Page 39 of Lost Lyrebird

Lily catches my gaze for a mere moment.Her look tells me to stand down.With a raised brow, I silently say,let me see it then.

“I’m just trying to be me,” Lily says calmly, tapping her fingers on the bar.“Maybe the customers will like it, maybe they won’t.But from what I’ve heard, you’re already killing it here.I just want to add to that, if I can.”

“You ever danced before, honey?”Roxy asks, her tone all fake sweetness and condescension.

“Yep, sure have.”Lily’s reply is no-nonsense, full of quiet confidence.

Honey shares a whispered retort with Roxy before they head to the dressing room.They burst into laughter the second they’re out of the main bar area.

Anger and frustration roll through me, because I knew they’d be a problem.Honey’s desperate to be the favorite and isn’t, and Roxy’s the reigning queen and doesn’t like the look of her competition.

Raven claps her hands and signals that we’re about to open our doors, so everyone needs to get to work.Lily finishes her drink, thanks me, and stands.But before she can get far, I call out to her and meet her halfway.

“If they give you any—”

“It’s okay,” she interrupts, her voice steady.She pats my fucking chest.My muscles jump, and something inside me ignites.“I expected it.I’ll let you know if it gets out of hand.”

I don’t know why I fucking do it, but I cover her hand with mine.Her eyes flare.I pull her hand away from my chest and give her fingers a quick squeeze.The temptation to bring them to my lips rides me hard, but I ignore it and slowly release her.

We’re almost eye to eye, her heels making up some of the height difference.My hands itch to hold her.But I can’t.She’s my employee, and that’s how it has to stay.

She gives me a grim smile.“I’ll handle it.You just manage”—she gestures behind me—“this place.”

“That includes you,” I reply, watching as her eyes flare wide with shock.I step closer, unable to help myself.Her gaze falls to my mouth for a beat, then rises again.

This close, her beauty is devastating.My fingers twitch, aching to slide into her hair, to pull her close and kiss her senseless.

“Bryan’s the one who needs your help,” she says breathlessly.

“You’re the one I wanna worry about, not fucking Bryan.”

She laughs softly.“Fucking Bryan.”We share a conspirator’s smile for a second before she steps back.Our fingers brush, and a jolt runs up my arm.

“Promise me you’ll come to me if it gets out of hand.”

Something flashes in her eyes.Emotion drains from her face, like a veil falling between us.The smile she gives me next is fake and throws me for a loop. “Promise.”

Without another word, she turns and walks away.I’m left wondering what the fuck just happened, what triggered it, and how the hell do I fix it?

CHAPTER 10

Some women simply can’t hide how bright the light of life shines inside them, and others are drawn to it without necessarily knowing why.

“Damn.You hire a rockstar or what?”Dozer, our VP, takes a seat next to Bodie.“The place is packed.”He’s a big guy, blond hair, clean-cut, eyes as steely as his father’s, who happens to be the club president.His knuckles are bruised up, but I let my questions about that slide for now, handing him a beer.

“Yeah, thanks to this asshole.”I chin-lift toward Bodie.

A loud cheer erupts as Roxy hits the stage in a lime-green bikini and sky-high platforms.Her long blonde hair is pin-straight and pulled into a high ponytail.Like always, she heads straight for the high rollers and flashes them a large smile.

Bodie laughs, ignoring my scowl.“Isn’t a packed house a good thing?”

“She didn’t need the extra pressure.”

I asked him and Dozer to be here tonight so I had a few extra men watching things while I trained Bryan.I did not tell them to invite every member of our MC, which is what Bodie did, turning Lily’s debut into a spectacle.

“Or maybe you just wanted to keep her to yourself a little longer.”

I don’t respond.Just wipe my towel across the bartop and drill him with a glare that would have smart men ducking for cover.He remains unaffected because he’s been on the receiving end of it far too many times.