My Billionaire Cowboy

Kate looked confused. “So have the two of you dated? You and Dinah?”

Bruce shook his head. “No. Dinah is a sweet woman. She’s not my type though.”

Kate nodded. She wanted to know what his type was, but she did not want to ask. Instead she changed the subject.

“So, you were supposed to be telling me about this double life you’ve been living.”

“Ah, yes. My double life as it is. It’s not as complicated as you think.”

“Tell me more.”

“I can see how it seems like I’m a bit ambiguous. I haven’t been a cowboy my entire life. My parents own the ranch where I grew up. It’s been in my family for decades. I love being there, but I worked for a while as an accountant. It’s a complete life of opposites, but it’s who I am. My career as an accountant was fulfilling, but I had to make sure that I took care of the ranch as well. So I went back to working the family business. Simple as that.”

The way he spoke was frank and to the point.

“That’s it?”

“That’s it.” Bruce folded his hands and set them on the table, twirling his thumbs. The way he stared at her intently was intimidating. It was as if he was able to look right through her and see directly into her soul.

The food arrived and they had comfortable conversation over dinner. Bruce was witty and intelligent. He was the kind of man she had been looking for in her life. If he had come at another time, he would be the kind of man she would date. But right now it was not the right time. She had so much going on with work and her career and she had not given the tiniest thought to dating until now. For some reason, sitting here at the table with Bruce, she was thinking about dating.

He was far from her normal type and at first glance, they seemed like an odd pair.

“Interesting. I would have never guessed you were an accountant.”

“Tell me more about you.” Now it was his turn to change the subject.

“There’s not much to tell. I’m an only child. Born and raised here in L.A. I’ve loved fashion my entire life. It’s all I do. And Grey’s is the culmination of all that I do.”

“I love a woman with ambition. I find it extremely attractive.”

There he was again, staring at her with those deep blue pools. Kate was suddenly lost in them and she could not figure out what was going on. He was practically leaning across the table and she was not sure if he was going to try to kiss her.

“Thank you,” she replied.

He simply nodded and turned his attention back to his food. “Do you have anywhere that you need to be this evening?”

“Not really. I basically live at the boutique so I’ll be going back there when I finish dinner.”

“I would hate to take you away from your passion. Nevermind.”

Kate sipped her Coke. “What? Come on don’t play shy with me. What are you thinking?”

“Maybe some dancing and a ride down the highway. Some time for us to get to know one another.”

The way he said it, he sounded so endearing. His suggestion was inviting.

“Count me in.” Kate responded before she could talk herself out of it.

“Dinah, can we get the check?” He held his hand up.

“Sure hon.” She was multitasking, across the room bringing out an order for another customer. Dinah came right over to them, slid the check out of the pocket on her apron and sat it on the table. With a plastered on smile, she first looked at Kate. “I hope you enjoyed your meal, hon.”

She turned to Bruce. “I’ll see you later?” Dinah slid her hand slowly over Bruce’s shoulder, and then she sauntered around behind him.

“Thank you, Dinah. You’re a doll as usual.” He placed a tip on the table and held his hand out for Kate, who took his hand and stood up.

Dinah looked her up and down, and shrugged, walking off.

“She’s really into you.”

Bruce chuckled. “Maybe. Maybe not. She’s really a sweetheart. Takes good care of me. Of course I don’t cook at home, so I take a lot of my meals out and I especially like the food here.”

He ended the topic quickly in a way that let Kate know he did not want to talk about it. She agreed. Continuing could tow the line between making jokes about Dinah’s behavior and become downright uncomfortable.

“Where to now?”

“I have an idea. I hope that you like it.”

“Let’s go.”

Kate sat back for the ride and decided that taking a moment to enjoy what was going on in that very second was really not that bad.

*****

When they approached the parking lot, Kate tried to take in all of her surroundings. The gravel under the tires crunched from the weight of the truck. A sign on the front flashed ‘Open’ in green. The lighting was a bit too dim to figure out where they were. It looked like a log cabin more than anything. Kate could not think of what they could possibly be doing there.

“I come here all of the time,” Bruce blurted out.

“I get that.” Kate was not sure how she would fit in once they walked inside and she heard the country music.

Bruce smiled warmly. “Come on. You’ll be just fine.”

He held her hand as they entered the place. Music was blasting and people were dancing and having what looked like a good time.

Bruce pulled her on to the dance floor and she immediately caught the moves. Hips twisting, twirling around, slapping thighs. Everyone was dancing and having a good time. Kate suddenly felt so carefree and it was something she had not felt, well when she thought about it, she could not remember when she felt that way ever.

By the time she looked at her watch it was well after nine at night.

“I really think I should get home.” The words came out of her mouth, but she really was not sure that she wanted to go home. She wanted to stay with Bruce and see what more was in store.

“That’s fine.” He squeezed her hand. “I think I’ve stolen away enough of your time.”

Kate shook her head. “I don’t see it that way at all. In fact, this is one of the best days I’ve ever had. I can’t remember when I’ve had so much fun.” She could not stop giggling.

Bruce held his arm out for her, and she linked hers in his as they left.

“Add that to my list of things that I’ve never done.”

Bruce eyed her. “You keep a list of things that you’ve never done?”

She nodded. “I do. Just a mental list. Nothing serious. A few things that I would really like to do when I get the chance.”

They were standing outside near Bruce’s truck, the stars in the night sky shining ever so brightly.

“What’s number one?”

A feeling of embarrassment washed over Kate. She did not want to admit some of the things on her list, and she was a bit upset that she even mentioned the list in the first place.

“Come on,” Bruce urged. “Tell me.”

Kate looked around nervously, then decided she may as well spill it.

“Well, there are simple things like go to Paris or have lunch at the Space Needle. Then there are things like skydiving or snorkeling at the Great Barrier Reef.” She shrugged.

“Those sound very exciting.”

“Really?”

“Yes, they do. And I would love to go with you to do some of them.”

Kate cocked her head to the side. “You know what Bruce, I just may take you up on that offer.”