The Nashville Bet

by Shana Gray

  He decided to switch the subject.

  “So then. About the bet.” He put on the turn signal to get around a parked delivery truck on the narrow street.

  “Yes, your whole reason for stealing me away. Let’s hear it.” He saw her running her fingertip along the hem of her dress and it totally reminded him of the sight he’d caught earlier. Those hot-pink panties.

  At a red light his gaze automatically sought her out again and he was pinned. She looked back at him, her eyes nearly translucent in the lighting, her skin flushed. The curve of her neck drew his eyes to the delicate collarbone and then the gentle rise of her breasts beneath the low neckline of her dress. He had no words for how beautiful she was.

  Chase could look at her all day and still not see enough of her. But the challenge in her eyes was refreshing. He reached for the radio to find some background music and, when he found a tune that made him smile, he turned it up.

  Ava laughed. “‘Fishin’ in the Dark?’ I loved that song when I was younger.”

  “You don’t love it anymore?” It pleased him that she liked the same song he did. And it gave him an idea.

  But before he could speak she reached forward, turned the radio up louder and started to sing, coming in at the right time.

  She faced him and sang her heart out. She knew every word by heart and Chase absolutely loved it.

  Then she stopped and they stared at each other. Chase knew which words came next, just as much as she did. He turned back to the road and carried on with the words as if she hadn’t stopped and she joined back in with him. The awkward moment passed and they finished the song.

  “I bet that doesn’t happen every day.” Ava was still tapping her fingers on the console between them.

  “What doesn’t?” Chase asked.

  “That you get to do a sing-along with an up-and-coming country A-lister.”

  He didn’t answer because he had no idea what to say to that. After years of practising, putting in the work, playing in dive bars, being “A-list” didn’t feel comfortable yet, like a new pair of boots that needed to be broken in. He didn’t think of himself as a superstar. “Anyway,” she said, “I think it’s more of a kissing song than a fishing song anyhow.” Again, he heard the humor in her voice.

  “You may be right about that,” he agreed. “So then, how’d you like to go fishing?”

  Ava giggled, reaching out to tap him on the arm. “I’m on to you, buddy. I think you have more kissing than fishing on your mind.”

  “I’m not opposed to either. But I still think your fishing skills are going to be as weak as your line dancing ability.” She gave an outraged gasp and shook her head, making her hair wave. God, what he wouldn’t give to run his fingers through those silky strands.

  “I’ll have you know, sir, that I’m a classically trained dancer. And it was you that knocked me off my feet. So look into the mirror for the weak dancing skills.” Ava reached up to indicate the rear-view.

  He was too distracted as the image of her ass swaying in the perky dress, her long legs and sparkly boots so out of step with the rest of the line, returned to his mind. And who could forget those hot-pink panties?

  “Tell ya what, Boots, I think I know how we’re gonna settle our bet,” he said, pressing down on the gas pedal, eager to reach their destination.

  “Oh, I see. Don’t keep me in suspense, superstar. What did you have in mind?” Ava moved her bug purse to the floorboard so she could lean a little closer.

  “Three different activities. Best out of three wins. First up, fishing. Whoever lands the biggest fish takes the event.” They were finally out of the town proper and on the one-lane road toward his house.

  “If you wanted to swap fishing whoppers, all you had to do was provide the water and the fishing rods. I’m pretty sure I have some stories that will blow your mind.” Ava made an explosion gesture with her hands, complete with sound effects, and Chase thought she was the cutest thing he ever saw.

  “No whoppers—actual fish. In fact, I have all my fishing gear and tackle box in the back of the truck.”

  “Well, now, isn’t that handy?” she said. “But we haven’t talked stakes yet. When I win, what’s my prize?”

  What had started out a slightly inconvenient favor for a friend suddenly morphed into the best decision he’d ever made. Ava was matching him step for step, obviously not caring that he was rich or famous. She saw him as a regular guy and it was amazing.

