Something I Need (xoxo Nashville Book 1) (5 page)

“I’m an enigma, sweetheart. Why don’t we just leave it at that? Besides, we’re here.” Cash pointed at the multi-story glass and polished metal office building.

C
ash grabbed
his cell out of his jeans pocket, ready to call Tanner and escape Jonte’s questions. Never in his life had he been so damn relieved to be somewhere. He wasn’t sure how he’d allowed that line of questioning to steer itself so pointedly at the topic he’d long ago buried. Surely Nannie and Dolly would have words to say about why he’d permitted it, but they weren’t here, and they sure as shit didn’t need to know about this. No one did.

Lying wasn’t his MO. And Jonte would never know he’d just lied. His motivations and bar were none of her business.

Jeez, the more time he spent with Jonte, the more conflicted he felt. Of all the bars that she could have picked in Nashville… He stopped himself mid thought. Fuck. Was he just about to think-quote one of those old school movies that Nannie loved so much?

Jonte had to go.

Today.

Now.

Tanner didn’t answer, but that didn’t mean shit. No doubt he was on the other line or something. Cash decided to take his chances and signaled for Jonte to follow him into the building. They took the elevator up to the twelfth floor, and he headed straight for Tanner’s office, zigzagging past the small cubicles filled with Tanner’s employees all busily working away. Cash froze when he spied Tanner’s PA, Crystal, sitting like a guard dog at her desk outside Tanner’s office.

Damn it. He hadn’t seen her since they’d hooked up a couple months back before she’d gotten all clingy, showing up at the bar and acting as if they were some kind of couple.

“Cash.” Crystal chirped like a high-pitched bird, her face lighting up at the sight of him. She stood up from her seat. One hand smoothed down her white blouse, while the other fluffed at her hair. Did she just puff out her chest? She walked around the desk, and dug her nails into his forearms as she leaned in to kiss him on the cheek, completely ignoring Jonte. “It’s
so
good to see you. Maybe we could get dinner later?”

“I have to work later.” His tone and smile were polite, all business.

“I could stop by.” Crystal returned his smile and sat down on her desk, crossing her legs and causing her skirt to ride up.

“Is Tanner in?” Cash’s tone was rougher this time, attempting to cut off her flirting, forcing her to focus on her actual job. He hated being an ass and knew he should never have slept with her in the first place, but today he didn’t have time for her attention-grabbing theatrics. What he needed was Tanner. Tanner would help him get rid of Jonte so things could go back to normal.

“I’ll just check if he can see you.” Crystal slid off the desk and exaggerated the swing of her hips as she walked over to Tanner’s door and disappeared.

“Does that not work?” Jonte nodded at the phone on Crystal’s desk.

Christ. This was embarrassing. Crystal had practically pissed on his leg and marked her territory. He really needed to think more carefully about who he hopped into bed – or had drunken sex in the toilets at Tanner’s work functions – with.

Cash huffed out a long breath. “Sorry about that.”

“Friend of yours?”

“Nope.” He shook his head. “Drunken mistake.”

“Don’t tell her that. You seem to have made a good impression. I think she wants to have your babies.”

Cash let out a low chuckle. “That’s not funny.”

“Then why are you laughing?”

“Because it’s probably true.”

“Cash!”

A suited up Tanner walked through the oversized metal door, his usual ridiculously wide grin plastered across his face. “And this is?” Tanner’s attention immediately flew to Jonte. Funny how Crystal had been able to ignore her.

“This is Jonte. Jonte, Tanner.”

Tanner stepped forward to shake Jonte’s hand. When he pulled away, he motioned for them to follow him into his enormous office.

“Why didn’t you call? I could have sent Crystal out on an errand.” Tanner laughed so raucously his whole bulky six-foot-four frame shook.

“Well, aren’t you a loyal wingman?” Jonte shook her head and smiled.

“The best. And I did. You didn’t answer.”

“Ah, well. You’re here now. Take a load off.” Tanner sank into his own high-backed leather chair. “Anyway, what brings you in so early?”

