Page 22 of Country Heat

It blows my mind that he can just wake up in the middle of the night with an idea, wander down here, and hit record, making a studio level recording whenever he wants. I’m so jealous. This is my literal dream.

We get lost in it for hours. We’re both total gearheads and talk and argue about the best equipment until our stomachs start rumbling from hunger.

“Oh shit,” Cash says when he sees the time. It’s eight o’clock. Have I really been here for four hours already? “We missed our dinner reservation.”

“I’d rather stay here,” I say, looking around. “We haven’t even gotten to your guitar collection yet.”

He shakes his head as he looks at me like he can’t believe that I’m real. “You’re my dream girl, Lola. I hope you know that.”

I smile as I lean forward and press my mouth against those very sexy, very kissable lips. “You won’t be saying that after I get my hands on your guitar collection. I want to try every. Single. One.”

He laughs. “They’re all yours. What’s mine is yours from now on.”

Pretty soon, we have pizza on the way and about two dozen of the most amazing guitars in existence on the floor all around us.

I’m playing an old Gibson, humming and strumming a few chords as Cash picks up a shiny Fender Telecaster and joins in.

We’re naturals together. The carefree strumming turns into something beautiful. We play off one another, humming and singing the occasional lyrics that come to our heads.

“Hold on,” he says, jumping up and rushing over to the mixing board. “I want to record this.”

He sits back down and grins, letting me take the lead. I start off in G, strumming softly as I sing the words that come tumbling out.

“Never knew what love could be

Always danced just outta reach.”

He joins in, deepening the sound with his skilled fingers. I nod, encouraging him to join in the singing.

“But your shadow moves like poetry

On the edge of everything I need.”

It gives me goosebumps. It makes my pulse race. His raspy voice is so sexy. It’s so perfect in contrast to mine. We really do make an amazing team.

By the time the pizza arrives, we have most of the song complete. We’re sitting at the table in the music studio, eating straight from the box.

“What are you thinking here?” I ask as I pull up a large slice of pizza, the cheese not wanting to let go.

“For the song?” he asks, fighting with his own cheesy slice.

“I was thinking more for… this. Us.”

“Oh,” he says, lowering his slice of pizza as he stares at me with those breathtaking brown eyes. “I’d tell you, but…”

“But what?” I ask, fearing the worst. I knew that being with Cash Edwards was too good to be true. There’s no way he would ever want to be with a girl like me when he could have any woman he chooses. I’m not sophisticated and cultured like some of the other women I’ve seen around him. I’m just a regular girl from the middle of nowhere Alabama.

My head drops. I’ve suddenly lost my appetite.

“But it might scare you,” he says. “I don’t want to freak you out.”

I raise my head and stare him in the eyes. “Let’s always be honest with each other, Cash. Even when it’s scary.”

Those beautiful lips curl up into a smile. “I like that plan.”

I take a bite of pizza and of course, a big chunk of stringy cheese slaps down onto my chin. Remember what I said about not being sophisticated…

Cash scoots over and hands me a napkin as I try to clean up, shaking my head with embarrassment.

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