Page 51 of Rope Me In

He smirks. “What? Did you think the fun was just looking at the sunset?”

He bends down to grab the blanket then hands it to me. Our fingers touch when I take it, and much like the first time, electricity passes between us.

He lifts one of his dark-blond eyebrows at me. “Are you really going to tell me that’s just science?”

I huff. “I have dry skin.”

He laughs, pulling his hand back. “Spread that out for me, Presley.Please.”

“Wow! My nameanda please. What did I do to deserve this?”

Kade runs a thumb over his stubbled cheek, his eyes locked on mine. “I guess you’ve been a good girl.”

The coyness in his baritone voice has me shivering and my stomach filling with butterflies. I swallow for no reason. In an attempt to ignore his burning stare, I spread the blanket out then stand to my full height only to find his eyes haven’t left my body. His hazel gaze is softer than it usually is, and I think he’s trying to get a read on me.

After a second, he kneels on the floor and grabs the canvas bag, pulling things out and setting them on the blanket. A bag of chips, two bottles of water, a deck of cards, two shot glasses, another blanket, and a bottle of whiskey.

For a fleeting moment, I wonder if he should be drinking. But while he’s young, he’s an adult who can make his own choices. And even though I don’t know Kade that well, I know that people who live hard lives mature faster than others. Sometimes I don’t even feel like I had a childhood since my parents were so absent. I had to learn how to take care of myself, be my own boss—that changes a person. I don’t have to know Kade to know it’s been the same for him.

“Are you going to sit?” he asks before taking off his cowboy hat. He sets it next to him and extends his booted feet out in front of him, his palms propping him up.

Even though I am still unsure of how this is going to be fun, I shove away my thoughts and sit, crossing my legs underneath me as I look back out at the darkening sky.

“Are you sure Jake is okay? I feel bad.”

Kade nods. “You worry too much. He’s fine. I’m sure Stu helped him. And Jake can dance, he just doesn’t like to teach if he doesn’t have to. He also says if I’m there, I get more tips for us all and people spend more money on drinks.”

His statement makes me feel worse. “You can go back, you know. You don’t have to stay with me. I’m fine.”

Kade lets out a rumbling sound. “Presley. It’s okay. I want to be here.”

His words stun me into silence, but I don’t know how to respond to that. Thankfully, I don’t have to because he sits up and takes the bottle of whiskey in his hands.

“You drink?” he asks.

“A little. Socially, when I’m—” I stop myself from saying playing gigs, though I suppose if he saw those texts, he knows I play something.

“When you’re…?” he asks, not letting it go.

I sigh. “Just pour me a dang shot, Kade.”

That has him smiling again. “I like when you’re bossy.”

I ignore his flirting and take the offered shot. It’s been awhile since I’ve done a shot of any kind, especially whiskey. I normally go for watered-down sugary drinks or a margarita on the rocks, but I guess this will have to do. After the last week, it’ll be nice to let go a bit—even if it’s in a barn loft with Kade.

“Cheers,” he says, lifting his shot glass to mine. We clink, and then I put the cool glass to my lips. As soon as the liquor hits my tongue, it burns, so I gulp it down as quickly as I can and reach for the bottle of water. Kade chuckles to himself while he watches me wash the horrible taste from my mouth.

“How do you drink that?” I cough.

“Have you never had whiskey before?”

“I have, but did you make it yourself?” I cough again.

He shakes his head, lips pressed into an amused line. “Just cheap shit.”

He puts the cap back on the bottle then opens the bag of chips. He offers me some, and I shake my head.

His eyes crinkle at the corners. “Eat some. I don’t want you passing out on me.”

---