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“One day, you will. Until then, when it’s just you and me, we get to be us, like this. And if you were here, I’d sneak away to a private spot and kiss you goodbye.”

“You make me wish I was with you every second of the day.”

“You are,” she assured him. “I think about you constantly.”

“It’s the same for me, Angel. I’m sorry I won’t be in touch. I’ll miss you like crazy.”

“Me, too. Be safe.”

“I’ll see you soon.”

Lyric’s heavy heart sank in her chest. She really did miss him already.

Her phone pinged with an incoming text from him. She clicked the link, and tears gathered in her eyes when Aerosmith’s “Angel” began to play.

M:When everything seems dark, you’re my Angel. You make everything bright.♥♥♥

The man knew how to speak to her in her love language. Music didn’t just convey the words, it evoked emotion. And M sent this song right to her heart.

If her presence in his life saved him from whatever was taking such an emotional toll on him, then she’d be the one to bring the light for him.

“Lyric!” The irritation in Rick’s voice made her wonder why she was doing this favor for him at all.

But an hour and a half later, the smile on Rick’s face said it all. She’d delivered on taking the snippetsof ideas he’d had and turned them into a cohesive song that had a great hook and that sing-along feel that lifted the spirit.

He had a decent voice and played guitar well. But it would take a lot more than that to make it in the country-music industry with all the competition.

Rick set his guitar aside. “I knew we’d be great together. This is just the first of many hits we’ll write.”

She stood and put her guitar back in its stand. “I’m so glad you like the song.”

“It’s perfect. I couldn’t have done it without you. People are going to love it.”

“I hope so. You can play it for your friends, record it when you get home, and send it out to record labels and agents, share it on social media. Whatever you want to do with it.”

“What are you talking about? I’m not leaving.”

“You have your song. What else is there?”

“But I have a ton of ideas. You said you’d help me.”

“I did help you.” She gave him a smile. “Now I have to get to work.”

He glanced around the bar and grimaced. “This isn’t what you want.”

She narrowed her gaze, taken aback he’d speak to her that way. “You don’t know what I want. You don’t know me.”

“You’re a gifted singer and songwriter. You’re wasting your time here.”

She raised a brow, insulted by his words. “Is that what you think?”

“Yes.”

“That just shows how little you know me and what I want for my life.”

He cringed. “You can’t seriously want to stay here in this dinky little town working in a bar.”

She held her arms out to encompass the place. “And yet, here I am.”