Made in Nashville: HarperImpulse Contemporary Romance by Mandy Baggot Page A
Authors: Mandy Baggot
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box of Kleenex.
‘What?’ She was looking at her reflection, squinting her eyes and trying to work out whether she had enough foundation over the scar on her cheek.
‘Listen, doll, I know you don’t want to hear this but Countrified 103 have been plugging this PA all day. Fans have been calling up requesting your songs and on my last look the place is buzzing out there. We don’t want them looking at some over-the-top red gloss on your mouth, we want them focusing on the voice.’
‘You’re starting to sound like Radley.’ Honor traced a finger along her scar, turning to look at the reflection of her side profile.
‘Who?’
‘Radley Stokes. He’s my new contact at the record company. He told me to go on out there and be myself. I can’t imagine how much money they’re paying him to say stuff like that.’
The two women connected a look and shared a laugh. As Mia passed her the ChapStick, Honor caught her hand.
‘Thank you for closing up early and coming here with me.’
‘Come on, doll, where else am I gonna be? Besides there was no way I was missing out on this big news they’ve been tweeting about.’ Mia brushed some loose powder onto Honor’s cheeks.
‘What news?’ She was jittery enough about this event, the last thing she needed was something sprung on her. Would Micro do that? Had they set something up and not told her about it? Her heart paced quicker and she reached for her bottle of water.
‘You not seen it? Along with #HonorB they’ve got #newvoice going out too. People have been asking about it but there’s been very tight-lipped responses. But it’s probably nothing earth-shattering; you know how they hype things.’
The way she was sucking back the Mountain Dew had changed Mia’s tone towards the end of the sentence. The shaking hands had no doubt said all that needed to be said about her opinion on secret news.
‘So, five minutes ‘til show time.’ Mia primped Honor’s curls with her fingers and then placed her hands on her friend’s shoulders. ‘I’m so pleased for you.’
‘Are you? Even if it means me maybe dropping a day at the store?’
‘Doll, I’m expecting you to quit after you bring the house down tonight.’
‘Oh Lord, what have you brought me to?’
Jared hadn’t told Byron about Honor’s big night. He knew what he’d think, and was sure he’d try and talk him out of it. Jared knew Byron wasn’t big on social media so saying nothing had been an easy out.
‘Wanna beer?’ Jared offered.
‘What in the world is this media circus? #HonorB … wait a minute. Honor B? Honor Blackwood?’ Byron stated as the pieces began to fall into place en route to the bar.
‘I’ll get us some beer.’ He hailed the bartender.
‘Did you know about this? What am I saying? Of course you knew about this. That’s why we’re here. What’s going on?’ Byron wanted to know. He removed his Stetson.
‘She’s recorded a track. She’s showcasin’ it here.’ The answer was blunt because he had nothing else to tell him. He didn’t entirely understand his compulsion to be here either.
‘Are you still trying to get her on your tour?’ Byron asked.
Jared shrugged. He didn’t know the answer to that either. If he
did
still want her to support him on the tour was it for the right reasons?
‘What’s going on, man?’
‘Can we get a couple of Coors?’ Jared ordered. Right at this moment it was easier to ignore Byron than attempt to explain anything. He looked to the stage where two guitarists and a drummer were coming up onto the platform. A roadie stood to the side, tuning a black acoustic.
‘We should try gettin’ a seat,’ Jared said. He handed over some money for the drinks and headed into the crowded bar room.
‘Two minutes, Miss Blackwood.’
The runner, if that’s what he was, looked like a high school student. This was really happening. In two minutes. She flexed her fingers and gripped the water bottle, putting it to her mouth.
‘What?’ She was looking at her reflection, squinting her eyes and trying to work out whether she had enough foundation over the scar on her cheek.
‘Listen, doll, I know you don’t want to hear this but Countrified 103 have been plugging this PA all day. Fans have been calling up requesting your songs and on my last look the place is buzzing out there. We don’t want them looking at some over-the-top red gloss on your mouth, we want them focusing on the voice.’
‘You’re starting to sound like Radley.’ Honor traced a finger along her scar, turning to look at the reflection of her side profile.
‘Who?’
‘Radley Stokes. He’s my new contact at the record company. He told me to go on out there and be myself. I can’t imagine how much money they’re paying him to say stuff like that.’
The two women connected a look and shared a laugh. As Mia passed her the ChapStick, Honor caught her hand.
‘Thank you for closing up early and coming here with me.’
‘Come on, doll, where else am I gonna be? Besides there was no way I was missing out on this big news they’ve been tweeting about.’ Mia brushed some loose powder onto Honor’s cheeks.
‘What news?’ She was jittery enough about this event, the last thing she needed was something sprung on her. Would Micro do that? Had they set something up and not told her about it? Her heart paced quicker and she reached for her bottle of water.
‘You not seen it? Along with #HonorB they’ve got #newvoice going out too. People have been asking about it but there’s been very tight-lipped responses. But it’s probably nothing earth-shattering; you know how they hype things.’
The way she was sucking back the Mountain Dew had changed Mia’s tone towards the end of the sentence. The shaking hands had no doubt said all that needed to be said about her opinion on secret news.
‘So, five minutes ‘til show time.’ Mia primped Honor’s curls with her fingers and then placed her hands on her friend’s shoulders. ‘I’m so pleased for you.’
‘Are you? Even if it means me maybe dropping a day at the store?’
‘Doll, I’m expecting you to quit after you bring the house down tonight.’
‘Oh Lord, what have you brought me to?’
Jared hadn’t told Byron about Honor’s big night. He knew what he’d think, and was sure he’d try and talk him out of it. Jared knew Byron wasn’t big on social media so saying nothing had been an easy out.
‘Wanna beer?’ Jared offered.
‘What in the world is this media circus? #HonorB … wait a minute. Honor B? Honor Blackwood?’ Byron stated as the pieces began to fall into place en route to the bar.
‘I’ll get us some beer.’ He hailed the bartender.
‘Did you know about this? What am I saying? Of course you knew about this. That’s why we’re here. What’s going on?’ Byron wanted to know. He removed his Stetson.
‘She’s recorded a track. She’s showcasin’ it here.’ The answer was blunt because he had nothing else to tell him. He didn’t entirely understand his compulsion to be here either.
‘Are you still trying to get her on your tour?’ Byron asked.
Jared shrugged. He didn’t know the answer to that either. If he
did
still want her to support him on the tour was it for the right reasons?
‘What’s going on, man?’
‘Can we get a couple of Coors?’ Jared ordered. Right at this moment it was easier to ignore Byron than attempt to explain anything. He looked to the stage where two guitarists and a drummer were coming up onto the platform. A roadie stood to the side, tuning a black acoustic.
‘We should try gettin’ a seat,’ Jared said. He handed over some money for the drinks and headed into the crowded bar room.
‘Two minutes, Miss Blackwood.’
The runner, if that’s what he was, looked like a high school student. This was really happening. In two minutes. She flexed her fingers and gripped the water bottle, putting it to her mouth.
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