Page 8 of Her Cowboy Blind Date
Cindy was right. This Becky girl might be the answer to all their prayers. He’d try to make a good first impression and hope he could talk her into friend-dating until after Easter.
He changed into dating-appropriate clothing and combed his hair. He was overdue for a haircut. If he was outdoors, his cowboy hat would hide the short curls that wouldn’t sit in place without fussing with products. And fussing with hair products wasn’t his thing. Keeping his hair shorter was a better plan.
He’d hate working in an office like Pete and having to style his hair to meet client expectations. City living, and all the fancy things that went with that lifestyle, was not for him.
He grabbed the keys for his truck, headed across town, and found a parking space on the street close to Heavenly Brew. There was no way he could fit in dessert after that giant bowl of ice cream.
He greeted Noah, a ranch hand who’d walked past his truck. Sam spent his workdays repairing and servicing tractors and other machinery at farms and ranches out of town. He’d gotten to know the local farmers and their hands from his regular visits for routine maintenance.
It was now or never. Sam hopped out of his truck, making sure he had his wallet and phone. After locking the truck, he ambled along the sidewalk toward the café, cowboy hat firmly in place on his head. He mostly worked on farms with crops rather than livestock, so he wore the standard business logo baseball cap at work.
The cowbell clanged and Sam stepped inside the coffee shop, took off his hat, and scanned the familiar interior of Heavenly Brew. Couples and groups filled most tables in the dining room, and he wondered if he’d been stood up. It wouldn’t be the first time and could be a blessing in disguise.
He glanced at his phone. He was right on time. Should he wait, or call it and take off? What was the blind date etiquette for no shows?
His phone pinged. A message from Cindy. His date would be arriving soon.
He caught the eye of a server behind the counter, the only server working tonight. They chatted for a few minutes, and Sam claimed a newly vacated table tucked away near the back corner while still maintaining a clear view of the front entrance.
He pulled out a chair and took a seat, his eyes fixed on the door. His hands were clammy, and he could feel his face was flushed despite the cool temperature he’d left outdoors.
Laughter and chatter bounced around the room off the hardwood surfaces. The aroma of coffee wafted in the air. His fingers tapped in rhythm with the soft background music. He was distracted and ready to bolt.
The cowbell jingled and a brunette hesitantly entered the coffee shop on her own. Maybe he wasn’t the only one feeling jittery.
Her gaze scanned the room and locked on his, her eyes widening.
It couldn’t be.
Pretty girl. The girl from the elevator.
She held his gaze and walked toward him, her smile bright. Maybe this date had potential after all.
CHAPTER 3
Bek’s breath hitched, her gaze drawn like a magnet to the handsome face across the room. The cowboy. Cindy’s cousin was the cowboy from the elevator. And her blind date. Her smile required no effort as she made her way to his table toward the back of Heavenly Brew.
She could relax. He wasn’t a creeper or anything awful like her overactive imagination had ruminated on since agreeing to the date. He’d chosen her favorite table. She often studied here, helped by a cup or two of Letty’s divine coffee. There was a coffee maker and French press in the dorm, but it was easier to visit Letty and her crew who made coffee the way she liked it.
Sam held her gaze, his welcoming smile putting her at ease. Cindy would be thrilled if their blind date was a success.
He stood and extended his hand. “Hi, Becky.”
“Hi, Sam.” She shook his strong hand. “Sorry I’m late.”
“Only a few minutes. All good.” He pulled out a chair opposite where he’d been sitting.
“Thank you.”
“You’re welcome.”
His smooth voice was a soothing balm on her strained nerves. She spotted his cowboy hat perched on a spare chair at the end of their table. She’d seen cowboys wearing hats indoors, but she didn’t know the etiquette. Sam didn’t need the hat. She liked how his fair curls bounced in different directions.
She liked Sam, and she was open to the possibility of friendship. Cindy hadn’t given her enough time to research blind date etiquette. Which topics of conversation were appropriate when romance and a second date weren’t an option?
“How’s your tooth?” he asked.
“Much better.” She smiled, appreciating his thoughtful question. He remembered her from the elevator. “I can talk normally.”