Page 87 of Nashville Cowboy
“Life’s crazy, isn’t it?”
“What are you going to do next? You can’t give up music entirely. Will you perform locally?”
“Maybe that, plus keep selling my songs.”
“Might think I’m crazy, now, but what about buying me out? The Shady Grind is going up for sale. I’m retirin’.”
At that Jackson leaned back, hands splayed on his thighs. Priscilla and the Shady Grind were fixtures in their town. “Why?”
She gave him a small smile. “Why am I retirin’? How about I’m sixty-five and have worked hard enough all my life?”
“I guess that’s fair.”
“You young ’uns. Think everything in your hometown is always going to remain the same. Sometimes maybe the buildings do, but people don’t. We grow old, we move on. We push up daisies because somebody has to, and none of us get to live forever last I checked. I’ve got family in Arizona. I’ll go up there for a while. See my grandkids.”
“Damn. Gotta admit, never thought of you quittin’ but it makes sense.”
He wasn’t sure what the Shady Grind would turn into without Priscilla. And who would want to move out to Stone Ridge just to take over an old bar that had seen better days?
Jesus, he was depressed now.
“Can I get another beer?”
Priscilla set it down. “Don’t look so glum. Why don’t you buy me out?”
That made two ridiculous offers he’d had in one day. “Me? I know nothing about runnin’ a bar.”
“It’s not as tough as it looks.” She smirked. “You don’t want to be here every night, you hire good help. Lots of good men looking for jobs. It’s a business, after all, and you know about the cattle business and show business. How different can it be, right?”
He was going to go out on a limb and think they were as different as apples and salami. But he supposed all businesses had some commonalities. He’d once been a part of the daily operations of the ranch and all that entailed. There was not only the actual manual work behind running the ranch but also taking care of the accounts, clients, equipment, and other details. The entire family had done their part at one time or another.
He took another pull of his beer. “I don’t see myself owning a bar. I was thinking something like opening up my own recording studio so that I can make my demos and keep selling songs to other artists.”
“Just think about it. It’s an option. You could turn it into a real honky-tonk. Right now, it’s just a small-town bar and grill with a limited menu. You were the last person to play here. I’d love to see you play here again.”
“Sure, I can do that.”
Coming right on the heels of being asked to be a sperm donor, the thought of turning the old Shady Grind into a passable honky-tonk was too overwhelming for today.
Still, the idea was worth considering.
Chapter 28
Late that night, Eve went to Jackson’s door.
“Feeling formal tonight?” He slid her a dark and sexy look that made roasted melty marshmallows out of pink places. “Usually you just walk right inside after a quick knock.”
“I don’t want to interrupt if you’re busy.”
“Yes, you do.” He hauled her in the room and shut the door, then pinned her against it.
The hot kiss he gave her was a promise of a hot night of intense pleasure. He plundered her mouth, deep and wet. And she wanted him. More than anything. When he broke the kiss to nibble on an earlobe, her entire body pulsed with desire.
“If you’re writing a song, I can come back later.”
“I’ll finish later.” He pulled her toward the bed and moved his guitar to its stand.
She sat on his bed. “Why don’t you play me something?”
