-Looks like you’re doing fine.
-Dude, she’s way smart.
Oh, good grief.
-You’re not exactly dumb. You’re supposed to be a software genius, right?
-That’s different. I don’t understand what she’s talking about half the time.
I looked over at him again, this time in annoyance. How could he be such a blockhead? She was giving him her undivided attention! Wasn’t that enough? I typed another message.
-Then don’t pretend you do.
-Seriously, what do I say? I read that book you gave me, and I didn’t get anything from it.
I blew out a sigh. Of course, he wouldn’t get it. Those weremypoems,mythoughts in that journal. I couldn’t surgically transplant them into his head. But he’d been so frantic about what to say to a woman who loved books and relished the simple life that I didn’t know what else to do but let him read my poetry journal to see if it gave him any inspiration. He’d been awed by it at first, but I doubt he read more than a handful of pages because his eyes glossed over before I even left his house.
-Just talk about your ranch. She’ll appreciate that.
-I already did.
-Then tell her about yourself! She deserves to know who she’s eating with.
I watched Austen read that last message. His face dropped into a frown, and he was holding his phone like he was ready to type, but nothing was happening. Finally, his fingers moved, and a message popped up on my screen.
-I can’t. Not yet.
That was it. I typed one last message.
-Then I can’t help you. I’m out.
I chucked some bills on the table and grabbed my hat off the back of my chair. Austen could dang well figure it out on his own if he was going to act like a helpless teenager when the most incredible woman in town was his date. I was through watching.
I was halfway to the door when Jess returned from the restrooms, and I almost ran into her. Literally. She jerked to a stop to keep from slamming into me but still found a smile. “Oh, hi, Dusty! I didn’t know you were here.”
I was too exasperated with Austen to remember my usual nervousness around her. I dipped my hat and smiled tightly. “I was just leaving.”
“Too bad. How did that shampoo work out?”
I squinted. “Huh?”
“For Luke. A while back, when I bumped into you, you were buying special shampoo for Luke’s horse.”
“Oh.” I laughed. “The shampoo worked out great. The horse, not so much.”
“That’s a shame.”
I shrugged. “For Luke. She turned out perfect for me. Best heeler I’ve ever been on.”
“Isn’t it funny how that works? Sometimes one person’s bad fit can be another person’s dream come true.”
I stared into her eyes, the crystal white centers with deep blue flecks around the edges, and all I could do was grunt a soft, “Yeah. Funny.”
“Well, I shouldn’t keep you. I’m here with Austen.”
I nodded. “I saw.”
“Oh! Right. He told me you recommended this place. You guys have gotten to be pretty good friends, huh? You should come over and say hello.”