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“I know how you feel about the press, but when it comes to clearing your name with the public, she can help you.”
Cash doubted her motivations were that noble.
“Your expression doesn’t exactly scream that you’re on board,” Gav said with a grin. “Look, Pres wrote an article about Elite Records that was not only well written, it was fair. She didn’t misquote Will, or play up a rivalry between Mags Dumond and the Sutherlands like Rolling Stone did.”
Cash frowned. He recalled that magazine article. It’d had a ripple effect on social media that took a long while to peter out. If he disliked the press, he hated social media.
“She called a few weeks back asking if the studio had recovered from the storm, and we talked about your DUI. I told her it was trumped-up bullshit and she said she could’ve guessed and offered to help clear your name.” Gavin shrugged. “She’s on our side, Cash. And the timing is perfect since you’re recording a new album. She can mention that alongside how Elite Records rose from the ashes after the storm nearly flattened it. Two birds. One stone.”
“Your metaphors need work,” Cash grumbled before returning to his point. “She’s my ex-girlfriend and you should’ve told me.”
“You dated her a hundred years ago.”
“Did it occur to you she could be here to exact revenge on me for breaking up with her?” Cash asked under his breath after checking to make sure no one was listening. He could never be too careful.
Gavin leaned in. “Did it occur to you how it’s a miracle this VIP lounge can hold both you and your enormous ego?”
Jerk.
“Revenge. Do you hear yourself?” His brother shook his head. “She’s as sweet as apple pie.”
Cash knew for a fact that she tasted equally sweet. He ground his molars together. Gavin wasn’t stupid enough to flirt with her, but Cash delivered a threat anyway. “As wholesome as apple pie too. So, mind yourself.”
Gavin couldn’t comment since Presley returned at that moment. Cash moved down the couch to give her seat back, regretting it when she sat closer to Gavin than him.
“Hallie is so nice,” Presley said. “Shy, though. I guess it’s poor form to assume twins have the same personality. They are individuals.”
“She’s been around a lot more since Will and Hannah have been together, but she barely says two words to me.” Gavin sounded slightly stung.
And Gavin thought Cash was the one with the ego? Gav hated when people didn’t like him—women in particular.
“I wonder why? You’re so easy to talk to.” Presley touched Gavin’s leg. Clearly Cash’s kiss hadn’t been more than a blip on her radar if she was already flirting with his brother.
“I’m taking off,” Cash announced abruptly. He’d seen enough. He set his unfinished beer on the table in front of the couch and stood.
“Pres is staying the week,” Gavin said, his smile not at all innocent. “You should give her a full tour while she’s here.”
Cash’s expression matched Presley’s scowl, though he looked more comfortable wearing it than she felt.
“Where are you staying?” Gavin asked her.
“The Rose Something. In Greencamp?” When the name didn’t spark recognition in either of them, she thumbed through her phone for the confirmation email. “Oh, here it is. The Dusty Rose.”
“No,” Gavin said at the same time Cash said, “Absolutely not.”
“Well, the Beaumont—” she gestured around at the lush bar perched atop the hotel “—while quite lovely, is a wee smidge outside of my budget.”
And Viral Pop’s. While funds were not a problem for the Sutherland family, she was here partially on her own dime. The credit card she’d been given for “expenses” had a limit that was hilarious. But she was willing to dip into her savings to fund this trip, figuring that the pay raise after she won the contest would refill it and then some. Staying in Beaumont Bay proper wouldn’t be dipping into her savings, it’d be scraping it dry.
Gavin and Cash exchanged dark glances and she shifted in her seat.
“Should I check into somewhere closer? There wasn’t much occupancy in neighboring towns given it’s summer at the lake.”
“You’re right about that,” Gavin said. “Occupancy is an issue right now, but the Dusty Rose isn’t where you want to stay.”
“It looked charming. And it’s only a half an hour up the road.”
“On those back-country roads, it’ll take longer than that. And you can bet the Dusty Rose is about as charming as my brother.” Gavin smirked, proud of the jab.