Cash proceeded to explain Jonte’s predicament to his life-long best friend, hopeful Tanner would jump in and fix the mess him and Dolly had created.

“Tell me about your visa?” Tanner’s cuff links scratched against the desk as he propped his arms on it.

“I have a twelve-month work and travel visa, but realistically, if things don’t go my way, I can probably only stay six months, max.”

Huh. She’d omitted the whole six-week arrangement she’d made with her dad last night. Had she changed her mind and decided to renege on the deal or was she trying to be optimistic?

“To be perfectly honest, a job would definitely help your prospects. As nice as you seem, I can’t see anyone on my books letting you in without one.”

A job?

He needed summer staff and could offer her a job.

Nope.

Not even going there.

“But I have money to get me by.” Jonte leaned forward, desperation starting to creep into her voice.

“I know. Hell, I’d put you up in one of my own buildings if I could, but they’re fully tenanted at the moment.”

Cash rubbed his hands over his temples. “So what do we do?”

Tanner’s brows furrowed together and his shoulders slumped slightly. “Check the noticeboards around Vanderbilt. Maybe try Craigslist?”

“Craigslist sucks. It took me a month to find Misha. A month! I don’t have a month.” Jonte shut her eyes tight and blew out a sharp breath. “Can I please use your bathroom?”

“No problem. Head back out and they’re just before the elevators, on the left. There’s a sign.”

“Thanks.” Jonte stood up and quickly exited the office.

Cash dropped his head into his hands, a piss poor attempt at buying a few seconds and avoiding Tanner’s curious eyes. He counted the numbers off in his head – one, two, three – before making a show of rubbing his hands over the scars hidden underneath his stubble. He knew what was coming and he didn’t want to hear it.

“What are ya doin’, Cash?” Tanner rose from his chair, walked around, and then sat down on the edge of the black high-gloss desk, opposite him.

And there it was.

“You’re gonna leave an ass print on that desk.” Cash chuckled, avoiding Tanner’s question.

“Nice try.” Tanner let out his deep guffaw and shook his head. “Since when do you take in strays and put them up with your sister?”

“Technically, it was Dolly’s idea.”

Cash knew that shit, despite being the truth, wasn’t going to fly here.

Tanner pointed at Cash, his finger making one thousand and one accusations. “And you not only let her stay with your sister, but you dragged her fine ass down here this morning.”

“So we can be rid of her.” Cash stood up, needing to clear his head, and walked over to the window that spanned the back of the office.

“If you wanted to be rid of her, you would have recommended another hotel to her last night and sent her on her way after last call.”

“I know, okay.” Cash banged his forehead against the glass. What the hell had he been thinking? He was livid with himself for going along with Dolly’s absurd suggestion, and now they were stuck with this puppy-dog-eyed Aussie. “You need to help me.”

“Come on, Cash. You know I would if I could. But seriously, there’s nothing I can do. Now get away from that window, or I’ll have to get Crystal in here to clean it, and I don’t have time to deal with her Cash obsession today.”

Cash shook his head. Tanner was deriving far too much amusement out of this whole situation. Where had his loyal wingman gone, huh? He was supposed to be on his side, damn it.

“Even though she’s not a brunette, she’s pretty hot. Maybe you should follow her into the bathroom?” Tanner winked.

“Not gonna happen.”

“Well, then maybe I should leave you to wallow and go see what she’s up to?”

“Don’t you dare!”

“Easy,” Tanner replied with a knowing smirk. “You, my friend, are in deep trouble.”

* * *

J
onte headed back
towards Tanner’s office but was stopped short by an over-zealous Crystal. Great. Because this was just what she needed.

“Stay away from Cash.”

“He’s all yours,” Jonte replied, her tone snippy and sharp. She hated these silly high school power struggles. Grow up already.

Crystal snorted and shook her head as Jonte tried to move around her. “You saw him before; it’s perfectly clear he’s not. Anyways, that’s not why I said it.”

“I’m sorry, but I can’t deal with this right now.” Jonte again tried to sidestep Crystal.

