He snorts a laugh and shakes his head. “Lizzie would have your ass.” He pauses before adding, “You know what? Go ahead and try it. I think I’d like to watch that show.”
“Me too,” Charli chimes in, smiling widely.
“I’ve heard enough from the peanut gallery,” I say, setting my beer down on a nearby table. I ignore their comments as I head toward where the beautiful woman is sitting. I nod at a few patrons I know—okay, fine, I pretty much know everyone—and even though a few try to engage in conversation, I offer a polite smile and keep moving toward my destination.
When I reach their table, I flash one of my most charming grins. This baby has gotten me out of some trouble over the years—and maybe into a little trouble too. “Good evening, ladies.”
The brunette who’s captured my attention gives me a friendly smile. “Hi.”
Extending my hand, I take hers when she offers it. “Cade Miller.”
She doesn’t blush or turn on her own charm as I bring her hand to my mouth and place a gentle kiss against her knuckles. “Oaklee.”
“A beautiful name for a beautiful woman.”
The corner of her mouth curls up. “Does that line actually work?”
She catches me off guard for a slight second, mostly because I can tell she’s not asking to flirt. “Sometimes,” I reply honestly, pulling out the third chair at the table and taking a seat. To her friend, I ask, “How have you been, Allison?”
“Good,” she replies, hiding a smile. “You?”
“Can’t complain.” I return my gaze back to Oaklee. “Wanna dance?”
She glances around the room. “No one is dancing,” she points out, as an old Tim McGraw song plays on the jukebox.
I shrug. “I’m more of a leader than a follower.”
“I’m sure you are,” she retorts, a faint little smile on her kissable lips.
“So, what do you say, Oaklee? Wanna dance?”
She opens her mouth and hesitates in whatever response she was going to give. “Sorry, but I’m dating someone.”
I bring my hand up to cover my heart. “You wound me.”
She snorts and glances at her friend. “I highly doubt that.”
“No, you do. See, I came over here because you look like you love me.”
She barks out a laugh, throwing her head back in the process. My dick twitches in my pants and my hands itch to slide through her hair. It looks so soft and inviting, and all I can think about is feeling it slip through my fingers. “Isn’t that a country song?”
I nod. “Sadly, they stole the idea from me.”
She shakes her head, clearly not buying what I’m trying to sell. “Copyright infringement is no laughing matter.”
“You’re right, it isn’t. Maybe I’ll look into it. Can you file a lawsuit based on a song concept?”
Grinning, she shakes her head. “I don’t think so.”
I tsk. “Well, too bad for me.” I adjust my position in my chair, since my pants feel a little snugger than they did earlier, and ask, “So what brings you to town?”
“A job,” she replies, taking a drink of her beer.
“What kind of job?”
“I’m a nurse,” she confirms. “Allison and I went to nursing school together, and she called me last week and told me about the vacancy at the clinic here in town. I had an interview with the clinical director earlier today.” Dina oversees all the clinics and moves from clinic to clinic throughout the workweek, depending on where she’s needed.
“And?” I ask, really hoping she’s about to tell me she was offered the position.
