Free Rock God (Hearts of Metal Book 3) by Brooklyn Ann Page B

sounds like a bastard of a man, what made you marry him in the first place? ”
    Shayna shrugged and grabbed her wine glass, taking a miniscule sip. “There’s not much to say. I was stupid. My dad walked out on us when I was five, and my mom and I weren’t very well-off, so it made sense to marry as soon as I graduated high school. There’d be one less mouth to feed. That and…” She paused before the shameful admission. “Mom and I don’t get along well. College didn’t seem like a realistic option. I didn’t get very good grades in math, and I wasn’t remarkable enough at anything to get a scholarship.”
    She sighed, a string of broken and unfulfilled dreams parading before her eyes. “So when I met Shawn, well, it seemed there was no other choice. He was the first guy who took me on actual dates and didn’t try to get me into bed right away.”
    Dante nodded when she glanced up at him, and the compassion in his expression made her heart melt.
    “How long was it before you figured out that he was a selfish asshole?”
    Shayna laughed bitterly. “That’s the thing. I think I knew from day one. He was always ogling other women on our dates, and he was always controlling. Of course, I was used to that. And it’s probably why he wanted to marry me. Because I was so subservient.” A fresh burst of melancholy washed over her. “I was so stupid. I did everything to please that selfish excuse for a man.”
    “No, you weren’t stupid,” Dante said, taking another swallow of beer. “You’re human. We all do stupid things. I know I have.”
    “Like what?” Shayna asked.
    He raised a brow. “I wasn’t there for my wife, either. I know you probably read all about that.”
    Her eyes widened at his mention of his ex, and also from shock at the sharp stab of envy in her chest. Shayna knew the alcohol had loosened his tongue, and even though it was wrong, she couldn’t help taking advantage. “What happened?”
    Dante sighed and ran a hand through his dark curls. “It was mostly my fault. Although we were both so busy with our careers and tours with our respective bands, I neglected her on the rare occasions when we were home together. So it really was no surprise when she left me for her manager, who, she informed me, had been there for her more than I had.”
    “Do you miss her?” Shayna asked softly. Part of her dreaded his response.
    “Sometimes,” he admitted, guzzling down the rest of his beer. “But as I said before, it was never meant to be. I still care for her as a friend, but…” He shrugged. “After the initial lust faded, we didn’t really have much in common. So I guess all I miss is the company.”
    “The company?” Shayna cringed as the words left her mouth. “But don’t you get lots of offers from women backstage?”
    Why’d she say that ?
    Dante shook his head. “I don’t do that. I want a deeper connection, but I don’t have the time because of my work. Or maybe it’s the energy. I’ve tried dating before, but I get itchy if I stay in the same place too long and the women want more attention from me. It’s a catch-22, and the work is more important, so…”
    For some reason, the news that he didn’t sleep around made her tremble with desire. Shayna could no longer deny it. She was attracted to this man. Wholly. Heatedly. Unstoppably.
    She glanced at him and was struck dumb by the sudden flare in his gaze. His eyes, now a deep dark blue, raked up and down her body, lingering at the modest display of cleavage revealed above her lavender top. When he spoke, his voice was low and husky, promising sinful delights.
    “You’re a beautiful woman, Shayna, you know that?”
    She blushed. “Th-thank you.”
    The world seemed to halt. He leaned forward. Shayna’s lips parted.
    Abruptly, he pulled away, shaking his head. “As I said, it’s been a long time. Go to bed, Shayna, while I can still behave myself.”
    “But…,” she whispered, not knowing what to say, only