Emerald absently wiped her hands down the side of her jeans, enthralled by the bright lights and backstage activities of the auditorium. Frank took her hand and gave it a squeeze, and, as he had since the start, led her to a place where she’d experience the heat and hustle firsthand.
“I still can’t get over the chaos,” she mused, soaking up the atmosphere. It was like breathing, and she loved it. This is where she’d hoped her journey started several weeks earlier.
“I know. Doesn’t matter if it’s the first or the tenth performance of the day. Everything runs on high energy. The fact that this is a different concept for finding quality talent brings a new element to country music, darlin’. I really don’t think anything’s been done like this before on the Ryman stage since it closed to nightly performances years ago. Now it’s only used for special events. I guess they thought ‘Rising Star’ qualified.”
A body swept past her, knocking her toward Frank, and she didn’t have to look to know it was Utah. She’d sense him anywhere. Then his big hands grabbed her waist, stopping the momentum, and she tingled. Electricity sprang through her as her gaze travelled up and met his hot green eyes, burning her to the core, and she couldn’t catch her breath.
How am I supposed to sing around him, of all people?
And it was all one-sided, which sucked.
You don’t even like him. He’s a spoiled snob, even if he is hot as heck.
She knew his family background. Could it be his born-with-a-silver-spoon-in-his-mouth attitude that bugged her? She prayed she wasn’t that shallow. He had no control over who his parents were, but still...
“Sorry, Emerald.” The words came quickly as Utah righted her and then disappeared onto the dark stage in the split second that followed.
Well, that brush-off certainly put you in your place.
Still, she couldn’t keep her eyes off the backs of the band performing on stage. More to the point, she couldn’t keep her eyes off Utah’s backside. Broad shoulders and back that came to a V at the waist accented his six foot plus frame. The tight-fitting black jeans molded perfectly to a butt that would put any rodeo cowboy to shame. If she could just get her hands on those cheeks for an hour or so, she’d paddle him good for being such a spoiled rich kid and not wanting her back.
Lights and music became one, and excitement built inside Emerald, the sensation to sway seductively to the music something new to her otherwise quiet existence before entering the competition. As usual, Utah made her listen to and feel every word he sang. His voice drew her deeper into the strange sensation building inside her, sensual to the point of making her throb in a place she ached to have him warm up.
When the song ended, Utah waved and bowed to the audience. Then he and jogged off stage in her direction. With a sultry smile on his mouth, he tipped his hat at her as he drifted past as if he knew and laughed at the riot he’d caused in her body. A flush of goose bumps crept through her as he brushed by her. The shivers felt more like a warning than anything else. He was way too complicated, and Emerald knew she needed to leave him alone.
There were only three of them left now—Casey Montgomery from Oklahoma, the darling Emerald Braun, and Utah Sheridan. By this time next week, Utah was banking on only two left standing before the show even started. Emerald Braun wouldn’t be one of them. He reached into his pocket and pulled out an envelope. Everything he'd wanted the past few years depends on this...and what’s inside it. Utah Sheridan intends to win Nashville Rising Star at all costs; will his bribe be the end of Emerald Braun?
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Nashville Rising Star © 2013 by Maxine Douglas
Meet maxine
Maxine Douglas first began writing in the early 1970s while in high school. She took every creative writing course that was offered (grammar was not her best course) at the time and focused her energy for many, many years after that time on poetry. When a dear friend’s sister revealed she was going to become a published romance author, that was all Maxine needed to get the ball rolling. She finished her first manuscript in a month’s time.
Maxine and her husband currently reside in Oklahoma near her son with their dog Missy, and three horses, Dusty, Paris and Pickles. Maxine is a member of Romance Writers of America, Oklahoma Romance Writers of America, Publish Authors Network, and the Oklahoma Writer’s Federation, Inc.
One of the many things Maxine has learned over the years of her life is that you can never stop dreaming and reaching for the stars, because sooner or later, you’ll touch one, and it’ll bring you more happiness than you can ever imagine. She feels lucky and blessed, over the past several years, to have been able to reach out and touch the stars—and she’s still reaching.
