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A Songbird Novel

Melissa Pearl

© Copyright 2015 Melissa Pearl

http://www.melissapearlauthor.com

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All rights reserved. This book or any portion thereof may not be reproduced or used in any manner whatsoever without the express written permission of the author.

This is a work of fiction. Names, places, businesses, characters and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, actual events or locales is purely coincidental.

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Cover art (copyright) by Mae I Design. All rights reserved.

http://www.maeidesign.com/

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Kindle Edition, License Notes

This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return to Amazon.com and purchase your own copy.

Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

HOME

Due to themes and content, this book is recommended for mature readers.

(18+yrs suggested).

Rachel Myers never meant to stay in the small town of Payton. Her eyes are set on bigger things than waitressing at Clark’s Bar. She wants to perform on a stage of her own with bright lights, fame, and fortune. But her dreams seem too far out of reach and so she stays put, content with the love of her boyfriend, Joshua Clark. He’s a good man, a solid rock she can depend on. She wants that to be enough, but it hasn’t quelled her yearning for the big city.

Josh has never loved anyone the way he loves Rachel and he dreads the day she might leave him. He’s happy in his small town home. Running the bar that has been in his family for two generations is a dream come true. He couldn’t be happier with his life…until one night, a city boy from Hollywood promises Rachel a record deal and destroys everything.

Jumping at a chance she never thought she’d have, Rachel leaves Payton. And Josh. But the sparkle of Los Angeles is not all it’s cracked up to be, and Rachel quickly figures out that some sacrifices are not worth the risk. Is she too late? Will Josh forgive her, or has her desire for fame ruined the best thing she’s ever had?

Sometimes you have to say goodbye before you can say forever.

NOTE FROM THE AUTHOR

I never learned to play the guitar, but I always wished I had. I love singing. There’s so much power in music, and being able to project a melody out of your body is a magical experience. Well, it is for me, anyway.

I wasn’t a big country music fan before writing this book, but I have fallen in love. Every song on the HOME soundtrack I have listened to so many times and have memorized most of them. I hope you enjoy the playlist as much as I do.

Rachel and Josh have been on my mind and in my heart for probably twenty years now. I heard Joshua Kadison’s CD—
Painted Desert Serenade
—when I was in my late teens and his voice and lyrics inspired me. HOME was born from his song “Picture Postcards From L.A.,” and it has grown over the years and evolved into so much more than I initially had planned. Rachel’s journey was a really tough, heartbreaking one to write, but also so rewarding. People make mistakes. I remember being eighteen and thinking I was invincible. Sometimes the best way to learn is to get burned…then you can rise from the ashes and figure out what really makes you happy and the type of person you want to be.

My hope, as it is with every book I write, is that you will enjoy this journey and that it will make you laugh, cry, and fall in love.

Thanks for reading.

xx

Melissa

HOME SOUNDTRACK

(Please note: The songs listed below are not always the original versions but the ones I chose to listen to while constructing this book. The songs are listed in the order they appear.)

GIRL IN A COUNTRY SONG

Performed by Maddie & Tae

KEEP YOUR HANDS TO YOURSELF

Performed by John Deer

PICTURE POSTCARDS FROM L.A.

Performed by Joshua Kadison

FALL FROM GRACE

Performed by Amanda Marshall

COME ON OVER

Performed by Jessica Simpson

ANYTHING AND EVERYTHING

Performed by Martina McBride

THESE DAYS

Performed by Rascal Flatts

YOU SET ME FREE

Performed by Michelle Branch

SUDDENLY I SEE

Performed by KT Tunstall

STUPID BOY

Performed by Keith Urban

SMILE

Performed by Lonestar

KISS YOU ALL OVER

Performed by Joie Starr

TRUST ME (THIS IS LOVE)

