Read Next Song I Sing (NEXT TIME AROUND) for Free Online Page A

Maybe you can talk them into staying,” Sam said with a laugh and shrug, heading down the bar.
    When Sam came back to his end, Max rapped on the bar. “Get Dreama to come over and wait tables. I saw she was on shift in the dining room. She loves it over here anyway.”
    “Suddenly you care about this place? What’s up? You bucking for Jasper’s job?” Sam asked.
    “Let’s not get crazy now,” Max said, pretending to be insulted.
    Jasper walked in and his eyes went directly, unerringly to the woman who had introduced herself as Chloe Zanders that afternoon. She was wearing a two-piece sequined dress, a diamond ring winking from her revealed navel, and matching earrings that sparkled when they caught the light.
    Jasper was without words and looked at Max, who patted the stool beside him.
    “Jasper needs a drink, Sam. Two fingers,” Max said, making Sam grin again.
    Sam’s eye travelled between Jasper and the women. He shook his head at his own misfortune, knowing exactly which one Jasper favored. Sam and Jasper had been roommates in college.
    “Well, I was going to be mad at you Maximillan, but seeing her dressed up was worth the walk here,” Jasper finally managed to say.
    “Yeah, they’re all dressed up, but just wait a moment,” Max told him. “You’re in for a hell of a surprise.”
    ***
     
    Taylor watched Jasper Wade come in, see Chloe, and almost fall onto the bar stool. It was so incredibly sweet that she had to study the piano keys to keep from laughing. Think, she ordered herself. What song would most destroy the man’s composure? She played the first notes of “Tell Him.”
    Chloe let the song build inside her, let the melody transport her up and out of herself, and then she saw him. He was sitting beside Max the piano player at the bar, his gaze on her, heat in his eyes.
    She didn’t even consider fighting the urge to sing to him.
    Later, Chloe heard Taylor and Emma joining in, and her voice lifted with theirs in harmony, the words poignant as she sang them to him. When her voice drifted off, and the last notes had been sung, there were a few moments of absolute silence, and then the applause and hooting from everyone was shocking in the quiet room.
    Chloe burst out laughing, her face lit with a pleasure she had forgotten she could feel. Why had she ever given this up? It boggled the mind.
    She hugged and kissed Emma, then slid down on the piano bench to hug and kiss Taylor.
    “This is the best night of my life,” Chloe told them. “Thanks for talking me into this.”
    ***
     
    At the bar the two men sat, stunned still, while Sam stood equally stunned behind the bar.
    Max cleared his throat and spoke first. “Well, you were right, bro. They’re not on the prowl. They’re here for each other. But I’m still going to date the tall blonde with the short hair.”
    “No, you’re not,” Sam said behind them, setting Jasper’s drink down. “The woman called him ‘Cutie’.”
    Jasper smiled and laughed. “Cutie? That’s a polite shut down Maximillan. She’s not interested.”
    “Really? Maybe I should go for the busty brunette with the pipes then. She looks more friendly anyway. We could use a singer around here. Look at the crowd she brought in. All the tables are full now,” Max said, laughing at his brother’s glare. “You either talk to her or I will, Jasper. And yes, that’s more than a threat. She sang to you and I wasn’t the only man here disappointed. Even Sam has been sighing. You don’t take her up on her interest, somebody will.”
    “Rayonna is here,” Jasper said, frowning. “And she’s in my suite already.”
    “You can’t be that dumb. You’d actually trade a chance with that amazing woman,” he said, pointing to Chloe, “for that skinny yardstick you married and divorced ? You don’t even like Rayonna.”
    “What do you suggest I do? She’s here already,” Jasper asked, running an agitated hand through his hair.
    “Tell Rayonna something has come up