My Billionaire Cowboy

Chapter 5

Kate did the best she could not to day dream all afternoon. Thinking of Bruce and the night they spent together got in the way of her productivity. Linda was not due in until noon and she was fortunate enough to have Kim there working first thing in the morning. She would need someone to work the morning shift.

She told Kim that she would spend the morning in the office, going over paperwork. It was the only way she would be able to keep her mind off of Bruce and on her work. By the time she went through the business spreadsheets, Kate decided she would work from home. She did not have any personal clients that morning to style and she could spend the rest of the morning going over the books.

She glanced at her phone, and just as she considered dialing Bruce’s number, his name came across the screen.

“Hello, I must have thought you up.”

“What does that mean?” he asked with a chuckle.

“I was thinking of you this morning. I could not get last night out of my mind.”

“Me either.”

In their silence, she could hear that he was in the car.

“Are you going somewhere?” she asked.

“I have a few errands to run this morning. But I am open after that. What about you?”

“I decided to work from home today. I could definitely make time for lunch.”

“So I will have the pleasure of spending lunch and dinner with you today?” Bruce teased.

“Well, I guess you do.”

“I will call you soon. Be ready around noon.”

“Will do.”

Once again, her heart was all aflutter. The mere sound of Bruce’s voice was able to do that to her.

She shook her head. Kate had never really been in love, and she wondered if this was what it felt like to truly be in love. But it was nothing she wanted to rush. Her mother always told her that good things took time.

So if this thing with Bruce was going to turn in to something, Kate would have to do whatever she could to not completely fall head over heels too quickly, though it was her first impulse to dive right in.

Fortunately, she was able to finish her work over the next two hours. She called in to the boutique and found that everything was in working order so Kate let Linda and Kim know that she was available by cell phone all day if they needed her.

Just as he promised, Bruce called at noon.

“Come outside.”

She had no clue where they were going or what they would be doing for that afternoon. And she was okay with that.

Dressed in a pink button down shirt, white jeans, a pair of canvas sneakers, and a denim blue jacket, she was ready for lunch.

Bruce stepped out of the car and walked around to the passenger side. A look of approval on his face.

“You look amazing.” He kissed her on the cheek.

“Thank you,” she replied. “And you look pretty great yourself.” She admired the way that he was casually dressed. Wearing a pair of gray slacks, driving loafers, and a lightweight navy blue sweater, he looked handsome. He was still clean-shaven and he smelled woodsy. It was the same scent that lasted on her after staying at his home the night before.

She loved the fact that he was so masculine. He gave her this hedge of protection and a feeling of security and it turned her on even more. Opening car doors, pulling out chairs, sending her gifts. He was doing all of the things that the gallant men did on the soap operas and in the romance novels.

“A penny for your thoughts,” he remarked.

“What? Oh. I was just thinking how good things are so quickly. I don’t know. It feels too good to be true.”

As they drove off, Bruce kept his eyes on the road. “Nothing is too good to be true. It either is or isn’t. So you just have to let it be what it is.”

“Hmm. Good perspective. That makes a lot of sense.”

“I’m glad you think so. If you say it’s too good to be true, it implies that you aren’t deserving of having good things. That there is no truth in having and deserving good things.”

He turned up the music a bit, quieting the conversation. Kate could tell he was in deep thought about something. If he wanted to share, he would.

Within a few minutes, they pulled up at a small restaurant she had passed by many times. It was a tiny little house called Mingo Gardens.

“Oh my goodness. I heard so many good things about the food here.”

“Great. I’m glad you’ve heard of it. Come with me.”

He held her hand as they walked in.

“Hello, welcome to Mingo Gardens.” The hostess was tiny and bubbly, full of energy.

“Yes, we have a reservation. Two for Bruce.”

The hostess scanned the sheet. “Ah, yes. I see your name here. Right this way.”

They followed the woman to a room toward the back. It was mid afternoon, and the restaurant was full. They continued further back until they were on a balcony. They were overlooking the city, and the sight of people walking to and fro was exhilarating as they sat on the balcony.

The hostess left them with menus and fresh water with lemon. Kate glanced at the menu, trying to figure out what she would eat.

“What are you having?” she asked Bruce, hoping that his selection would give her an idea.

“I like the grilled halibut and the penne pasta with an arugula salad.”

“Okay, I think I’ll get the antipasto and a side of artichoke dip.”

They placed their orders and sat back with their drinks.

“Is this another one of the places that you like to go?”

Bruce nodded. “Yes, but I have never eaten on the private balcony.”

“Nice. I feel special.”

Bruce leaned in a bit more. “I hope that you don’t just feel special because of the gifts.”

“Not at all. I mean, those are nice, but you have this way of making me feel like I’m the only girl in the world. At least the only girl in the world that matters to you.”

He took her by the hand. “What if that was true?”

“If what was true?”

“What if, you are the only girl in the world that matters to me?”

The impact of his words hit hard. “How is that possible so early on?”

Bruce took a sip of his water, waiting to respond until the waitress finished serving their food.

“Kate, if there is one thing I have learned in love and business it is that you have to strike when the iron is hot. There are precise moments in life when things happen and when you don’t go for what you want during that window, you can completely lose the momentum, or the opportunity at all.”

“Have there ever been times when you lost the opportunity to have something you wanted?”

Bruce looked up in to the sky, as if trying to gain perspective. “Yes. I have. And it is not easy. But you live and you learn. And then you live again to move forward and not make the same mistake again.”

“Tell me more. That is, if you are comfortable.”

Before speaking, Bruce finished his food. “I don’t think the history is all that important. I think what is important is where I am right now. Where I would like to be right now in life.”

“And where is that?”

“Kate, I’m a simple man. I like my liquor, a little gambling, and I love nature. When I fall for a woman, I fall hard. And I put everything in to it. I’m not the type of man that does anything halfway. I believe in making my woman first and that if she is my woman, that she is exclusively with me, by my side. So if you and I are to go into this relationship, then I have to let you know that ahead of time. So you know what to expect.”

Kate listened intently. Was he telling her that he wanted her to be with him?