Page 16 of Knight Life In Vegas

My heart thundered and I gripped the flannel of his shirt. “Yep,” I squeaked out.

Balancing on my toes, I scooted the rest of the way over, slid out of Dylan’s grasp, and sank down into my seat heavily.

“They should really make wider aisles,” commented Eduardo. “Can’t have omegas tumbling to their doom because of shitty floor design.”

“It’s fine, really. I wasn’t paying attention to the edge.”

I fiddled with the hem of my dress until I caught Dylan watching my hands, and then promptly laid them flat on my knees. Andrew had always hated when I fidgeted.

“I didn’t mean to touch you without permission,” Dylan said quietly. “I didn’t want you to fall. I’m sorry if it made you nervous.”

“It’s all right, I promise. I spook easily.”

“Don’t use horse language around him,” said Eduardo. “He’ll get weird.”

“Shut up,” Dylan said with a laugh. “Weird is subjective.”

“Don’t try and pretend your brain didn’t immediately run to gentling her when she said she spooks easy.”

I blinked, staring at the two of them, my mind whipping to the idea of Dylan speaking softly to me, stroking my hair untilevery bit of stress melted out of my body. “You guys are into horses, I gather?”

“That’s our whole job,” said Dylan.

Before he could explain more, the house lights dimmed and turned back on briefly to let us know the show was about to start. The seats around us filled, and the stage lights flared, illuminating the perky pink popstar who emerged from between the curtains.

“Hey, y’all!”

The audience cheered.

“I hope you’re ready for the pop country stylings of the Molly Barton experience!”

I clapped a little too hard and let out a whoop of excitement.

“Let me know if you know this number.” She strummed the opening notes to her most well-known song featuring a cheating husband and the car our scorned woman vandalized. The accompanying band burst to life. “Sing along if you know the words!”

The music electrified me and I started singing, pleasantly surprised that both Dylan and Eduardo sang too. I’d almost forgotten how amazing live music was, the feeling of community that sinks down to the marrow of your bones.

Tonight couldn’t get more perfect.

Apparently being open to the idea of meeting someone tonight had prompted the universe to deliver in spades.

Every time Dylan’s eyes fell on me instead of the stage, it was like he’d reached out and touched me. He was probably too young for me, with that boyish face and happy-go-lucky demeanor. He had to be young enough that the world hadn’t beaten joy out of him yet.

I caught Eduardo looking at me too, both of their gazes appreciative, hungry. My breath caught each time, goosebumps rising on my skin. This was ridiculous. I was here for music, not men, but I couldn’t stop reacting to them. How much stronger would it be if they actually touched me?

My feet ached the longer the concert went on. Heels probably weren’t the best choice for tonight, but they looked so cute I couldn’t resist.

When Molly let us know it was the intermission, I sank gratefully into my chair and kicked off my shoes.

“Rough on the feet?” Dylan asked as he sat next to me.

“Beauty is pain, as my ex-mother-in-law used to say.”

“You must be in agony twenty-four seven, then.” Dylan grinned and Eduardo lightly whacked him on the back of the head.

“Do you think you could lay it onanythicker?” Eduardo asked.

“I absolutely could. This is like ten percent thickness.”

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