I was a damn good musician and a damn good singer. Nicky claimed I had the voice of a dozen tortured angels, and that I defined the whiskey voice. But those were his words. I was humble and would settle for half a dozen angels.

“Has nothin’a do with shyness,” I answered, tinkering on one of the songs I’d be performing with Nicky and the others next weekend. “If you wanna hear me sing, you and Camden should come to the music festival next Saturday.”

King cocked his head at me. “Camden mentioned he was wonderin’ about some of your social media posts. You’d talked about packing the truck for Nashville—and somethin’ about a gig.”

I nodded and gave him the CliffsNotes that’d led up to me joining his online giveaway—since I’d already be in the area around the same time as this food festival. It was a good time to bring up the gift too. As a thank-you for hosting the cooking class and whatnot—and me being raised by a grandmother who told me never to come empty-handed to someone—and, I guessed…just, thanks for everything. It was two tickets to the music festival.

“You’re serious?” he half stated, half asked. “That’s damn sweet of you. Count us in. I’d love to go.”

Cool. I wasn’t going to flip my shit. So what if August King and Camden Adair were going to watch me live? No big deal.

“I’ll get you the tickets later. They’re in my duffel.”

“We’re actually goin’ that way right now,” he said and stood up. “You just decided you wanted to grab a smoke before the ranch turns into a meet n’ greet.”

I grinned and rose from the bench. “Do you want your own smoke, or do you wanna sniff me?”

His eyes flashed with mirth, and he held the door open for me. “I’ll withhold my answer until I’ve made up my mind.”

I knew what I was hoping for.

Fuck. I was probably a complete tool for flirting with him, even if it was playful and without further intentions. He just made that sort of banter feel as natural as breathing.

“Anthony.” He spoke up a few paces behind me. “I think I’ve made up my mind.”

I chuckled and turned around to face him. “That was quick.”

He strolled toward me without a care in the world, but the spark of up-to-no-good in his eyes was unmistakable. And lethal. He was the sexiest damn predator.

I stood stock-still and waited for his wisecrack, wondering what direction he was going to take this, because I wasn’t the only one who’d flirted innocently. By now, he had to know that he had the ability to one-up me pretty easily. I couldn’t predict what he was going to do or say.