Rock Into Me Read Online Free Page B

already gotten Orion’s commitment. So, the sharks were indeed coming out. Soon enough, every Nashville hound dog would be on the trail of Orion—and Alana. Yeah, he owed Baxter on this one.
    “What are you drinking, you old toe-rag?” Jonathan said.
    “Apparently nothing, as you’ve got your hooks into fresh meat. That’s the word on the street,” Carter smirked. The man needed clients like a hole in his head; this business was all a game to him. It wasn’t that Carter was a menace, he simply wasn’t in this business for the long haul. The clients he signed were hobbies. A pastime until he found something else that amused his overindulged ego.
    “Who are you babysitting tonight?” Jon asked, downing his drink.
    “Not a soul. All’s quiet in Music City. What are your plans for Orion?”
    “Curious fellow, aren’t you?”
    Carter snorted. “The fact that you’re all hush-hush makes me believe you’ve got big plans for them.”
    “Actually, I’ve considered taking them out of play for a while. I’m thinking of studio time. Someplace out of sight.”
     “Use mine,” Carter offered.
    “I think I’ve got it covered.” Alana was a bird of another color altogether, and his plans were rapidly changing from the general sign-and-assign to one of his company handlers. She would be his project, from start to finish. He wanted to forestall the usual studio grapevine seepage. What went down in the studio tended to get leaked to the press, and what he needed for Alana was stealth.
    An unveiling of her revamped self, once he harnessed and conditioned her abilities. A complete renovation of her came to mind. With the right wardrobe, the correct training, and his personal polish, she’d sparkle. That wasn’t his ego talking. He had the necessary music connections for someone with her innate skills. His pulse threaded faster and faster as he evaluated his find this evening.
    She was a diamond waiting to be plucked. A rarity, and it was his specialty to find, cast, and present this level of talent to the world. She might balk right now, but when it was over, she’d own the stage and the audience.
    He rejected any overt attempt to throw up a smokescreen with people like Carter. Far easier to give them a portion of the truth, instead of allowing Carter’s piqued interest to get the upper hand. Carter preferred to think of himself as the ultimate insider. Easier to thwart the man’s ability to pester him to death, or worse, his digging for information that he’d share with all the wrong people.
    Calmly, Jonathan replied, “I’ll be testing her voice quality. Nothing complicated. The outer is nothing without the ability. Wrap a package as one might, you can’t make manure smell like roses.”
    “Brother, that’s harsh. I don’t believe I’ve heard that analogy applied to a woman with those types of…looks before.”
    Jonathan’s skin tightened. He swung his glance over to Carter and noted the man’s hard stare. He turned around and gripped the bar. Alana was leaning over a table, the half-moons of her ass cheeks peeking out from her dress.
    “Excuse me,” he said, his jaw clenching tight and tighter with every step he took toward Alana. He reached her side and lifted her arm without a word.
    She reacted like a tiger ready to pounce and he was prepared. Leaning in, her scent clocked him. A light floral aroma unlike anything he’d inhaled in ages. “What in the hell do you think you’re doing?” he whispered against her hair.
    In lieu of answering, she stared at him, the power in her eyes holding him for a beat. Neither of them did much of anything save breathe and gaze at one another.
    She finally answered him. “We’re working out the logistics for tomorrow’s schedule.”
    “No need. My secretary will do all that. Tomorrow she’ll contact…” he gazed from face to face at the group looking for the drummer. “You. Hank Barryman, isn’t it?”
    “Yes. Mr. Lansing. It’s a pleasure.” The