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“Why won’t you give me a chance?”

“I have. I did. I enjoyed today.” Right up until he pushed for more. “Now it’s over.”

“No. Let’s make it a regular thing. Faith will understand.”

“I just told you I don’t want to, nor do I have the time.”

“Your family can cover for you.” He looked pleased he’d found a solution.

She shook her head and walked toward the edge of the stage.

He took her by the arm and spun her back toward him, his fingers digging into her bicep. “Don’t turn your back on me.”

She pointedly looked at his hand on her arm. “Let go.”

“Say you’ll do this again. A couple more songs. You and me spending time together.” A desperate, angry edge to his tone warned this was escalating to a bad place.

“Right now, I don’t even want to see you again. Take your hand off me.”

“Do it now.” Jax closed the distance, fury in his eyes.

Rick released her and held his hands up. “We were just talking.”

“Use your mouth, not your hands.” Jax stared Rick down, coming up beside Lyric, ready for a fight.

“What are you even doing here? You work at the ranch today,” Rick pointed out.

It disturbed her that he knew Jax’s schedule. And hers. And maybe everyone else’s around here. Having two members of her kitchen staff tending the smokers and doing the prep in the kitchen mostly out of sight hadn’t been enough protection.

Jax glanced at her. “I heard you were working here with him. Thought I’d come down and make sure everything’s okay.” He glared at Rick. “I’m so glad I did.”

“We’re done for today,” Rick announced, picking up his guitar and the papers detailing the song. He put both in his guitar case. “We’ll talk more about this later, Lyric.”

“I’ve said all I have to say. Now, excuse me. I have work to do.” She dismissed him and headed for the kitchen.

“I’ll walk you out,” Jax said, letting her know he’d lock the door behind Rick, giving her some peace of mind that he wouldn’t sneak up on her in the kitchen again.

She was just coming out of the walk-in fridge with several pounds of drumsticks when Jax walked into the kitchen. “Don’t start. I wasn’t alone here.”

“And yet, that didn’t matter. He still put his hands on you. Thank God Viper texted, asking me to check on you.”

That surprised her. “Really?”

“Yeah. Looks like his instincts were spot-on. Who knows what might have happened if I hadn’t shown up.”

“I’d have screamed for help.” She pointedly looked to the two people standing outside the back door.

Jax frowned. “You okay?”

“Fine. Rattled,” she admitted. “He doesn’t see me. I’m just something he wants. Someone who can give him what he wants.”

Jax huffed out his frustration. “I don’t like him.”

“Neither do I. I thought he’d be happy with the song and leave.”

Jax sneered. “But he wants more.”

“Yes. M—Viper said the same thing.”