Made in Nashville: HarperImpulse Contemporary Romance Read Online Free Page A

away from him.
    ‘You don’t know what I’m gonna ask you yet,’ he responded.
    ‘I know who sent you. And I haven’t made a decision yet. You can tell Larry that when I make up my mind I’ll tell him directly. He doesn’t need to send some…someone like you,’ Honor snapped, her eyes flashing with defiance.
    ‘No one sent me here. Well, that isn’t quite the truth…
you
sent me here. You and that voice you have.’ He lifted his head, set his eyes on her and she swallowed. Underneath the brim of the baseball cap was a pair of gray eyes. But instead of being cold or harsh there was a density and intensity about them. A sexy heat.
    ‘My name’s Jared Marshall… Jed Marshall and I’m lookin’ for a supportin’ artist for my upcomin’ tour. I was kinda hopin’ it would be you,’ he continued.
    Jed Marshall. She’d heard that name. She’d heard that name a lot. She’d sold a large quantity of CDs with his name on the front. The cover had a Confederate flag on it. This was him. He was a successful recording artist. Not a down-and-out who was going to rob the store. And then what he’d asked her hit her like a train.
    ‘I think you’ve got me confused with someone else.’ She hurried the words out and turned away from him, picking up some leaflets about an upcoming rock festival from the counter.
    ‘You were a platinum-sellin’ artist not so long ago. I know what happened but…’ Jared started.
    ‘Everyone knows what happened. It’s written all over the right side of my face!’
    She’d lost control. Rage was bubbling under her skin, waiting to pop out. Instinctively she pulled at her hair, tried to hide the mark behind a section of dark curls. She wanted him to leave. Just go away and leave her on her own. She didn’t want what seemed to be daily reminders lately of the person she used to be.
    He took the guitar from across his body and leant it up against a snare drum. Her breathing still rapid, she watched as he un-tucked his t-shirt from his jeans and began to pull it upwards. A ripped six-pack was revealed, along with the edge of two large tattoos at each side of his torso, but his fingers went to the middle of his abdomen.
    ‘It’s faded a little now, but it runs from my breastbone down to my navel. I came off my bike and I swear they used half a cow to put me back together.’ She tried to hold it in but it was no good, a smile was at her lips.
    ‘But me and the cow parts, we get on with things. Because now is all we have. Can’t go back and change the then,’ Jared said, covering himself back up.
    She didn’t know what to say. Her cheeks had pinked and the room was suddenly like a sauna. She didn’t feel comfortable.
    ‘I’m…I’m really flattered by the offer Mr Marshall but I haven’t been on a stage in ten years and that’s the way it’s going to stay,’ she responded.
    He sucked in a breath then nodded his head. ‘I’m sorry to hear that, Honor, truly I am. Because, just so you know, I don’t give up easy.’
    She furrowed her brow as she looked at him. He slipped his jacket back on, adjusting the sleeves until it was in place.
    ‘What does that mean? There must be hundreds of country artists out there who would fall over themselves to support someone as high-profile as you on a tour. Use one of them.’
    ‘I don’t want one of them. I want the girl with the voice of an angel.’
    His eyes were on her again and she felt the need to take a stance. She put her hands on her hips and tried to appear in control.
    ‘This is my cell number.
My
number, not my advisor. You ring this any time, night or day when you’re ready to say yes.’ He wrote on one of the concert leaflets on the counter and pushed the paper along to her.
    ‘I’m not going to say yes,’ she told him.
    ‘I’m not gonna stop askin’ ‘til you do.’
    ‘I can’t.’ Her voice came out thin and wavered with emotion. What must he think of her? He was a country chart-topper offering her the