The Cowboy and The Pencil-pusher

"Puma?" Benjy looked around as if worried that one was lurking in the hotel room at the moment, maybe right behind him.

"Correct."

"Kurt saved you from the lion?" His eyes widened.

I sat and worked in front of the computer, "Uh huh." While browsing the numbers, I was doing mental calculations.

"And he invited you to dinner tonight as a reward for him?" His voice became odd.

"Yes."

"One on one."

I look up. "What are you implying?"

He raised his eyebrows. "Dude, he exudes sexy and fierce cowboy vibes. He also saved your life."

"It's just eating. I'm not going to sleep with him." However, when the sexy image of Kurt as the protagonist unconsciously popped up in my mind, my pulse began to speed up.I swallowed and suppressed those thoughts. "We just eat together."

"Uh, it's roar."

"He'll tell me Maddy's answer to our proposal."

"Can't his cell phone be used?"

I stopped what I was doing and glared at him. "Are you okay?"

He shrugged. "I just said that you can get a reply even if you don't have dinner with him."

I pursed my lips. "Don't say those useless things."

"Why not have some fun? You both like guys and are grown-ups—you two should have a date."

"Why did we do that?" I asked in amazement.

He stared. "If you even have to ask, I guess the sex between you guys is not as good as that between the opposite sex."

I take off my glasses. "That's not an appropriate topic to discuss with your boss."

"Oh, don't do the 'you're me' thing with me. We're buddies. We can talk about these things."

"I'm not interested in discussing it with you." I put on my glasses and focus on my monitor. "Now shut up and play 'Food Bird' or whatever on your phone."

He pouted. "You're so boring."

I shook my head, sighed and ignored him.After holding back for a while, I still couldn't resist my curiosity. "How do you know Kurt likes men?"

He grinned. "Ah, ha. I knew you were interested in him."

"No. I'm just curious." My cheeks heat up, but I meet his gaze and repeat my question. "How did you know Kurt's sexual orientation?"

"I was told by Lucy at Biscuit and Bacon."

"Why are you talking about this?" Now I can't concentrate at work because he's preoccupied with Kurt's sexuality.

He shrugged. "I don't remember. I think we were talking about how few bachelors there were for her in town." He scratched his chin. "Then she said Kurt was one of the sexiest bachelors, it's too bad he's gay."

I was unreasonably happy to hear that Kurt was still single, even though it was none of my business. "You shouldn't gossip with the locals," I scolded him.

"It's okay. I only collect information and won't leak anything."

"Or don't."

He was leaning on my bed and I gave him an impatient look. "Take off your shoes."

"Oops. Are you inviting me into your bed?"

I yelled, "What?! No. I don't want you to stain the quilt."

He laughed and kicked off his shoes. "I'm straight, so don't waste your time trying to seduce me."

I leaned back in my chair and glared at him. "Why am I the only one working now?"

"Because you are addicted to work and can't extricate yourself." He took out his mobile phone from his trouser pocket and started playing. "I got a copy of what you asked for, and I was in touch with your dad yesterday. So there's nothing to do now."

"But I'm still working," I mutter.

"Ordinary people will take this opportunity to temporarily forget the hustle and bustle of the city. You should try to enjoy it too." He sighed. "I bet you never skipped school as a kid."

"Why am I skipping school? I love school."

He blinks. "Oh my God. Didn't realize you were that kind of person."

"Yeah, that's why people like me drive my kind of car and people like you drive your kind of car." I leaned forward and stared at the screen.

He snorted. "You were just lucky enough to have a rich dad."

I straightened up and glared at him. "Fart. I worked so hard to earn it."

He laughed and said, "Yeah, you're exhausted. But having a rich dad isn't such a bad thing."

"Maybe not bad for a wallet," I muttered.

"Do you think Kurt is handsome?"

I made a bitter face, "What happened to you today?"

He lay comfortably on my pillow with his arms across his head. "I guess it's because I'm bored right now. Answer my question."

"Here's my advice: work makes you happy."

"Come on, tell me."

I don't want to answer because I'm so embarrassed by the fact that I find Kurt unusually sexy.That's not what I want to share with Benjy. "No."

He ignores me. "I'm curious how men and men fall in love with each other."

