Page 8 of Prelude of Love (Harmony of Hearts #6)

Chapter Four

DUKE

It was an almost unbearably slow evening at the Hurly-burly Bar and Grille.

The tables were full, but the only customer at the bar was a man hunched over his phone, scrolling through the Momentus photo app and looking more miserable with every shot of a beautiful woman clinging to some muscular man.

Although Mr. Basic Burger and Fries had nursed only one beer, he radiated the maudlin misery only a recently dumped drunk guy could.

Since he looked one question away from flooding my bar with tears, I kept to the opposite end while polishing glasses. The sight of a new customer approaching brought relief until I noticed who it was.

My grip tightened around the stout glass when I spotted Chance Prince trying to go incognito and failing miserably.

The oversized bomber jacket did nothing to hide his lithe frame, and the baseball cap pulled low over his face only drew more attention to the sharp line of his jaw and those full lips that had starred in my fantasies last night as he sang “Requiem of Sin” while I’d claimed Early as mine.

My muscles tensed at the memory of how Chance’s voice had wrapped around us, driving every thrust and moan. Now, watching him slide onto the barstool like he owned it, despite his poor attempt at discretion, brought all those heated moments rushing back.

His sandy-blond hair curled rebelliously from beneath the cap, refusing to be tamed. Even in the dim bar lighting, his blue eyes sparkled with mischief when he looked up at me. “Hey.”

The casual greeting didn’t match the fire crackling through my veins. Not when I’d memorized every sultry note and growl of his voice in his songs. The real thing was more potent than the recording. It was deeper and richer, with an underlying rasp that made my skin prickle.

“Welcome.” I passed him a menu, proud of how steady my hand remained despite my body humming with awareness. Early would die of laughter if he could see me now, getting worked up over a simple greeting. “Let me know when you’re ready to order.”

He had a way of moving that drew attention even when trying to be subtle.

Each gesture was fluid and deliberate, like he was aware of being watched.

His jacket slipped off one shoulder as he accepted the menu, revealing a glimpse of a fitted black T-shirt that left little to the imagination.

Not that I needed to imagine much after being so familiar with his work.

My husband would never let me live this down.

He glanced over the options. “Do you have anything local on tap that isn’t super bitter?”

“I have a horchata stout from Sunnyside Sips Brewery.”

One of his eyebrows quirked up. “A horchata stout?”

“The stout is infused with coffee, cinnamon, Madagascar vanilla, milk sugar, and rice, which gives it a sweeter taste than anything else I have on tap right now.”

“You’ve piqued my curiosity. I’ll try it.”

As I poured him a pint, I noticed Mr. Maudlin staring at Chance. It was hardly surprising, given that the young musician was as handsome as his famous father. What I didn’t expect was for him to call down the bar, “Hey, aren’t you that guy?”

Chance tugged his hat a little lower as he hunched his shoulders forward. “Nope.”

The man squinted, trying to get a better look. “I’m pretty sure you’re that guy who did the thing, right?”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” Chance denied, an edge in his voice. “Please leave me alone.”

“No, you’re definitely that guy in that group.” It irked me when the customer stood up to inspect Chance. He staggered as if he had knocked back six beers instead of only one. “Yeah, you’re totally that guy.”

Chance kept staring straight ahead. “Sorry, but you’re mistaken.”

I set the stout in front of Chance on a coaster, then gave Mr. One Beer a menacing look. “Leave him alone.”

“But he’s that guy. You know, the ooh ooh ahh ahh devil dude. My girlfriend loves him.” Tears welled up in his eyes as he corrected himself. “ Ex -girlfriend.”

I pointed at his seat. Using my authoritative bouncer voice, I ordered, “Sit.”

“But if I got his autograph, maybe she’ll be mine again.”

“Either sit quietly, or I’m throwing you out.”

“I want her back,” he whispered, staring down at the bar.

It was so pathetic I almost felt bad for the guy. But his pushiness and refusal to listen painted a clear picture of why she dumped his ass. “I won’t tell you again. Sit .”

He swayed on his feet but stubbornly stayed put.

My patience was already at its limits with his bullshit.

I went over to the machine to print out his receipt.

“Pay, then have someone come get you. You’re obviously too drunk to drive yourself home.

” How he managed to act this wasted after one beer was beyond me .

“I bet if I looked like you, she’d take me back.

But she thinks I’m not manly enough because I don’t like sports, or cars, or flannel, or steak, or beer, or working out, and I’m short, and I’ve got these stupid little bird arms.” I bit back a laugh when he flapped them uselessly at his sides to illustrate his point.

“I mean, your forearm is bigger than my biceps, so I’m sure she’d love to suck your huge monster cock that probably makes mine look like a toothpick in comparison.

With your big, burly muscles, you’d have no problem holding her up to fuck her against a wall. ”

Chance snorted and did a shitty job of covering it up with a fake cough.

Even though I told myself to stay out of it, I couldn't help feeling for the poor bastard. “If she makes you feel this bad about who you are, why do you want her back?”

He looked up with wide, watery eyes. “What do you mean?”

“You just listed a shitload of reasons she hates you for not measuring up to her ridiculous ideas of what makes a man. Why would you want to be with someone who negatively judges you for not being a stereotype?”

“Because she’s so nice.”

I scoffed. “She’s nothing close to nice if she makes you hate yourself this much because of all the mean things she said to you because you aren’t the poster child for toxic masculinity. ”

A tear rolled down his cheek. “I was never good enough.”

