understood?”
“Okay, okay, message received.”
“Don’t let me stop you, though.”
She nodded. Disappointment settled over her. She would like nothing better than the two of them getting on stage and singing together, but clearly that wasn’t going to happen. This wasn’t going to be a scene from
High School Musical.
Their food arrived. Ashley ate her way through both appetizers, shocked that she could stuff down that much food in one sitting. She noticed Dash was equally successful in eating everything off his plate.
They chatted amicably through dinner while her foot tapped to the beat. For the most part, the singers were good. It looked like great fun, and after being cooped up in the car all day, Ashley was ready to relax and enjoy the evening, with or without Dash, but she hoped it would be with him.
“Let’s get a drink in the lounge,” she suggested hopefully, eyeing the other room. She’d enjoyed listening to the singers. Some showed real talent, while others made her grit her teeth.
“You’re looking for an excuse to drag me up onstage, aren’t you?” Dash accused her.
“I promise I won’t force you,” she said, batting her eyelashes at him, hoping he’d have a change of heart. She loved karaoke, but it’d been weeks—no, months—since she’d last been onstage. And she wasn’t half bad, or so she’d been told.
Dash looked toward the ceiling. “I can’t believe I’m agreeing to even sit and listen.”
Ashley smiled, the joy of the season nearly overwhelming her. “Other than this morning, I’ve had a perfectly wonderful day.”
Dash reached for her hand. “I wish I could say the same.”
“Dash!”
“Okay, okay, you aren’t so bad.”
Ashley shook her head. “Be careful or your compliments are likely to overwhelm me.”
Dash chuckled. “Okay, Taylor Swift, let’s check out the lounge.”
The bar was hopping and they were fortunate to find a high top, joining another couple who were willing to share. Ashley wasn’t much of a drinker, but it generally took at least one alcoholic beverage for her to loosen up enough to sing in front of a crowd.
The waiter came by and Dash ordered a beer, so she asked for a Fuzzy Navel, her favorite. It wasn’t an over-the-top drink and the alcohol was easily disguised by the orange juice.
Within minutes the songbook made it in their direction. It didn’t take Ashley long to make her selection. But it would be a while before her number came up and she wanted to check on Little Blade.
“I’ll be right back,” she said, after taking the first sip of her Fuzzy Navel.
Dash nodded, paying close attention to the woman on the stage belting out a Sam Smith song as if giving a Grammy performance. Ashley didn’t appreciate his rapt attention on the other woman.
Leaning close, she told him, “I can show signs of jealousy, too, you know.”
He grinned as if he found her comment amusing. Ashley wasn’t trying to be funny; she was serious. She had no right to feel anything toward Dash. Hours earlier they’d been complete strangers. They hadn’t even kissed, but she would have gladly done so if the opportunity arose…and she hoped it would.
“I thought you were leaving,” he said, looking back at her as though surprised she was still there.
“I was, but I wanted to be sure some hottie didn’t steal you away.”
With his eyes holding hers he raised his hand and brushed a finger down the side of her face. Ashley held her breath as a wealth of sensation left her nerves tingling. It felt as if his finger had been on fire and spread heat throughout her body. Although his finger only skimmed her face, she felt his touch everywhere.
“No worries there,” he whispered.
Ashley reluctantly backed away and hurried to her room to check on Little Blade. The music from the bar followed her. She was concerned that the puppy would be restless in the carrier and want out. Little Blade whined pitifully as soon as she opened the
“Okay, okay, message received.”
“Don’t let me stop you, though.”
She nodded. Disappointment settled over her. She would like nothing better than the two of them getting on stage and singing together, but clearly that wasn’t going to happen. This wasn’t going to be a scene from
High School Musical.
Their food arrived. Ashley ate her way through both appetizers, shocked that she could stuff down that much food in one sitting. She noticed Dash was equally successful in eating everything off his plate.
They chatted amicably through dinner while her foot tapped to the beat. For the most part, the singers were good. It looked like great fun, and after being cooped up in the car all day, Ashley was ready to relax and enjoy the evening, with or without Dash, but she hoped it would be with him.
“Let’s get a drink in the lounge,” she suggested hopefully, eyeing the other room. She’d enjoyed listening to the singers. Some showed real talent, while others made her grit her teeth.
“You’re looking for an excuse to drag me up onstage, aren’t you?” Dash accused her.
“I promise I won’t force you,” she said, batting her eyelashes at him, hoping he’d have a change of heart. She loved karaoke, but it’d been weeks—no, months—since she’d last been onstage. And she wasn’t half bad, or so she’d been told.
Dash looked toward the ceiling. “I can’t believe I’m agreeing to even sit and listen.”
Ashley smiled, the joy of the season nearly overwhelming her. “Other than this morning, I’ve had a perfectly wonderful day.”
Dash reached for her hand. “I wish I could say the same.”
“Dash!”
“Okay, okay, you aren’t so bad.”
Ashley shook her head. “Be careful or your compliments are likely to overwhelm me.”
Dash chuckled. “Okay, Taylor Swift, let’s check out the lounge.”
The bar was hopping and they were fortunate to find a high top, joining another couple who were willing to share. Ashley wasn’t much of a drinker, but it generally took at least one alcoholic beverage for her to loosen up enough to sing in front of a crowd.
The waiter came by and Dash ordered a beer, so she asked for a Fuzzy Navel, her favorite. It wasn’t an over-the-top drink and the alcohol was easily disguised by the orange juice.
Within minutes the songbook made it in their direction. It didn’t take Ashley long to make her selection. But it would be a while before her number came up and she wanted to check on Little Blade.
“I’ll be right back,” she said, after taking the first sip of her Fuzzy Navel.
Dash nodded, paying close attention to the woman on the stage belting out a Sam Smith song as if giving a Grammy performance. Ashley didn’t appreciate his rapt attention on the other woman.
Leaning close, she told him, “I can show signs of jealousy, too, you know.”
He grinned as if he found her comment amusing. Ashley wasn’t trying to be funny; she was serious. She had no right to feel anything toward Dash. Hours earlier they’d been complete strangers. They hadn’t even kissed, but she would have gladly done so if the opportunity arose…and she hoped it would.
“I thought you were leaving,” he said, looking back at her as though surprised she was still there.
“I was, but I wanted to be sure some hottie didn’t steal you away.”
With his eyes holding hers he raised his hand and brushed a finger down the side of her face. Ashley held her breath as a wealth of sensation left her nerves tingling. It felt as if his finger had been on fire and spread heat throughout her body. Although his finger only skimmed her face, she felt his touch everywhere.
“No worries there,” he whispered.
Ashley reluctantly backed away and hurried to her room to check on Little Blade. The music from the bar followed her. She was concerned that the puppy would be restless in the carrier and want out. Little Blade whined pitifully as soon as she opened the
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