunch right now.SpaghettiOs.”

My nose wrinkles automatically.

“Auntie, why do you eat that stuff? I’m bringing you some better meals when I come for Scrabble.”

She huffs, annoyed with me dissing her beloved canned noodles.

“I don’t want your fancy salads, city boy.”

Laughing out loud, I shake my head. “I know. I’ll find you something you like.”

“Good luck at the park today. Remember, not all men are like that asshole, Chase.”

My head knows that, but my heart is an entirely different organ to convince.

“I know. I love you and we’ll talk soon.”

After locking my office, I slip outside into the warm late spring sun and head towards Avocadabra, my favourite bistro. I calledahead to order this time. Hopefully, I’ll have more time to linger in the park and run into my mystery man.

Upon entering the bistro, it’s more quiet than usual and the white bag at the counter with my name on it sits waiting.

“Hi, Riley. Perfect timing. I just finished your order. It’s a beautiful day for lunch outside. I think our usual patrons feel the same, since it’s rather quiet.”

“I can’t blame them. The sun on my face without the chill in the air makes me so happy. There’s just something about it, you know? I should have lunch outside more often.”

“As long as you still join us from time to time, I’d support that.”

Hannah smiles and passes me the bag as I drop some loose change into the collection jar for the local animal shelter on the counter.

“I’ll always be back, Hannah. If not for food, I’d return to see you and your friendly face.”

Her cheeks pink as she waves me off and I head to the park with a tight ball in my stomach. What do I say to him if he’s there? Technically, I stood him up last week and I’m not like that.

When I enter the park and approach the picnic table, my heart almost stops when I notice the pair of dress shoes poking from behind the flower beds. Sitting on the bench, I turn towards the… feet, since the rest of him remains hidden.

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