Read Online Made in Nashville: HarperImpulse Contemporary Romance by Mandy Baggot - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Mandy Baggot
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long time but I do remember what a studio session’s like.’
‘Of course you do, darlin’, of course you do. I just…’ Larry stopped, as if unsure whether to continue.
‘What?’ She looked at him straight.
‘Heard you met Dan Steele on Friday night.’
Her shoulders hunched at the mention of him. She hid her expression against the flask. She knew Larry had caught the body language but she didn’t want him to see it in her eyes. Dan being in town had been a shock. She’d never considered their paths crossing in the future, although perhaps it had been naïve not to think about it. He was a country musician. His dream had been her dream. She remembered how badly he’d wanted the record deal, the fame and everything that went with it. He’d talked about it often enough. He’d tried to ride her career to get his own. No, that was harsh. She shook her head.
‘You OK?’ Larry asked.
‘You might have mentioned he was here in Nashville. You could have told me he had a stage name,’ she responded.
‘I didn’t know, honey, not ‘til I saw him. He’s in the Herald this morning. Been chosen as the indie act to open the Marlon Festival,’ Larry informed.
‘I thought you had your finger on the musical pulse.’
‘He’s an unsigned artist. That’s the talent scout’s concern not mine.’
He was right. It wasn’t his job to inform her if her ex-boyfriend was back in town.
‘Sorry,’ she offered.
‘Heard Jed Marshall almost ended up in a fight with him,’ Larry continued.
She tried not to react, put her mouth to the flask. So the town grapevine was working well. She wondered if Larry knew Jared had taken her home. If he did he was sure to have an opinion on it.
‘Loose cannon, Jed Marshall. Trouble follows him around.’
Honor gave him the biggest smile she could muster and replaced the flask on the counter.
‘So, are you ready darlin’?’ he asked.
‘Can we go the long way?’
The thought of a studio session had never fazed him before but today he was something like nervous. Friday night had been weird. Dan Steele turning up. Honor asking him to take her home. He knew she was fragile, that there was nothing in it. She was still getting used to the idea of going back to music. But he’d seen the expression on her face when she’d heard what he’d done to her song. She’d come alive in that moment. She’d shown herself to him. She was country. It ran through her veins, just like it did through his. She just needed some time and some support. Maybe it wasn’t his business to give it, but he was making it that way. Because of the tour. Because she was good. That was all. But, like it or not, he couldn’t deny when he heard her sing something inside him folded.
He picked a khaki shirt from the wardrobe and slipped it on, leaving it unbuttoned over his black vest top. He grabbed a cap from the dresser and put it on his head. He checked his watch, then snatched up the remote for the TV.
‘…and did you ever think this would happen?’ It was the blonde presenter of the morning show, her microphone stuck out for someone to comment into.
‘When you have a dream that’s so special to you…when you feel it in your heart and soul … you’re never going to give up on it.’
He felt his blood start to heat up as the interviewee came on camera. It was Dan fucking Steele on his TV. That asshole was on morning primetime! What the fuck was going on? He turned the volume up and paid attention.
‘So I guess opening the Marlon Festival is a dream come true but what you’d really love is a recording contract. Am I right?’
‘Sure, that’s the ultimate goal. I’ve been working the bars, getting some great feedback. I’ve also got a couple meetings lined up with some labels so we’ll see what happens. It’s all very exciting.’
Jared gritted his teeth. That stinking ass was going to end up being signed soon and then he’d be forced to interact with him professionally. In this
‘Of course you do, darlin’, of course you do. I just…’ Larry stopped, as if unsure whether to continue.
‘What?’ She looked at him straight.
‘Heard you met Dan Steele on Friday night.’
Her shoulders hunched at the mention of him. She hid her expression against the flask. She knew Larry had caught the body language but she didn’t want him to see it in her eyes. Dan being in town had been a shock. She’d never considered their paths crossing in the future, although perhaps it had been naïve not to think about it. He was a country musician. His dream had been her dream. She remembered how badly he’d wanted the record deal, the fame and everything that went with it. He’d talked about it often enough. He’d tried to ride her career to get his own. No, that was harsh. She shook her head.
‘You OK?’ Larry asked.
‘You might have mentioned he was here in Nashville. You could have told me he had a stage name,’ she responded.
‘I didn’t know, honey, not ‘til I saw him. He’s in the Herald this morning. Been chosen as the indie act to open the Marlon Festival,’ Larry informed.
‘I thought you had your finger on the musical pulse.’
‘He’s an unsigned artist. That’s the talent scout’s concern not mine.’
He was right. It wasn’t his job to inform her if her ex-boyfriend was back in town.
‘Sorry,’ she offered.
‘Heard Jed Marshall almost ended up in a fight with him,’ Larry continued.
She tried not to react, put her mouth to the flask. So the town grapevine was working well. She wondered if Larry knew Jared had taken her home. If he did he was sure to have an opinion on it.
‘Loose cannon, Jed Marshall. Trouble follows him around.’
Honor gave him the biggest smile she could muster and replaced the flask on the counter.
‘So, are you ready darlin’?’ he asked.
‘Can we go the long way?’
The thought of a studio session had never fazed him before but today he was something like nervous. Friday night had been weird. Dan Steele turning up. Honor asking him to take her home. He knew she was fragile, that there was nothing in it. She was still getting used to the idea of going back to music. But he’d seen the expression on her face when she’d heard what he’d done to her song. She’d come alive in that moment. She’d shown herself to him. She was country. It ran through her veins, just like it did through his. She just needed some time and some support. Maybe it wasn’t his business to give it, but he was making it that way. Because of the tour. Because she was good. That was all. But, like it or not, he couldn’t deny when he heard her sing something inside him folded.
He picked a khaki shirt from the wardrobe and slipped it on, leaving it unbuttoned over his black vest top. He grabbed a cap from the dresser and put it on his head. He checked his watch, then snatched up the remote for the TV.
‘…and did you ever think this would happen?’ It was the blonde presenter of the morning show, her microphone stuck out for someone to comment into.
‘When you have a dream that’s so special to you…when you feel it in your heart and soul … you’re never going to give up on it.’
He felt his blood start to heat up as the interviewee came on camera. It was Dan fucking Steele on his TV. That asshole was on morning primetime! What the fuck was going on? He turned the volume up and paid attention.
‘So I guess opening the Marlon Festival is a dream come true but what you’d really love is a recording contract. Am I right?’
‘Sure, that’s the ultimate goal. I’ve been working the bars, getting some great feedback. I’ve also got a couple meetings lined up with some labels so we’ll see what happens. It’s all very exciting.’
Jared gritted his teeth. That stinking ass was going to end up being signed soon and then he’d be forced to interact with him professionally. In this