Performed by Amanda Marshall

WALKING IN MEMPHIS

Performed by Marc Cohn

ONE WAY OR ANOTHER

Performed by The Hotstepperz

SHAKE IT IF YA GOT IT

Performed by Kira Isabella

ONE OF THESE DAYS

Performed by Michelle Branch

THESE BOOTS ARE MADE FOR WALKING

Performed by Jessica Simpson

COUNTRY’S WRITTEN ALL OVER ME

Performed by Kira Isabella

LIFE IS A HIGHWAY

Performed by Rascal Flatts

SEXY LOVE

Performed by Kylie Minogue

I KNEW YOU WERE TROUBLE

Performed by Taylor Swift

LOVE YOU

Performed by Jack Ingram

BEST I EVER HAD

Performed by State of Shock

DO YOU LOVE ME

Performed by The Contours

GOODBYE IN HER EYES

Performed by Zac Brown Band

PERMISSION TO SHINE

Performed by Bachelor Girl

MUSIC

Performed by John Miles

HAPPY GIRL

Performed by Martina McBride

PICTURE TO BURN

Performed by Country Matters

I LOVE YOU

Performed by Martina McBride

COMING HOME

Performed by Diddy - Dirty Money, Skylar Grey

HOME

Performed by Johnny Swim

LONG ROAD HOME

Performed by Sheryl Crow

SAFE

Performed by Miranda Lambert

CHICKEN FRIED

Performed by Zac Brown Band

I HOPE YOU DANCE

Performed by Lee Ann Womack

FEELS LIKE HOME

Performed by Chantal Kreviazuk

I JUST CALL YOU MINE

Performed by Martina McBride

To enhance your reading experience, you can listen along to the playlist for HOME on Spotify.

HOME PLAYLIST

For Joshua Kadison -

You captured my heart years ago with your song “Picture Postcards From L.A.” Rachel came to life in my head, and a story quickly grew from there. Thank you for inspiring this story with your amazing song.

Chapter One

Rachel

Clark’s Bar buzzed with its usual Saturday night vibrancy. Music blared from the jukebox as people chatted and laughed, throwing back beer like it was water. A dartboard competition that started out as friendly had switched to a serious duel between Trudy and the Baker boy. My money was on the girl, and I couldn’t wait to see her kick his arrogant ass to the curb.

I lifted my tray of empty glasses in order to avoid knocking Ol’ Dan’s head off. That guy sure did thrash around when he laughed. I rolled my eyes as I swiveled my hips and dodged a chair that tipped back before slamming down on its four legs.

“Hey, Rachel.” Millie waved to me as I passed by her table. I grinned at her and shook my head. That girl was so gone for Brock Hillard it was actually funny. Apparently she’d loved him since the fifth grade, quietly pining for his oblivious self until he grew a pair and started to realize that girls were good for more than just cooking and cleaning. He grew up in one of those homes where his mama did everything for everyone. Did him no favors, if you ask me. All I can say is that he is one lucky man, because Mille Rae Truman is just like his mama…sweet as pie and wholesome to the core. They’d no doubt be married and popping out babies before her twentieth birthday.

I, personally, could not think of anything worse.

Plonking the tray down on the counter, I slid it toward Josh so he could empty it and reload the thing with a fresh batch of brew.

“How you going, baby?” He gave me that closed-mouth grin of his—the one that made my toes sizzle. He was getting some tonight. Not only did that boy look so damn fine in that fitted T-shirt I made him put on, but he had his hair back in a low ponytail…a short little stubby one that rested against the back of his neck, and it just did things to me, especially when a curl popped loose and he had to tuck it behind his ear.

I smiled at his rugged complexion, peppered with blond whiskers that needed shavin’. “I’m good, honey.”

“It sure is busy tonight.” He placed two beers on the tray and swiped his hands over the butt of his faded blue jeans before turning back to pour some more.

“More money for you, though, right?” I winked at him.

His grin grew to a smile, and I spotted a flash of straight, white teeth. “I’m just glad people showed up, even though the band canceled on me.”

“Come on, honey, they don’t just come here for the band.” I pressed my forearms into the counter, lifting my body off the floor and leaning toward him. “They come here because Clark’s is the best bar in Payton. Hell, it’s the best bar in the county…and that’s all because of you.” He leaned over to capture my smile against his lips.

He wasn’t usually one for PDA, but he couldn’t seem to resist me.

His lips were warm and delicious. I savored the taste of them before jumping back down to the floor and grabbing my tray.

“Table eight.” Josh pointed to the rowdy drinkers by the window.

“Got it.”

