A Gift for the Hopeful Cowboy: Love in Sweet Bloom

Chapter 4

Rob steppedfrom his truck and closed the door as he got his first real good look at Pippa’s restaurant. It was bigger than he’d expected. The way she talked about it, he would have thought she owned a boutique restaurant on the corner with a quaint little seating area outside.

That was what French bistros had, right?

Except that wasn’t what he was staring at. This was not a restaurant run by a person who had no classical training. It was a star on a map of this small town and he didn’t have to step inside to see that.

A couple glanced in his direction as they entered the building. The looks they gave him made it clear he was underdressed. The problem was, he didn’t have nicer clothes here. He’d fit what he could in a suitcase and drove to town with the intention of eventually sending for a few boxes of his things.

Rob stared down at his muddied boots with disdain. Dust clung to his jeans and no amount of whacking his legs would release it all. At least his shirt had buttons. That was something.

His focus shifted to the restaurant once more. He’d promised Pippa he’d come. If he didn’t show, she wouldn’t be very happy with him. She’d probably hold it against him—but this time, the grudge would last longer than a few hours.

He couldn’t let her down. And he never broke a promise.

After straightening his shoulders, Rob strode across the sidewalk toward the entrance. The building had a large window with drawn shutters. It was constructed of old brick, making the place look like it had been there for years. A set of double doors welcomed him as he pulled them open to gain access to the restaurant.

A cute little hostess stood at a podium in the entry way, dressed in black slacks and a white blouse. Not a hair was out of place. She smiled warmly at him, though it faltered briefly before she self-corrected.

Unfortunately, Rob had noticed the small reaction to how he was dressed. It would be fine. Pippa had mentioned cowboys liked to come to The Local Table after work on the weekends. Surely, they wouldn’t bother changing into suits just to sit at the bar.

A glance around the room didn’t make him feel any more confident. Everywhere he looked, couples were dressed like they’d stopped in after church rather than working with their hands all day.

“How many in your party?”

He shot a look toward the hostess, not for the first time considering what would happen if he walked away and told Pippa he’d come by another time. He could come back when he”d had time for a shower. Showing up in clothes not dusted with ranch dirt would be much better.

“Sir?”

Rob grunted as he removed his cowboy hat and turned it over in his hands. “I was hoping to have a seat at the bar. Can you point me in the right direction?”

She nodded and gestured through an archway to her left. “The bar”s right over there.”

He gave her a polite nod in return and took his leave, praying his boots wouldn’t leave dirt tracks in his wake. The bar wasn’t any better than the rest of the establishment. Even the men there were dressed nicer than he was. They all had on slacks and button-up shirts. None of them wore their hats—if they had worn one to begin with. They were all huddled together, leaving the ends of the bar open for new guests.

Rob took a seat on the far right and kept his head down as he placed his hat on the stool to his left. His shoulders hunched as he attempted to remain invisible. Wherever Pippa was, she wasn’t here. He could slip out right now and tell her he stayed for a while and when she didn’t show, he left.

“Rob! You made it.”

And in the blink of an eye, his anonymity was destroyed. The group of men at the bar turned their heads as one. The man on the end scanned him from head to toe, then smirked and turned to his buddies. They all chuckled at something he said.

Pippa placed a napkin in front of him, but it wasn’t enough of a distraction for him to ignore what was going on a few seats down.

“I think I’m a little underdressed,” he said. “I didn’t realize your place was so upscale.”

She boosted herself up and glanced over at the edge of the bar. Her lips curled into a teasing smile. “You’re totally fine…”

“But?” he shot back. “I can already hear one coming.”

Her smile grew slightly. “Do you know if you tracked in any truffles? I could really use some more. We’re nearly out.”

Rob was no culinary expert, but he knew truffles were highly sought after in the fine dining restaurant scene. He”d never admit to anyone that the Food Network got some air time at his house. Heat crept up his neck and the men down the way chuckled again, no doubt enjoying the way Pippa teased him.

He shouldn’t have come. First, he wasn’t dressed right. Now Pippa was making a joke out of him. This wasn’t what he’d agreed to come for. He nearly stood up, but she placed a menu in front of him.