I put down my pen and looked at him. "Even if you're not sexually interested in men, you can tell that Kurt is a handsome guy." My pulse quickens when I think of Kurt's tall, wiry figure and full lips.

He smiled slyly. "I knew you liked him."

My cheeks are hot. "I can tell if someone is attractive, but that doesn't mean I'm attracted to him."

"If I liked men, I'd be fascinated by him."

I stand up. "Okay. Enough. Get out."

He looks embarrassed. "Am I exaggerating?"

I approached the bed and said, "Aren't you always like this?"

He draped his legs over the edge of the mattress. "What's the big deal? I'm willing to admit that if you ask me to fuck Lucy, I can fuck her right away."

"is it?"

"Of course. She's hot."

I examined him as he put on his shoes. "You don't know her yet, and you want to sleep with her?"

"What do you mean? We talked a lot during dinner, she's fine."

I wrinkled my nose. "I don't like having sex with strangers."

"She's not exactly a stranger." He smiled. "And like I said, she's a hottie, why the fuck should I say no if she's interested in me too?" He looked at me like there was something wrong with me.

I squeezed a sad face. "It's weird for us to talk about this as colleagues."

He frowned. "Hey, the two of us travel far more together than I do with any other work partner. At least we're considered 'more than acquaintances'."

It made me laugh. "is that so?"

"Now it is." He bit his lower lip. "Do you have any other friends?"

I put my arms around my chest. "I work most of the time."

"Uh-huh."

I go back to the computer. "You remember what a job is, don't you? You've seen me do it."

He ignored my criticism. "So when you go on vacation and swim with sharks, it's all by yourself?" He leered at me.

I was a little embarrassed by the compassion in his words. "Generally speaking, I like to be alone." I gave him a cold look. "Also, there are other people on the road. I like to chat with the people I'm traveling with and learn about everything I go. Even if I say no to social events, please remember, it's my choice."

He tilted his head as if thinking about what I said. "Yeah. You've got money and good looks. I know you're single because that's what you want to be. I just don't understand why you'd want to be alone."

"Nothing to do with you."

He disagrees. "Come on. Tell your closest acquaintances why you want to live like a hermit?"

I hesitated, then for some inexplicable reason I actually answered him. "There are too many broken things about people."

"You mean they're asking too many questions?" He laughed. "Like me now."

"exactly."

He shrugged.

"There are always people who are nosy and want to get into my head to find out." I raised my hands and made a gesture of quotation marks. "There's nothing unusual here, let's go."

"You're not a virgin anymore, are you?" He stared at me with raised eyebrows, but his face was still red.

"No." I looked at him in surprise. "My God. Please go away. I have work to do."

He walked towards the door. "How can a prickly person like you have sex?"

"Go away. I have my charm."

"I'll keep your words in mind." He giggled and left my room.

After he left, I stared at the door in a daze.I don't really bother Benjer as much as most people.He can make me laugh.He's funny and chatty, and always defuses awkward silences.I'm amazed that Benjy didn't just leave me alone, and that he's been trying so hard to get to know the real me.

real me.Who the hell is that?

I let out a heavy breath, annoyed that Benjy reminded me of my private life shit.I try to focus on the report, but my mind drifts to tonight.I still don't understand why Kurt wants to have dinner with me tonight.To be honest, I have to admit I was nervous.When Kurt's light blue eyes look at me, I panic.Besides, he'd tell me later about Maddy's reply to the suggestion of visiting the ranch, and if Maddy rejected the plan, the meal would quickly become embarrassingly dull.

Of course if Maddy refuses, I'm free to leave this annoying town.This should make me happy, but for some reason I don't feel that way.Maybe it was because Maddy seemed like a really nice guy, and I also knew that if I went through the foreclosure process, Kurt would undoubtedly hate me.But when have I ever cared whether others like me?

A few hours later, I give up trying to work and head to shower, shave, and get ready for dinner.When I wear cologne, I'm suddenly overwhelmed by myself.What the hell am I doing?This is a business dinner, not a date.But I was as nervous as if I was going on a date.Because I know, whether I like it or not, Kurt reminds me of me as a man, not a calculator.

I didn't want to look overwhelmed like a nervous idiot, so I turned on the mini-fridge in my room.I unscrewed a small bottle of tequila and drank it down.Decided to just drink one bottle, but when the warm liquid came in, I felt better.I just need to finish dinner well and come back and forget about it.

