The Cowboy's Prize

Chapter 5

It was Swiss Chef on Victory. How in the hell did he even know?

Duh, like it was like only the first question I'd asked, not to mention he'd asked if I liked fondue. Just saying...it was cute how he was paying attention. Cute and second date worthy.

My obsession with cheese had begun at an early age. I'm not saying my developing palate could differentiate between fetta, brie or sheep's milk cheese at that young age, let alone something as sophisticated as Parmigianino Reggiano. However my affair began with Cheddar. That special blend of pasta and cheese that made up that well-loved children's staple. You know the one.

It progressed with the shavings of fresh Parmesan my mother sprinkled over bowls of comforting spaghetti and meatballs. Then as I got older and my tastes developed, I included Camembert, Provolone, Ricotta, Pecorino, Gruyere and Stilton.

My tastes became more refined as time went on, and it became my favourite weekend indulgence. My family just rolled their eyes whenever I discussed the differences between Jarlsberg and Swiss, Parmigiano and Pecorino or Stilton and Blue.

Any time I had a date, I avoided the dessert tray and went straight to the cheese selection.

As I became more health conscious, I became more concerned with the additional items usually accompanying cheese and switched to gluten free crackers, fresh fruit and crudités instead of the heavier pickles, fatty smallgoods and nuts that usually came with the cheese. Mostly to keep my figure in check and also to allow for the extra piece of my other favourite indulgence with cheese... That ruby rich jellied paste made from quinces that sang on my palate when the taste of cheese melted away.

I'm not saying it was as important to me as the cheese, but it came a close second.

Fondue parties had a huge following in the 70s but had recently made a comeback. My favourite being Swiss Chef on Victory, and we were pulling up in front of the building. My heart began to race, and it wasn't just that the Cowboy had picked one of my favourite places to eat, it was that he was up for something a little indulgent, a little messy and a lot of fun.

I hoped that translated to his idea of good bedroom fun too. I know it did in my book.

The valet took the car to park and Scott held out his elbow. "Shall we?" He asked with a huge smile.

Be still my raging hormones!

"Definitely!" I replied and we went in.

Two hours, lots of cheese and then a chocolate and fruit fondue to finish and I could have sworn I was in love already. Scott's conversation wasn't anything like I anticipated. We had a remarkable amount of common interests, including music, movies, favourite childhood toys and ambition.

I told Scott about my dream. An artisan cheese shop, stocking only the best Chévre, prize winning sheep's milk cheeses and my own Buffalo Mozzarella. Imported delicacies that went with cheese and only the best truffles for that special occasion.

My ultimate obsession was for my own cheese based hampers being in every 5 star hotel in the city. Forget the usual boring chocolates and Cahmpagne, I wanted an orgasmic midnight supper experience in every Honeymoon Suite just waiting for the lucky couple to indulge their need for the finer things in life. A good thing most modern hotels had mini bars these days. I had my own unique spin on the instructions I wanted to print out for how long to leave my cheese at room temperature. That and my ideas for cute packaging and advertising. It was a dream, but one I was determined to make happen.

Not so much to ask, or imagine as far as I was concerned. Admittedly it was still a ways off, but I was going to make it happen one day. In the near future, once I had my shop established and a client base. My start up fund was almost at the level I needed it to be to establish my business, I had a small premises picked out that I was negotiating with a real estate agent on. Every step in my plan was falling into place.

Did I have time for a new romance? I didn't know, but I wasn't going to let my dreams and ambitions get in the way of having fun.

And my dinner companion's current obsession? To ride 'Long John' in the final round of the PBR Championships in 2016 and go the full 8 seconds. Oh, and to make World Champion. To beat J.B. Mauney the current World Champ. To be the best of the best. Not a bad dream as dreams go, sounded relatively straight forward, although maybe kind of dangerous.

It was a goal he had been pursuing diligently for the past three years. Taking everything he had learned and single mindedly working to achieve his goal. I guess we weren't so different after all.

"Wanna see my scars?" Scott mischievously asked as we were waiting for the car to be brought around.

Not the most original pick up line I'd ever heard and definitely one that would lead to me getting myself into trouble if I let it. Seeing him without a shirt on would be far more temptation than I was willing to risk on a first date.

I turned to him and put one palm flat against his muscular chest. "You and I both know where that's going to lead Texas." I said with a smile before adding, "And I don't kiss on the first date... As a rule. Although I'm incredibly tempted with you."

"Alright." Scott said with a singularly radiant smile in return, placing one large hand over mine and rubbing my jaw with the knuckles of the other. I opened my mouth to inform him of my 'not on the lips rule' but he just placed one large finger over my pouting mouth and said, "Second date is my choice. Tomorrow we'll do something that I want to share with you. Be ready for instructions around 7am."

"Sure thing, Sunshine." I replied, rolling my eyes at his start time.

This was going to be either a complete disaster or the best thing that had ever happened to me. I was betting on the latter.