Chapter 2

2

Silas

An hour goes by, and the alcohol has finally set in, making me feel pretty good as the singer onstage finishes her set. A few more people have arrived during that time, and it was obvious they enjoyed the show. I even caught myself nodding my head to the songs she was playing.

I bring my fingers to my lips and whistle loudly to show my appreciation, which catches her attention, so I clap my hands over my head and love the way it makes her blush.

Yes, I’m being obnoxious, and, no, I don’t care. She did a great job, and she deserves more than the light claps everyone else is giving her.

I lean back and watch as she leaves the stage and walks to where Joey is at the end of the bar. Deciding that my clapping wasn’t enough, I head her way to tell her how much I liked her set.

“Great job tonight,” I say as I get close enough for her to hear me.

She laughs as she responds, “Thanks for clapping so much when I was done.”

I hold my arms out to my sides with a cocky grin. “What can I say? I like to show my appreciation when it’s well deserved.” I hold my hand out to her. “I’m Silas.”

She doesn’t reciprocate and looks at Joey first, like she’s asking for permission before introducing herself to me. He laughs more to himself, dropping his chin to his chest and shaking his head.

“What am I missing here?” I ask.

“I warned her about you guys,” Joey says.

“You warned her? What? Are we horrible human beings or something?” I ask, half joking, half not. “You do realize, your brother is one of us guys.”

“He didn’t mean it that way,” she says. “He just told me there was a good chance you guys would be here and that there were a few I should probably stay clear of.” She raises her eyebrows and rubs her lips together like she’s afraid to know if I’m one of them or not.

I smack his arm. “Wow, bro. Blocking before we even walk through the door. That’s a new one. And here I thought, you liked us.”

He pauses for a second, takes an inhale, then says, “Kara, this is Silas, or who we call Fed. He is not one of the guys I was warning you about.”

I smile proudly. “Now, that’s better.” I hold my hand out to her again. “It’s nice to meet you, Kara.”

She giggles at our antics as she shakes my hand. “It’s nice to meet you too.”

“Fed and I actually go way back. We kind of grew up together, so I can vouch for him honestly.”

“Well, that’s the way you help a brother out. Now, why don’t you get this lovely lady a drink and put it on my tab?”

“Since when do you have a tab?” he asks like he’s in shock.

“Exactly. That’s why I said to put it on my tab,” I respond jokingly.

Kara speaks up. “It’s okay. I’ll just have a water.”

She pulls out the barstool and takes a seat, so I do the same as Joey fills a cup with water, places it in front of her, and moves on to help another customer.

“Mind if I join you?”

“Looks like you’re already making yourself at home,” she responds sarcastically.

“Spicy. I like it.” I position myself to face her and tilt my head to the side, taking her in. “Let me guess. You’re like that song; are you one of them girls who peels off the Bud Light label?”

She lets out a sharp laugh, obviously not expecting me to say something like that, but knowing exactly what song by Lee Brice I’m referencing. “No, I won’t run the pool table”—she holds up her finger to make her point—“but don’t you dare call me an angel.”

I smile, digging the start of our conversation so far. “Noted. So, tell me, Kara, how long have you been singing in bars like this?”

“That was my first time.”

“Then, I’m glad I could be part of your first audience. You did good up there. How long have you been singing?”

“Since I was a little girl. My daddy led the choir at our church, and he always said I was his little angel who could sing.”

I grin from ear to ear. “So, I can call you an angel?”

She drops her head with a laugh. “No. He can call me that. You can’t.”

“Is this your dream? To make it in the music industry?”

“That’s why people come to Nashville, right? Trying to get discovered.”

“Then you’re not from here?”

She shakes her head. “Nope. I’m from a small town in Ohio called Willard.”

“Then, how long have you lived in Nashville?”

She stares at her water glass, spinning it in her hands. “About six months.”

I lean my head down, trying to get her attention. “Why the somber stare?”

She sighs. “Just wonder if I’m doing the right thing. It took me six months to get on that stage.”

“But you did indeed get on that stage, and you did great!”

She grins in my direction, but it’s still guarded. “I had to beg them to let me do it for free.”

“And look, they allowed it. The March family is awesome like that. They probably would have let you go on sooner. Did you not ask until now?”

“No, I didn’t. But you’re probably right. After I was turned down for what felt like the millionth time, someone suggested I come here.”

“Looks like they were right. How was it up there?” I nudge her playfully. “Everything you ever dreamed of?”

“I was worried I wasn’t doing too well since there wasn’t a big crowd in here, but having you cheer like that definitely lifted my spirits.”

I nudge her again, more in a flirty way this time. “Glad I could help. I wasn’t cheering just because I think you’re gorgeous. You did a really good job. I found myself listening a few times while hanging out with the guys.”

I love the way she blushes, but she’s quick to move the conversation off of her.

“Are those your friends?” She motions to where they are all sitting at the other end of the bar.

“That they are. We all work the same shift, so we’re more like family.”

“Same shift? What do you guys do?”

“We’re all firefighters downtown at Station 47.”

“Firefighters, huh? Do you guys come here often?”

Thoughts of what actually brought me here tonight flash in my mind, but I tuck them aside, not wanting to go back down that rabbit hole—and more importantly, not wanting to drag her down it with me.

“We’re here every once in a while. Marchy over there”—I point to where he is standing with his arm wrapped around his new girl, Haley—“is Joey’s brother and co-owner of this place, so if we do go out as a group, we come here.”

“How long have you been a firefighter?”

“Not long. I’m still the probie of the station.”

“Probie?” She giggles at the name. “Is that a good thing?”

“Just means I’m the new guy, so I’m on probation for the first year, almost done though.”

“Ah.” She nods her head slowly. “So, were you the kid who grew up wanting to be a firefighter?”

“Guilty as charged.” I smile with pride.

She matches my expression. “Is it everything you imagined?”

The mom’s scream from three months ago pops in my head, but I instantly grab my drink and take a sip, pushing it back down to the depths it came from. “Livin’ the dream,” I say out loud, hoping she believes me even though I don’t believe it myself.

Joey approaches us again, motioning to Kara. “Here, come on back. I’ll save you from Fed here, and then we can discuss getting you on the schedule to play again.”

“Really, dude? Save her from me?”

He laughs. “Yeah, save her from you talking her ear off all night.”

Kara grabs her water and stands. “See ya, Fed.”

“It’s Silas,” I yell out, making sure she knows my real name.

She turns and gives me a beautiful smile. “I know. I just like Fed better.”

I nod my head her way. If she smiles like that at me again, she can call me whatever she wants.