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Lyric leaned across the car and gave Melody a hug. “Thank you for the ride.” They hadn’t said much to each other on the way over to the ranch, both of them not really happy about the early hour.

“No problem.” Melody yawned. “I’m happy you’re happy with Viper. Or M. Whatever we’re calling him now.”

“Stick with Viper. He’s M to me.”

A soft grin made it onto Melody’s exhausted face. “It’s sweet you two have your own secret romance going on.”

“Secretis the operative word there, so please don’t say anything about it to anyone.” She knew she could count on her sister but wanted it to be clear.

“I won’t. But you should tellhim, so he’ll stop pining for you.”

Lyric turned to the passenger window and spotted Rick walking toward the barn like a man on a mission. It didn’t surprise her that he knew she’d be here this morning. He seemed to be keeping close tabs on her. “I’ll handle him. You go get some sleep.”

Melody’s gaze sharpened. “Viper has a serious affection for you. Rick is seriously obsessed. There’s a difference. You see it. We all see it. End it before this gets worse.”

“I’m going to give him what he came for, then send him on his way.” Lyric slipped out of the car and closed the door on Melody’s objections to her giving Rick any more of her time. Lyric didn’t want to make an enemy, she wanted Rick to go home. Peacefully and happy, so he’d leave her alone.

He barreled up to her, looking like he was ready for a fight. She cut him off. “Rick. So good to see you. I’m so sorry about the miscommunication last night and that you got upset with me. That’s the last thing I wanted.”

Rick’s eyes went wide with surprise and whatever he was going to say sputtered out.

She kept going, not giving him a chance to talk. “I have to work out the horses this morning, but after that, I hoped you’d drive me to the bar. I’ll get the barbecue going, then you and I can spend some time working on a song. I can’t wait to hear your ideas. How does that sound? Say in like, three hours?”

He stood there dumbfounded.

She took his lack of speech as affirmation that he agreed. “Great. I’ll work as fast as I can and knock on your cabin door when I’m ready to go.” She walked toward the barn, thinking it best to just keep on the move so he’d just go along.

He followed her. “How’s your wrist?”

She held it up but didn’t stop walking. “Eleven stitches. No big deal.” The pain had decreased significantly, but she’d be careful today.

“Where did you stay last night?”

She reached the barn and turned back without answering the intrusive question. It was none of his damn business. “Lots to do if you want to get in a couple hours of songwriting. I’ll come find you as soon as I’m done.”

“Do you want some help?”

“It will go much faster if I do it myself.” With that, she walked into the barn hoping he took the hint this time and gave her some space.

She felt him watching her as she made her way toward the tack room and waited as long as she could before looking back to see if he’d left. Alone, she breathed a sigh of relief.

“Lyric,” her dad called out from one of the stalls.

She found her dad checking out one of the horses. “Is everything okay?”

“He scratched his hind quarter on something.” Wade rubbed salve over the small wound. “How is the arm?” The casually asked question came with a very serious look in her father’s eyes.

She pulled back her sleeve and showed him the bandage. “Eleven stitches. Nothing to worry about.”

“Except there issomeoneto be concerned about, especially when he was with you when you got hurt.”

She glanced back down the stable’s alleyway, found it clear, then looked at her dad. “I’m going to do the song with him after I’m done here. Then I’m going to make it clear that he got what he wanted and I don’t have time for anything more.”

Her dad gave her one of those looks like it was a good plan but missing some key details. “Do you really think he’ll just leave?”

No. She didn’t. But she had to try. “I’ve been wholly resistant to spending time with him. Maybe if I do this one thing that he asked me to do, he’ll stop trying so hard to force himself on me.”

Her dad ran his hand over the horse’s back. “I’m concerned that what you’re seeing on the surface withhim is much more sinister on the inside. Are you really prepared for what he might do?”