  “Well, as you have probably guessed, I’m doing a set on the last night of the Fest. So if I win, you have to stand in the pit with a T-shirt on that says ‘Chase Hudson is Always Right.’” He lifted his forefinger and pointed at her. “And you have to take a photo of yourself wearing it and post it on social media so I can share it. Deal?”

  Chase reached his hand out, waiting for her to place hers in his. He couldn’t wait to see her in that shirt. He was already designing it in his head and made a mental note to text his assistant to get it made tomorrow.

  He glanced at Ava and saw a look of confidence reflected in her eyes. She wasn’t going to go down easy. Game on, Boots. Game on.

  Chapter Ten

  Ava put her hand out to shake his in order to seal the deal but then quickly drew it back and curled her fingers into her palm.

  He frowned. “What’s wrong?”

  “Nothing, but I just had a thought. If I win, then what do you owe me?” She tapped her finger to her chin and thought about it.

  “Uh, well. We can figure that out.” He didn’t withdraw his hand and pushed it closer to her.

  “I know! You have to sing, on stage, a song of my choosing. And it may not be a country song either, but it will definitely be a song written and played by a woman!” She giggled, thinking it just might be Shania Twain’s “I Feel Like a Woman.” That would be hilarious.

  “What are you laughing at?” There was a wary tone in his voice.

  “Can’t tell you,” Ava said gaily, and did her best to stop giggling. “But, I think I know the song you will sing.”

  “Oh Lord, I don’t think I wanna know,” Chase said with drama in his voice. “But since I don’t plan on losing, it won’t be an issue. So, deal?”

  He waggled his hand at her again. Placing her hand in his, they shook on the bet. Boy, was he going to be in for a big surprise. This would teach him to judge women based on one crappy photograph! She was country bred, through and through, thank you very much. Sure, she may not look like it now and had become rather citified, but you can’t take the country out of the girl.

  At least she hoped so!

  Truthfully, while she wanted to cream him on principle, it didn’t really matter to her whether they had a bet or not. It was what had brought them together and that was good enough for her. She was with him in his pick-up truck, driving to who knows where, and she felt fine. Fantastic, in fact. She cast a quick look at him and tingles rushed through her. She hadn’t had tingles since she was a teenager.

  She saw the corner of his eyes crinkle and his teeth showed as he smiled. He turned to look at her and the dashboard lights made him look so dangerously sexy that those tingles turned into a whole body shiver. Ava found herself returning his smile. He was just so easy to be with and it eased her mind about whatever might come later. What she hoped came later.

  He poked his cowboy hat higher on his head and Ava couldn’t believe how such a simple movement could hold her so captivated.

  “Okey-dokey, then. How about we get this bet off to a rousing start?” He rested his wrist on the top of the steering wheel.

  She was torn between being amused or being turned on by the confidence in his voice. “Oh? Sounds like you have an idea?”

  “What song did we just hear?” he asked, and tapped the radio on the dashboard of his truck.

  She thought for a moment, a little bit thrown off by the switch in conversation. And then she opened her mouth to a little surprised O. “You were serious, then? You want to go fishing tonight?”
She stared at him.

  “I most certainly do. Like I said, I’ve already got the gear we need. And there’s no time like the present.”

  “Does that gear include bug spray? I go out in this skirt and the skeeters will eat me alive. And it’s really dark out. Do you have a fishing spot that’s going to be safe?” A little niggle of uncertainty settled in her belly.

  “’Course, I do. I’m a local boy and I know this land like the back of my hand. Maybe because I have the perfect fishing hole I’ve been going to since I was a little kid.” He turned to look at her, slowing the truck down and, all of a sudden, his teasing became serious. “I completely understand if you don’t want to go. We can go tomorrow if you feel nervous. It’s important you feel safe. But I can assure you, you’re safe with me and I’ll take care of you.”

