Walker stepped into Rough Cut, sandwiched between his brother Luke and their friendly neighbourhood veterinarian, Josiah Ryder.

The music hit him low in the gut and set his bones on fire. The familiar words of the song rose to this tongue like sweet honey, and a smile snuck up on him.

They didn’t know it, the bodies moving in time with the pulsing beat, but that was him in the background. One of the songs that he’d headed out last February to be a part of. He’d hit the studio to help with last-minute backup vocals for a friend of a friend, and it had started the whole singing nightmare.

Production of the song itself had been pretty neat.

A large screen had been added to the interior décor of the pub to the side of the stage area, and sure enough, there was a music video playing in all its glory. The top layer of live-action recording meshed together with the work they’d done in the recording studio, and the magic of music production turned it into one solid performance.

He let himself feel a moment of pride. They sounded pretty good. Of course that was ninety-nine percent the rising star in the foreground; the man Walker had a chance to do more with than just quietly hide in the background, if he could only handle it.

He must have gotten lost in thought because he was being guided by the arm. Josiah pulled him to the bar where a new face turned toward them with interest. A dark-haired man with Asian features, his hair cut military neat. His sharp gaze took in Walker and Luke, a smile growing as he turned back to Josiah with a nod. “These the Stone boys?”

“You’re good,” Josiah answered with a nod. “Luke and Walker. Guys, this is Ryan Zhao, the new owner here at Rough Cut. His family’s moved to Black Diamond, but he’s decided to spend money in our corner of the map.”

“As long as you decide to spend some in mine, it’ll all work out fine.” Ryan spoke easily as he shook their hands. “I’ve already met Caleb. I can tell that you’re family.”

Luke raised a brow. “Our big brother was out drinking without us?”

An easy laugh escaped the bartender. “He and his wife were at the community hall on Canada Day. My daughter is the same age as their oldest, and Tamara was suggesting day camps she thought Talia would enjoy.”

Of course Tamara was involved, because their new sister-in-law had jumped into the community like it was a lake and she was on fire.

“Hope it helped.” Luke was grinning at Walker, the same thoughts regarding Tamara visible on his face. They were both pleased at Caleb’s change of fortune, and the woman was definitely at the center of that change.

“Luke can find a ride for your daughter,” Josiah reminded him. “Best horseman in these parts, other than me, of course. If he doesn’t have one to sell you, he’s got the contacts.”

“You looking for a mount?” Luke’s expression sharpened like it always did at the suggestion of matching a horse with a rider.

“I am, but not until the end of summer. We should talk.”

Luke nodded. “I’ll give you my number.”

Josiah joined in the conversation for a moment, easy and light. Walker met Ryan’s dark brown gaze steadily as the other man examined him with a great deal of curiously.

“And you’re Walker, the man of mystery,” Ryan offered. “I got a call from your manager this morning.”

Walker shook his head to clear the cobwebs that had snuck in, because he was lost. “Who?”

“Maxwell Pillion. He’s a big fan of yours—definitely thinks you’re headed for amazing things.”

Oh my God. “He called you.”

Ryan’s lazy grin tightened with confusion. “Is that a problem?”

“Just not sure what’s going on,” Walker admitted. “He knows where to find me, and there’s nothing going on right now that would require him to track me down.”

Because his deadline was still more than a month away.

The sense of confusion was spreading as the dark-haired man’s gaze tightened. “He knew I ran the pub here. Said he thought the locals would be keen to support one of their own.”

The sense of dread in Walker’s gut was growing. “There’s nothing to support.”

“What’s wrong?” Luke laid a hand on Walker’s shoulder and leaned in, watching the conversation.

Ryan glanced at Walker, concern growing. “You didn’t know about this?”

“I have no idea what Maxwell would have talked to you about.”

Curses escaped Ryan. “One second, I need to stop—”

The music changed, the group vocals fading to be replaced by a guitar strumming a steady beat. A light, happy lilt that danced around the room. They turned together toward the stage area, a sea of backs blocking Ryan’s path to the controls for the screen and the new hell descending on Walker…

The music video that had been playing was gone, and this time it was his own damn face that appeared, his voice slipping into his ears to mix with the ringing disbelief.

Damn Maxwell.

Walker stared at the screen in front of them. It wasn’t an official music video, but it was far more than just one of those still shots that people tossed up that stayed static as music played in the background. The video itself had been put together with generic scenes from a countryside setting. Big old ranch trucks driving down dusty back roads. Equipment working a field. A group of men dancing back from the gate as a bull burst free and exploded into action. A woman stepping through a swinging screen door onto a porch, looking into the audience with a welcoming smile on her face.

Nothing more than still pictures of Walker rather than live-action shots, but they made it clear he was the singer.

He was simultaneously proud and horrified.

