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“Where is he? Why didn’t he come check on you?”

She wished he was here. “He’s out of town on some job.”

Jax nodded. “Construction is hard to come by this time of year. I guess he’s got to take work wherever he can get it.”

“Yeah.” She thought it was more than that. Something to do with the Wild Wolves MC, not a renovation or building project. But what did she know? He wasn’t really one to share.

Jax read her mood. “You’re pissed about something.”

Rick had a way of doing that to her.

“He wouldn’t listen to me. He thinks I can’t make up my own mind and decide what I want. He thinks I’m wasting my life here.”

Jax sneered. “Seriously? Dump him.”

“What? No. Not M—Viper—whatever. I mean Rick.”

“You’ve made it clear to us that you want to work at the bar and do your music thing your way. Has that changed?” He waited patiently and openly for her answer.

She appreciated so much that Jax asked. “No. I like my life. It’s looking even better with M in it, even though we’re kind of complicated right now.”

“Something is definitely strange when the so-called normal guy who’s into music like you seems more of a threat than the biker dude you’re hiding a relationship with.”

“M is honest. He appreciates me. Rick... he wants to control me.”

“I’m liking Viper a lot better now, especially since he gave me the heads-up about how he feels about you. If he worries, it means he cares.”

“I know he cares. I just wish whatever is holding him back ends soon.”

“I want you to be happy. If he’s it, great. But Rick . . . you need to stay away from him.”

“I’m done being nice. I’m done trying to spare his feelings. I’m just done.” She rubbed her hand over her sore arm.

Jax frowned. “He lays a hand on you again, kick him in the balls and put him down just like I showed you.”

Sounded like a plan to her.

Chapter Nineteen

Lyric had closed the kitchen nearly an hour ago and had taken the stage with the local band they’d hired for the weekend. She played with them often and enjoyed the set, getting out of her head and lost in the music.

Rick had spent most of the night drinking at the bar and glaring at her.

She preferred another broody man and wished he was here instead. Wishful thinking.

But her conscience pricked, and she felt bad for leaving things the way she had with Rick. Her soft heart didn’t like being mean and wanted to make amends. So when the song ended and the band’s lead vocalist announced they were taking a break, she grabbed her acoustic guitar and went to the mic, knowing this was a huge mistake, but impulsively making it anyway, so she could live with herself.

“Hello, Dark Horse Dive Bar.”

The crowd raised a glass and shouted, “Hello.” It was a thing they did.

“I haven’t shared a new song in a while, but I’ve got something special tonight.” She waited for the cheers to calm down. “Rick Rowe, do you want to join me onstage to share your brand-new song?”

Rick’s eyes went wide, and the crowd followed her gaze to the bar where he sat.

“Come on. They’re waiting.” She caught the shocked and angry look Aria sent her from the bar.

Her sister probably thought she’d lost her mind throwing this particularly obstinate dog a bone, but Lyric didn’t like feeling guilty, so why the hell not? The defiant voice in her head was a lie. She knew she shouldn’t be doing this, but she couldn’t get out of it now that reason wanted to override her conscience.