Page 11 of Prelude of Love (Harmony of Hearts #6)

The glasses slipped down his nose as he approached, and he pushed them up with an unconscious gesture that was far too adorable for someone who regularly made tens of thousands of fans scream his name in stadium arenas.

The brief glimpse of his humanity beneath the celebrity made my heart squeeze.

Duke and I could offer him something genuine if he were interested in more than a quick fling.

My body hummed with awareness as he got closer, remembering how thoroughly Duke had claimed me while Chance’s music played.

Faced with the man himself, I couldn’t help wondering how his full lips would feel against mine or how his voice might sound breathless with pleasure rather than perfectly controlled in a song.

“Good morning,” I purred. “What can I get for you today?”

He leaned against the counter with practiced ease. “Depends. What would you recommend?” His voice was pure honey .

“That’s a loaded question. I need to know your coffee personality first.” I mirrored his posture, closing the distance between us. “Are you sweet and indulgent, bold and intense, or somewhere deliciously in between?”

He clearly enjoyed the game. “Why don’t you take a guess?”

“Hmm.” I made a show of studying him. “I’m thinking you need an off-menu special that’ll make you forget all about those fancy LA coffee shops.”

“You seem pretty confident in your skills.”

“I should be since I own the place.” I changed the topic to get a feel for his opinion. “Though I hear you’ve already sampled some of our town’s other offerings. My husband mentioned you visited Hurly-burly last night.”

The spark of recognition was immediate, followed by a flash of heightened interest that sent a thrill through me. His posture shifted, somehow becoming even more deliberately seductive.

“You’re Duke’s husband?” His gaze traveled over me appreciatively. “Now, I definitely need to try your special blend.”

“Coming right up.” I turned to craft his drink, very aware of his eyes on me. “Take a seat. I’ll bring it out.”

He chose a corner table with a clear view of the counter, shrugging off his jacket to reveal a fitted black T-shirt that captivated my imagination. I took my time preparing his drink, letting the anticipation build.

When I approached him with coffee in hand, he straightened in his chair.

“One Early Special.” I set the cup down, making sure our fingers brushed as I released it. The brief contact sent sparks dancing across my skin. “Let me know if it hits the spot.”

Chance took a careful sip. He let out a low moan that shouldn’t have been legal in public. “Holy shit, this is incredible!”

“I aim to please.” I leaned my hip against his table, enjoying the quiet lull after the morning rush. “Though some of my other skills are even more impressive.”

“Is that so?” His gaze dragged over me with blatant interest. “I’d love to sample everything you have to offer.”

“Careful what you wish for. I might exceed your expectations.”

A crash from behind the counter drew our attention. Brinley had fumbled a stack of cups, her face burning red as she tried to act like she hadn’t been staring at Chance while Wolfie helped her clean up.

“Sorry!” she squeaked, ducking under the counter to hide and pick up the cups.

Chance chuckled. “I take it she’s a fan?”

“What gave it away?” I asked. “The dropped cups or the blushing? ”

“Both.”

I watched Brinley reorganizing cups that didn’t need organizing. “Though I can’t blame her. You have that effect on people.”

“Do I have that effect on you?”

I smiled, tapping my finger against my chin as if pondering his question. “That depends. Do you want to?”

“I think you know the answer to that.” He leaned closer. “I’m also interested in how much I affect your husband.”

“Oh, you definitely got under his skin.” I snickered as I remembered Duke’s justifications from the previous night. “He spent about twenty minutes yesterday telling me exactly how not interested he was in you.”

“Only twenty minutes?” Chance’s confident smirk widened. “I must be losing my touch.”

“Or maybe he was too busy showing me other ways you affected him. Then again, a gentleman doesn’t kiss and tell.”

He matched my playful tone. “You seem more mischievous than a gentleman.”

“You’d be surprised at the hidden depths I contain.” I licked my lips, enjoying him paying rapt attention to the action. “Though I have to say, your attempts at seduction last night were amateur hour.”

His offended look was adorable. “Amateur?”

“Mm-hmm. Duke’s not the type to fall for obvious flattery and bedroom eyes.” I leaned in closer, lowering my voice. “He needs someone who can challenge him. Push back when he pushes. Make him work for it.”

“And you’re telling me this out of the kindness of your heart?”

“Let’s just say I enjoy a good show.” I straightened up, enjoying how his gaze followed my movement. “And watching you try to scale his walls could be very entertaining.”

“What about your walls?” His hand brushed mine as he reached for his coffee. “Are they as sturdy as his?”

“Mine? Oh, honey. Worry about getting past his before you think about mine.”

“I love a good challenge.”

“Cocky.” I raised a challenging eyebrow. “But confidence only gets you so far. The real prize goes to those with stamina.”

“Trust me, I’ve never had complaints about my stamina.”

“No?” I pretended to study him. “I suppose that’s one benefit of your youth.”

Chance snorted. “I love how you say, ‘my youth,’ like you aren’t also young.”

“Aren’t you cute?” I cooed in a teasing tone. “You really know what to say to make a guy feel special.”

His eyebrows furrowed. “What do you mean? At best, you’re only a couple of years older than me. ”

“If by a ‘couple of years,’ you mean fourteen, then sure.”

Chance’s jaw dropped. “You’re thirty-six ? I don't believe you.”

“Thanks for the compliment, cutie.” I blew him a kiss.