“Girl In A Country Song” started playing as I turned for the rabble. It was hard not to sway my hips as I walked across the room. It made me wish I was up on a stage, singing the song myself. That was what I wanted to do with my life. Sing. Play my guitar. Be the girl my mama wanted me to be. But life got in the way, and my grand plans had been put on hold while I saved my pennies.

Stopping at the table, I balanced the tray on one hand and started distributing beers. They were all drinking the same thing, so I slapped them down in front of anyone. I wanted to get away from the table as fast as I could.

Don’t get me wrong. I liked it when the bar was humming. There was this excited buzz in the air that made my blood hot. But what I didn’t like was when the idiots barged their way in and made trouble. And I knew from experience that table eight was trouble.

My suspicions were confirmed when my departure was hindered by a fat hand on my ass.

“That’s some purty skirt you got there, Rachel.”

Here we go.

I lowered the tray to my side and tried to turn out of his grasp, but he stopped me with his other hand on my hip. “It’s denim, Roy. You don’t need to feel the fabric.”

“Come on now, you know my granddaddy was a tailor.”

“Your granddaddy was a perverted drunk, just like you. Now get your hands off my ass, sugar.” I softened my command with a sweet smile. As much as I wanted to slap him, he was the customer, and I wasn’t about to get him all heated up. Roy McGarrett drunk wasn’t pretty. Roy McGarrett drunk and pissed off was ten times worse.

His chuckle was breathy and reeked of stale beer. I wrinkled my nose and tried to move away, but he spun me fast and pulled me onto his knee, his arms feeling like tentacles as they wrapped around my waist.

I tapped my hands on his arms, trying to loosen them with a friendly pat. “Roy, don’t be doing this tonight. Go home to your wife and sleep it off.” I kept my tone light and teasing, still not wanting to upset him.

“I’m allowed to stay out as late as I want on a Saturday and you’re my waitress, so if you want yourself a good tip, you better be giving me good service.”

His fat, slobbery lips went for my neck. My mass of thick curls protected me a little, but not enough to ward off the fact I was gonna need a blazing hot shower to rid myself of his filth.

“Come on now, let me go.” I tried to sound playful, wriggling on his lap to get myself free.

I was tempted to use the tray to bash him over the head, but I’d probably break his nose, and the sheriff would be none too pleased. He and Roy were cousins, whereas I’d only been living in Payton for two years and was still considered a newbie.

He ran his hand down my exposed leg, tickling my skin and making me nervous.

I flicked it off me, my anger starting to spark and fire. Enough was enough already!

“Cut it out.” I wriggled some more, fighting his octopus hold on me.

“Oh, that feels good, darlin’. Do it again.” He laughed, slapping his chubby hand back onto my naked thigh. His fingers inched toward the frayed denim edging, and I suddenly wished I’d shied away from my ripped-off miniskirt. I knew it was short, but it was decent enough. Besides, it matched my plaid shirt perfectly, and I liked the way it looked with my boots. I just wished Handsy McGarrett didn’t like it so much!

I slapped his hand hard this time, warning him to back off before I really made trouble. I’d been nice enough, but my patience was just about done. My main concern was the fact the stupid pig weighed four times what I did, and I wasn’t sure how to get free of the beefy arm holding me.

Thankfully, I didn’t have to figure that out.

A strong hand I knew all too well landed on the back of Roy’s neck, squeezing hard enough to actually make Mr. Grabby squeak.

“You have less than a second to let her go.” Josh’s voice was deep and thick.

I couldn’t help a grin when Roy’s arm went slack, and I jumped off his knee. I made sure I was wearing an indignant scowl when I turned to face him, though. Josh hauled him out of his chair, his muscles bulging as he held Roy by the scruff of his neck. I didn’t think it was possible, but Chubby Roy actually looked small as my man towered over him.

“I—I’m sorry, Grizz. I didn’t mean nothing by it.” Roy swallowed, beads of sweat forming on his brow. His forehead wrinkled with a pleading look for mercy.

Josh didn’t say anything while he glared at Roy. A low growl rumbled in his throat, reminding me of a Doberman about to attack.

“I’m drunk!” Roy’s voice pitched. “I was only having a little fun.”

“Go have fun with your own girl and keep your filthy paws off mine!”

