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“So what if it was?”

He smirks. “Just asking. Why do you think she was acting weird?”

“Don’t know. She was talking about her boyfriend, and I got a vibe.”

He tilts his head back slowly as though he’s ready to be judgmental but decides against it. “Yeah? What kind of vibe?”

“Like he’s a piece of shit.”

“Dude,” he leans in, taking a swig of his beer, “she has a boyfriend. You should stay away.”

“I’m going to. I’m here, aren’t I? I just,” I stare off into the horizon again, watching a pine tree sway back and forth in the wind, “I keep thinking something bad is happening behind the scenes. I can’t put my finger on it.”

“So, you’re going to stalk her and the boyfriend, see what you can find?”

It’s like he’s reading my mind.

“No. What the fuck, dude?”

“Then what is it? You going to convince her to leave him? I’m not sure that’s the type of healing I was talking about.”

I huff out a breath. “It’s not like that.”

“Okay, then what’s it like?”

I don’t have a good answer, just a gut feeling. A lingering itch that won’t go away. “Just feels off,” I finally say, taking another bite of steak.

Tennessee laughs, stretching his hands up over his head. “Dude, if you’re this fucked up after one conversation with her, you’re already in trouble.”

“I’m not fucked up.”

“Sure,” he says, laughter threading through his voice, “whatever you say.”

I roll my eyes, but the irritation slips away before it can take hold.The truth is… that record store conversation fucked me up, and something tells me I won’t stop until I figure out why.

Chapter Three

Nicole

Aaron’s car rolls up outside the record shop right on schedule. I let out a breath I didn’t realize I was holding. I should be happy to see him. I am happy to see him, right?

I love him. He loves me. We’re building a life together. We’re happy.

I force a smile as I step toward the car, my movements automatic, rehearsed. This is the routine. The safe, steady rhythm of my life, yet all afternoon my pulse has been humming with something that has nothing to do with him.

The big biker guy with the rough hands and sharp eyes. The kind of guy Ishouldn’tbe thinking about,but I am.

I slide into the passenger seat, forcing my fingers to settle against the fabric of my jeans, trying to smooth out the restless energy buzzing beneath my skin. Aaron is talking, his voice steady, the same way it always is. I nod, pretending I’m listening, but my mind is slipping elsewhere.

God what’s wrong with me? Focus, Nicole!

“How was your day?” I turn toward Aaron as he drives, hands on the wheel at ten and two, his knuckles slightly white from how steady he grips the wheel.

“Quite a productive day. I closed two loans and assisted the accounting team with the month-end financials. Of course, there was some disruption. A farmer barged in, ranting about hismortgage rates. It’s always the same story. They take out loans they can barely manage, then act surprised when the numbers don't work in their favor. Frankly, if they can’t keep up with their payments, that’s notmyproblem. That’s just how the system works.”

“I’m sure his land is all he has.” My tone is sharper than I intend. “I mean, this mountain is built on hardworking people like that farmer. Hell, your bank is funded by those farmers and ranchers, and—”

“We sorted it out.” He flips on the windshield wipers to wick away the early evening rain that’s begun to fall. “I always sort things out.” The way he says it makes my stomach turn, like it’s all a puzzle he’s effortlessly piecing together instead of human lives. This is how he is with every emotion… unaffected. Completely, undeniably, inexplicably unmoved by any show of feeling.