Page 123 of Fire and Icing

“I’m Gavin West. I represent Front Porch Records.”

He extends his hand. I reach mine out and we shake.

“I love your sound. You’ve got a great presence with the audience. Have you done a lot of performing live?”

“Back home, in California, I had a regular gig. It wasn’t all that big. This size, sometimes bigger, depending if it was tourist season.”

I glance at Emberleigh. She’s watching me and Gavin.

“Well, I’d love to talk more with you, if you’re up for it.” Gavin hands me his card. “I’ll be back in Nashville the day after tomorrow. Call me if you want to have a coffee.”

“Okay. Yeah. Thanks.”

I tuck Gavin’s card into my pocket and walk over to the woman who has flipped my world upside down in the best of ways.

“Hey,” I say as I approach the table, my eyes so honed in on her I couldn’t identify any of her friends in a line-up.

“Hey,” she answers. “I like your song.”

“Your song,” I correct her.

“That’s adorable,” book club friend says. Maybe it’s book club friend. I barely glance at her and smile.

“I’m glad you like it,” I tell Emberleigh.

“I do, even though it’s country.” She smiles and her gaze has that slight note of challenge I love.

“I’ll convert you yet,” I tease.

“I think you already did,” she says, and I know she doesn’t mean to a genre of music.

A guy approaches us. “Dustin, can I get a photo of you with your girlfriend?” He turns to Emberleigh “Hey, Emberleigh. Do you mind if I get a pic for the paper?”

“No. I don’t mind.” She stands from her seat and I take her in from head to toe.

This dress is going to be the death of me. And that lipstick. Man.

She stands next to me and I wrap my arm around her back.

“Smile at the camera,” the guy says.

He takes a few shots, thanks us, and walks away.

I lean in and whisper into Emberleigh’s ear. “Are you trying to kill me?”

She turns her head and looks up at me with a question in her eyes. “No. Why?”

“Your dress. The way you look tonight. You’re not playing fair, Firecracker.”

She doesn’t miss a beat. She lowers her voice, places her flat palm on my chest and says, “That song, the way you smile at me, the way you always lean in and whisper into my ear … I’d say we’re finally on even ground.”

“Hardly,” I say. “Not even close.”

Chapter 27

Emberleigh

Small towns have a way of

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