It was seven o'clock, and I put on my short worsted wool coat and went out into the night.As the sun set, the temperature dropped significantly, and when I came to the door of the restaurant, I was shivering from the cold air.

Kurt leaned against the wall by the door. "You should be wearing a heavy coat, not fancy business attire," he said slowly.

I looked down at my attire. "What's wrong with my clothes?"

He grinned. "If you're here to serve me a court summons, that's all right."

He was wearing a suede jacket, and a familiar throb came up again as I scanned his leaning figure, faded jeans wrapping his sturdy thighs, and he was wearing the black cowboy hat.To hide the fact that I was dazzled by his masculinity, I was deliberately sarcastic. "I generally don't take fashion advice from people who wear snakeskin boots."

He raised his eyebrows. "I want to remind you that this is alligator skin."

"Forgive me. I'm really not good at dressing cowboys."

"I forgive you." He teased while slowly scanning my body with his gaze. "Cleaned up pretty neatly."

I don't know how to respond.His rough and messy demeanor is certainly coveted, but I will not admit it to him.I walked up the low steps toward him, feeling my hand tremble clearly as I touched the pine railing.

His blue eyes were so clear, and there was a smile on those full lips when he held out his hand. "Maybe at the end of dinner I can at least make you take your tie off."

"I like my tie." I took his hand, and the warmth of his palm melted into mine.The leap of joy I felt when he stood beside me was not figment of my imagination.He is taller than me and has strong hands.

"Of course. But relaxing a little bit won't kill you."

"Are you sure? I was almost eaten by a cougar, because I just wanted to take a walk around the hotel and relax my nerves that have been tense." I pulled out my hand and pointed to the door, hoping He managed to hide his nervousness. "Can we go in?" I asked.

"of course."

He opened the door for me and I can still feel his warmth behind me.He stood so close to me as I walked quickly into the welcome area.

"Hello, Kurt." A little blonde girl greeted us.She glanced over at my tall cowboy companion, smiled at me, and said, "Your table is ready, lads." She walked into the dimly lit restaurant, and we followed.

I feel like I've forgotten how to walk.When I walked in front of Kurt, my limbs were clumsy, stiff and uncoordinated.I walked quickly into the booth indicated by the waitress, thankful that my trembling legs were finally gone.She handed us menus, gave Kurt a wink, and walked away.

"I think you have a fan," I said.

"She's not my type."

This sentence has multiple meanings, but it doesn't necessarily mean that he likes men.

"Understood." I studied the menu, feeling his eyes on me all the time.I look up. "What's wrong?"

He opened his mouth as if to say something, but didn't.He shook his head. "nothing."

"As you please." I was curious about what he was going to say, but I didn't dare to ask. "I didn't know there were so many different cuts of beef in the world."

"There's more than one way to mutilate a cow."

"Obviously," I mutter, rubbing my chin. "I don't know anything about it."

He frowned. "It occurred to me that maybe you don't eat meat at all."

"Why do you think so?"

Shrugging, he said, "I can easily picture you vegan turkey at Thanksgiving."

I straighten my neck. "Yeah?" I know I don't look like a cowboy, but since when have I looked like a veggie-juicing vegan?

He smiled. "You look very fastidious, and many fastidious people don't eat red meat." He sucked his cheeks and retracted his stomach, and said vaguely while imitating the ribs, "They pay attention to their body shape."

I laughed. "By 'refined' you mean neurotic?"

He relaxed his facial muscles and smiled. "No."

"I'm not a vegetarian."

"Okay, fine." He looked relaxed.

"By the way, most people I know eat meat. You shouldn't be prejudiced against city people."

He stared at me with deep eyes. "Don't pretend like you're unbiased."

I'm deadpan. "Not at all."

"Liar." He laughed again.That pure smile made my heart beat faster.There was something about him that captivated me.I don't want that either, as much as I try to appear suave and worldly around him, I get excited and insecure around him.

While searching for the waiter, I muttered, "I need something to drink."

"Me too. She'll be here soon."

"I'm glad you're not one of the Prohibition Cowboys."

He raised a flat eyebrow. "No 'Prohibition Cowboys,' would it be?"

"I bet Roy Rogers would never touch a burning knife," I said with a half smile.

