Halo has slowly been taking money from our pockets with every performer they sign before we can even get to them.
We haven’t had a decent artist in years.
“Fine,” I relent, wanting to kick myself in the rear for agreeing to such a thing. I have lost my mind. “However, if he touches my cookies”—I narrow my eyes, the same shade as his—“I’ll kill him.”
My father chuckles. “If he touches anything else, I’ll kill him.” He moves closer, wrapping an arm around my shoulder. “We need him on our team. Halo can’t win.”
“They won’t,” I assure him. “I’m going to head home and prepare for the intruder.” I give him a kiss on the cheek. “I’ll call you later.”
On the way to my truck, I grab my phone and call my best friend, Callie. “Meet me at my place before we head out tonight.”
She agrees, and I point my vehicle in the direction of my condo.
My condo.
“So, a stranger will stay here tomorrow night?” Callie asks, apparently not at all appalled by the idea like me.
“Yes. My father thinks it’s best he stays with me while he schmoozes him. This way, the press won’t know he’s in town.” I’ve just filled her in on everything but left out the part about how I’m supposed to spy on Tobias Brentwood. Don’t get me wrong, I trust Callie more than anyone, but sometimes she forgets what should remain a secret.
“What if he’s good-looking?”
I scoff. “Highly doubtful.”
And that’s how we end up searching for Tobias on the internet. I’d like to report he’s a hunch-backed troll with a unibrow, but there is no doubt Tobias Brentwood is sex in a suit. In fact, he’s the most gorgeous man I’ve seen in my twenty-eight years on this earth. Tall and lean, with clear blue eyes and mussed dark hair.
“Damn.” Callie’s brown eyes twinkle as she twirls a lock of auburn hair around her finger. “What if he’s a sex god who’ll sneak into your room late at night, offering his gigantic peen to service your needs?”
I smack Callie’s arm and laugh. “You read too many romance novels.”
She winks. “Or I watch too much porn. Anyway, let me know if you want to switch places.”
“I’m sure this guy will be nothing but annoying, and I already hate my roommate.” I hold up an emerald dress that stops mid-thigh, trying to erase the image of his chiseled face from my mind. “What about this one?”
She nods. “I think it’s perfect.”
“First-world problem solved.” Now, if I could solve the sexy new roommate situation, life would be decent.
After we’re both ready, we head downtown to one of the hottest spots in our small city, The Golden Spoke Saloon. Callie parks in the crowded lot and I have to admit, I’m excited to blow off some steam. I hardly go out dancing anymore, and I just want one night of freedom before I’m expected to babysit a man who probably has never sweetened his tea or sat in a saddle.
Irritation that I’m still thinking about his handsome face tightens my spine as we head toward the heavy wooden doors of the club. The burly bouncer tips his hat at us as we walk inside the sprawling building. Country music blasts from the speakers, and I sway my hips as Callie mouths the word drinks.
I nod and follow her across the worn hardwoods to the horseshoe-shaped bar.
We order two Palomas and I take a sip of my drink, scanning the people on the dance floor.
“Let’s go dance,” I tell her.
“We have to check out the goods first,” she counters.
By “goods” she means the men in attendance tonight. I just want to let loose and shake my body on the floor, so I finish my drink in two gulps and set my glass on the bar.
I hook my arm through Callie’s. “Let’s check them out on the dance floor.”
She slams her drink back and sets her glass down before I pull her away.
We find a spot in the middle, and I sway my hips to the beat as Callie glances around like she’s searching for someone specific.
“Who are you looking for?” I yell over the music.
“No one in particular.” She points her finger in the bar’s direction. “Look at that guy in the black shirt. He’s hot.”
I glance over my shoulder and see who she’s ogling. He has sandy-blond hair that hangs almost to his muscular shoulders, and he’s just her type. “You should talk to him.”
Callie bumps her hip into mine, nudging us closer to the man in question. “No, I was thinking of him for you.”
I shake my head, turning up my nose at the idea of talking to him. “I’m fine. You take him.”
She stares at the man once more. “Ok, but I promise I’ll be right back. Maybe he has a friend.” She shimmies closer to the man at the end of the bar, and I return to dancing.