“Oh, sing too, huh? Carl’s been begging me to add words. You got a gig around here?”
“Oh, I’m only in town for—”
Rose punches my leg.
“New. I’m fairly new in town. Left a decent gig in Manhattan because I .?.?. fell in love.” I say the words tightly.
“How romantic,” she says with little enthusiasm.
I clench the back of my teeth because I know what she’s thinking. Some artist I claim to be—dropping everything for a man. “It is. But it’s not stopping me. I’ll be back out there soon. I miss playing.”
She gasps, then glances at the bartender. “Well, you’re in luck. Fill in for me tomorrow.”
I frown with a sideways glance at Rose. “Wait, like here? Are you serious?”
“Dead serious. I’ve got another gig tomorrow night and Carl won’t let me off. Hey, Carl.” She waves the bartender down. “I’ve got you a player for tomorrow.And she sings.”
Carl’s brows shoot up. “You don’t say.” His eyes dart to mine. “Be here at nine. Your last set’s midnight.”
“Oh, no. I wasn’t offering.”
“You said yourself you miss it,” Laurie argues. “Plus the tips are amazing on Saturday nights.”
Carl sets a whiskey bottle back on the glass shelf. “Then how come you always callin’ out sick?”
“Because it’sSaturdaynight, Carl.” Then she covers the side of her mouth and mutters to me and Rose, “Plus the tips for myothergig are usually better.”
“What’s your other gig?” I ask.
She winks and shakes her shoulders. “I’m a dancer.”
Rose mutters an “uh-oh” and takes a sip of her wine.
Laurie leans in. “Tomorrow, Blue River’s most eligible bachelor is having a party, and let me tell ya, I’d workthatone for free.”
My heart clutches.Dallas.
The man who’s been acting like I barely exist all week. The one who kisses me like I’m the one he’s being waiting for and then pulls away like I’m the plague.
And maybe I am. Just another woman who’s trying to lock him down when he’s got a town full of Lauries to pick from.
“I’ll be here.” I assure them both. “Tomorrow. And every Saturday night, if you like my set.”
Rose seems conflicted by my promise. Grabbing hold of my arm, she leans in. “Shouldn’t we check with Dallas and maybe even Noah on this?”
I brush her off like she’s with the enemy, smiling tightly as Carl and Laurie drift off to the side. “Why should I?” I hiss. “I’m a free woman. I make my own decisions.”
“I don’t disagree. But even as a courtesy, or just to make sure there’s no issue with—his situation.”
“I guarantee you, Rose,” I mutter, taking a sip of my margarita as I watch the gorgeous blonde liven up the crowd once more. “Dallas will be too distracted tomorrow to evencarewhere I am.”
21
I’m not surprised to see Rose coming over with Wilder on Saturday night. In fact, I expected her.Hopedeven that she’d come to spend the evening with Willow while the guys drag me out on the town for a dumb pre-wedding ritual.
What Iamsurprised about though—is that Rose is dressed for a night out herself and Ginger is stepping in behind them.
“Where’s that cupcake of mine?” Ginger starts. “We’re going to watch movies and make popcorn—”
