“What? You have enough women in your harem?” She nudged her elbow into his side. “I would’ve thought there was always room for one more.”
“Not tonight.” He could go over there and try his luck. The other dark-haired woman had sent a few looks his way, but he wasn’t interested. Maybe he was coming down with something.
Maybe it was a virus caused by the blonde at his side.
His cousin’s voice cracked over the sound system, and a cheer went up round the bar. The acoustic nights were always packed at Scott’s bar, and never more so than when Scott and Marley were singing. Because it was rare he played arranged gigs, Scott had obtained almost mythical status around the seven villages in the area, and beyond.
“Just a reminder to grab your tickets for the Battle of the Bands this coming weekend. All proceeds go to the Severton Search and Rescue fundraiser for a helicopter to serve the area.” There was another cheer as Scott started to strum his guitar.
“You not playing tonight?” Jake caught Olly’s attention.
Olly shook his head. “Scott’s solo tonight with Marley. We’re playing on Saturday – if Scott remembered to confirm it with you.”
He hadn’t but that didn’t matter.
The music kicked in, and the atmosphere turned up. It felt more like a Bank Holiday weekend, the air full of life, bubbling with fun.
Scott and Marley switched to a folk-rock song, an upbeat one that was danceable even in an acoustic set. Jake didn’t ask Lainey if she wanted to dance, he grabbed her hand and pulled her into the space that had been cleared for a dance floor, hearing her laugh.
They stayed up there for another three songs, Scott keeping up with the up-tempo beats. Lainey moved easily, which he’d figured she would, tipping her head back with laughter when he moved her round the dance floor, not caring whose way they got in. He was making her smile, rather than growl at him for a change, and he was relishing in it.
The music slowed. Scott mentioned something about this being the last track before they took a break, but Jake barely heard the words. He’d somehow managed to end up with Lainey’s arms around his neck, and unbelievably, it wasn’t to kill him.
Marley’s voice rang out, perfect pitch as normal, singing what Scott called a crowd cooler, meaning people had chilled a bit before hammering the bar for their next round of drinks.
Jake had other names for it right now, liketemptation.
“I didn’t think you would dance with me.”
Lainey smiled back up at him. “I can’t remember the last time I danced. Not like this.”
“You didn’t dance with your ex?”
She frowned. “We never went anywhere there was live music. But I’d rather forget about him, if that’s okay?”
He nodded, tipping her chin up so he could look at her better, his other hand on the small of her back.
“I’d rather you didn’t think about him either.”
Jake would’ve said something more, maybe something that would’ve gotten him into trouble, but the moment was fractured by the sound of a loud crash and a shout.
He sprung back from Lainey at the same time Scott stopped playing. Marley sang another few words, but his cousin had shifted rapidly from the stage area, and was starting to break up a fight that was sending glasses all over.
Jake didn’t think twice. There had been times when he hadn’t had Scott’s back like he should; this wasn’t another of those times. He yanked none other than Dylan Granger off some visitor to town and pushed him towards the door, Will there to help, suddenly sober.
The fight was broken up as quickly as it started, Abby and her colleague leaving the bar to get rid of any debris. Rayah stepped up to serve drinks, and minutes later there was calm, inside anyway. Outside, Will was tearing a strip off Dylan. Jake left him to it.
“That was interesting.” Lainey was perched on a bar stool, another cocktail in front of her. Imogen was next to her, looking sublimely happy at the drama.
“Small towns. Fights happen.” Jake grinned. “Keeps things interesting.”
“It does.” Lainey’s eyes danced.
He just wasn’t sure she was still talking about the fight.
Imogen had wantedto stay at the bar finding her tribe with Rayah and Abby, who’d finished her shift early when her replacement had turned up to cover the end of the night. Lainey had stifled a couple of yawns and checked her watch, and Jake had found his own eyes growing heavy, thinking about how he was getting up early tomorrow.
“You ready to leave?”
