Page 4 of Her Bachelor Cowboy Billionaire

“I’m supposed to meet Miss Kirby in less than half an hour.”

“Don’t worry. We’ll finish in plenty of time for you to meet Jessica for coffee.”

He forgot for a moment that Mrs. Madison would, of course, know where Jessica wanted to meet. The request had come through the elderly woman. He realized he had no clue how old the woman was. She could have been seventy or one-hundred and seventy. In either case, she was spry for her age.

The woman smiled again, as though she knew what he was thinking. Did she?

“I only have one question for you, Roark. Are you ready to let love into your life? You’ve spent most of your adult life avoiding it, despite your six fiancées. So, tell me honestly. Are you ready?”

* * *

Jessica gotoff the Sixteenth Street bus at Tremont Place and walked through the packed sidewalks the half block to Starbucks. The sun was headed down and one side of the street was in shade provided by the tall buildings. Even with the breeze and walking on the shady side, her hands sweated. Maybe wearing a turtleneck in late August was not the best idea. She wiped her hands on her jeans, took out her phone, and called Lanie. She hoped her hands would still be dry when she met the man. She wanted to shake hands with Roark Sullivan and would be embarrassed if her hands were still sweating.

Lanie answered. “Hi. What’s up, girlfriend?”

“I’m on my way to meet a man. A blind date. I really want this to go well, and yet, I’m doing everything to protect myself from him. What’s the matter with me?”

“You’re just nervous. If he’s worth a hoot, he’ll see under your disguise for who you are. Besides, you never hide your intelligence and that is attractive, too. You don’t want some idiot.”

“I don’t. I’ll just remember I don’t have to do anything but have coffee. He can find himself another girl, if that’s the case.”

“That’s right. You’ve got this. Just be yourself. You’ll be fine.”

“Thanks, Lanie. You always put things in perspective for me. I love you, my friend.”

“I love you, too. Now go get’em.”

Jessica laughed and ended the call. Then she looked at the picture Mrs. Madison sent her.

He was a handsome older man. She was eager to meet him, but nervous, too. She’d never dated anyone older than she was. But her dad had been ten years older than her mother, so she didn’t think the age gap was that unusual, despite what she’d said to her mother. She just didn’t want her mother to be right again.

She walked into the establishment, looked around. The café wasn’t that busy, but she didn’t see anyone matching the description she had. She ordered her regular drink—a tall, iced, skinny vanilla latte. While she waited for her drink to be prepared, she checked her phone to make sure she had the right place and time. Since she set the place for the meeting, it was a little silly of her to check.

She noticed a couple of men glance at her and then look away. Apparently, her outfit was working. Would it also work on Roark Sullivan?

How could she use this situation in her next book, no matter how this actual date works out? Should she have a matchmaker? Should she make her hero older? Should she have a wallflower and do a Cinderella story? What if he’s the Cinderella? She smiled at her thoughts.

When her drink was ready, she sipped it as she found a table in the corner and waited for an older man in a blue pinstripe suit.

Jessica was unprepared for a man to approach her before she’d even taken the second drink of her coffee.

“Jessica Kirby?”

His deep baritone voice washed over me, like caramel syrup over ice cream, sweet and rich. Definitely a line from a romance novel.She smiled and then looked up and up.He was tall, that’s for sure. And more handsome than his picture.“I’m Jessica Kirby.”

He held out a hand. “Roark Sullivan. May I sit?”

She went to take his hand and realized she’d been holding her drink. She wiped her hand on her jeans again, then she smiled. “I didn’t think you needed a hand wet from the condensation of my drink. Glad to meet you, Roark. Yes, please sit. Ah, but you haven’t gotten a drink yet.”

He sat across from her. “I don’t need a drink right now.”

“All right. Let’s talk. What do you want to know about me?”I want this to go well, but I’m out of practice. I haven’t dated anyone since before Joseph and I got together. That was over five years ago. Has dating changed since then?

“Your profile said you were a romance author. That’s an interesting occupation. What kind of romance do you write? Will I have read any of them?”

She took a sip of her drink and then chuckled. “Funny, but I didn’t take you for the romance reading type. I’m surprised you know there are different genres of romance. I write historical, contemporary, and scifi romance novels. I doubt you’ve read any of them.”

He shrugged. “Perhaps I have. My mother loves reading romance novels. I’ve read a few of hers that she recommended to me. How many books to you have out?”