Something I Need (xoxo Nashville Book 1) by Lena Lowe

silly.”
    “Sorry, but for some reason I was under the impression you wanted to be a singer?” Cash chuckled at his joke and stared at her expectantly.
    “I do,” she said, her voice quiet, her pride a little battered.
    “Don’t tell me you get stage fright?”
    More like Cash fright. He was looking at her differently tonight and she hadn’t yet decided if she liked it. She couldn’t afford to get hypnotized by those green eyes.
    “Not at all.”
    “So?”
    “Do I just walk over and grab their glasses?” She nodded at the crowded half-dozen tables.
    “Yep.” Cash ducked down. “Here,” he said, tossing her a black T-shirt. “Throw it over your dress so you don’t ruin it.”
    Jonte put the T-shirt on. It swam on her and she didn’t need a mirror to know she looked ridiculous. Huh, so much for her irresistible Nashville makeover.
    “Twist it into a knot. I’ve seen Dolly do that before.”
    She twisted the excess material round and round and then knotted it off to the side so it sat just above her hip.
    “Right, you’re all set.”
    “Thanks.” She smiled, grabbed the rag, and began to walk away.
    “Just so you know, that conversation you strategically ducked out of just now, it’s not over.”
    Jonte didn’t turn back around.

    S ix hours later , Jonte kicked off her boots. Cash locked the door behind his last customer. Pete had left about half an hour earlier, once he’d cleaned up the kitchen, and Dolly had never stopped by after her late shift. So, yeah they were all alone now.
    “Feet sore?” Cash’s eyes darted between her boots and feet.
    “Oh. I probably shouldn’t take them off in here, right?” She started to pull her boots back on.
    “Relax, it’s just us. Nobody broke any glass tonight, so you should be safe.”
    “What do you want me to do now?”
    “Not much left to do. You already stacked the dishwasher and wiped down everything.” Cash effortlessly jumped up onto the bar.
    “So?”
    “Relax and have a drink.” He lined up two shot glasses next to his left jean-clad leg. “Whatcha feel like?”
    “Whatever.” She carefully pulled herself up next to him, making sure she didn’t flash her panties in the stupid polka-dotted dress Dolly made her buy.

    * * *
    T hree shots of tequila later , Jonte definitely had the giggles on and was bopping away to Blink 182’s “Dammit.” Cash couldn’t help but laugh as she tried to slide down, but instead, unceremoniously fell off the bar and onto his wooden floor.
    “Shit. Are you okay, sweetheart?” he asked when she didn’t immediately get up.
    “Fine.” She continued to giggle in a pile on the floor.
    Cash jumped down and helped pull her up and onto her feet.
    “I don’t know if it’s good or bad that you’re a cheap drunk.” He shook his head and brushed the hair off her face. The simple act had his heart rate galloping, like a racehorse sprinting the final half-mile at the Kentucky derby, and he had to force his hands away from her. Wow. She was exquisite, even half-drunk at one in the morning.
    “I’m not cheap.” She huffed, all indignant-like before a drunk girl giggle escaped. She stumbled towards the jukebox.
    “Christ, what are you up to now?”
    “Finding something to sing to.”
    Of course. Now she wanted to sing. That made perfect sense. Cash followed her, his philosophy that all women were crazy reaffirmed.
    “I already told you, there’s no country music on that thing.”
    “You lie.” She flashed him a smile that made his insides flip-flop, and started shimmying to the beat of Kid Rock’s “All Summer Long.”
    He focused on the hypnotic sway of her hips. Crap. He was her boss now; he couldn’t watch her do shit like this.
    “This isn’t exactly country.”
    “Dance with me.” She ignored his comment and grabbed for his arms.
    “I don’t really dance.” He side stepped her with a low chuckle.
    Jonte skipped past him and danced around the pool table. She sang the first two lines of