Page 13 of The Singer and the Silent Type

Squinting at the setlist, I saw it was one of the songs I had performed in the tavern last night and realized that’s what Iris had whispered to him earlier.

This day had already been full of so many defining moments that I was almost numb from the adrenaline rush. Taking the mic off the stand, I shook the cable out behind me and walked to the front of the stage, giving the band a nod.

As the drums kicked in, I saw Cody mouth the words, “I’m so proud of you.” Closing my eyes, I nodded, taking a breath. This is it, I nodded to myself.

And then I sang.

I sang as if I were in the shower alone. I sang like I had in the basement so many times, imagining that I was on a stage. I sang as if Cody and I were driving in his truck and I was simply belting along to the radio.

When the song ended, I opened my eyes to see a field full of people screaming and clapping.

For the first time in my life, I was so proud of myself I genuinely thought I might explode. It was just too huge of an emotion to keep inside my body. Swallowing hard, I choked back a tear as Bobby clapped me on the shoulder. “Well folks, I’ve been replaced.”

“Don’t you da

re, Bobby,” I said, flashing him a glare as I put my hand on my hip like Iris always did. “It’s one thing to be the other woman for one song, but more than that feels like cheatin’.”

The band and the crowd howled as I flounced back to the stand, snapping the mic into place and smoothing my hair as if being on stage was the most natural thing in the world.

To my complete shock, it really was.

Chapter Eight

~ Cody ~

On the ride to the tavern, I was delighted at how excited Lorena was. She had snuggled up right beside me again, my arm around her as I drove. I was torn between watching the road, glancing at the breathtaking sunset, and looking down at her sweet face. I loved watching her smile every time we passed a field of cows, and the way she sat bolt upright to read the signs on roadside stands selling vegetables or pies.

“You showed up just in the nick of time,” she said, her head feeling so perfect tucked into my shoulder. “I swear I was about to have a panic attack, but then there you were.” Her hand fell to my thigh, and I tried to stare ahead at the road instead of thinking about that.

“Something about you makes me feel stronger,” she said thoughtfully. “Isn’t that funny?”

“I want to be there for you, anytime you need me,” I said quite seriously.

“Well, I needed you today, and there you were,” she giggled. “I can’t quite believe I got through it. It was weirdly satisfying singing while knowing it was being carried straight across a whole field.”

“You sounded incredible. I couldn’t believe how funny you were, and so relaxed,” I said, flashing her a grin. “It was amazing how sassy you were with Bobby on stage.”

She turned to me quickly. “Just so you know, the reason I was called to fill in was because Bobby’s wife is on bed rest for morning sickness. So it’s probably a one time only type of thing.”

Nodding slowly, I said, “To be honest, I’m relieved to hear he’s married after seeing the two of you being so comfortable together on stage.”

I felt her hand on my arm. “If that’s jealousy,” she said in a tiny voice, “Please don’t even bother. If I have you, I’ll never look at another man as anything other than a coworker or friend.”

Pulling into the tavern lot, I threw the truck into park as she tore off her seatbelt and jumped into my arms. Our kiss was pure fire. I already had her pulled into my lap, stroking along her outer thigh and hip, holding her body to mine.

My hand slid into the back of her silky hair, angling our kiss until it was so deep, so all-consuming that the windows might fog up, even in this heat . Finally tearing myself from her lips, I kissed down her soft throat, nuzzling her collarbone until she moaned.

“Cody, nobody has ever made me feel like you do.”

“That’s because you’re mine, angel. Can you feel it?”

She ground into the stiff bulge in my pants with a little giggle. “I can feel it.”

“Damn, you’re saucy,” I growled, yanking her lips to mine.

Her soft gasp, her soft tongue, her sexy, curvy body in my hands...there were only a few cars in the front lot. I wondered if we should risk getting busy right here.

Lorena shifted her hips, brushing her panties across my jeans, her eyes so wide and innocent. A shudder ran through me as I realized how innocent she likely was.

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