I woke up stretched across Rory’s lap with someone tearing apart the house and a maniacal clown laughing on the telly.

Good God.

I shot straight up on the couch and fumbled wildly for the remote.

Clowns? Hell no.

Rory knuckled his eyes and ducked down to avoid the bright streams of light filtering through the room. “Sunshine? Jesus, it’s the middle of the night. What is that sound?”

Now that I was more coherent—slightly—I had to guess it was the door. Someone was knocking on it, possibly with a shovel. “We have a guest.”

“Like who? And where the hell did Flynn go?”

The man in question came down the stairs in a pair of jeans and no shirt, his tattoos on full display along with an impressive amount of chest hair. Idly, I scratched my own chest through my shirt. I had some, but not like that. I also didn’t have that many tattoos, or that snarly of a look at being awakened.

“Better not be some Bible thumper,” he muttered before going to the door. He yanked it open and Sabrina stepped inside without so much as a greeting. My band stood behind her.

I jerked up to a sitting position and shoved a hand through my mop. And found far more air than I expected.

Shit.

“What did you do to yourself? Jesus H. Christ.” Sabrina stomped past Flynn with barely a glance.

He was glancing at her, however. His head was tilted to take in the undoubtedly striking picture she made in her navy suit, eye-searing lime blouse, and probably ten-inch stilettos. The ice pick kind she could use to stab out one of my eyes.

“Did you not read your contract? Section H, part IV clearly states that there will be no significant changes to your personal look without prior approval from your team. Your team was not notified, and definitely did not approve.” With a huff, Sabrina grabbed a hank of my hair. “You look like a damn mongrel puppy.”

“But I’m still dashingly handsome. C’mon, you know it.”

She didn’t stab me, but I was keeping a watch for any sudden moves. “We’re going to have to fly Beatrice down here before anyone can see you.”

“What, now I’m house-bound?”

“He’s almost ready to head home anyway. So, no need to send any emergency poodle trimmers, he’ll be back in his own sphere soon enough.”

“Who says I’m ready to head home?” I couldn’t keep the petulance out of my voice.

“Your work says it,” Rory said at my side. He still looked half-asleep but that didn’t keep him from chiming in.

Judas.

“I can work from here.” I glanced past Sabrina to the assorted members of my new band. I pointed at Grant Harrison, my lead guitarist. He arched a brow and looked over his shoulder as if he was saying “who me?” “You’re game to work here, right?” At Flynn’s hard stare, I cleared my throat. “At least for a day or two.”

He shrugged. “Sure. I guess. We weren’t given much choice. Sabrina said we needed to cut that single and get it into rotation.”

Ignoring that tidbit, I looked at Perry Thomas, my drummer, who’d styled her pink bangs into a wave that dipped over one big blue eye. “What about you? Would you find it acceptable to work here briefly?”

She shrugged and popped her gum. “Sure. Better than riding on that tin can called a bus.”

Finally, I turned my attention to Lark, also known as Ariana Larkin. She played bass. “Your turn to weigh in.”

“Doesn’t matter to me.” She propped her platform boot on Flynn’s coffee table and pulled out a lollipop from behind the zipper. “Have sweets, will travel.” At Sabrina’s glance, she shrugged and unwrapped her sucker. “This is breakfast.”

Sabrina rolled her eyes. “I brought them so you could record a rudimentary track with them backing you so we could get that song to market before everyone forgets about you. Not so you could hide here forever. You have the rest of your EP to record with Simon back home.”

My throat started to close. She still didn’t know. Donovan—or Simon—must’ve not told her. The contract hadn’t been cancelled yet. But I couldn’t pretend that everything was coming up roses. I had to tell her. Somehow.

In front of all these people.

“You can’t nurse your broken heart forever, you know.” Flynn’s voice jolted me out of my thoughts. “You’ve hidden out long enough. Time to track her down and tell her you’re not ready to say goodbye.”

I narrowed my eyes. “That’s not really for you to decide, now is it?”

“That’s why you’re here. You have a whole life waiting for you. But you gotta deal with your woman shit first.”