The drinkers and dancers from all corners of the room were raising their voices now, cheering as they recognized him. And damn if it didn’t strike him that while Maxwell was the biggest bastard in the universe, he was also one of the smartest.

There was no putting this bull back in the pen without a hell of a struggle.

A fist met his arm. “You crafty devil. Why didn’t you say something?” Luke demanded.

“Because—”

Because there was nothing to say the last time Walker had talked to Maxwell. Because he was supposed to still be making up his mind.

But the crowd had spotted him now, and friendly, helpful hands were pulling him to the stage. Pats on the back and admiring smiles landed, and Walker didn’t understand how he could feel sick to his stomach and still get a rush from the chaos.

Damn brain. Damn body.

Damn Maxwell.

Ryan had made it to the stage, moving quickly to turn down the volume. Displeased shouts rang out. Whistles and jeers.

It wasn’t the man’s fault, so Walker put on a good face and wrapped an arm around Ryan’s shoulders. “Don’t worry about it.”

A firm head shake. “I took him at his word. I’m sorry you weren’t expecting this.”

“What did you have planned?”

“Maxwell sent a cut of music. Said you could do the vocals live.” Ryan straightened up. “I can deal with this. You go back to your family and enjoy your night.”

“I’ll do it.” Walker offered fast before he lost his courage. “Glad to help out.”

Gratitude shone in Ryan’s eyes, but wariness too. “Tell your manager I don’t appreciate being played. I’m glad you’re a better man than him.”

“I’ll give him hell,” Walker promised.

They shook hands quickly as the crowd moved like an impatient bronco, wanting to burst free and explode into action.

Ryan grabbed a microphone from the top of a speaker, chatting easily with the crowd. “You folks got a surprise there. Here’s another. Walker Stone is going to sing something for us. It’s your lucky night, and this is a first, as far I know. It’s something he wrote himself. So put your hands together.”

He passed over the mic, patting Walker on the arm. “Drinks on me after. And forever, as far as I’m concerned. Sorry to throw you under the bus like this.”

“It’s okay,” Walker muttered back, forcing a smile to his lips as he faced the gathering of familiar faces.

He could do this. He had done it so many times before. Maybe not with the familiar tune beginning to play behind him, and damn his manager again, because that was him, Walker, on the guitar.

Luke was clapping loudly, encouraging him as Walker lifted the mic.

The crowd parted, and he spotted Ivy at the edge of the room, her confusion clear but with a smile bursting out just for him from where she stood with her friends.

Her silver eyes caught him like an anchor, jerked him to a halt, and held for long enough to give him the strength to start, to sing out the opening words about feeling restless, about being restless.

Being in front of a crowd had never been a problem—until it was. But this time having Ivy there made the words he was sharing sweeter. He could do this, the fear of panicking receding as he stared at her.

Ivy tilted her head as if she were listening intently. Not only to his voice, but to what he was feeling inside. Of course she was. His Snow, the one who’d held his heart in her hands forever…

Someone pushed between them and blocked Ivy from his view.

Instantly, fingers wrapped around his throat. Death’s boney grip was back.

Oh God. No.

Not now.

Not here.

The room faded.

---

He’d been singing, staring straight at her as if they were alone and this was something he needed to tell her that was urgent and heartfelt.

She’d been jostled to the side, and by the time she’d found room to pull herself free and stop her heart from pounding, something had gone desperately wrong.

The song continued, but the tone seemed off slightly, as if Walker were distracted and no longer concentrating. She tried in vain to catch a glimpse of him, but pressed at the edge of the room, it was impossible.

That sense of urgency grew thicker.

Ivy took a deep breath and headed into the mass of bodies. She ducked under various arms and around enough bodies to put her within a few steps of the stage.

By now the song had faded until only the music remained. Walker wasn’t singing. He wasn’t moving. He didn’t seem to be breathing. The music carried on in the background, but he was more like a statue than anything.

People glanced at each other in confusion, but Ivy was already rushing forward.

Maybe she was wrong, but she didn’t think so. This was so similar to when she’d watched him climb and then freeze. It made no sense, but right now wasn’t about understanding. It was about doing what she had to.

She couldn’t stop him from falling, but she could be there to lift him to safety.

Ivy dodged the final few people to reach the edge of the stage. Thankfully there was a step to get up so she didn’t have to throw herself on her belly.

She stepped quickly to Walker’s side and wrapped her arms around him, tugging hard until she could pull their lips together as if they were trapped in a passionate embrace.

It had been maybe fifteen seconds without singing, but with something to distract them, the crowd was willing to focus on the kiss she was making look as wild as possible. Which involved a fair bit of dramatic flair as Walker was stiff and unresponsive for far too long.

When he did move it was to catch hold of her hips as if she’d thrown him a lifeline, clutching tight enough she’d have bruises.