  She couldn’t read his eyes in the reflective dash lights; the depth of their color almost black. Ava wanted to see beyond his eyes and deeper into who he was. The urge to get to know him better suddenly became an insatiable desire. Yes, there was so much more to Chase and she wanted to peel back his layers and find out who he really was.

  “Okay, you’re on. Prepare to have your butt kicked,” she replied.

  He gave her a sideways look and raised his eyebrows before focusing back on the road. “Oh, I don’t know about that, Boots. I don’t think it’ll be my ass that needs tending when we’re done.”

  “Is that right? You just might be a bit overly confident there, superstar.” He shook his head and she liked how his long hair brushed against the collar of his shirt. Her fingers twitched with her desire to reach out and touch him.

  Ava peered out the window of the truck into the dark forest that edged the side of the dirt road they’d turned on to a while back. She chewed her lower lip, wondering if agreeing to go fishing was the right thing to do. After all, where the heck were they? The moon was high and lit their way with an ethereal glow, shooting rays between the leaves overhead and casting shadows on the road.

  It was so pretty it made her eyes hurt and Ava realized just how much she missed the country. She was excited about this bet, although she wasn’t entirely sure why. Maybe it was the simple fact it meant they’d spend more time together over the weekend. Their underlying current of sexual tension had her primed.

  Her competitive nature was also clamoring for her to win. He clearly thought he was going to but this first competition would be like taking candy from a baby. Her daddy had said she was the Fish Whisperer.

  They had fallen into an easy silence and she took the opportunity to really look at him. Ava had never dated a man like him—rough, raw and so delectably shiver-inducing; it almost made her breathless. Men like him were few and far between back home. In her quest for Mr. Right, she had gone on many a disastrous date, suffered through mediocre first kisses and, on a few occasions, experienced adequate sex. It had been so long since she’d had really good, explosive sex.

  Her last real relationship had been long distance. She’d met Bill at a convention out in Texas and they had immediately clicked. They’d fallen into bed almost right away and it had been urgent, passionate. With Bill based in London, and her in middle America, they couldn’t come to an agreement on how to make their relationship work. She had become invested, really quickly. It had felt like a fairy tale come to life, complete with the handsome British prince. But in the end, she couldn’t let him sweep her away. With neither of them quite willing to bend and uproot their lives and move, it had ended before it had even really begun.

  Ava didn’t regret it, not exactly. She liked to tell herself that, if it was meant to be, they would’ve found a way, but sometimes when she was lying awake at night she admitted that she could’ve made more of an effort for it to work. Dreams are well and good, but real relationships take effort, communication. Castles in the air fade away soon enough. It was a hard lesson to learn. Ava hadn’t even told her friends until she shared the story with Bonni in Vegas.

  Still, she stayed positive. Mr. Right would come eventually and sweep her off her feet. Like Fredi said, maybe it was time to stop actively looking and let the universe work its mysterious ways. After all, it had led her to Chase, hadn’t it?

  She drew in a deep breath and the darkening night swept by as they drove down a country road. For her, tonight was just the beginning of a fling. Provided that the sex was better than adequate. Ava snuck another look at Chase and was hit by another wave of desire. She was willing to bet her retirement fund that he was incapable of delivering anything but knock-your-socks-off sex.

  Ava leaned forward to adjust the vent so that the fan was blowing more directly on her. Lord, she was hot. They’d fallen silent but the air crackled between them. He shot her a heated look before the truck sped up a little more. Clearly, he was just as eager as she was.

  She laced her fingers together on her lap and told herself again that this weekend was just going to be fun. She would enjoy herself and let what may happen…happen. A financial manager like her and a musician like him could never be anything but a fling and she was okay with that.

  But then why did she feel so crappy about it?

  Chapter Eleven

  Ava settled on a stump underneath a stand of trees. Chase had placed a blanket over it to protect her dress, which was very thoughtful of him. She’d kicked off her boots and pushed her toes into the dewy grass with a happy sigh, after liberally spraying her legs with the bug spray. The leaves in the treetops rattled against each other on the soft night-time breeze and she tipped her head back to look up at the night sky.