“Just stop and listen.” Crystal followed Jonte’s movements. “He’ll sleep with you once, maybe twice, if you’re lucky. But don’t get attached, ‘cause he doesn’t do commitment, or feelings, or anything.”

“We’re not. I mean, I barely even know him.”

Seriously? This woman was being ridiculous. Besides, Jonte didn’t have time to waste on Cash, even if he did bring bagels for breakfast.

“Oh, please. Anyone can see the googly eyes y’all are making at each other.”

“Look, I really need to get back in there.”

“I’m just sayin’. Enjoy the ride and all, but don’t let him in.”

“Thanks for the advice.”

Crystal finally stepped aside to let Jonte pass. “If you’re smart, you’ll listen.”

Jonte reached for the door handle and literally fell through the door and into Tanner’s arms.

Tanner was a big man, not fat or anything, but tall, and solid. Imposing. Cash was shorter by a few inches and had that relaxed, scruffy but sexy thing going on. Whereas Tanner’s milky chocolate skin was clean shaven, his dark hair had been cropped short, and he really was sex all wrapped up in a pinstriped business suit. Tanner easily caught and steadied her.

Jonte flushed, all embarrassed, and thanked him.

“My fault. I must’ve opened it as you were coming back in.” Tanner quickly removed his hands from her arms.

“No problem.” She mustered up a no doubt pathetic half-smile.

Cash glared at both Tanner and Jonte. “Let’s get outta here.” He nodded at the elevators.

“Oh, okay.” Jonte was surprised by the sudden shift in Cash’s mood and the fact they were leaving so soon. Weird. She waved at Tanner. “It was nice meeting you.”

“You too, Jonte. Catch ya later, Cash.”

Cash grunted and stalked off. What had she missed?

N
ope
, it wasn’t awkward. Not at all. Cash had said nothing all the way back down to the truck. They’d been driving for ten minutes, and still nothing.

What on earth had happened in that office while she was gone?

Yes, he’d been helpful in taking her to Tanner’s and buying her breakfast. But by the time Cash pulled up out the front of the bar, Jonte was seriously ready to head upstairs, grab her bags, and take off. Of course she’d leave some cash upstairs for Dolly. The point was, she didn’t need his I’m-super-sweet-no-I’m-irrationally-snooty Jekyll and Hyde act.

Jonte jerked the door open and jumped out of the truck. She was halfway to the stairwell when she realized she didn’t have a key to get back into the apartment. Damn.

“Where are you going?”

She turned around and muttered, “Can I please borrow your key so I can head up and grab my stuff?”

“What?”

“Key. I need a key.”

“I heard that. Where are you going?” Cash strode towards her.

“I don’t know but I can figure my mess out all by myself thankyouverymuch!”

Cash ran his hand through his hair, turned away and stalked off towards the bar’s entrance.

“I need to get upstairs.” Jonte stomped her foot, her hands poised on her hips, her confusion morphing into anger. Not that he could see her little show, seeing as he had his back to her and he was now opening up the door to the bar.

“Is your phone working yet?”

“No,” she sulked.

Crap. She hadn’t sorted that out yet.

He held open the door for her and plastered a knowing, bold grin across his face. “So how are ya going to call people up?”

“Not your problem. I’ll figure something out.”

She was so not going in that bar. Nope. It was not happening. She was retrieving her stuff and leaving.

“Sweetheart, the minute I let you go upstairs and spend the night in my apartment, you became my problem.”

“Your apartment?”

“Yes, my apartment.” He smirked.

Ugh. Why was he fighting with her? Why would he just let her leave already? And how was the apartment his?

“But Dolly –”

“Lives there because she likes being in town. I own the building.”

“Oh.”

“Come on, we can google apartments in my office in the back.”

“I don’t need your help.”

“Just get in here.”

“No.” Yeah, yeah she was behaving like a petulant child but couldn’t help herself. She needed another plan, and whatever that plan was, she was confident it had absolutely nothing to do with sexy-ass bartenders who went from hometown hero to smug and smarmy in two seconds flat.