She softened the kiss, tugging on his shoulders to pull back far enough to speak to him. She had to speak louder than a whisper to be heard over the crowd’s whistling.

“You okay?”

He nodded then shook his head.

“Can you sing?”

Walker looked beaten. “I…can’t.”

She cupped a hand on his cheek. “Give me the mic.”

He handed it to her, fingers stealing around her other hand. Ivy sucked in a deep breath for strength before turning to the crowd.

Curiosity and amusement reflected back. They hadn’t expected him to sing in the first place, so this rollercoaster was just one more bit of the entertainment, which meant Ivy could solve this and get Walker out of there.

Only now she had to speak.

She caught Tansy’s worried expression before her sister forced a smile and flashed her a thumbs-up. Rose too was offering her support, hip-checking the nearest guy out of the way to get a better view as she put her hands together and clapped.

I can do this.

Ivy lifted the mic. “Hey. Sorry about that.”

“If you’re done kissing him, can I have a turn?” Kelli James lifted a brow and stuck out a hip.

Laughter rang. Walker took a deep breath and shook his head in amusement.

Ivy stepped in front of him as if claiming territory. “Hands off, chickie.”

Walker’s hands settled on her hips, pulling her against him.

Kelli made a show of folding her arms and sticking out her tongue.

Ivy smiled, thankful for the extra distraction. “I think we all had a surprise, and this one is my fault. That’s…”

Her mind had been racing to figure out a possible solution, and it was weak, but would have to do.

“…that’s my song. I didn’t think Walker was going to sing it in public yet. I wasn’t ready to share. Sorry.”

Her cheeks must have gone crimson from the rising heat, not just from staring into the faces before her without cringing at her bald-faced lie, but speaking in front of all those faces, period.

She’d learned hard lessons over the years. Lots of coping strategies, but that didn’t mean she liked public speaking.

Or in this case, public lying.

Walker leaned in and kissed her cheek, and the music in the background turned to another familiar song. Ryan waved a hand in the air as he stepped forward to take the mic.

“See what I get for not lining up my entertainment ahead of time?” He shook a hand at the complaining people to the left of him. “Another time. But since we can’t enjoy Walker, put on your dancing boots. Half-price pitchers for the next half hour, and we’ll get some line dancing started early. Where’s Carly? Time to do your thing, girl.”

A girl in the crowd bounced forward excitedly, her sheer enthusiasm bringing smiles to faces as much as the announced liquor sale.

Ivy took control and pulled Walker with her to the side of the room, ignoring the teasing questions. Walker took the ribbing as well, silently waving off his brother. Luke looked ready to pounce on him both for protection and answers.

Fingers crossed she wasn’t about to set off the fire alarm, Ivy pushed through the emergency exit and dragged Walker into the fresh evening air.

He pushed the door shut with her, collapsing with his back against the hard surface. He dragged a hand through his hair then bent over as if he might fall.

Whatever was going on, the rest of this evening needed to happen elsewhere. “Come on,” she ordered, offering her hand.

He tilted his head back and stared at her palm before slapping his fingers against hers.

She led him to her car, opening the passenger door before heading to the driver side.

Walker didn’t argue, just crawled in, adjusted the seat to make room for his legs, and then settled in. Closing the door, doing up his seatbelt—every step orderly and neat. Controlled.

Ivy held her questions. This wasn’t something she wanted to get into while she was behind the wheel.

He stared straight ahead in silence as well. At least until his phone rang not fifteen seconds after she left the parking lot.

Walker glanced at the screen before answering it on speaker phone for some reason.

“What?”

Luke’s concern rang like lightning. Sharp and clear. “Where are you?”

Ivy noted with approval that was his first question instead of What happened?

Walker spoke softly. “With Ivy.”

“Good.” Luke was still at the bar, the music loud in the background. “You need me, bro?”

Extra points for that, Ivy noted. Walker’s brother was a rock. One who might get leaned on heavily depending on what happened over the next thirty minutes.

Walker glanced at her. “I’m good. I’ll talk to you later. Sorry—”

“Nothing to apologize for. But call if you need anything.”

Luke hung up. Walker put his phone away and went back to staring out the window.

Thank goodness the town was small enough they were pulling into her driveway within minutes. Ivy stopped and got out without speaking, leaving it up to Walker to follow her or not.

She paused as a faint light shining at the edge of the graveyard caught her eye.

Along the fence, a solar powered light had been placed by someone, tied with a shiny red ribbon. The bright spot glowing with such determination seemed out of place, and yet it warmed something inside her.

There was always a light of hope if you knew where to look.

A hand on her shoulder turned her toward the man she’d cared about for a long time. Cared, worried about…

Loved.

Walker pulled her against him and held on tightly, and in that moment Ivy knew she’d do anything for this man. Anything to help him understand he was valuable and had so much to give.

Help him know he was loved.

Help him see the light.