Page 19 of Cowboys Can't Kiss

“I believe things happen for a reason. Sometimes we don’t know that reason right away.” With a sigh, he lifts his gaze to mine again. “This is the first time I asked someone on a date without stumbling over my words. I think that’s reason enough for me to believe we were meant to meet like this.”

Shit! Why did he have to say that? Why does he have to be so open and… good? And ridiculously cute.

“That’s great that you’ve already noticed improvement, then. You don’t need my help to get someone into bed.”

His eyes flash. “Have you even been listening? I want more than just a body between the sheets, Riley. I want romance too.”

The air in the room feels impossibly charged right now. He doesn’t need to confirm it, but I feel like Jackson just went beyond his comfort zone to say that.

“If I were to say yes.” His eyes light up and the giant smile returns. Damn man is so attractive it should be illegal. “If I were to say yes, where would you take me on a first date?”

“Well… would you come to a hydroponic gardening seminar with me? It’s not really a date event, but…I could use a friend to be there with me. It’s this weekend in Smokey Valley and I really don’t want to go alone.”

I almost laugh out loud but stop myself. He’s sincere. A date for a gardening show is what he really wants, and that’s… oddly charming.

He reaches down into the chair and sets his hat back on his head.

Fuck. Despite not wanting anything to do with cowboys, Jackson looks far too good. But hydroponic gardening? My interest in this man is more than piqued.

“I’ll check my schedule and let you know. Is that okay?”

Jackson nods and tips his hat.

“It’s not a no, so I’ll take it.” He holds his phone up. “You have my number. Think about it and text me.” He stands and, after a beat, says, “It was wonderful to talk to you today, Riley.”

Jackson leaves my office, closing the door gently behind him, and I collapse back into my chair with a whoosh.

Am I seriously thinking about a date with this guy?

As I google the hydroponic gardening show, I realize I’m not thinking at all.

six

Jackson

“Wait, wait, Jack.”

Hunter drops the load of feed at his feet and spins to look at me. He pulls the bandana down that’s covering his nose and mouth to reveal his lips pressed together in a severe, thin line. We’ve been unloading feed bags today into the horse barn. The usual delivery person screwed up and Hunter isn’t pleased to be lugging feed himself when he has a perfectly good silo that needs topping up.

“So you’re telling me you’vehiredthis guy? To date?”

Dropping my feed bag on top of his, I cough with the cloud of dust.

“No. But I thought about it.” We exit the dark barn back into the late morning sun. It makes sense to me. Riley is the one I want to be on a date with. Full stop. If he told me I had to hire him, like what he used to do, I would have done it.

I might fumble through my words sometimes and feel awkward as hell, but I know he felt something yesterday, too. I’m not sure what happened to him, but I wasn’t ready to let it drop when he said he didn’t date cowboys. Awkwardness be damned. I wanted him to know I wasn’t like whoever mistreated him.

“I don’t know about this, Jack. I thought you’d just have an appointment with him and get a confidence boost. This sounds…weird.”

“But he’s the guy from the park.” I follow Hunter up to his house. It’s far too big for just him and I wish he’d hire more help. Fill the place back up so it’s not so empty and sad. “He’stheguy, Hunter. I didn’t fumble or anything this time when I asked him out and he already agreed to go to the hydroponic show this weekend with me if his schedule is clear.”

Hunter stops in his tracks on his porch and I almost slam into his back. He looks at me like I just sprouted an extra head and spoke a new language.

“Oh my god. Jack…you didn’t.”

“What?”

“You invited the man that you really like to a hydroponic gardening show?”

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