“Good.”
Because spending the night with Piper is how I want to finish this day.
Chapter Eight
CASH
“Where in the world are you taking me?” Piper asks, grabbing my hand and stepping in close.
“Some place where we don’t have to be on.”
A cowboy sitting on a horse is painted on the side of the old building. I grab the door of the Moon Bar and hold it open for her.
“This place okay?” I ask as she floats by in a cloud of sugar. I don’t know how she smells so sweet, but she does. Like a cupcake I want to sink my teeth into.
For a weeknight, it’s quiet. After being photographed to within an inch of my life today, I wanted to go somewhere I could be myself. Where people wouldn’t bother me for an autograph. I love getting to do events like we did today, but I need to decompress now.
Christmas lights hang from the acoustic ceiling tiles. A few people linger around the bar, and someone is on stage getting ready for karaoke.
“It’s great, Cash.” She spins on her heel, giving me a smile before finding an open table in the bar.
“What do you want to drink?” I ask her.
“Old fashioned.”
“Really?”
Piper slides into a chair. “What, think I can’t handle it?”
“No.”
Piper leans across the table. “I can handle you, can’t I?”
Damn. “Okay then. One old fashioned coming right up.”
I wink at her before heading to the bar and getting her drink and a beer for me. With practice tomorrow morning, I need to be on my game. A long road trip is coming up and I don’t want to be gassed before we start.
“Usual, Cash?” the older bartender asks me.
“And an old fashioned with top-shelf bourbon.”
“You got it.”
Grabbing my wallet, I tap my card on the bar waiting for our drinks. The TV is playing the Nashville game.
“Seriously, Roy? You have this shit on?”
He scoffs at me, mixing Piper’s drink. “Guys want to watch it. Sue me.”
“Need to think twice about who you let in here.”
“I let you in, don’t I?” He sets the two drinks down with a toothy smile.
“See if I come back.”
“Fuck off.”
There’s no malice in his words. Roy has owned this joint for as long as I can remember. He’s why I keep coming back. I let him swipe my card, and I pull out a generous tip for him before heading back to our table.
