Page 47 of The Sound of Us

“We’re celebrating Skye’s new investigative reporting show,” Haley said into the awkward silence. “Do you know any juicy scandals involving the sports teams? Who’s hooking up with who? Who’s heading for the pros? Who got shitfaced at a party and went for a naked swim? She’s looking for a good story.”

“I’m the wrong guy to ask about gossip,” Ethan said. “But I’msure one of the guys can spill some tea.” He gestured to the cluster of ballers at the back of the bar. “Why don’t you join us?”

My gaze slid back to Dante and his duo. “Sure,” I said to Ethan. “Let’s go.”

Haley and I were more than ready to dance when the band finally took to the stage later that night. We’d had a few drinks and a fun conversation with Ethan and his friends, one of whom had seemed enthused by the idea of digging up dirt on other sports teams. Isla was still over at the pool table with Nick, pretending she didn’t know how to play so she could hustle a few extra dollars from the overly cocky sports types. Dante and the two women had disappeared.

The band’s opening song, “Welcome to the Jungle,” hit like a ton of bricks and instantly whipped the crowd up into a frenzy. Musically and lyrically, it was the perfect song to set the mood.

“You’re being watched,” Haley shouted in my ear when the song transitioned into “Won’t Get Fooled Again.” I followed her gaze expecting to see Ethan, but instead I saw Dante, sprawled in a chair facing the dance floor, legs parted wide, his gaze fixed on me—carnal, intent. I hadn’t seen this side of him before, but it set my blood on fire.

When the band launched into “Let Me Entertain You,” Dante crooked his finger and beckoned me over. I’d never thought of myself as a sexual person, never flirted or played games, and although I liked the way I looked, I’d never considered myself pretty. But the way Dante’s eyes roved over me, as if there were no one else in the bar, made me feel like I was the sexiest woman in the whole damn world.

In that moment, I didn’t care about Ethan or the two women who had been flirting with Dante. I didn’t care if he’d slept with every woman on campus, or even if he was about to tell me our closet encounter was just a one-night stand. Dante made me feelthings I’d never felt before. He made me want to take risks. He made me feel seen in the depths of my soul.

Taking a deep breath, I flipped my hair back and walked toward him, slow and sexy with a little sway of my hips. By the time I reached his chair, his hand was fisted on his thigh, and his lips were pressed tight together. He was wearing a bronze medallion around his neck and his jaw was rough with a five o’clock shadow. He gave off serious dark-and-dangerous vibes, and I could almost see the energy pulsing beneath his skin.

“Looking good, buttercup.”

“Feeling good.” I tried to force my lips into a sultry pout, but they decided to spread into a grin instead. “Are you going to dance?”

He lifted his chin in the direction of the ballers’ table. “Not wanting to start a fight.”

I looked back over my shoulder, following his gaze. “Ethan? That’s not going to happen.”

Dante gave a rumble of approval and drew me between his spread legs, his gentle touch on my hips sending lightning bolts of pleasure through my veins.

“You’ve been avoiding me,” he said, not unkindly.

It had been one week since our encounter and although we’d both been so busy our paths had only crossed that one time in the station, there was no point denying it.

“I was working on my story and I just… I didn’t know how things stood between us. The last time, you said it was a mistake, and I know you have some kind of one-night rule and I’m fine with that, but—”

“I do have a rule,” Dante said. “But that was definitely not a mistake. At least, not to me.”

“But you avoided me, too,” I pointed out.

“I was giving you space,” Dante said. “I was worried I’d pushed you too far, but when you reached out with that song…”

My cheeks flamed, and I groaned. “You knew it was me? I used Isla’s phone.”

“I know your music.” Dante chuckled. “It was like you’d picked up the phone and called me.”

“You’re different tonight,” I said, trying to distract myself from the throb of arousal between my thighs. “You seem…” I trailed off when I heard Isla shout, her voice barely audible over the music, but the tone made my heart skip a beat. “I have to go. Something’s wrong.”

I pushed my way through the crowd toward the sound of her voice, pulling up short when I saw her and Nick facing off with some rough-looking dudes near the pool table. They were heavily muscled, hair buzzed short, arms fully inked. One of them had spacers in his ears and tattoos on both cheeks.

“I’ve seen them here before,” Dante murmured in my ear. “They’re always causing trouble.”

“We won fair and square.” Nick pushed Isla behind him and held up a hand in a warding gesture.

“She’s a fucking ringer,” one of the guys shouted. “She said she didn’t know how to play.”

“I said it had been a long time.” Isla’s voice wavered the tiniest bit. “You’re just pissed because you thought you’d take advantage of me and now the tables have turned.”

“Isla’s been playing pool since she was three years old,” I told Dante. “She’s a bit of a hustler, although like she said, it’s not her problem if people make assumptions.”

“Look, we don’t want a fight.” Nick backed up a step, forcing Isla to retreat with him. “We’re leaving. The table is yours. Just chill out and have a good time.”

---