Stevie sleepily turned over in bed, touching the space next to her, presuming she would find Lindsey beside her. Her eyes flew open, finding that as her fingertips grazed the comforter, his side was cold. She sat up, looking at the clock on the bedside table. It was still early. She pulled herself out of bed from curiosity alone, scooping up her silky robe from where it lay on the floor from the night before and tied it around herself. She ran her fingers through her tangled hair and tiptoed down the hall. Summer was still asleep in her bed. Stevie raised her eyebrow. It was unusual because Summer was almost always up first, playing in her room. As she moved down the hallway, she heard faint music, barely audible. The hallway opened up into the stairwell and the music grew a little louder but not by much. She smiled; Lindsey was up. There was a feeling of relief knowing that he hadn't left already.

"Good Morning, Angel!" Lindsey said joyfully at the sight of her. Her light footsteps were suddenly behind him as she wrapped her slender arms around his waist.

"What are you doing?"

"I was trying to make you breakfast in bed but I guess I took too long. I burned the first couple of pancakes but I have a few that are perfect, if I do say so myself. I got the hang of this fried egg business and I have a sneaking suspicion that my little lady might be proud of me." His cocky grin as he turned to look at her momentarily made her giggle.

"You're practically a chef!" She told him and he chuckled this time.

"Practically," he repeated. The music took him and he began to hum and sway.

"Shake it, Shake it, Sugaree. Just don't tell 'em that you know me."

"What are you listening to?"

"The Dead," he replied and Stevie's eyebrows rose.

"I didn't know you were into them."

"Even after all these years, I can surprise you. I guess I'm not so boring after all."

"No one in their right mind could ever call you boring," Stevie told him and he smiled.

"Thanks. If only Summer always found me as cool and interesting you do." His shoulders slumped slightly.

"What do you mean? She adores you!"

"I know she does and I love her too, more than anything in the world but sometimes I think it's the newness. I wasn't around like I should have been. I'm a novelty. It's already wearing off and what if I'm discarded like an old toy?" She chuckled but as he flipped off the stove and turned around, she could see the pain in his eyes.

"Honey, where is this coming from?"

"I don't want to talk about it," he told her, trying to slide out of her arms. His gaze avoided hers.

"Are you saying you want out?" She asked, biting her lip and his eyes grew wide.

"No, not at all. That's the exact opposite of what I want. I want to be a father, Stevie and a good...whatever...to you." He sighed. "But I have a past and it's not a good one. I manage to mess up every good thing I get my hands on."

"How? You have a family and a great job—"

"I'm on thin ice, and I got my job back with a not-so-clever lie."

"No, you got it back from sheer talent. You didn't use your handsome face or strong, lithe body." Stevie stroked his jawline but he pulled away. "Don't do that," she pleaded. "Don't go into the dark parts of your mind like that. Things are looking up. Things are changing for both of us."

"You're going one way and I'm going the other," he told her. "Think about it: Alex wants you to finish your album and tour...people want you. He has shown me time and time again that I'm unnecessary or in the way."

"That's not—"

He cut her off. "Yes, it is." His voice was firm. "If this all goes to shit and I'm found out, can you do one thing for me?"

"Lindsey..."

"Please, Steph. One thing." His blue eyes were  becoming a deep grey and it scared her. He sounded so serious and she couldn't even think to utter a word, simply nodding to his request. "If I start messing things up for you and Summer, if Alex punishes you because of all this, just leave me."

"No," Stevie argued.

"Angel, you have to. If he makes you choose between music and me—"

"I'd choose you..." she answered immediately then she shook her head. "Actually, no, I would choose both. I'd leave and we could do this together, on our own."

"In a perfect world, but you have to promise me you will do what's best for you. I know I threw a fit over Alex trying to weasel his way between us by shutting me out of your career but maybe that's for the best. Seeing you be able to fulfill your dream is enough for me. I've already done that, however short lived."

"Shake it, Sugaree? I think this music has gone to your head," Stevie said, chuckling uncomfortably. She tried to move away but he pulled her back.

"Promise me. I have a feeling this isn't going to last for long. He's not going to believe I'm Rooster Cogburn forever. It was a stupid mistake and I shouldn't have done it. All I wanted to do was play and that blind ambition got in the way of the most important things in my life." She opened her mouth to speak but he placed a finger to her lips, silencing her. " I didn't put you up to my ridiculous disguise, just act like you knew nothing about it. Play dumb."

"How?"

"Just do it. He's a temperamental jerk and he wants just about any excuse to break us up."

"Then we won't let him."

Lindsey shook his head. She wasn't listening. He knew this was hopeless. As he had said before, it's not going to last forever. Nothing in his life ever seemed to stand the test of time besides his love for Stevie and their little girl, but he also couldn't tear her from her dream. She needed to sing, she needed to share her songs. He didn't want to see her as a waitress or working behind the counter at a department store. He wouldn't let his mistakes take her down with him. "I'm going to take a shower. Uh, try to eat something, okay? You're getting thin."

Stevie nodded, still reeling from what he had said. Cut her losses, forget about him. But how? She loved him, and so did Summer. Her expression changed and a wicked grin slowly crept across her lips. She wasn't about to let one lowly man stand in the way of her destiny. If Alex chose to play dirty, then so would she.