Total pages in book: 22
Estimated words: 20430 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 102(@200wpm)___ 82(@250wpm)___ 68(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 20430 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 102(@200wpm)___ 82(@250wpm)___ 68(@300wpm)
“I’m, I’m fine,” I manage to let out, trying to stop from being too taken with this mystery man’s looks. “Having a beer, enjoying the music. That’s what I’m supposed to be doing, right?”
Danny chuckles, downing the last of his beer. “In theory, yes. Is this one of your brothers, Jennings?”
“Yep. This is my older brother, Cash,” Jennings says, gesturing to the other man, who steps forward with a sly smile.
“Drinking beer and enjoying the music are only two of the things you’re supposed to do here, miss. You know what else you can do here?”
“Uh... get some decent mozzarella sticks?”
“Dance. And I’m going to cut right to the chase and ask you to be my partner out there.”
I swallow audibly, and look at Danny. “Uh...”
Danny is cracking up. “Hey, if you’re reacting like this, it means something. And Jennings is good people, so I can’t imagine his brother is any different. Jennings, you’ve driven me home at the end of the night how many times?”
Jennings scratches his head. “Way too many for someone who has only been drinking legally for a few months, really.”
“Still, you’re there for me. Good people. All of you,” Danny smiles drunkenly.
I’m too busy shaking at what was just proposed to me to take the compliment. I didn’t really expect to come here and dance. Danny just wanted to get me out of the house and used the previously mentioned mozzarella sticks as a way to coerce me out of my hole. Skinny jeans and trainers aren’t exactly a dancer’s garb.
“Go on, Cassie. Get up and have some fun. It’ll be good for you.”
Danny’s needling wins me over, and red as a beet, I nod toward this Cash person.
He offers me his hand, and I take it, finding it rough but gentle. He’s built thick, and I can tell he’s strong, and with the way he looks, those aren’t glamour muscles made in a gym.
The band finishes their latest hectic, bass-filled song. The singer leans into the microphone. “Let’s switch things up, ladies, gentlemen and everyone in between. Gonna play something a bit slower for the lovebirds out there... or perhaps the soon to be in love.”
A slow guitar twang begins as we hit the floor, and the band begins the ballad.
I feel especially out of my element as I realize I have no idea how to dance in a situation like this.
“Just follow my lead, beautiful,” Cash says with a soft voice, taking my hands into his.
I nod, and obey. It’s a slower dance, one that doesn’t require lots of spinning or high kicks, just a steady shuffle and some rhythm.
He can’t keep his eyes off me. And while I’d usually roll my eyes at someone addressing me as beautiful, when he says it, it just feels right.
“I’ve never seen you around before,” he says as we turn slowly.
“I’m new in town. Moved here last week.”
“Willingly moved to Burly? Must have a good reason. Seems a lot more people are leaving than coming.”
“I’m helping my family out here. My aunt and uncle have a lot of kids and they both work, and it’s too much for them to shuffle. I was just spinning my wheels over in Tacoma, so they offered to let me stay with them if I wanted to nanny for them.”
He laughs. “Family-oriented and good with kids? You’re sounding better and better to me, Cassie.”
“I do think I’m good with kids, but I’m not going to pretend this is altruistic. Helping my family is a better job than thirty-nine hours a week at a coffee shop.”
Always just short of being able to call me full-time and thus able to deny me benefits. Bastards.
“It’s not nothing to drop everything and move hours away from where you were to help family. Especially in a strange new town like this.”
I laugh. “You think this town is strange?”
“No, I think it’s home. I just realize it might be a tad strange to someone who grew up in the city like you did.”
“I’m not going to call it strange. It’s just not what I’m used to. And I’m lucky I have Danny. He’s from Tacoma too and he moved here before I did. He’s something to remember my old life back in the city by.”
“I’m glad he managed to bring you here tonight, Cassie.”
I meet his smile with my own. There’s a warmth about him. He’s hotter than hell, and seems to be a bit of a sweetheart too. We keep dancing, the song picking up a bit as the ballad hits its guitar solo, but not so much that I’m falling behind.
“What about you?”
“I’m a rancher. Family farm. Been in the family for decades, and all my brothers work there in some capacity. Jennings over there included.”
Jennings and Danny are chatting away in the booth, occasionally gesturing at us. I know Danny loves gossip and talking about my love life, and I can’t help but be a bit curious about what he thinks is going on between Cash and I.