“First drink is on the house. Take a look at the specials today and I’ll make sure you get it quick.”

The menu sat like a predator lying in wait. He wasn’t sure he wanted to take a peek inside it anymore. He’d probably see how fancy this restaurant was and it would only add to his apparently comedic presence.

Rob folded his arms and rested them on the menu. “You want to answer something for me first?”

At least he seemed to have taken her off her guard. She leaned in close, her expression sobering. “Sure. What is it?”

“Does eating whatever is in that menu require me to dress like a banker or something? I didn’t take you for running a place fit for snobs.”

Pippa blinked a few times and the rumble of warning came from the group of men. Rob could already tell something was brewing now. If he was lucky, only one of the guys would stand up and tell him to leave. If he wasn’t so lucky, the whole lot of them might drag him to the door.

Before they had the chance to put in their two cents, Pippa stood upright. “Cowboys from Montana can be snobs, too, you know.”

The room went deathly quiet. Deep down, Rob knew he deserved that. He’d offended her in her place of business after she’d invited him to come. He had let her teasing get the better of him, and this was just one more reason his being there was a mistake.

A sigh burst from his lips. He yanked the hat from the stool and placed it firmly on his head. “Thanks for inviting me, Pippa, but I think I’ll just hit the Burger and Shake I saw on my way over. It might be more suitable for dirty work boots.”

“Rob—”

He ignored her, hating how this evening had turned out. How could he have been so naive? He should have known better than to think he could show up in Sweet Bloom and expect everything between Pippa and himself to fall into place.

More than that, he couldn’t believe he’d let his insecurities ruin a perfectly good evening where he could have watched Pippa in action.

Rob groaned and kicked at the air when he reached his truck. He’d thought when he reached his twenties he’d be done with all the awkwardness that came with dating. He’d figured when he came to Texas, he’d have a shot with the girl he compared everyone else to. But most of all, he’d thought he would have gotten past his cowardice enough to just tell her the truth.

Apparently, telling the truth to the girl he loved would be harder than he had prepared for. Based on the caliber of men seated at the bar, Rob had a lot more competition than he was comfortable with. He didn’t want to give in, but he might not have any choice.

It didn’t take a genius to see the way those men reacted to Pippa. No wonder they came to hang out at the bar after work! And of course they’d have their hair slicked back and their attitudes checked at the door.

If Rob could kick himself, he’d be doing it right now. Releasing another groan, he stomped around his truck to open the door and climb inside. He didn’t start the vehicle right away. A small part of him was trying to convince himself to grow up and get back in there so he could do something about his wounded heart.

The two perspectives battled it out right then, right there. The logical one reminded him their pact was the only thing that had allowed them to remain friends for so long. They’d always had a set of rules to follow so there was no chance either of them would get hurt.

But his heart demanded to be heard. It insisted things weren’t as bad as he’d made it all out to be. He believed Pippa wouldn’t have stuck around this long if there wasn’t at least a small part of her that wanted something more to happen between them, too.

His heart was making a lot of sense.

Rob shook his head to clear it and retrieved his keys. He shoved the right one into the ignition and started the truck. With one final look at the building, he said, “Good riddance.”

Then he pulled out of his parking spot.

He didn’t need Pippa. He didn’t need a meal put on a plate so beautifully it belonged on Instagram. If Pippa liked the home she’d built out of that restaurant, more power to her. But Rob wasn’t going to stick around and have his attire mocked.

He pulled out of his parking place, wheels squealing. Making a U-turn, he headed straight for the burger joint he’d noticed on his way over.

Quality food didn’t have to come from a five-star restaurant. It just needed to come from a place in business to make decent food for hungry people. He was better off. At least, that was what he kept telling himself as he passed each building on the main road.

For now, he would be content to ignore the feelings of inadequacy he’d experienced while seated at Pippa”s restaurant bar. His qualities weren’t measured by the things he wore but by the accomplishments he’d achieved.

Why else would he leave home? He had to prove a point somehow.