Page 5 of Her Cowboy Blind Date
Bek opened her door and greeted her friend.
“How’s your tooth today?” Cindy asked, her voice brimming with concern.
“So much better.” She’d appreciated Cindy’s help yesterday after she’d returned from the dental appointment.
“I’m glad.” Cindy flicked her blonde ponytail back over her shoulder. “Have you finished the assignment?”
“Almost. Only proofreading to do.”
“Great.” Cindy smiled and made herself at home in Bek’s armchair recliner. “I’ve just submitted mine, and that means we have time to talk.”
“I always have time to talk with you. At least I can actually move my mouth and talk without pain today.”
Cindy chuckled. “That’s helpful, lol.”
“It sure is.” Bek had tried to put the perplexing encounter with the cowboy out of her mind. He’d seen her at her worst, with a partially swollen jaw and an inability to talk.
She swung around in her desk chair and pointed to her fridge. “I restocked your iced tea this morning.”
“Thanks. I wish I could fit a fridge in my room.”
“You can borrow mine anytime.” Bek was a fussy eater. Her room was designed for two students to share, but it only included one bed and desk. When she’d moved in, Mum had helped her set up a recliner, fridge with freezer, and a small kitchen cupboard that doubled as a counter in the spare space. Bek took advantage of the communal cooking facilities in the dorm kitchen, and Cindy often shared meals with Bek. Her American friends in the dorm primarily used the microwave and cafeteria for their meals and were amused by Bek’s Aussie quirks.
Cindy popped the lid on an iced tea and grabbed a tumbler from Bek’s cupboard. “Would you like a glass?”
She shook her head. “I’m good, thanks.” She adored hot tea, but she could take or leave lemon-flavored cold tea. “What time will we leave for the ranch on Friday?”
“After lunch. I want to get there before dark.”
“Sounds good.” She’d heard all about Cindy’s family home on a south-eastern Colorado ranch and looked forward to visiting over the upcoming three-day holiday weekend.
Bek had declined Cindy’s invitation last year to join her family for Thanksgiving at the ranch. She’d fallen behind on her studies and had been struggling with anxiety and homesickness. She hadn’t wanted to intrude on Cindy’s family celebrations. A therapist had helped Bek deal with the emotional baggage she’d lugged across the Pacific Ocean and let go of past hurts. The forgiveness part of her healing journey was a work in progress.
Cindy reclined in the lounge chair, hoisting up the footrest. “I’ve exciting news for you?”
“Really?” Cindy was a big ideas person who wanted to save the world and fix every problem. If only that was possible.
“I’ve found the perfect guy to take you on a blind date.”
“Huh.” She stared at Cindy, her jaw falling slack. “I know we talked about that last week, but I didn’t think you were serious. It’s a crazy idea.”
“I’m deadly serious, and I can vouch for this guy. He doesn’t have a shady background or gold-digging intentions like that Aussie guy who took you for a ride.”
Becky shook her head. “How can you know for sure? I’m not looking to get married.”
“Funnily enough, that’s what he said. He’s not looking for a wife, and you’re not looking for a husband. You can be friends and go on a date with no pressure or expectations.”
There had to be a catch. There was always a catch when something sounded too good to be true. “How well do you know him? It’s easy for some people to put on their best behavior in the same way they’d put on a jacket. They hide all the yucky stuff underneath.”
Cindy laughed. “You’re too funny. The only thing he’s hiding under his jacket is a six-pack. I’ve known him forever because we grew up together. Sam’s my cousin.”
“Oh, he’s family.” That did put a different spin on things. Cindy was putting herself out there and risking family disharmony to set up this blind date. Was there something wrong with him?
Cindy nodded. “He’s a few years older than us, and my favorite cousin. His family lived with us on the ranch for a few years when we were kids. My dad taught him how to work the ranch with my brothers.”
Bek lifted her brows. “He’s a cowboy, yet he can’t get a date. Really?”
“He’s not technically working as a cowboy.”