Read Online Country Heaven by Ava Miles - Free Book Online

above the stage.
    The crowd went wild. He sang three words, “Take the fall.”
    She only had a moment to marvel at how beautiful his singing voice was before a haunting silver light arced up behind the stage. He lifted his arms and fell backwards. Tory screamed, joining the rest of the astonished crowd. For a moment she thought she’d witnessed a public suicide, but then his body bounced off a net that had been obscured by the darkness. The band started to play as Rye crawled to the end, flipped off the net, and jogged to the front of the stage.
    “How’re ya’ll doing tonight?” he drawled.
    The noise became deafening. Tory raised her hands to cover her ears.
    “That good? Well, I want to dedicate this concert to all of you who are struggling right now. I know times are tough, and you paid your hard–earned money to be here tonight. We appreciate you coming and plan to give you the show of your lives.”
    The crowd applauded, and whistles and screams filled the stadium from men and women wearing cowboy hats. Tory looked up at the gigantic TV in the corner of the stadium. Rye’s handsome face filled the screen.
    “You know, I went to a diner last night after a show. Y’all ever need some comfort food?”
    He paused and let the crowd answer.
    “Well, I had the best food of my life last night and found out the cook was having a hard time. She was out of school for the summer like many of you and working a tough job to pay the bills.” He tugged on his guitar strap. “I decided then and there to hire her. Help her out some.”
    Tory lowered her hands from her ears. Could he be…was he talking about her?
    “Tory Simmons, where the heck are you?”
    All the sudden the spotlight flooded her, and she had to lift her hands to shield her eyes.
    “Cute, ain’t she? And her mama was a Catholic school teacher and her daddy the principal. So if I don’t mind my Ps and Qs from now on, I’ll be getting detention.”
    As her eyes adjusted, she realized her image was on the big screen, and her whole body flushed red with embarrassment. A hundred thousand people were staring at her! And he’d just told them her business.
    “So here’s my challenge to you,” he continued as the spotlight shifted back to him. “We can all help each other get through these tough times. If you can do something for someone, don’t hesitate.” He played a few strands on his guitar. “Now, are you ready for some music?”
    He didn’t wait for a response. The band started playing a fast, hard–edged intro.
    Georgia appeared beside Tory and Clayton. “Brilliant! This is going to be incredible PR.”
    So, she was a PR campaign? He was using her? She was a proud and private person who never shared her troubles with strangers. How dare he! And worse, by talking about her parents like that, he was implying she was more than just his cook. Many of his fans were church–going people, and after the charity event incident, something like this might help reassure them.
    She no longer had any desire to see the concert. The music pounded through her like blows as she got up and started to walk away.
    Clayton stood and grabbed her arm. “Tory, there’s no reason to be upset.”
    “Do you really believe that? He humiliated me in front of all these people, and he’s using me to restore his image.”
    Clayton put his hands on her shoulders. “He didn’t humiliate you. He’s helping you.”
    She shoved his hands away. “No, he made me out to be a charity case.”
    “Look, Rye’s trying to save his career. You’re good press. I’m sorry if that upsets you.”
    She wrapped her arms around herself. Suddenly all she wanted was to be back home in her comfortable life, where people said what they meant and meant what they said. “I want out of my contract, Clayton.”
    “We won’t break the contract, especially not after what Rye said tonight. Look, having his career tank is the last thing he needs. He’s having problems with his family right