“No, you’re too good for her. She did you a favor by leaving you. Once you get over your heartache, find someone who likes you for who you are instead of hating you for all the things you’re not. Don’t waste your time pining for somebody who doesn’t appreciate you.”

Before he could react, another man appeared with a concerned look on his face. I recognized him as a regular who usually sat in Red’s section with his grumpy-looking boyfriend. He glanced from the miserable fool to me. “Shit, is Tobias causing you problems?”

“He needs to pay and go.” I might have had some sympathy for the guy, but I still didn’t want him weeping in my bar and causing more of a scene.

“How did you know I’d be here, Everson?” Tobias asked with a sniffle.

Everson pulled out his wallet without hesitation and handed me a credit card. I ran it while he tried to rally his friend. “Come on, buddy. It’s time to go.”

“But Veronica’s with Victor, and this guy is the one who did that thing she loves,” Tobias said, pointing at Chance.

“I thought she’d take me back, but maybe I don’t want her back because I’m tired of feeling like shit for not being the man she wants me to be.

Maybe the scary guy is right, and I should be with someone who doesn’t hate me because I like kittens instead of big dogs. ”

“If that’s what he told you, he’s right.

You’re a good guy, and she’s looking for an asshole like Victor who can bench-press her with one pinky.

” He signed the credit slip with a flourish before passing it back to me.

It impressed me he gave a one-hundred-percent tip as an apology.

Damn, no wonder Red loved the guy. “Please forgive my friend. His ex really did a number on him, and he doesn’t normally drink.

I love coming here too much to get banned for this. ”

“You’re fine,” I gruffly told him. “Make sure he gets home safe.”

“I’ll take care of him.” He looped his arm around Tobias’s waist. “Come on, let’s get you home, buddy.”

Once they were gone, I returned my attention to Chance.

The previous commotion had drawn some curious stares from the dinner crowd, but they were already returning to their meals.

A few patrons gave appreciative glances at my newest customer before politely looking away.

Living in Sunnyside meant learning to respect boundaries.

“Sorry about that. I have a no-tolerance-for-bullshit policy.” I wiped down the spot where Tobias’s tears had fallen on the polished wood. “But in the future, opt for glasses over a baseball cap.”

“Why’s that?” Chance adjusted his hat self-consciously, his hair peeking out from underneath.

“Because the Clark Kent hiding Superman effect is a lot more powerful than a hat that doesn’t disguise who you are.

” My cloth moved in practiced circles over the bar top.

“It lets Iason, Rune, Kieran, and Rook lead relatively normal lives around here. They can grab coffee, shop for groceries, even hit the gym without being mobbed for autographs.”

His blue eyes widened with interest. “You know them?”

The only reason I disclosed that fact was because I knew Chance was friends with them all. No point playing coy when he’d find out, anyway. “Iason was my college roommate, and they’re all regulars here.” I tossed my cleaning cloth under the bar. “So are your father, mother, and uncle.”

“Who knew Sunnyside was a safe haven for celebrities with boyfriends?” Chance’s laugh hit me like whiskey that was smooth, potent, and warming me from the inside out.

The rich sound resonated through my chest, stirring memories of last night when that same voice had driven me to take my husband hard.

The way Chance’s fingers traced the rim of his glass was hypnotic.

Each movement was deliberate, almost musical, like he couldn’t help but find rhythm in everything he touched.

The gesture shouldn’t have been as captivating as it was, but knowing those same fingers wrote songs that had been the soundtrack of my intimate moments with Early made it impossible to look away .

When I remained silent, Chance spoke again. “Mom won’t quit teasing me that I’ll find my boyfriend here while filming my movie. But she’s always been an optimist.”

His mother’s teasing hit closer to home than he knew.

Early would be delighted to hear Melody was playing matchmaker, probably taking it as a sign we should pursue the attraction that crackled between us.

But I wasn’t about to admit how Chance’s presence affected me, how his voice alone could make my pulse quicken.

Watching him toy with his glass, I understood why Early had been so adamant about pursuing Chance. The singer radiated a magnetic energy that drew people in, made them want to know more. It wasn’t just his fame or his looks, but something deeper, more authentic.

“You’re lucky to have such an amazing mom.

” The words came out rougher than intended as memories of my mother surfaced.

The familiar ache bloomed in my chest, duller now but never quite gone.

Even after so many years, certain things still brought back how much I missed her smile, her laugh, and the way she’d sing while cooking.

“Melody is excited you’ll be in town for a while to film your movie.

You should spend some time with her while you’re here. ”

He snickered, the sound lightening the mood. “ You’ve met her. She won’t give me any choice in the matter.”

I had to laugh because he was right. Melody was a force to be reckoned with, always getting her way.

“It was interesting watching you transition from a badass bouncer to a wise therapist with that guy, though.” His eyes traveled over me with frank appreciation, taking in my broad shoulders and muscled arms. It was the kind of look that would have Early plotting ways to get him into our bed.

My husband had always had excellent taste.

“He may have been annoying, but nobody deserves to have a partner who treats them like shit,” I said firmly, remembering the pain in Tobias’s voice.

“You should never hate yourself because of someone who is supposed to love you as you are.” I spoke from both personal experience and years of watching relationships fall apart across my bar.

“A beefcake with a brain. I love to see it.” His lips curved into that signature smirk that had launched a thousand magazine covers.

The expression was pure sin, promising all sorts of trouble.

“I’m also very amused you didn’t correct him about having a monster cock.

I don’t suppose you’d let me see if he’s right? ”