“You nearly killed her,” Finn mutters from behind the bar. “Her pulse just spiked. I can feel it from here.”
Ryder steps out of the office at the exact wrong moment to look very large and very controlled while three rock stars stand in his bar.
Roman clocks him immediately.
He leans toward me conspiratorially. “Is he always that intense, or is that just because I’m standing near you?”
My heart betrays me by going all dramatic and fluttery.
“That’s just his face,” I say quickly.
Ryder’s eyes narrow slightly. He knows he’s being discussed, but refuses to participate.
Roman grins wider. “Uh huh.”
Zane shifts subtly closer to my side.
And Finn leans his elbows on the bar like he’s watching tennis.
This is my life now.
Roman studies me. “You’ve got that look.”
“What look?”
“The ‘I am about to pitch something wildly ambitious’ look.”
Creed snorts. “Oh no.”
“I am not…” I begin.
Well, now that he says that… maybe I am.
I straighten.
“Okay,” I say, fully in event planner mode now. “Founders Day. Community festival. We’re sponsoring it through TheHollow, with a family-friendly setup, local vendors, and an acoustic stage.”
Roman folds his arms, intrigued. “Go on.”
“You’re in town,” I continue. “You want this to go well, right? You like muffins.”
“Love muffins,” he confirms solemnly.
“So,” I say, my breath catching because this is insane and bold and possibly the best idea I’ve had all week, “would you consider playing an acoustic set? A surprise headliner with a low-key setup and plenty of community goodwill. You’d basically become local legends.”
Creed looks at Sloane.
Sloane shrugs. “I vote yes. It’ll be fun.”
Ezra glances around the bar again. At the fairy lights. At the boarded window. At the people pretending not to stare.
He nods once. “I like it.”
Roman spreads his hands dramatically. “Well, if the quiet genius approves.”
Creed sighs because he’s been outvoted by fate itself. “We can do forty-five minutes. Stripped down.”
My heart launches into orbit. “Really?”
