Destiny Calls. Linda Hudson-Smith

into it now. I’m sold.”

      “Let’s do this,” Mandy enthused. “I can’t wait to see if you can sing or not.”

      As the ladies howled and hooted, high fives were passed all around.

      Ethan noticed how antsy Dakota had become all of a sudden. It made him wonder if she had a yen to sing. But the sign of reluctance glowing in her eyes was also easy enough for him to read. If she was content to sit there and cheer on the others, whether their performances were good or bad, he wasn’t going to push her to get up onstage.

      A couple of minutes after the orders had been taken, Dakota nudged Ethan to get his attention.

      He turned to look at her. “Are you okay? You seem a little antsy.”

      She pointed at the stage. “Will I embarrass you if I get up there and sing?”

      His eyes brightened. “Stop worrying about embarrassing me. I want you to enjoy yourself.” He leaned in and kissed her cheek. “Go for it!” He didn’t ask her if she could sing. It didn’t matter to him. All he wanted was for them to have a great time.

      Quite a few of the males went crazy when Dakota stepped up onstage.

      Ethan thought the wolf whistlers had great taste, but they’d have to take a backseat tonight. Dakota Faraday was there with him.

      Once Dakota make her song choice, she picked up the microphone. Blowing kisses to the crowd and bowing, she acted out the part of a diva. Losing all of her inhibitions, she tossed her hair around and let the music enter her soul. None of this would’ve been easy without the encouragement from Ethan and his friends. Dakota didn’t know she could have such a good time—and she didn’t want this night to end.

      Everyone talked about fun and Dakota wanted to show them she’d gotten it.

      Ethan didn’t realize he was holding his breath until he was forced to release it. He was nervous for her. Audiences could be cruel and he didn’t know how she’d react if they heckled her. As she hit the first few notes of the song, he felt himself go lax. The girl had it. She hadn’t gone onstage just to be up there. Dakota had something to offer.

      As she seductively belted out Beyoncé’s version of the old classic “Fever,” that’s exactly what Ethan and every other male in the place felt. Dakota put on a show she didn’t know she was capable of. She knew she could sing, but never in her wildest dreams did she think she’d get up in front of a crowd like this. She had a ball with her magical performance. Dakota’s goal was to make sure everyone else did, too.

      Then, Dakota suddenly turned her smoldering and seductive eyes on Ethan. The message he received let him know she had come down with a fever, too. Only he could bring down her temperature.

      Ethan stood up and kissed Dakota to welcome her back to the table. The ladies were beside themselves with joy as they jumped up to give her warm hugs. Dakota was glad she’d been able to show everyone she was game, too.

      All the guys quickly left the table and rushed the stage. They had gotten pumped up during Dakota’s performance and now it was time for them to show off. Ethan grabbed the microphone and mussed his hair, making an Elvis-like stance. Rudy strummed a nonexistent guitar and Maxwell and Todd had everyone cheering on their fancy, animated footwork.

      “All Shook Up” was the song they’d chosen.

      Dakota couldn’t believe her ears as she recalled thinking of how Ethan had her feeling: all shook up. Tears of joy filled her eyes. No longer would she dwell on what she’d missed out on. All she’d think about now was what was next on her social agenda.

      Dakota now had firsthand knowledge that Ethan and his boys were regular cutups. Maxwell was hardly the only comedian and Ethan was an absolute riot. She hadn’t seen this funny, engaging side of him before now. She knew he had a great sense of humor, but his sharp wit and quick verbal comebacks had been downright hilarious and intriguing. Ethan and his crew had been successful at making her laugh until it hurt.

      At fifteen minutes before midnight, Ethan leaned against the outside door of Dakota’s apartment. He had followed her home to make sure she got there safely.

      Wrapping her up in his arms, he looked deep into her eyes, kissing her gently. The next kiss deepened, escalating his heart rate. The third kiss was all he’d hoped for. With a beautiful, sexy woman like Dakota he could easily lose his self-control. So far she had only agreed to build toward an exclusive relationship and he had to respect that. In his heart he already believed she was a woman worth waiting for.

      Dakota smiled brilliantly. “I had a beautiful time with you and your friends. I think I passed their muster.”

      “I know you did. You were a big hit, lady. Think I can get an encore of the song you sang at the pizza place?”

      “You were a big hit, too, with me. As for the encore, I hope we’ll have many.” Laughing inwardly at how his mouth had fallen agape, she wiggled out of his arms and unlocked the front door. “Goodnight, Ethan. Hope we’ll talk soon.”

      “Lady, you can bet money on it.”