But it wasn’t over between them quite yet, he reminded himself. They had children together. They should try to make things work for their girls’ sake, and he knew Harper agreed with him there. So her relationship with this guy wouldn’t last. She was on the rebound; that was all. They’d both been through a stressful and upsetting year, and this affair with Tobias gave her something new to focus on instead of all the painful and disappointing things she’d faced since he filed for divorce.

He could see why she might be doing what she was doing. But she’d always loved him. He doubted that had really changed. He just needed to remind her why. He hadn’t done nearly enough of that in the past few years.

Putting the Range Rover in gear, he pulled away from the curb, where he’d been waiting, and followed Karoline’s Jaguar at a distance so Harper wouldn’t notice him in her rearview mirror. If Tobias was his competition, he figured he should learn everything he could about him—where he lived, who he was, what his situation was like. Anything Harper might perceive as negative would only help Axel’s bid, after all. And it wasn’t as though there’d be much of a chance to check the guy out from Europe, so he needed to do what he could while he was in town.

His phone buzzed in the passenger seat beside him. It was most likely Matt. His bandmates had been calling and texting him incessantly, and so had the band’s manager. They could tell his mind wasn’t on music, and they were worried.

Axel felt bad for what he was putting them through, suddenly bugging out and coming to the States right in the middle of the tour. He was usually the hardest worker among them—the most driven member of the band. But it was Christmas, for God’s sake. And his family was falling apart. Of the four people who made up Pulse, only Gary was married, and Sophie, his wife, was traveling with them.

Ignoring the call, he rolled through the first of the three stoplights in town. He just needed to get through Christmas, finish up the tour and get back home to Colorado, where he could focus on repairing what he’d destroyed. Once Harper saw that he was committed and willing to rebuild their relationship, everything would improve. He’d tell her he was willing to see a counselor, if that was what she wanted. He should’ve agreed to go with her long ago. But he’d known what the counselor would say. She wasn’t the problem; it was him.

The brake lights of the car Harper was driving went on ahead of him, so he slowed, too, and watched as she turned in to a place about ten minutes outside town.