“Woman shit?” Sabrina arched an eyebrow, giving Flynn the briefest glance. A distasteful one at that, taking in his lack of shirt. And shoes. And any expression other than a smirk. “Clearly, we’re in the presence of an evolved male.”

“It’s not just about her,” I said quietly. But enough of it was.

Flynn looked at me. Just looked for a long, humming moment. “She’s what’s keeping you here at the root of it. Deal with it and the rest will fall into line.”

He was giving me an out, I realized. He knew quite well I didn’t want to get into Margo’s kidnapping and everything else that had happened, especially not in front of a room of people who did not need to be privy to such.

Besides, he was right. Even Simon wasn’t the real explanation behind why I’d escaped LA. I’d taken off to get away from memories of Zoe. Little had I known that she would leave right after me.

Maybe for the same reason, though that was probably too much to hope for.

“I don’t even know where she is right now. She was on some sort of holiday—”

“Well, I’m going to go get some breakfast, if this is turning into a cry-fest for the lovelorn.” Grant pointed at Flynn. “Hey, buddy, you got anything good to eat?”

Flynn didn’t so much as look at Grant as he sat on the arm of the sofa. “So, figure out where she went and go after her. You can’t pine forever. Especially not here. This is not a long-term hotel.”

I grinned. “You know you love having me here. It’s this fucking bloke who pushed you over the edge.” I elbowed Rory, who grunted and pushed me in return. I was pretty sure he’d been halfway back to sleep. “And who can blame you? He’s an arsehole.”

“He’s the arsehole who told me to get your band here so we can release this song and make you a superstar. At least that was assured before you wrecked your hair.”

I glared at Sabrina. “My hair is not the sum total of my parts.”

“Definitely not. He’s got long…eyelashes too.”

I stomped on Rory’s instep and delighted in his groan. “Maybe I don’t care about being a superstar anymore. Did that ever occur to you? Maybe I just wanted to write and sing a song with a friend.” I nodded to Flynn. “Even if he wants to kick me out.”

“Your friend will be a superstar as well when I’m done promoting that song.” Sabrina barely spared Flynn a glance. “You might even get another invite back here, if you play your cards right.”

“Not if he’s going to have his flock of birdies chirping after him. I like quiet.” Flynn angled his head and took a slow perusal of Sabrina. “And you, darlin’, look like you bring a helluva hurricane with you.”

“Depends on how strong a house you’ve built. The weak definitely can’t withstand me.” She flicked a look at him beneath her lashes and returned her gaze to me. “So, let’s see that studio Rory told me about and get this show on the road, huh?”

“You do realize I didn’t invite you here.”

“Not thinking she’s the sort who waits for an invite. Just barges in.” Flynn smiled, if baring his teeth counted as one. “No wonder Van hired you. He loves to employ ballbusting women to do his dirty work.”

“You mean because men can’t get the job done? Impressive of you to admit it.” Sabrina motioned to Grant, Lark, and Perry. “Let’s go take a look at the studio. Where is it, Rory?”

Flynn unfolded himself from the arm of the couch. “This is my house. I say who goes where, when.”

Sabrina crossed her arms. “That so? You have a problem with me looking at your studio?”

“No, I have a problem with you having no fuckin’ manners and strutting in here like you own the place.”

Sabrina didn’t so much as blink. “My artist is here, and he’s my investment.”

“He’s also a goddamn person, not just a dollar sign. You see this, Ian? You wondered why I would never sign with Ripper, no matter how far Van and I go back. Shit like this is why.”

Flynn walked out of the room before Sabrina could bank the fire in her eyes.

Assuming she ever did. Fire-breathing and snorting weren’t entirely out of the question.

I cleared my throat. “So, that went well.”

No one spoke. Or maybe even breathed.

I rose. “Look, I’ll meet you guys in the studio. I’m really glad you came.” It wasn’t simply blowing smoke. I was truly happy to see all of them again and to collaborate with them. We’d barely gotten started working together before I left town. “We’ll lay down whatever tracks you want, Sabrina. Just give me five with Flynn.”

“Your funeral.”

Ignoring her, I glanced at Rory, who seemed caught between amusement and disgust at what he’d witnessed. “You’ll show them around?”

