Page 55 of Prelude of Love
His soft moan of delight made me shift in my seat. “This is one of the best meals I’ve had since coming to Sunnyside.”
“Duke’s an amazing cook,” Early praised, his foot brushing against my calf under the table. “Everything he makes is incredible, but he outdid himself tonight. It’s almost like someone wanted to show off.”
Chance nodded as he continued eating. “I can tell. The love that went into this meal comes through in every bite.” He sucked a drop of gravy from his fork.
I focused on my plate, though I couldn’t help stealing glances at Chance’s obvious enjoyment. Each appreciative sound he made, each sensual slide of his utensil between his full lips, stirred my lust. Early’s smirk told me he knew what Chance’s display was doing to me.
The conversation flowed as we ate, with Chance sharing his experiences on tour. I found myself content to listen, watching how animated he became when discussing music. His hands moved expressively as he described writing sessions that went until dawn, his eyes bright with passion.
“There I was, still in my stage makeup, trying to convince a gas station attendant at three in the morning that yes, I really needed seventeen energy drinks, and no, I wasn’t planning to drink them all myself.”
Early’s laugh rang out, pure and delighted. “Please tell me you didn’t drink any of those.”
“Only three,” Chance admitted with a grin. “The rest went to our sleep-deprived sound crew.”
I hadn’t expected him to be so normal. Despite his fame, he told self-deprecating stories and asked thoughtful questions about Early’s café and my bar and grill. There was none of the entitled attitude I’d braced myself for.
“The thing about performing is,” Chance said, his voice dropping into that rich timbre that made my grip tighten on my fork, “sometimes you forgetyourself entirely. It’s like the music takes over, and you become a conduit for something bigger than yourself.”
Early’s hand found mine under the table, squeezing gently. He knew how much I understood that feeling, even if I hadn’t performed in years.
“The best shows are the ones where you come off stage with no clear memory of what happened,” Chance continued. “You’re running purely on instinct and emotion.”
His voice wrapped around the words like smoke. When he talked about music, all his carefully maintained walls seemed to fall away, revealing something authentic and compelling beneath the polished exterior.
Chance listened when Early spoke, giving him his full attention. The natural chemistry between them was undeniable, but instead of jealousy, I felt a warm appreciation for how easily they connected.
“Since you’re a huge music fan, do you play any instruments?” Chance asked me.
I nodded. “Guitar, piano, violin, and drums. My mother ran a music school, so I grew up surrounded by music.”
“That’s amazing!” Chance’s enthusiasm was infectious. “We should jam together sometime. I’d love to hear you play.”
My pulse quickened at the thought of our voices harmonizing, his rich baritone blending with mine,made my cock stir with interest. I shifted in my seat, grateful for the table hiding my body’s reaction. “Maybe,” I said noncommittally, though inside, I craved the opportunity.
“Duke used to perform regularly,” Early added, his foot nudging me. “He has such a commanding stage presence. He also has an amazing voice, although he rarely sings in front of anyone other than me.”
His gaze burned me with the fires of his visible desire. “I bet you do. There’s something magnetic about someone who knows their way around multiple instruments. The thought of your fingers moving over the strings makes me think things you’d probably get mad at me for.”
“Music’s always been a huge part of my life,” I admitted, trying to redirect from the heat building between us. “My mother made sure of that.”
Early watched with knowing satisfaction, occasionally adding comments that pushed us to explore our shared passion further. I couldn’t deny that Chance’s musical soul called to mine in a way I hadn’t experienced since my mother passed. The realization that I was developing an interest in him beyond mere physical attraction troubled me.
“It’s beautiful watching you two speak the same language,” Early commented.
I wanted to protest, to maintain some emotional distance, but Chance chose that moment todemonstrate a particular vocal run he’d been working on. The pure sensuality of his voice, combined with his obvious talent, had me gripping my napkin.
My protective instincts screamed at me to pull back, to guard my heart and Early’s. But watching my husband’s delighted expression as he witnessed our connection, feeling the draw of Chance’s artistic soul, it was already too late.
Chapter Fifteen
CHANCE
I triedto focus on the incredible food in front of me, but watching Duke and Early together kept pulling my attention away from my plate. The way they moved around each other was mesmerizing, like witnessing a choreographed dance where neither needed to think about the steps.
Early leaned into Duke’s space, touching his arm as he told a story about a regular customer who’d tried hitting on him that morning. “And then he said, ‘Your coffee isn’t the only thing that’s hot here.’”
“Did you tell him you’re married?” Duke’s voice carried a protective edge but also a hint of amusement.
