There was a collective gasp from the audience. Jake Combs was one of the most popular singer-songwriters on the music scene, well on his way to becoming the next Tim McGraw for country music.

“Oh, I love his last album.” Bella grabbed hold of Sam’s arm and pressed against him as the people around them surged forward.

“Yeah, he’s pretty good.” Sam knew the thrumming of his pulse had way more to do with Bella than any famous singer.

The older man continued to laud Jake Combs, and finally got to the part where the country superstar would be performing three of his biggest hits for their gathering and also making a hefty donation to the local food pantry.

“It’s amazing,” Bella murmured, and then gave a little squeal as Jake took over the microphone.

He said a few words and then invited everyone to celebrate the season with an impromptu dance party before launching into a rollicking acoustic version of one of his biggest hits from the past year, “Boots on the Bedpost.”

Sam could feel Bella’s excitement and was just about to throw caution to the wind and ask her to dance when he felt himself yanked away.

“Come on, Sammy,” his high school girlfriend, Lori, who’d been following him around all night, commanded as she dug her nails into his biceps. “We know how you love to dance.”

“Yeah, Sam.” Ashleigh, Lori’s best friend, who he’d also—regrettably—dated grabbed his free arm. “Let’s see you shake those hips.”

He felt like a piece of meat being pulled between two hungry animals. In the past, he would have eased into the feeling and the potential of not having to feel anything but physical pleasure.

Now he wanted more.

“Sorry, ladies, I’m spoken for at this particular moment.” He gestured to where he’d left Bella standing, and his gut took a swift kick at the look of disappointment in her honey-brown gaze.

She shook her head and turned away. To Sam’s chagrin, Kyle had reappeared and, with a casual thumbs-up at Sam, led her in the opposite direction.

And because Sam was a damn coward, he didn’t do a thing to stop it.

CHAPTER FIVE

BELLA DREW A thick fleece over her head—a well-worn pullover that had been left on one of the hooks inside the door to the cabin where she was staying—and fastened Tater’s leash to his collar.

The sky was dark with a canopy of stars above her. She’d grown up with a wide night sky in the mountains of Colorado, but somehow these stars felt more like a blanket covering the surrounding hills. Even though her hometown was perched at nearly eight thousand feet above sea level, the sky had seemed so faraway. Now she almost wondered if she could reach up and gather the bright points of light in her hand.

Tater tugged on the leash, bringing her thoughts firmly back to the present. It was nearly midnight, and she’d fallen asleep on the sofa as she read a book after returning to the Andersons’ resort with Pete, Jayne and Kyle.