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“Me, too.” Viper thought of someone who’d make him really happy right now, but he wouldn’t get to see her anytime soon, and that was a damn shame because all he wanted was to be with her.

Chapter Ten

Lyric plated up an order while singing along to the song blaring in the bar. She knew all the words to Heart’s “Alone”and sang them at the top of her lungs, thinking about how she’d like to get M alone tonight. She couldn’t stop thinking about him and wondering what he was doing and what kept him busy and away from her.

She hit the chorus again and sang out the desperate lyrics when someone came up behind her and put their hands on her hips. Not M. She knew what his hands felt like on her now.

She jumped, the plate she’d prepared toppling to the floor. The dish shattered and the food went everywhere, including on her favorite work boots.

She spun around, her heart racing with the fear and shock that went through her.

Rick chuckled and raised a brow. “You are so jumpy.”

“What the hell?” She didn’t like the intrusion, interruption, or his assumption that he could put his hands on her.

He stepped into her. “You sing like an angel, even to classic rock.”

She didn’t like theangelreference coming fromhim. She planted her palm on his chest and pushed him back a step so he’d have to release her. “What are you doing in the kitchen? I’ve told you it’s not safe.” She purposely looked down at the shattered dish and wasted food.

“I came in through the back and heard you singing that song.” His gaze softened. “You don’t have to bealonetonight. Let’s get out of here. We’ll go up to your place and—”

“No.” She didn’t want to hear how he would finish that sentence.

His gaze turned knowing. “Right. You’re working. When you get off shift, then.” He looked so hopeful. And sure.

She sighed, tired of this thing they kept doing. “What do you want from me?”

“I want to spend time with you, but you’re always busy. Here. At the ranch. It’s like you never have time for yourself. I hear what others don’t. You recorded ‘Come Over’ last night, and now you’re singing ‘Alone’ like you’re desperate to have someone.”

That irritated her. “I am not desperate.”

“You’re lonely. You want someone. Everyone feels like that sometimes. But I’m here. I can be that person. You and I—”

“There is no you and I!” She took a second to compose herself. “I barely know you.”

He took a step closer, his body inches from hers. Way too close for comfort. “Is it too much to ask after I came all this way to be with you that you give me a chance? We have so much in common. Music. Songwriting. Food. You like cooking it. I like eating it.” The grin was disarming.

And maybe she was being too harsh on someonewho seemed enthusiastically into her. He had some boundary issues, that was for sure, but maybe he was pushing because she kept trying to distance herself. “You said you came here because you wanted to write with me.”

“Your songs are amazing. Everything you do is. You know how to put the emotion into the words. Just like you did a few minutes ago while you were singing. It’s easy for you.”

Not everyone allowed themselves to be vulnerable and let others see it.

She stepped back, and he let her have her space this time. “You have to tap into something deep and sing about something that matters to you.”

“You can show me how to do that.”

“Do you have some ideas you’d like to work on?” She didn’t want to have to do all the heavy lifting.

“Yes. Lots of them. I get an idea, but then I can’t seem to fill it out and finish it.”

“That’s why writing with others helps. You can try things out, see things from others’ perspectives, and figure it out together. Some ideas work, others fizzle out.”

His big smile returned, like he’d finally won her over. “So you’ll help me.”

“I don’t have a lot of time, but yes, I’ll help.”

“Great. Thank you. You won’t regret this.”