He ran his hand through his hair as he continued staring at me in disbelief. “ Wow . I thought you were like three years older than me. Although if you’ve been married to him for fifteen years, I guess I should have done the math, huh?”

I couldn’t resist teasing him more. “That’s why it’s adorable you think you have the experience to handle two older men who know exactly what they want.”

His breath caught. “Is that an offer?”

“Only if you can convince my caveman husband.”

Chance lit up at the challenge. “You think this is a game, but I’m particularly skilled at making convincing arguments.”

“Oh, honey. I’ve served enough coffee to know the difference between someone who’s thirsty and someone who’s thirsty ,” I teased. “And you? You’re parched .”

“Maybe I have a thing for charming baristas who see right through me.”

I shrugged, barely able to suppress my grin. “I’m merely providing excellent customer service.”

“Is that what you call this? ”

“Well, satisfaction is guaranteed.” It was too much fun to flirt with Chance. “Though some customers require more personal attention.”

He leaned forward with interest. “And what kind do you think I require?”

“That depends entirely on how well you can follow instructions.” I let my gaze drift toward Duke’s bar across the street. “Starting with learning to play nicely with others.”

“I can be nice.” His voice dropped an octave. “Especially when properly motivated.”

“Motivation isn’t the issue. It’s whether you can handle being thoroughly managed.”

“I’d love to be managed right now.” A hint of weariness replaced his teasing tone.

As fun as the banter was, I could tell from the sudden tension in his shoulders that something was troubling him. I pulled out the chair across from him and sat down. “What’s really on your mind?”

Chance blinked, caught off guard by the shift. “Sorry, I didn’t mean to take a turn for the serious.”

“Don’t worry about it. I’ve got a sixth sense for when someone needs to vent. It comes with the territory of being both a barista and a great listener. Talk it out.”

He traced the rim of his cup, hesitating. “Rehearsals start soon at Hurly-burly.”

“Ah. First-day jitters?”

“More like what-the-hell-am-I-doing terror.” He laughed without humor. “This is my first time acting. What if I’m terrible? The rest of the cast has years of experience, so they want a lot from me.”

“And you’re more than capable of delivering, so what are you worried about?”

“They probably only wanted me because I’m Sir Prince’s son.” His shoulders slumped under the weight of his famous father’s legacy. “Or maybe they figured my rabid fans would buy tickets no matter how much I suck.”

“Do you honestly think they’d cast you in a multimillion-dollar movie as the romantic lead opposite Rook Warrick for fun?

” Chance snorted in amusement, but I continued.

“Besides, your father doesn’t have any ties to the film industry, so his reputation isn’t what got you this part.

You’re not the principal’s kid automatically landing the lead role in a high school play.

They obviously recognized your potential.

Your screen test impressed them for good reason. Trust in your talent.”

“You’re right, but it’s so hard to believe.”

“Stop listening to your asshole inner saboteur.”

His mouth curved into a grin. “You make it sound so easy.”

“All you have to do is keep fighting. Prove to them why you’re Chance fucking Prince.”

His genuine smile was more dazzling than my heart was prepared to handle without warning. “ Thanks for the pep talk. I needed that more than you know.”

“I’m always here to offer coffee and wisdom, served with a side of sass. Now, finish your drink before it gets cold. I refuse to let excellent coffee go to waste, especially when I made it. And anytime you need it, I’m always happy to break out the pom-poms and cheer you on.”

“There’s a mental image I’ll treasure.”

“If you think that’s nice, imagine me in a cheerleader uniform.” I lowered my voice. “Though you’ll have to keep visiting to earn the full show.”

The fire returned to his eyes. “Promise? Because I plan on seeing a lot more of you. And not only because of the movie.”

“I’m looking forward to it.”

Chance glanced at his phone and sighed. “Much as I’d love to keep flirting with you all morning, Mom is expecting me back at the house. Maybe I can convince her to go to Hurly-burly for lunch.”

“Charmer.” I couldn’t hold back my smile. “Go on before you’re late. I can’t wait for the detailed reports about how my husband handles your special brand of enthusiasm.”

Chance rose from his chair, stepping closer than was strictly necessary. “Speaking of handling, maybe I should tell Duke I had sweet dreams about him last night and see how he handles me. And now that I’ve met you?” His voice became a sinful purr. “Those fantasies got a lot more interesting.”

I burst out laughing at his boldness. “Oh, you’re going to give my man hell, aren’t you?”

“That’s not all I want to give him.” He winked, sliding his jacket back on with deliberate slowness. He picked up his empty coffee cup to throw away, which earned him a bonus point for not expecting me to take care of his trash. “Or you, for that matter.”

“Get out of here before I make you late.” I couldn’t stop grinning as I shooed him toward the exit. “Tell your mom hi for me. And if I don’t see you before rehearsals start, break a leg.”

“I’d rather break other things.” He paused at the door to throw away his cup, giving me one last heated look. “Like Duke’s self-control. And your bed.” His delighted laughter echoed as he ducked out.

I could already imagine Duke’s reaction to Chance’s brazen flirtation. It would be so much fun to watch.

After he left, Brinley practically teleported to my side. “Oh my god, he’s even hotter in person! And the way he was looking at you?—”

“Like he wanted to eat you alive,” Wolfie interjected with a smirk.

“Says the guy who almost dropped the milk pitcher when Chance smiled at him,” she retorted.

We all burst out laughing, the morning’s excitement settling into a warm buzz of possibility.