As I suspected. “It’s nice to meet you too.” I shook his hand then dropped my arm.
“And this is my beautiful wife.” He pulled Vivian toward me and introduced her.
“It’s nice to meet you too.”
“So, how do you know Cash?” she asked innocently.
“She’s a friend,” Cash said quickly. I could see the lines of anxiety on his face. Normally, he was cool and collected. But now he was unnerved and irritated. It was a new side to him.
“I don’t hold hands with my friends,” Denver said with a smile.
Cash’s eyes flared in hatred.
“Let’s go have a drink next door,” Denver said. He placed his hand on my shoulder. “I’d like to get to know you better.”
His family seemed really interested in me and I wasn’t sure why. But I could tell Cash wasn’t happy about that.
“Umm…”I didn’t know what to say.
“Prudence and I have plans,” Cash said.
“With us.” Denver pulled out my chair then tugged me to a stand.
Cash was on his feet instantly. “Denver, enjoy your night with your wife. You guys don’t get much alone time.” He opened his wallet and threw a hundred on the table. That was more than enough to cover the bill.
“But you’re family.” Denver gave him a cocky smile. “What’s more important than that?”
Vivian hooked her arm through mine and led me out of the restaurant. “What did you order?”
“I had the fried tofu. It was good.”
“I always get the Greek salad. My favorite.” She had a beaming smile. I automatically liked her. She seemed a little older than me.
I distantly heard Cash and Denver arguing behind us. Cash said he didn’t want to mix family and friends into our relationship, so I knew he was irritated he’d been spotted. But I didn’t see why it was a big deal.
Once we walked inside the bar, we headed to a table. Cash pulled out my seat then sat beside me. But his familiar affection was absent. He didn’t touch me or rest his hand on my thigh. I didn’t realize how much I loved his touch until I couldn’t have it.
Denver and his wife sat across from us. Drinks were brought and we sipped them. I already had two glasses of red wine but I drank a Long Island iced tea to fit in.
“How did you two meet?” Denver asked.
I kept my silence, allowing Cash to handle the situation however he wanted. Cash glanced at me then spoke.
“At a concert.”
“What concert?” his brother asked.
“Hers.”
Denver eyed me. “Are you a musician?”
“Yep,” I said. “My band is called The Quakes.”
“Awesome,” he said enthusiastically. “What do you play?”
“I play the bass, but I also play the guitar, the drums, and the piano.”
“Wow,” Vivian said. “You’re very accomplished.”
“Thank you,” I said with red cheeks.
“She can play the bassoon too.” Cash gave me an affectionate look.
“I can’t forget that,” I said with a laugh.
Denver caught the look Cash gave me. “And how long ago was that?”
I let Cash take the reins.
“A few weeks ago.”
Denver nodded. “Why didn’t you take her to McKenzie’s birthday party?”
“Why would I?” Cash said. “She’s just a friend.”
“That you hold hands with?” he asked incredulously.
Cash glared at him.
There was something deeper being exchanged between the two brothers. But I didn’t know what it was. Denver and Vivian seemed overly interested in Cash’s personal life, and I was curious to know why. But that conversation would have to wait.
Cash looked at his sister-in-law. “How’s work?”
“Hectic. I’m surprised I haven’t gotten called in today.”
“What do you do?” I asked.
“I’m a physician.”
“Wow,” I said. “You’re accomplished too.”
Denver stared at his wife fondly. “That she is.” The look was adorable. It was clear she was the apple of his eye, the sunrise and sunset of every day. He turned to Cash. “It looks like we upgraded.”
Cash didn’t respond. I knew him well enough to understand when he was angry, even if he didn’t express it. He was a master at hiding his emotions, pretending everything was fine. I knew that because I did the same thing.
“How’s work?” Denver asked.
Cash got uncomfortable again. “Good. How’s Natalia?”
I noticed he changed the subject quickly.
“Adorable.” Vivian sighed. “Denver had to drag me out because I didn’t want to leave her.”
I smiled at the love on her face. “Pictures?”
Her face lit up. “I have plenty.”
“And I have more.” Cash held his phone to me. “Scroll to the left.”
I eyed it before I took it. When I moved through the pictures, I saw a beautiful brunette. In every photo she was smiling or laughing, an energetic child. I kept moving through the photos and realized how many there were. “She’s beautiful.”
“Thank you,” Denver said.
I kept scrolling. Damn, how many pictures did he have? I finally got to the end of the reel. It was a picture of me sleeping. My face was resting on my arm and I looked so peaceful. I had no idea he took it.
Cash took the phone back before I could say anything.
“You have a lot of pictures,” I said.
“He loves our daughter more than we do.” Vivian gave Cash an affectionate look.
Cash finished his bourbon then pushed the empty glass away. I could tell he was eager to leave. If I didn’t see all those pictures of his niece, I would assume he hated his family. But I think he just hated the situation.
“We’re having everyone over for dinner this weekend,” Denver said. “Prudence, we’d love for you to come.”
Cash gave him a look of anger but kept his mouth shut. It was against his nature to be rude.
“I have a gig,” I lied.
“Then we’ll reschedule for a different night,” Denver said. “When are you available?”
Wow. They really wanted me to come around. Now I was even more interested to know why. “I have a show pretty much every night.” It was getting difficult to reject their offer without sounding rude.