Page 28 of Space Junk: Houston, We Have a Hottie
“Gramps passed away. But I’m sure he’s grumbling in his grave right about now.”
“Oh.” Her hands still. “I’m sorry.”
I wave away her apology. “That’s okay. It was quite a long time ago. He went out the way he wanted, riding horses. Old man never did know when to quit. Still tried wrangling horses at seventy-eight. Got thrown off a particularly angry stallion named Angus who didn’t appreciate Gramps’ attempts at breaking him in.”
She’s silent for a bit before asking, “Did you have to put the horse down?”
“Angus? Oh hell no. Gramps would’ve hated that.” I take a long pull on my straw. “Good old Angus roamed the ranch until he passed.”
“Ranch?”
“Uh, yeah. My family… they own a ranch. Northwest of Houston.”
Shit.Dread pools in my gut. I hadn’t realized how much I’d wanted Jackie to get to know me without the family baggage and riches until now.
“Wow,” Jackie breathes, her eyes round, and the heaviness in my stomach grows. Our table shakes as she bounces her leg a mile a minute. I wait for her to put together my last name and the ranch and come to the million dollar conclusion. She’ll ask about oil rights, beef prices—
“So you know how to ride a horse then? Rope a steer?”
I stare blankly at her, my mind not making the jump.
She blushes and the color travels down her neck. “I, uh…just wondered if you were, you know…a cowboy?”
I laugh, the release of all that dread making me feel lighter and happier than I’d thought possible. My laugh cuts off abruptly when Jackie looks down at her lap, shoulders hunching in.
“Sorry,” I manage, trying to cover my laugh with a cough. “Sorry. It’s just that…” I struggle to find words, not wanting to bring up money or my past experiences with women. “Here in Texas, being a cowboy isn’t such a big deal. Your enthusiasm just threw me for a second.” Her head stays down. Leaning over, I tilt up her chin with my hand, waiting until she meets my eyes. “I wasn’t laughing at you, darling. Promise.”
She nods once, but still averts her eyes as soon as I drop my hand.Damn it.
I take her hand, and she lets me, though her eyes stay down. “If your definition of a cowboy is someone who can ride a horse and rope steer, then sure, you can call me a cowboy.”
Even with her eyes averted, I see her teeth bite down on her bottom lip, and I fight a groan as my jeans tighten further.
“Really?” With her free hand, she slides her glasses up the bridge of her nose.
“Yep.” I take another sip of my cold soda, trying to cool down the surge of lust her fidgeting caused.
She looks up again, wonder in her eyes. “That is so cool,” she breathes.
And then she’s off, asking me questions about horse riding, roping, and cattle. Even asking if I wear a cowboy hat when I ride. I try to keep up with her quick mind and rapid-fire questions as best I can.
When she’s finally exhausted all her questions, her breath comes in short bursts and her bottom lip is swollen from her teeth. And it hits me.
Holy shit. Jackie’s got a thing for cowboys.
I can work with that.
Seven
Black Flagged
Jackie
Wow.Flynn is a cowboy. Acowboy.
He didn’t even mind when I fan-girled over it earlier. Instead, his eyes softened and both sides of his mouth widened when he smiled, scattering my self-conscious thoughts from my mind like a meteor shower through space. It was almost peaceful going witless for a moment. Like a well-deserved nap for my brain.
“Are all the men in your family cowboys?”
