Cheyenne placed her hand on her Cooper’s arm. “I love you dearly, but I’ve heard you sing in the shower. Zane’s right.”
“What do you say, McKenna?” Cooper asked.
McKenna smiled and her posture relaxed. “Sounds like judging to me, Cooper.”
“Thank you. It certainly sounded that way to me.”
Zane turned to McKenna. “Sing if you want or don’t. It’s your decision. What’s important is having fun.”
“Got it,” McKenna said.
The waitress appeared at their table. She turned to Cooper. “Can I get you a drink?” After he ordered a bottle of Shiner Bock, she glanced at Cheyenne. “You?”
“A margarita, on the rocks, please.”
“You?” the waitress asked McKenna.
“The same for me.”
Then the waitress glanced at Zane. “How’re you doing tonight?”
He nodded to everyone at the table. “We’re great, thanks. I’ll—”
“That’s good to hear. What can I do for you?”
Zane ordered a Shiner Bock, too. The waitress nodded, her gaze still on him, and said, “I’ll be back right quick with your drinks. My name’s Rhonda. You let me know if you need anything else.”
After the waitress left, Cooper shook his head and turned to Zane. “After all these years, I’m used to getting slighted when we’re out somewhere, but I can’t believe the waitress did that when you’re here with McKenna.”
“What’re you talking about?” Zane asked.
“You mean women do that all the time?” Cheyenne asked.
Cooper nodded. “Rhonda was pretty tame. You wouldn’t believe how obvious I’ve seen some females be.”
“Someone want to clue me in?” Zane asked, still looking baffled.
“You really didn’t notice?” McKenna asked. Zane shook his head, and she continued. “With you, she wet her lips, smiled, and leaned toward you. Her entire conversation with me consisted of one word.”
“Mine, too,” Cheyenne added.
“I got an entire question,” Cooper said.
Were they right? He’d barely paid attention to their waitress. Hell, he couldn’t remember what color hair she had. But as he replayed the scene in his head, he realized she’d dropped a few subtle hints. Damn. With the way McKenna’s father treated her mother, that was the last thing he needed. He turned to her. “I didn’t realize. I’m sorry if her actions hurt you.”
“There’s nothing to apologize for because you did nothing wrong.” McKenna chuckled. “The good news is we should get great service tonight.”
McKenna no sooner finished her sentence before their waitress returned. Again, she stood near Zane’s right shoulder. When he covered McKenna’s hand with his, weaving his fingers with hers, the waitress thunked his beer bottle on the table in front of him, sending foam over the rim. Then she turned and stalked away.
Message sent and received. Zane smiled as he lifted the bottle to his lips. Looked like their service may not be great after all.
A minute later, folks started singing. McKenna rested her chin on her steepled hands, her eyes bright as she watched the performances. For a couple folks the best he could say was they stayed on key. A few others sounded fairly good. He leaned toward McKenna and whispered, “So far no one has a voice that compares with yours.”
She smiled but remained quiet. By the fifth performer, McKenna squirmed in her seat. By the seventh, she quietly sang along.
Zane nodded toward the stage. “You gonna get up there before you explode?”
“I’m considering it.”