  There was pale moonlight, all silvery and dappling the water where the creek turned back, making it looked like someone had flung diamonds over the surface. It was just so pretty here. How long had it been since she’d enjoyed the quiet solitude of nature?

  Too long.

  The creek was a wide pool at this point and the water here was smooth and silent, but downstream she could hear the faint sound of ripples as it passed over river rocks. Some twinkly lights in the bushes caught her attention

  “Oh, fireflies! I love fireflies. This is a lovely spot.” Ava sighed and let the feeling of freedom and happiness push out any worry or concern. She was here, sitting here under the moon, next to a river with a very sexy cowboy crooner.

  “It’s one of my favorite places. I grew up here, learned to swim and fish here.” He reached into his tackle box and held his penlight between his teeth to light up the inside as he searched for whatever he was looking for. He stood from the crouch he’d been in and carried the rods to the edge of the creek.

  She watched Chase set the hooks. He was using jigs under a bopper, which told her he could be looking for crappie. Now, if he’d put on crankbait or spinnerbait, then he’d likely be fishing for bass in this Tennessee creek.

  “And I bet you did more in this spot than land some catfish.” Ava couldn’t help herself asking. Then she cringed a little, wishing she hadn’t said anything at all. She didn’t think she really want to know the answer.

  “A lot has happened at this fishing hole. But never any kissing in the dark, if that’s what you’re beating around the bush to ask.” He looked at her and then back at the hook between his fingers.

  Ava didn’t answer and watched him silently. The swell of relief she felt surprised her. It wouldn’t have changed anything if this had been his regular make-out spot but the fact that it wasn’t made her feel like he was sharing something special with her. A new, warmer sensation began to grow deep inside her.

  He handed her a rod and she rose from the stump and let her gaze roam over him. The woman that hooked him was going to be a very happy lady indeed.

  Chase was surprised how easily she took to fishing. She handled the rod well and didn’t say one word about getting muddy. Somehow, she looked right at home standing creek side in her short, sassy dress. He wouldn’t have thought a city girl would be so at ease. The more time he spent with Ava, the more he wanted to be with her.

 
; Ava cast her rod back then snapped it so the jig sailed across the water to plop quite nicely out in the center of the pool, near a copse of tulip trees. “So this is our first competition. To see who can land the biggest fish.”

  Chase nodded. “Impressive beginners’ luck. Now, isn’t this so much more relaxing than sitting in traffic to get home or working late in some stuffy ole office?”

  He saw her smile and couldn’t look away from her, she was so serene and beautiful under the moon. The moon’s rays glinted off the curve of her cheek and sparked along the strands of her hair. It was as if the moon bathed her in silver and turned the night to shades of gray. She was magical, liked some kind of woodland fairy that could flit away on the evening breeze at any moment.

  “Well, I think you’re discounting the ability to get pad thai at 8 p.m. and the joy of not having to drive thirty minutes to the nearest movie theater.” She gave her rod a little tug and a couple of turns on the reel. “Anyway, I know my way around a fishing rod. My dad took me fishing a lot when I was a kid.”

  “I see. So I got a ringer on my hands, do I? Now I’m wondering what else you’re hiding from me.” Chase snapped his wrist and his line sailed out beside hers.

  “I think everybody hides something.” She looked up at him and her eyes were almost translucent under the moonlight. “Don’t you agree?”

  He stared down at her. He’d had his fair share of girlfriends while growing up, and casual hook-ups since he started playing, but Ava was unique. She wasn’t swooning over him or hinting at expensive dates or putting on an act to impress him. She was the real thing. If he wasn’t careful, it wasn’t only the fish that were gonna get hooked. He cleared his throat and focused on his fishing rod. “Maybe. Especially when people are just starting to get to know each other, maybe some people don’t intentionally keep things from the other person, they simply don’t share everything right away.”