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

chance of a lifetime and here she was turning him down like he was a telephone salesman offering her free S’mores for life if she took up a broadband contract.
    ‘I want you to know that I would never let anyone hurt you. I would personally make sure my security detail is the best there is. I would personally vet the entire guest list for the backstage areas. I’d do anything you needed me to do to make you feel safe,’ he told her.
    Those eyes were promising the truth, she was sure of it. But she’d had cast iron guarantees before and nothing could take away the fear. She shook her head.
    ‘I appreciate the compliments, really I do, but my answer’s still no,’ she said.
    He nodded his head, pushed the paper with his number on a little closer to her.
    ‘I respect your decision but I don’t accept it. It was a real pleasure to meet you, Honor. You take care.’ He held his hand out to her.
    Thick rings adorned fingers on both hands. She took hold of it and gave a business-like shake. The heat that hit her from their connection jolted her like a bolt from the sky. He let her hand go and turned, heading for the door.
    ‘I’ll be at Black Monkey Studios, Friday, if you wanna finish that song,’ he called.
    She watched him push open the door and head across the parking lot to his bike. Creeping closer to the door in stealth mode, as though she shouldn’t be looking, she watched him climb aboard the bike. He quickly swapped his hat for his helmet, then brought the machine to life, revving up the engine. He wheel-spun out and roared away up the road.
    She clutched at her stomach. She needed to vomit.

Chapter Five
    The alarm clock on his nightstand roared like the engine of his Harley. He couldn’t open his eyes. They felt raw and gritty like someone had snuck in overnight and poured salt in them. As he moved, a sharp pain hit his neck and he put a hand to it. Falling asleep with a guitar underneath you wasn’t to be recommended. The strap had chafed the skin on his collarbone. He was lucky it hadn’t strangled him. He untangled himself and lay the acoustic down on the bed. Pulling himself up into a sitting position, he rubbed his hands over his face, then his head. This was what not drinking did for you. He’d felt better after half a dozen beers.
    It was almost nine. The alarm must have been going off for an hour. Instinctively, like he’d done every half hour since he’d met Honor Blackwood, he checked his iPhone. Nothing. No messages. No missed calls. Three emails. How would she have emailed? He checked them anyway. There was one about sponsorship Buzz had copied him in on; another from Vistaprint and the third was full of coupon offers. He tossed the phone back down and got off the bed. It was Friday. He was heading to the studios with his band. They were recording new material for the next album. Trouble was, the only song going around in his head was a ballad called
Goodbye Joe
.
    ‘Good morning! Whoa! Hold up! Where did
you
go last night? You look like you did twelve rounds at Tequila Cowboy, doll,’ Mia greeted as Honor entered the music store.
    Honor managed a smile but her head was spinning. Last night, she’d drunk a bottle of wine alone and summoned up the courage to call Larry to tell him she’d get back into the studio. Then, after he’d whooped with delight, she’d needed a couple of tumblers of bourbon to convince herself she was doing the right thing.
    ‘Please don’t put me on Dolly Parton fan duty today. The high notes will make my brain explode.’ Honor came behind the counter and put her bag in the bottom drawer of the cabinet.
    ‘Sounds like a great night. Where did you go?’ Mia questioned.
    ‘Nowhere. I drank at home, alone.’ She paused. ‘But I called Larry. I told him I’d get back into the studio.’
    Mia let out an excited yelp and clapped her in a hug she could have done without.
    ‘I’m so excited for you! I’m so excited for
me
! I’m going to be selling your