Praise for Maxine Douglas Books
Nashville Rising Star
5 Stars! Maxine Douglas has a way of writing heartwarming romance that will keep you turning the pages until the sweet ending.
by Julia Brandywine, Author
5 Stars! Like a special piece of chocolate candy, this delightful sweet romance short story will please your reading palate.
by Lorna Collins, Award Winning Author
Rings of Paradise
“RINGS OF PARADISE is an awesome read and I will tell my friends all about it!!!”
by Racegirl
“The unique plot and the great characters kept me turning the pages of this contemporary romance. Sexual tension is high between the two main characters, who probably couldn't be more different than each other if they tried.”
by Cheryl C. Malandrinos
“…the story was really good that I cannot give it a lower rating than a 5.”
by SmallMallReads
“RINGS OF PARADISE is a superbly told, sexy romance. I'll be looking for more books by Maxine Douglas soon.”
by The Book Connection
A Knight to Remember
“…I LOVED this book. From the opening challenge and evil edict issued by the impudent and cruel queen, to the modern world…”
by Lady Bug Lin
“…Well-written and fast-paced, Reynold and Courtney's adventures kept me turning the pages.”
by Edith
The Queen
“Wonderful story, passionate and compelling….”
by Alicia Dean, Suspense Author
WORKS IN PROGRESS
Bootlegger
Dear Citizen,
I’m Detective Tom Spence, of the Geneva Police Department in Wisconsin. Geneva is a sweet town and the type of place your kids could grow up, but this past summer all hell broke loose. That’s when Victoria Ravenwood moved in and bought the old Humphrey Mansion.
The Ice Palace is, well, let’s just say, there are some unique stories being told. Here in Geneva, unlike the rest of the world, prohibition is alive and well. And I’m not talking about the liquor prohibition of the 1920s here either.
Geneva’s prohibition covers adult-type of entertainment, and Ms. Ravenwood is right at the top of my list of people of interest. The rumor of a speakeasy of sexual entertainment and desires fulfilled housed in the underbelly the Ice Palace has put the town’s fathers in a tizzy. It’s now my job to shut down the Ice Palace and rid Geneva of Victoria Ravenwood.
Sincerely,
Thomas Spence, Det.
Frosty Morn
Rain fell from the sky in the small cemetery. Two men worked to fill the grave they’d just laid a young woman to rest in. Lightning and thunder filled the sky along with the fog that had begun to roll in.
“Mr. Adams, it’s time to go.” The minister from one of the local churches placed a hand lightly on the arm of a man dressed in black.
“Not just yet, Reverend Smith.” Dan Adams placed his hand over that of the minister’s. Somehow, it gave him little comfort knowing this man still stood next to him.
“Very well, you know where to find me.” Reverend Smith turned leaving Dan alone as shovels full of dirt were to
ssed down upon the coffin.
“Five kids and a monster of a house, how am I ever going to do it without out you Lisa? My rock in this world you’ve left me in.” Dan fell to his knees, tears running down his face. His rain soaked suit began to feel like glue on his skin. He didn’t care…all he wanted was his Lisa back with him.
Oh my love, you will find a way…and new love. Until then, I’ll be there to help. You’ll not do the children any good if you fall ill too. It’s time to let go, Danny. Her sweet voice echoed through his head. Bowing his head, he rose to his feet and shuffled his way out of the cemetery and back into life.
Lighthouse Cove
“You’ve heard this one, haven’t you?”
The words of a childhood friend echoed through the mind of Serena Fox as she stood looking at the “For Sale” sign in front of the lighthouse. Since hearing the story of the Lighthouse Cove ghost as a teenager, she’d thought of nothing more for the past 25 years. Now with the “sold” sign in one hand and the deed in the other, her dreams of the ghost and the lighthouse were all hers.
“Home, sweet home.” Serena tossed the sign in the back seat of her car, then drove up the driveway to the front door. Less than a mile wide, the peninsula along Lake Superior stood the ravages Mother Nature dealt out.
Kandi Kisses
Cum Again Studios
2:00 pm Pacific Time
Cameras and sound equipment sentinels in the room stood unmanned in their appointed positions. Soft music mingled with the sounds of sex throughout and one by one the filming crew fell silently to the floor.
No one paid attention to them.
No one cared they lay in their own fluids seeping onto the tiles.
Levi Andres thrust one last time then opened his eyes. Fear swam in the blue orbs of the actress beneath him. Pain shot through his shoulder and he froze. He flew into the air. His shoulder jammed the floor hard landing between two cameras, knocking one over.
Levi scooted into a dark corner away from the gurgling cries of his co-star echoing in his ear. Bloody hands covered his ears. His head pounded and fear iced over his heart. His mind twisted in horror. Death had entered the room like a demon in the night.
A large dark mass hovered above him, a junk yard dog ready to pounce on a piece of meat. Levi curled into a fetal position as a boot made contact with his ribs and abdomen. His screams bounced around the sound proof studio as repeated kicks hit his body one right after the other.
His world spun out of control. Weak and on his knees, he heard the crack of his jaw before the pain of repeated blows seared through his face. Why was this happening? Who would want to harm him? Where was everyone?
The blows kept coming continuously, one right after another. Then it was over and he knew he’d die. Salty blood trickled onto his lips and he dropped to the floor like a bag of dirty laundry. The last thing he remembered as he fell into unconsciousness …
“I’ll have a bag of candy kisses, please.”
Affairs of the Heart Page 6