Page 39 of Anything but Mine

“Maybe he’s holed up with a woman.” Zeke waggled his eyebrows.

“Is that your answer for everything?” Logan asked as he shook his head.

“It should be. Especially since we just got off the road.” He punched Logan in the arm.

The ribbing continued as Lindsey and Morgan came in. Soon the room was filled with laughter, the yeasty smell of fresh bread and the rich, spicy scent of shrimp and sausage-infused rice. The clang of dishes and laughter carried through the meal. His wine fridge wa

s also four bottles lighter by the time the bowls were empty.

When cleanup turned into a showcase of name that year for song titles, Logan quietly escaped through the back door with the remnants of a bottle of Pinot Grigio. The night was still heavy with humidity and the lure of the pool was too much to resist. He kicked off his boots, rolled up his jeans to his knees, and dropped his feet into the water.

Inside, the round robin of musicians showing off for each other was a pleasant distraction from thoughts of Izzy. He stretched out on the sandstone lip that curled around the pool and breathed in the fresh air. The sky was a blanket of stars with a tiny scar of moonlight showing through. This was what he’d been missing. And why he would never give up this place.

Life on the road could be claustrophobic. Especially lately. He’d been walling himself off from the people he’d longed to entertain. Shows were something he’d been dreading. Knowing that one face would be there in the second row. Always and without fail. Even on the nights he’d play impromptu shows, she’d known.

She’d found him.

He’d craved familiar faces in the crowd once upon a time. Knowing that a fan would come to multiple shows because the music moved them was its own high. That had been his drug of choice since he’d turned seventeen.

The laser focus of one woman ruined that. Aimee Collen.

That’s how he’d known it was time to come off the road for a while. When the dread outweighed the pleasure it was time to take a break. Tonight had reminded him that the music was still there, still living inside him.

This little town had given him that.

And the town had also given him Izzy.

At the very least, the promise of something more with a woman beyond panic and dread. Hell, for the last eight months he’d holed up after the shows. It had been so long since he’d even entertained the thought of letting a woman get close to him, let alone in his bed. The real question was…could he take a chance on it?

Eleven

Bella hurried down Main Street. She had a meeting with Cam in three minutes and was behind schedule. She also had to go down and see what was happening with the second night of rehearsals at the barn. Sharon had cornered her in the middle of the afternoon to nail down the specifics for the vendors. And every client she’d ever cultivated needed some rare book—at least it felt like they did.

All in all, she’d been running since six that morning with no signs of slowing. Thank God, Nic could cover the books and Adam was a wizard at research, and taking care of customers at the same time. Dr. Multitasker was his self-proclaimed title. And this week she’d give him the moniker without any grief.

What she wanted was to hide out in her basement with a bottle of wine and her sweats. She wanted to be the one to find the first edition of Margaret Atwood’s The Handmaid’s Tale and to fly to the auction for a vintage illustrated version of Snow White signed by Walt Disney. Even just to see those old pages…

She sighed and picked up her pace. Priorities didn’t include fun this week. And driving into New York for the auction was just not in the cards.

“Bella, over here.”

She smiled as Cam waved at her. He’d become one of her best friends since she’d moved to town. She skirted the pile of lumber strewn across the grass. She frowned. That should not be there. They’d finished the main stage in the park the afternoon before. Cam had been working on the barn for the last two days.

“What happened?”

“Had a little issue with one of the Richardson boys. He and his friends were showing off and punched a hole through the side of the stage.” At her climbing eyebrows, he laughed. “Don’t worry, he’s earning his keep.”

“Did you still have lumber?”

“You know me, Bella. I always have extra.” He crossed his arms. “And as punishment they’re doing three Habitat houses with me.”

“I do love your evil side.” She pulled out her phone. “You ready to do this?”

He unholstered his tablet and started listing off their to-do list. With both of them on Sharon’s hit list, they’d learned to keep organized and get the specifics out of the way.

“Cotton candy machine came in from The Berkshires, so we have two of those now. And I’ve heard back from all the vendors. Everyone will be here starting at eight AM to get set-up for the opener.”

“You are, officially, my hero.” Strong and capable, Cameron had become her rock for the festival. She stepped forward and gave him an impulsive hug. “I don’t think I’d have gotten any of this done without you.”

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