①Roy Rogers, an American film actor, has shaped the classic cowboy image on the screen and is known as the "King of Cowboys".

His expression relaxed. "Yes. Because he's a 'real' cowboy." He rolled his eyes.

A middle-aged woman in a green apron came to us. "Hey, Kurt."

"Okay you, Trudy."

She smiled and said, "I see you got the menu. What can I get you guys to drink?"

"Do you have a wine list?" I asked, staring at the menu.She was silent for a long time, so I looked up.

She smiled at Kurt. "He's so cute."

Kurt laughed too.

My cheeks are hot. "Don't you serve wine?"

She bit her lower lip. "What do you think we are, savages? Wine, of course. Red or white?"

I thought she was joking at first, then realized she was seriously serious. "Oh, um..."

"I want a beer." Kurt sounded like he was trying to hold back a laugh.

"I want to know what kind of red wine is there?" I stared at her, and Kurt laughed from the side.

"Which ones? I don't know... just a dark red one."

I wrinkled my nose and asked another way. "What about the year? What year is it?"

She tapped the order book with the tip of her pen as if she was about to lose patience. "Don't you know what year it is?" she laughed.

"I mean the vintage of the wine."

She frowned. "Do you want me to look it up? We buy it from the 'Car Grocery Convenience Store.'"

Kurt chuckled again.

"Forget it. I want a beer." I lifted my chin. "Do you have beer on tap?"

"Why am I not surprised you asked that?" She sighed. “The only thing we have on tap is Budweiser and Bud Light. That’s what pretty much everyone here drinks. There’s also a bottled beer imported from Germany, I think, that the former bartender felt compelled to put in some for storage.”

Listening to her tone of not knowing how long those bottled beers have been stored, I think barrel-aged wine is the right choice. "I want a Budweiser."

"Sir, you really know how to choose." When she met Kurt's sight, she pouted. "Be careful, honey. Don't forget what happened the last time you messed with the city kid."

Kurt stiffened but she didn't notice because she giggled and walked away.He shifted restlessly in his seat, avoiding my sight, looking uncomfortable.Of course my curiosity was aroused, but I kept my mouth shut.

He cleared his throat and changed the subject. "You can't go wrong with the porterhouse." He kept his eyes on the menu.

I patted my stomach. "I've missed ordering one over the years, and it's a huge one. I think I'll stick to smaller portions, like a small filet mignon."

He nodded and continued to stare at the menu.

"Maybe we should talk about Muddy's decision to visit the ranch," I said, fiddling with my fork. "If you ever say 'fuck me' to me again, I'll pack up my steak and leave."

He lowered the menu and retreated into his seat. "Yeah, sorry. Maddie and I feel better after talking to Frank."

I put down the cutlery and looked at him. "So shall I go with my food?"

"What if we reject your proposal?"

“I’m going back to Los Angeles.” I didn’t say what we both knew—if they rejected the offer, I would start the foreclosure process against Maddy. "Are you going to refuse?"

Kurt leaned forward. "Maybe we should wait until the drinks are served before I answer."

"That doesn't sound like hope." I had mixed feelings.I knew my dad would be happy if Maddy said yes, and I wanted him to be so he wouldn't nag me.But if Madi agrees to the project, I will have to stay in this small town for at least three months.My dad thinks it's good for me to oversee these investments because it keeps me away from the computer.

As if hearing what he said, the waiter brought the drink, and after she left, Kurt began to speak. "Who runs a project like this?"

"It's me now. Like I did in Texas. My dad stopped it since he was exhausted." I was a little breathless as I met his enigmatic gaze. "So what did Maddy say?"

He took a sip of beer, brushing the froth from his lips with sunburnt fingers. "Maddy wants to join."

"Really?" A strange feeling bordering on relief welled up.I'm confused as to why this is happening, but it's undeniable that I feel like a big rock has been let go of me. "I kid you not, I was surprised."

"You scare Maddy out of his wits. He knows you won't be accommodating if he refuses."

My face is burning, but I hold my expression tight. "He'll thank me eventually. He'll be a rich man."

"In some people's eyes he was already rich."

"Maybe you mean chicken soup like 'friends and family made him rich'?" I raise my eyebrows.

"Yes."

"Please. I'm not talking nonsense." I rolled my eyes and held up the menu to hide my face. "I mean he's going to be rich in real money."