“Sure.” He cracked his neck and grimaced. “Christ, getting too old to get wasted like that.”

“Yes, you are. You both are. Table dancing.” Sabrina shook her head at me. “Really, Ian.”

“How do you know about that?”

She held up her phone and something inside me shriveled.

All those flashbulbs.

I knew better. Really, I did. But sometimes I forgot and still believed I had my anonymity if people weren’t in my face. Some of them were just sneakier about it.

If Sabrina had seen, she probably wasn’t the only one. Maybe Simon had too.

And Zoe.

They probably thought I was living it up, when nothing could be further from the truth.

Swallowing hard, I went out to the back deck to find Flynn.

When I spotted him leaning against the rail, I gripped the jamb of the French doors. “I’m sorry. I know this is disrespecting your place. I didn’t know she was coming, I swear.”

He waved it off. “There’s plenty of room. Not sure why she got under my skin.”

“That superstar stuff is enough to make anyone to go a little mad. When she first flashed it at me, I thought it was the most exciting thing in the world. Then I realized what I’d have to trade to have all of that.” I let go of the jamb and pushed open the sliding door. “I understand why you don’t want to live in a fishbowl. Your need to do your own thing in your own way. Maybe I didn’t get it so much the first time we met, but I do now.”

“You’ve had a crash course in fame. Most don’t rise as fast as you.” He chuckled. “Some never do.”

I didn’t know if I was imagining the undercurrent of bitterness in his tone. “You know you’re wanted at Ripper, but I know why you don’t want to go that route.”

He gripped the wraparound railing and stared off across his property, his gaze fixed on the lake in the distance. “Might not matter, since I did that song with you.”

“You made that song so much better. Added a richness and a grit and life experience I don’t have yet.” I rubbed my throat. “Honestly, it’s an honor sharing a credit with you. But if you don’t want to be involved, I’ll re-record it alone. You don’t have to worry about that.”

“No. The song’s good. Whatever happens is meant. But you gotta understand something. I don’t do that shit. I don’t do duets, especially with dudes.”

I had to laugh. “Yeah, I get that. Thank you.”

“You’re going to go far, and it’ll turn out to be a case of I knew you when. I want to get in on the ground floor.” He grinned. “Now let’s be real. Are you going after your woman or not?”

It was my turn to stare into the distance. “I wasn’t going to push. She needs space.”

“And you gave it to her, right? It’s been a while.”

So long. Every minute, it felt like more of my chest was breaking apart without her. “It’s been a little while. Not sure if it’s been long enough for her.”

“So, go find out. Talk to her. Tell her you’ve seen the fucking light.”

My lips twitched. “Have I?”

“I can’t answer that, because I don’t fully know what your deal was with her. But I know you’ve sure as fuck been searching for something. And my money’s on you that you’ll find it.”

“I miss her. I keep telling myself that she’s better off without me.”

“You love her, right?”

My eyes ached as I nodded. “So much.”

“There’s not nearly enough love in this world. I can’t see her turning that away. Not if she knows you’re serious and not messing around with her.”

“I wasn’t honest with her before. I put too much on her shoulders.”

“But you’re not going to do that crap anymore.”

“Because I’ve seen the light?”

“Damn straight. And because you know full well how much it sucks to sleep alone.” He laughed and held out a hand to me. “I’m heading out. You’ve got my vocals down, so you and She-Devil and Rory and your band can do what you need to do. I’m taking off for a couple days. When I get back, I expect you gone. Or on the way to getting gone soon.”

“Really want me out, hmm?” But I shook his hand just the same.

He’d given me so much more than I’d expected when I asked for a place to stay. Someone to collaborate with. To commiserate with. Most importantly, a friend.

I’d forever be indebted to him.

He stepped back. “No. I want you to fucking go after your girl already. If she’s that amazing, she won’t be lonely for long.”

I blew out a breath. “You’re right.” The mere idea of it burned like acid in my throat.

“You’re welcome back whenever you’d like. Bring Zoe.” He pointed at me. “Just remember that any surfaces you desecrate in my home, I will return the favor someday when you have your own place.”

I grinned, the hope of his statement flaring to life in my gut. “Deal.”