I remembered then how I was dressed and although it wasn’t provocative it was still a long way from my scrubs and the no make-up look Lyric had seen previously. Not wanting him to jump to any ideas even though I didn’t sense he was, I hurried on.
“I waitressed at a club at night and the people there were great, but then one of the customers that was a regular there said that what I needed to be doing was modeling.” I let out a small sound of disbelief. “I didn’t take him seriously but he kept talking about it every time he came in and it was a good deal. I could do it when it fit my schedule, no late nights on my feet when I’d been on them all day as a nurse, and it paid well enough for a second job.”
Lyric nodded as if he understood but didn’t say anything. He was taking it all in, but without him responding I couldn’t tell what he was thinking. I didn’t have the mind-reading trick up my sleeve that he did.
“Sometimes some of the models were asked to mingle at get-togethers or dinners and it would help bring in new jobs and allow us to meet new people. It was good networking. But I think I may have attracted the type of people who wanted me to entertain the idea of doing more than just modeling.”
I cringed at the thought and my body trembled a bit as a scowl appeared on Lyric’s face.
“At least that’s what my gut, the one you told me to go with, is telling me based on what I was hearing and also seeing with some of the other girls I knew.”
“They also were persistent and didn’t seem like the type to take no for an answer.” That made me think back to earlier and how I’d thought Lyric was the same way. But with him it was for the better good, that I knew deep down. “Some of the people that have approached me are what I think are middlemen and I don’t know if I’ve seen their bosses. If I have he, she, or they haven’t fully revealed themselves.”
Suddenly there was a reaction.
What sounded like a growl slipped from Lyric and my gaze landed on the pulse beating in his throat. I looked further up into his eyes and got lost. The hypnotic swirls of green, brown, and gold, were full of emotion and changing by the second. They were the most beautiful things I’d ever seen even when there was a fury shining in them.
“Has someone hurt you? '' he ground out.
“No,” I replied quickly, shaking my head. “But I think they’re trying to scare and intimidate me into doing what they want.” A chill raced through me when I remembered the exact reason I had gone toNo Surrenderto begin with.
“Tonight while I was standing in a darker corner of the club a man behind me whispered it would be in my best interest to not keep saying no and to agree to meet with whoever asks.”
I let out a small whimper as I relayed the information to Lyric and remembered the man’s eerie voice.
“Before I could turn around whoever was there was gone. I don’t like the feeling they will do whatever they can to get their way and I’m scared for Jett and my grandpa. What if—”
I didn’t get to say anything else. Not before Lyric interrupted, his voice dark and guttural.
“Nobody is going to hurt anyone. Not Jett. Not your grandfather. And certainly not you. Do you understand?”
I found all I could do was nod my head up and down.
“Do you guys want more coffee? Or how about some food?” Mabel said as she walked over to us right then, breaking the intense moment up.
“We’re good for now,” Lyric told her, his tone returning to normal once more. With a nod, she smiled and wandered off.
It dawned on me then that Lyric probably hadn’t eaten since they were all getting ready to go out when I’d shown up. “Please eat, I know I interrupted—”
He held up a hand. “You didn’t interrupt. Are you hungry?”
“I already ate. That was where I came from. A dinner we had when I was approached again. Between it, feeling like someone has been watching me, and seeing footprints outside our doorway at the house off and on lately, I got spooked. So I came straight to you.”
My face heated when I realized what I’d said.
“I mean I came straight toNo Surrender,” I rushed to add, correcting myself.
Lyric smirked at my embarrassment which just made me blush even harder.
“I have a couple more questions for now and then we can get you on your way home. We will meet up tomorrow as we said and I think we can work out a way for you to feel safer at home and talk about what else will help.”
“What about you eating?” I asked.
“I promise to get something on my way home.” Another devastating smile graced his ruggedly handsome face.
Some time passed as we talked a little more before deciding it was time to say our goodbyes to Mabel, then leave after paying. “You bring the lady back to see us, you hear?” she yelled at Lyric as we started out the doors.
“I’ll do my best,” he said, turning back to her and giving her a charming wink.
