Page 5 of You're All I Need

He nods, pulling onto the street and driving toward my home. “Anyway, I drive a work truck all day, so when it comes to my personal vehicle, I prefer comfort. This pretty girl has all the bells and whistles. She’s shit on gas, but you can’t beat the air-conditioned leather seats, and the Bose ten-speaker surround system.”

I run my hands over the smooth-as-butter seat. “Very nice, Mr.—Wait, what’s your last name?” I realize quickly I’ve been in town four months or so, and I don’t think I’ve ever heard Caden’s last name.

Caden laughs again, and I have to admit, it’s a really nice sound. I’ve heard it numerous times since meeting him after I started working at Burgers and Brew, it always amazes me at how sexy and natural his laugh is. Paired with his devilishly handsome good looks, I can see why women practically lose their minds—and their panties—when he’s near.

“Neumann. I usually see you working the lunch shift,” he says, heading toward the place I call home.

“Yeah, that’s my norm, but I pick up some nights when needed. Tonight, Kellen requested off so he could go see his sister perform at a charity function. It’s still wild to me that Kinsley McGregor actually lives in the same town as me. I mean, this is such a small place, andtheKinsley McGregor lives here,” I say, letting my fangirl show.

I’m not a huge fan of country music, but I love Kinsley. There’s just something about her soulful sound and meaningful lyrics that speak to me. She’s quit touring as of recently, but will still do the occasional pop-up show, usually for a charity function or small-town festival. She’s still writing though, and selling her songs to some of the biggest artists in the industry.

He smiles, making the appropriate turns to take me to my townhouse. “Pretty cool, huh? It’s not my usual genre of music, but she’s got a great voice. It’s cool that she sings with Jameson every now and again at the bar.”

Turning, I give him my complete attention as I say, “We’re not promoting it, but she’s performing next Saturday night with him. Walker asked me to work. Apparently, on the nights she sings, the bar reaches capacity fast, and they add a thirdbartender. Plus Garreth. They don’t tell anyone except staff because if word gets out, it turns into a shitshow, fast!”

“I heard about the first time she sang there and the nightmare it caused leading up to it. We had people camping out on the sidewalk and trying to get tables the moment they opened. That’s why they have strict dining and entertainment policies on Friday and Saturday nights. You can’t sit at any of the tables without ordering food until nine o’clock.”

I nod. “Makes complete sense.” After a beat, I add, “You coming?”

I don’t know why my heart starts to pound a little harder as I await his answer. It’s not like I’ll be able to talk to him. We’ll be busier than all get out. I probably won’t even know if he’s there or not. But there’s a wave of anticipation at the thought of him being there, so I quickly tamp that down, stomping on that bubble of excitement and popping it right where it lays.

“I might,” he replies casually. “I’ll be on call, but that doesn’t mean anything. I just don’t drink those nights. Jack and Stevie will have his kids, but maybe I can sweet-talk them into getting a sitter and coming up with me. I still can’t believe she’s BJ and Jameson’s long-lost sister.”

“Wild, isn’t it? This is exactly the small-town drama I didn’t even realize I needed in my life,” I state with a chuckle.

I met Stevie, who is a server at Burgers and Brew, my very first day, and basically latched on to her as a friend. She’s quiet and thoughtful, while I’m loud and slightly impatient. We make the perfect friendship pair. Since she arrived in town just a short time before me, she’s found her half-siblings and met the man who worships the ground she walks on. Jack is the father of two and Caden’s business partner. They’ve been friends since they were boys and ended up going into trade school together, and eventually, buying an electrical business and running it side by side.

“Stick around long enough and you’ll get your fill of the small-town drama,” he replies, but before I can ask him if he’s speaking from experience, he pulls into the small lot with Conrad’s townhouses.

“I’m the first one in the second building, unit five.”

There are two four-unit buildings with a grass walkway between them, and each townhouse is exactly the same. You enter into the kitchen, where there’s enough room for a small table and a couple of chairs. There’s a half bath beneath the stairs, as well as a closet with a stackable washer and dryer unit. Through the kitchen is the living room, which is decent sized. It contains a sliding door that takes you out to a small patio and a large, shared backyard. Upstairs has two bedrooms with a full-sized bathroom between them. They’re well-maintained and have affordable rent, and I was super lucky to secure one, especially for someone not from the area.

Caden parks in the spot my car usually sits. “We’ve done some electrical work inside these townhouses. They’re in good shape, and the landlord has lived here his whole life. Takes pride in his rentals.”

“I got lucky to get one. Mr. Conrad said he has a waitlist, but when I called to inquire before moving to town, he said the person waiting needed another couple of months before he could take possession, and since I was ready immediately, he offered the lease to me.” I’m not usually so open about stuff like this, but I realize how easy Caden is to talk to. He’s like talking to a friend.

He stares up at my home for a few moments before glancing to the units to the left and right. “You know, now that you mention it, I think I got lucky in one too.”

A very unladylike snort flies from my mouth. “Of course you did,” I retort with an eyeroll.

“Aww, come on, sugar. Don’t be jealous. You’re still my number one girl,” he insists with a singsong voice. He reachesover and tugs on one of my loose curls hanging beside my face, and the heat radiating off him warms my skin even without his touch.

Clearing my throat, I shake my head and reach for the door handle. “Thanks for the ride.”

Watching me, he releases his hold on my curl, a hint of a grin on his lips. “Are you going to invite me in?”

I narrow my eyes at him and dig deep at my sass. “You know, usually I get dinner out of a guy before I invite him inside.”

He grins widely, displaying perfectly straight, white teeth. “I could eat. I’m always a little hungry,” he suggests, making me laugh.

“It’s almost one in the morning. I’m not sure anything’s open,” I quip, playing along.

“Trust me, sugar. I could find us some dinner.”

I shake my head, the smile I wear seems to be a permanent fixture whenever he’s near. “Maybe another time, cowboy,” I reply, opening the door and slipping out of the SUV.

“I’m gonna hold you to that, Addi.”

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