Read Online Home by Melissa Pearl - Free Book Online

flag on it. It was low-cut and made my boobs look bigger. I figured it couldn’t hurt, right?
    “Take a seat.” Parker pointed at the stool. “Why don’t you get yourself tuned and ready to go while I find Aren.”
    My curls bobbed as I nodded and headed over to the stool.
    Laying down my guitar case, I took out my beloved instrument and sat down to recheck my tuning. I didn’t have to adjust anything and was soon tapping my fingers on the wood and waiting.
    The door opened and I flinched, unable to stop my embarrassed, breathy laugh.
    “Rachel.” A tall man with angular features and a long, pointy nose approached me. He was dressed in dark slacks and a white dress shirt that was unbuttoned at the top. He had on a fitted suit jacket that looked pretty stylish and matched his pointy shoes.
    I took his outstretched hand and gave it a shake. “Hi.”
    “I’m Aren Pierce.”
    “It’s nice to meet you.” I rested my forearm against my guitar and smiled.
    I wasn’t quite sure how I wanted to come across. Confident, most certainly, but was that all he wanted? Or was he after a more enthusiastic cheerleader-type girl? I didn’t know what to say as he stood there staring at me. His critical, dark gaze traveled the length of my body before coming to rest on my face.
    His thin lips eventually drew into a smile. “Parker’s right. You are very beautiful.”
    “Thank you.” I grinned, praying my cheeks weren’t going bright red.
    “Well…” Aren hitched his pants and took a seat on the chair while Parker sat down beside him. “Please, play me a couple of songs, and I’ll see if you’re what we’re looking for.”
    “Okay.” I nodded.
    I decided to go with my Michelle Branch song first—“Set Me Free.” My boot tapped out a silent beat in the air and I started strumming. A smile hit my lips before the first word left my mouth. I loved the song because it made me think of Mama. I loved the sound of my voice as I sang it. Getting lost within the tune was easy, and I floated through the piece.
    The one time I glanced up at the men, I nearly faltered so I decided to keep my gaze down. I knew that was bad performing. It was always better to make eye contact with your audience.
    Come on, Rachel, don’t blow this!
    As I reached the final chorus, I looked straight at Aren, giving him some sunshine. He grinned back at me, his head bobbing in time with the song. I strummed my last chord and sang the final line with a flourish.
    A swift silence filled the room after I was done, and my already-tattered nerves went into a frenzy. Thankfully, they didn’t leave me hanging for long. Aren and Parker shared a grin, the agent looking pretty smug with his find.
    “That was great.” Aren’s smirk landed on me and he ran a hand through his slicked-back hair. He and Parker were cut from the same cloth—city boys to the core. “Let’s hear another one.”
    Parker winked at me. “That Jessica Simpson one you played the other night was really great.”
    “Okay.” My giddy insides danced with a squeal as I placed my fingers on the strings and strummed out the first rift of “Come On Over.” I had to think of Josh as I sang the song; it was impossible not to. I was glad I did. My voice took on a husky quality when I sang it to him, and I could tell by the looks of approval from the two men that they might have found the girl they were looking for.
     
    *****
     
    “He liked you.” Parker grinned as he drove me back to the hotel.
    “I sure hope so.”
    “No, he definitely did. I could tell.”
    I pressed my lips together, trying to contain the squeal wanting to break free. “So, um.” I cleared my throat. “What happens now?”
    “Well, we’ll give him a little time to think, but I’ll call him as soon as I’ve dropped you off and find out exactly where he’s sitting. If he wants to take you on, we’ll draw up a contract over the weekend, and I’ll bring it by on Monday.”
    “Okay.”
    “Once you’ve