“You say it, Grizzly Bear!” Brock shouted from across the bar, raising his beer for his best friend. Millie let out a whoop beside him.

Roy wanted to frown, I could tell by the set of his mouth, but Josh
Grizzly Bear
Clark was not one to mess with. He’d never lost a fight…ever…and everyone in Payton knew it.

“Take your drunk ass out of my bar, and don’t even think about coming back in here until you can treat these ladies right.”

“She ain’t no lady, Grizz.” Roy’s fat finger pointed at me. “We all know she’s a past whore. I wasn’t doing anything she hasn’t—”

Roy’s words were cut short by Josh’s fist. It smacked into his face with a crunch that made me wince. Roy’s head snapped back and he let out a pitiful whimper.

“
Don’t
talk about her that way,” Josh hollered.

My cheeks caught fire, blazing red while my jaw clenched tight and I stared down at the pitted floor. I hated my history. Town gossip had started the day I’d arrived in Payton. They hadn’t even given me a chance to defend myself. Rumors were rife about the homeless, sixteen-year-old waif Josh found outside Clark’s one morning. Part of the problem was they were right. I’d never had sex for money, but when you’re cold and starving and the thought of a warm bed is too good to deny, you do things you’re not proud of.

But Josh…he’d never made me feel bad for that. His uncle had given me a roof and a job and for the past two years, I’d been living safe and secure. My only enemy was the constant judgment I faced from stuck-up townsfolk who didn’t know what it was to be alone and scared. Hell, half of them had probably never even traveled out of Payton! Them and their sheltered little lives. What did they know anyway?

I crossed my arms, the silence in the bar damn near deafening. I wanted to strangle whoever let the jukebox run dry. The timing was a little too dramatic for my tastes. Every eye in the room was a pistol aimed straight at my head. I loved being the center of attention when I was up on a stage, protected by a microphone and my guitar, but this kind of attention? No thank you, sir!

Roy muttered something under his breath, and Josh pulled his fist back for round two.

“All right! Damn it, Grizz! I’m leaving!” Roy shoved Josh’s chest to no avail. It wasn’t until Josh let him go that he was able to stumble away.

“Billy, take him home.” Josh pointed at one of Roy’s table buddies. He jumped-to the second Josh looked at him. “But pay for your drinks first…and you better give her the biggest damn tip you’ve ever given anybody.”

With shaky hands, Billy pulled out a few bills and dropped them onto the table, glaring at his friends to do the same.

Roy leaned against the wall by the window, looking sick and dazed and shooting me a dark glare before turning for the door. I crossed my arms over my chest as he stumbled. Billy caught him near the door and they left together, two swaying trees ready to collapse.

A quick murmur started up the second they’d left and Josh turned to me. His gruff expression was nowhere to be seen as he took the tray from my hand, placing it on the table before gently tipping my chin.

“You all right?” He had his honeyed voice on, the one he only used with me.

I touched his cheek and smiled, my hand small on his chiseled face. “You know what I love most about you? You look like a big grizzly bear, but you’re just a soft marshmallow on the inside, ain’t ya.”

“Only with you, sugar lips.” He pulled me into his arms, lifting me off the floor and stealing my breath with a solid kiss. Cheers and whistles filled the quiet space, bringing the hum back into the bar with a rush.

I tipped my head back with a laugh, planting one more juicy kiss on his lips before he let me go. My boots slapped back down on the wood floor and all eyes were still on us.

Realization dawned over Josh’s face and his ears turned red. He hated being the center of attention. Now that the judge and jury had left, I didn’t mind one bit.

“How about I play y’all a song!” I raised my hand as a second round of cheers rose up around the room.

With a laugh, I skipped over to the stage and grabbed up the electric guitar that I’d been messing around on that afternoon. I preferred my acoustic, but that was upstairs by the bed.

Swinging the strap over my shoulder, I then flicked on the amp and adjusted the mic so I could stand and play.

“I’d like to dedicate this song to Roy McGarrett.”

Brock booed real loud, making Josh laugh as he sauntered back around to his safe place behind the bar.

I leaned into the mic and tipped my head. “I don’t care how drunk that man gets, he needs to keep his hands to himself!”

A chorus of cheers and whistles erupted as I started strumming “Keep Your Hands To Yourself.”