Satisfied with his answer, knowing that he’s not going anywhere until we’re both ready, I snuggle back into him and allow myself to drift off to sleep.

My shift at Angel’s today has been relatively dead. Most of the people who come in here during the day are on their lunch break so they can catch up on the sports and news that Angel always keeps running in here.

Melody, Mr. Stern’s secretary, is here today. Thankfully she’s not in my section. She’s so nosey, and I don’t need her knowing any more of my business than she already does.

As I’m cleaning a table, my attention is instantly jerked to one of the televisions at the mention of Ace’s name.

A tall, blond news reporter pulls the microphone close to her lips and rattles off breaking news about the missing rock star. “Earlier this week an anonymous tip was e-mailed to Jane Ann Rogers’s address, listed on the reward website, that Ace White is indeed alive and well. The e-mail also went on to say, and I quote, that Mr. White left over creative control differences with his band and has sought out legal counsel to advise him on the best way return to his career without facing lawsuits.

“Police are still unsure of the validity of this tip because the reward for information leading to Mr. White is now up to fifty thousand dollars. Law enforcement officials are busy sorting through over twenty-five hundred possible leads they’ve received since the reward value was increased. They are hoping to narrow down any legitimate leads that may come from them.

“That’s all the information we have at this point. If investigators are able to narrow down who sent the tip from the IP address, they may have some helpful information on the case. If anything changes, I will be the first to report it. This is Linda Bronson for Celebrity Pop Buzz Nightly’s daily update.”

My jaw hangs open as I stare at the commercial on the screen.

Shit. Does that mean they are close to finding Ace? I need to tell him about this. He probably has no idea since we don’t get cable or Internet in Willow Acres.

I dig my phone out of my back pocket but can’t make myself dial the number. If I tell him this and they aren’t anywhere close to finding him, I will have sent Ace running for no reason.

The only thing is, the e-mail was pretty spot-on, and very few people know that information. One of them is sitting in this bar at this very moment.

I turn my gaze on Melody, who instantly spots me marching in her direction and all the color drains out of her face.

“Did you have anything to do with this?” I glare at her, waiting for an answer.

She vigorously shakes her head, laying money down for her bill, trying to get out of here as quickly as possible.

When Melody stands up, I grab her wrist, forcing her to look me in the eye. “He trusted you. Is money really worth hurting someone who came to you for help? He just wants a normal life. Don’t you understand that? He’s trying to grieve and get his shit together and you just screwed him.”

Melody’s mouth drops open, but she doesn’t say a word to defend her actions, which only infuriates me more. Anger pulses through my veins and I dig my fingers into her skin, causing her to grimace.

“Ouch, Iris. Let go. You’re hurting me.” There’s a whimper in her voice, and it’s wrong of me to put my hands on her like this, but I can’t help myself. She can’t just screw with Ace’s life like this and get away scot-free.

She’s a coward—one that would do anything for money, apparently—and that pisses me off.

I squeeze harder. “Good. You’re lucky I’ve got enough willpower to keep from punching you in the face.”

“Let’s be rational here,” Melody pleads. “You hit me and I’ll press charges.”

“That might just be worth it,” I growl.

“Will it be worth it to bring the cops around you and Ace? Think about it, Iris. You’re a smart girl. Take your hands off me before you do something foolish.”

Damn it. I hate that she’s right. I glance around, and every eye in the bar watches us intently. I’ll be damned if I’m the one who blows Ace’s cover by being forced to explain what our little altercation is about.

I turn my gaze back to Melody. “If you mention one more thing about Ace, we will have a problem, and no threats of setting the police after me will stop me. Are we clear?”

She nods stiffly and then works herself free from my grip before she flees from the bar without saying another word to me.

Shit. What am I going to do?

I should turn Melody in and get her fired, but then that might make Mr. Stern call the police to question things, and I can’t have any more attention brought down on us.

I take a deep breath as I fight the urge to rush out into the parking lot to take out my frustration on her for ruining my and Ace’s plans, but before I can do that, Birdie’s voice pulls me out of my thoughts.

“What was that all about?” she asks. “Things looked tense as hell over here.”

I shake my head. I hate keeping secrets from my best friend, but this isn’t my secret to tell. “Nothing. A misunderstanding. It was nothing.”

Birdie nods slowly as she raises her eyebrows. “All right. Well, your order for table three is up.”

“Thanks,” I say as I fight the dread of knowing that soon my happy little world with Ace may come crumbling down.

ACE

Over the next month I quickly find myself in a comfortable routine with Iris. We spend every night wrapped in each other’s arms, professing our deepest love to one another after intense bouts of lovemaking while making plans for our future together.