He approaches us both with a radiant smile. His short-sleeve pearl-snap shirt hugs his honed biceps. The snaps are unbuttoned just enough to see the smooth tan skin of his chest. The man with an incredible voice stops right in front of us.
“Hi, I’m Denton Reed,” he says.
“We know who you are, obviously!” Charli blurts out.
The corner of Denton’s mouth turns up. His eyes twinkle, a shade of deep emerald green. A little bit of scruff dusts his strong jawline. He looks like he might be in his early thirties.
“What are y’all’s names?”
My cheeks flush, and my tongue feels thick in my mouth. When I open it, nothing comes out. I’ve always been a little shy, but even when I met Huck, I didn’t feel like this. Thank goodness for Charli—she answers for both of us.
“I’m Charli. This beautiful cowgirl who you’ve been making eyes at all night is my best friend Sorrel,” she tells him.
I instantly change my mind about Charli answering for both of us. I think I might die of embarrassment now. We don’t even know if it was me he was staring at.
He shakes her hand and then mine. His hands are rough and calloused. Not just a pretty boy with a pretty voice. Those are the hands of a working man–I know that better than anyone.
“Hi,” is all I say.
Charli elbows me again, this time harder. I flinch away from her. “Ow! What the hell was that for?”
“You’re being rude, Sorrel. Denton stopped his show to come and meet you. Didn’t you, Mr. Reed?”
I look around, and the world comes back into focus. DJ B-star is in the back left corner of the stage in his booth. A Morgan Wallen and Shania Twain mix is playing through the loudspeakers. Cowboys and cowgirls are two-stepping in a circle on the dance floor in the middle of the arena grounds. There’s no way he stopped the show to come meet me.
Denton Reed chuckles. It’s a seductive deep laugh that makes me clench my legs together.
“Well, actually—I did, Miss Charli,” he admits. “Saw what happened down there with that husky boy?—”
A snort escapes from Charli and I give her a pointed look.
He continues. “And something in me just wanted to make sure you’re okay. This is my show after all, I want to make sure all my fans are having a good time.”
“I’m not a fan,” I tell him.
His eyebrows shoot up to the top of his forehead and a playful grin spreads across his face. “Well, I hope you will be after tonight.”
I look over at Charli, a cheesy grin lighting up her face.
Fuck he’s smooth.
“Well, y’all, I better get back to it,” he says, then meets my eyes. “Hey, I don’t have any plans after my show tonight and Ithink my band wants to go into town to the casino. I’m not the gambling type, so I was wondering if maybe I could buy you a drink after my show?”
Is he asking me—or Charli—or both of us? I can’t tell.
Before I can get a word out, Charli says, “She would love to!”
He takes his cowboy hat off and rakes his hand through his wavy brownish-blonde hair.
“See you soon, cowgirl,” he says with a wink as he puts his hat back on. When he’s walking back to center stage, he shouts over his shoulder, “I’ll meet you back behind the stage when the show is over. Remember now, have fun.”
Charli waves goodbye quickly in big half circles over her head. “She’ll be there!!” she shouts to him.
I narrow my eyes at her, hands on my hips and head tilted to the side. I hope she’s ready for an earful. I peek over Charli’s head as Denton takes center stage. He picks up the red Solo cup and I watch him bring it to his lips. His Adam’s apple bobs up and down, and a little bit of whatever he’s drinking slides down his chin and neck. Damn, why is that so hot? He flashes us one more smile before starting the concert again.
I lower my gaze back to Charli. No more distractions.
“What the fuck was that, Charli?”
